Bulgari Bali and The Lombok Lodge | Why I Created Indonesia’s Most Exclusive Dual-Property Experience

There are very few resorts in the world that genuinely deserve the word iconic. Bulgari Bali is one of them.

Perched on the clifftops of Uluwatu, suspended above the Indian Ocean, it is one of those rare places that exceeds its own reputation. The Italian design. The private pools. The restaurants. The drama of that setting at sunset. If you have chosen Bulgari Bali for your Indonesia journey – you have chosen exceptionally well.

But here is something the most discerning Bulgari guests have been quietly discovering for years.
The journey doesn’t end there.

Forty minutes across the Lombok Strait, away from the crowds and the clifftops, there is a different kind of luxury waiting. Quieter. More intimate. More raw. A place where the founder still hosts personally, where the beach is empty, and where Indonesia reveals a side of itself that most visitors never find.

That place is The Lombok Lodge. And the story of why my husband Ben and I built it – and why Bulgari Bali guests keep finding their way here – begins over a decade ago, when we arrived in Lombok as a traveller from Belgium and made a decision we have never once regretted.

The Moment I Decided I Wasn’t Leaving Lombok

I had come as a traveller — a Belgian who had spent years moving through Southeast Asia, ticking off the landmarks, staying in the right hotels, doing what you’re supposed to do. Bali was extraordinary. But Lombok stopped me completely.

There were no crowds on the beach that morning. No noise except the ocean. The air smelled of frangipani and salt. Mount Rinjani rose behind me like a wall of green. I sat there for a long time thinking: nobody knows about this place. And I want to be here when they find it.

That was over ten years ago. I never went back to Belgium. I built The Lombok Lodge instead.

Why Bulgari Bali Guests Keep Finding Us

For the first few years, I noticed a pattern in our guests.

The ones who stayed longest, who sat with me at the bar at sunset and talked about coming back – they almost always came from the same place. Bulgari Bali.

They would arrive having spent four or five nights on the clifftops of Uluwatu. They had experienced the Italian grandeur, the infinity pools suspended over the Indian Ocean, the finest service Bali has to offer. They had fallen deeply in love with Indonesia.

And then they wanted more. Not more of the same – but more of something different. Quieter. More intimate. Less designed and more discovered.
That is exactly what Lombok is. And that is exactly what The Lombok Lodge was built to be.

Two Properties. Two Completely Different Experiences. One Perfect Journey.

I want to be honest about something: Bulgari Bali and The Lombok Lodge are not competitors. We are not even really comparable. We are complementary — two experiences that make each other better by existing in the same itinerary.

*Bulgari Bali* is one of the great resort experiences on earth. The clifftop setting above Uluwatu is among the most dramatic in all of Asia. The Italian design, the private pools, the restaurants – it is a masterpiece of luxury hospitality. If you have never stayed there, it belongs on your list.

*The Lombok Lodge* is something else entirely.

We have a small number of suites and villas – deliberately. I never wanted to build a large resort. I wanted to build a place where guests feel like they are the only people in the world. Where I am still present, still hosting, still sitting down with guests who want to talk about where to dive or what to eat or why Lombok will change the way they think about travel.

Our location is exceptional – beach, jungle, and views of the Gili Islands and Mount Rinjani from the same terrace. Our staff have been with us for years. They know our guests by name before they arrive.

This is not a hotel in the traditional sense. It is closer to staying with someone who happens to have built one of the most beautiful properties in Indonesia.

 What the Combined Bali Lombok Journey Looks Like

When guests ask me how to structure the dual-property experience, I always suggest the same thing:

*Start with Bulgari Bali.*

Arrive into the drama of it – the clifftop, the grandeur, the energy of Bali. Let it overwhelm you in the best possible way. Spend four or five nights. Eat at every restaurant. Don’t rush.

*Then come to Lombok.*

The transfer itself is part of the experience – a short flight or fast boat across the Lombok Strait, watching Bali disappear behind you and the quieter, greener shape of Lombok emerge ahead. By the time you arrive at The Lombok Lodge, something shifts. The pace slows. The noise disappears. You exhale properly, perhaps for the first time on the trip.

Spend four nights with us. Dive the Gili Islands reef in the morning. Eat freshly caught fish on the beach at night. Wake up with no agenda. Let Lombok do what it does to everyone who gives it enough time.

