Visit Viewpoint Merese Hill Lombok for Beaches with Maps
Maneuvering through the smooth well built road from Mataram towards Merese Hill we witnessed some sparsely populated lands with farm animals, crop plantations, and traditional houses. The thought of interacting with locals scheduled in the second day of our itinerary excited me. How different would they be, I wondered!
Soon we crossed a huge tidal range with a rich growth of Mangrove trees. These trees have adapted well to inter tidal existence and there was not a single soul around. The sight of cluster of roots gripping the loose sand below, reminded me of the mangrove trees of Sunderbans in West Bengal, India. It was just a passing glance but really amazing how Lombok has a wide variety of terrain, because just after we passed this we approached the desert like white sandy beach, the Tanjung Aan Beach.
Tanjung Aan Beach
To reach Merese Hill, Tanjung Aan is the right path to start.
This beach is relatively calmer because of its semi circular curved shape. On either sides the beach is flanked by two hills that reduces the intensity of crashing waves. Seawater is lot calmer here and add to that soft fine powdery white sand below your feet. The region is an ideal choice to enjoy a swim and soak in seawater.
When we visited in Nov 2019 we saw a property coming up around the beach. Most likely in a couple of years this beach would become private property to some rich hotel chain! And then one will have to shell out money to see the lovely shells scattered in the white sands of Tanjung Aan Beach.
Merese Hill Lombok Maps Beaches
Hike up Merese Hill
But not to worry because there are still some free sights around. Merese Hill is one of the most mesmerizing – exotic – iconic places in Lombok Island of Indonesia to watch the twilight moments of the day! (I could add more adjectives)
A small hike of about 10min up the Merese Hill we reached the first view point. This is one of the mildest treks I have done. On one side we could see the blue of the Indian Ocean and other side the semi circular Tanjung Aan Beach! Merese Hill is located on the peninsular land jutting into the Indian Ocean. The beaches on either side named as Queen Beach and King Beach.
Another 15 to 20min hike you will reach Bukit Merese for more spectacular views around. This is the highest viewpoint among the several cliffs that border the beach. While reading up about this place I remember someone mentioning that monkeys hang around this place to get their nightly sunset fix. However I put it out of my mind thinking the person was a good story teller. But to my surprise monkeys there were doing precisely that and I was lucky to capture one in my frame. My Insta pic.
I am wondering how they survive on that hill because I did not see a single fruiting tree around.
Viewpoint Merese Hills for Twilight Hour
As you cross hill after hill around Merese you will find more stunning beaches; virgin, unexplored, unpopulated! The color of water changes from light green exposing the corals beneath to shades of blue getting darker further away towards the horizon.
At the farthest end is Pantai Tanjung Bongo. It gets rocky from here and the sights of the beach and crashing waves down below can lure you. Be cautious along this steep rocky stretch down.
As the sun sinks, the water around shows a different play of colors from yellow to golden and then finally the darkest blue, almost nearing black! The drama of colors ends for time being only to begin with new vigor the next day!
Merese Hill Lombok Maps Beaches
Location of Merese Hill Lombok
Merese Hill, Bukit Merese is 55km from Mataram, capital city of Lombok. The road route is along the points – Mataram – Cakranegara – Kediri – Praya – Batuntale – Sengkol – Rambitan – Sade – along Kuta till Tanjung Aan.
It is 26km from Praya, Lombok International Airport.
Both private and public transport is available.
Disclosure: My visit to Bukit Merese Hill was courtesy Visit Indonesia Tourism Office and Malindo Air. Pictures and opinions are my own.
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I love the glass ball reflection and the beautiful sunset! I sincerely hope some hotel chain doesn’t buy up that beautiful beach. That would be a shame.
How wonderful that you got to experience a complimentary trip to Lombok. You seemed to enjoy your trip and I enjoyed your photos and information.
Such beautiful shots!
Splendid!
That’s a sad reality when beaches get privatized and not everyone can enjoy it. Happy to know that there are still free sights around. I would love to watch the sunset here. Thank you for sharing this. I wish we can have the opportunity to visit in the future.
I love sunsets and would love to hike to Merese Hills to watch a perfect sunset and maybe capture it on my camera. Tanjung Aan Beach looks really beautiful. It will be sad if the beach becomes private property. But I guess, that is happening in many places. The sunset photographs are quite amazing.
The sunset here was so divine. And yes, hiking up the hill was so much fun. Did not even realize when time passed. I would have loved to hike around a little more but well, as always time was a constraint. Loved your little experiments with the lens ball.
Merese hill views are stunning . Lombok is always on my wishlist .. and a road trip to the same must have been a stellar I am sure . I would love to visit Tanjung Aan beach .. lovely photographs .
All those gorgeous viewpoints only from one single trail! I am planning to go to Lombok again next year (first trip was 5 years ago) and I would definitely want to explore this part of the island.
The road trip from Mataram towards Merese Hill looks full of nature with less populated lands, farm animals, crop plantations, and traditional houses. The view from Merese Hill view point with blue waters of the Indian Ocean and other side the semi circular Tanjung Aan Beach looks amazing. The rocky Pantai Tanjung Bongo is a beautiful sight on the beach due to crashing waves. Thanks for sharing all details.
Very inviting and beautiful tourist spots!Thanks for the excellent pictures.
I love sunsets! Hiking Merese Hill for amazing views is surely worth it!. I have not been to Indonesia yet but it is definitely on my bucket list. Your photos are amazing!
I am a total sucker for sunset and twilight shots and when I eventually get to Lombok, then I want to get to Merese Hill and experienced what you saw. I love the rugged coastline shot you took. Even me some food for thought so (amongst other things), I am putting this on my list of things to do in Lombok. Hoping for a visit in 2020! Fingers crossed!
I have a strange attraction to marshlands. During Tsunami, after I understood the villages that had marsh along their shores were protected by them, I have a special place for them in my heart!!!
I’m yet to head to Indonesia and I really hope come up with a concrete plan soon.
The georgraphy of Tanjung Aan beach is definitely fascinating. Very clever of you to share a map, so I can understand how awesome and secluded the whole place is! Hope that resort comes up there before I go!
How interesting to move from a mangrove cluster to white sandy beaches. Love the diversity of islands like this. It would certainly be worth a small hike to get up Merese Hill for the twilight moments. It must be a great spot to watch the crashing waves. Before the sun sinks and colours the view with that golden light.