By the time you leave, you will understand why I never went back to Belgium.

Why I Recommend This Itinerary to Every Guest

I have stayed at Bulgari Bali myself. I go back regularly. I send my guests there because I trust the experience completely — and because I know that the guests who stay there are exactly the guests who will love what we have built in Lombok.

The relationship between our two properties is informal and honest. We recommend each other because we have seen, year after year, that the guests who do both come away with something rare – a complete picture of what Indonesia’s luxury travel landscape truly offers.

Neither property alone tells the whole story. Together, they tell it perfectly.

Planning Your Bulgari Bali and Lombok Lodge Experience

*Recommended night split:*
•⁠ ⁠4–5 nights Bulgari Bali + 4 nights The Lombok Lodge
•⁠ ⁠3 nights Bulgari Bali + 5 nights The Lombok Lodge for guests who want more time to explore Lombok

*Getting from Bulgari Bali to The Lombok Lodge:*
•⁠ ⁠Short domestic flight Bali (DPS) to Lombok (LOP) – approximately 35 minutes
•⁠ ⁠Fast boat from Padang Bai, Bali to Gili Islands – approximately 90 minutes, with transfer to The Lombok Lodge
•⁠ ⁠Private charter available on request – we can arrange everything directly

*Best time to visit:*
•⁠ ⁠May through October for dry season, ideal for diving and outdoor dining
•⁠ ⁠November through April for lush green landscapes and fewer visitors

*What to do in Lombok during your stay:*
•⁠ ⁠Diving and snorkelling the Gili Islands reef – sea turtles, reef sharks, vibrant coral
•⁠ ⁠Sunrise hike on Mount Rinjani – one of Indonesia’s most dramatic volcanic landscapes
•⁠ ⁠Private beach days – empty, unspoiled, completely yours
•⁠ ⁠Local village and market visits – authentic Sasak culture, the true soul of Lombok

Frequently Asked Questions

*Can I book Bulgari Bali and The Lombok Lodge as a package?*
Yes. Contact us directly at The Lombok Lodge and we will coordinate the full experience — transfers, itinerary, and any special arrangements across both properties.

*How far is The Lombok Lodge from Bulgari Bali?*
Approximately 35 minutes by direct flight, or around 90 minutes by fast boat via the Gili Islands. We handle all transfer arrangements for our guests.

*Is The Lombok Lodge a similar standard to Bulgari Bali?*
We are a different kind of luxury. Bulgari Bali is grand, iconic, and Italian in its design philosophy. The Lombok Lodge is intimate, personal, and deeply connected to the natural landscape of Lombok. Guests consistently tell us the two experiences complement each other perfectly — and that Lombok surprises them in ways they didn’t expect.

*What makes The Lombok Lodge different from other luxury hotels in Lombok?*
Three things: genuine privacy, a very small number of suites and villas so every guest receives personal attention, and the fact that as the founders are very often present and hosting. This is not a managed resort. It is a personal project that I have devoted over a decade of my life to building.

*Is Lombok worth adding to a Bali trip?*
In my completely unbiased opinion – yes. But more importantly, every guest who has made this journey has told me the same thing: Lombok was the part of the trip they didn’t expect, and the part they remember most.

A Personal Invitation

If you are planning time at Bulgari Bali and are curious about extending your journey to Lombok, we would love to hear from you.

We help you plan the itinerary, arrange your transfers, and make sure that by the time you leave Indonesia, you have seen the best it has to offer.

*Write to us directly at The Lombok Lodge – and let’s build your perfect Indonesia journey together.*

The Lombok Lodge is a boutique luxury property in Lombok, Indonesia.
For reservations and enquiries, visit thelomboklodge.com

Ibu Antje

I’m Anja Braeken, Founder and Owner of The Lombok Lodge Hospitality® together with my husband, Ben. With over 15 years of experience in luxury hospitality, I am passionate about creating meaningful and bespoke travel experiences across the breathtaking island of Lombok and the Gili Islands in Indonesia. My passion for Lombok comes from the island’s breathtaking beauty, its rich traditions, and the warmth of its people. It inspires me every day to share this special place with others by creating meaningful and memorable experiences that allow guests to truly feel the spirit of Lombok and the Gili Islands. Follow my daily life in Lombok & Gili - and more things I adore - on Instagram @ibu.antje

Contact Ibu Antje