Selong Belanak, the beach that can’t decide if it’s for surfers, dreamers, photographers, or buffalo. Spoiler: it’s for all of them.

Here in South Lombok, life hums to its own rhythm — waves roll in slow motion, scooters hum along coconut-lined roads, and the occasional cow blocks traffic just to remind you you’re not in Bali anymore. So, what exactly can you do here (besides fall in love with the view)?

A lot. Here’s your slightly sandy, 100 percent local-approved guide to the best things to do in Selong Belanak.

1. Learn to Surf — Without Looking Silly (Well, Mostly)

If you’ve ever dreamed of standing on a surfboard instead of under one, this is your moment. Selong Belanak Beach is the ultimate beginner’s playground: soft sand, small waves, and friendly instructors who’ve seen it all (yes, even that spectacular wipe-out you’ll pretend was intentional).

Why you’ll love it:

1. Warm, shallow waters and baby-friendly waves
2. Local surf schools that mix laughter with lessons
3. Great chance to meet fellow wave chasers

2. Fly Like a Seagull: Paragliding Above the Bay

Want to make your drone jealous? Go paragliding from the green cliffs overlooking the bay. It’s half thrill ride, half meditation — the perfect way to realize how tiny your beach towel really is. Paragliding is available in the next lagoon toward Kuta named Lancing.

3. Explore Secret Beaches by Motorbike

Grab a scooter, a sarong, and questionable Google Maps directions. Within 20 minutes you can hit Pantai Mawi, Semeti, Torok, or Serangan — each with its own personality (read more in our article 5 beaches around Selong Belanak)  Expect cows, potholes, and views so good they’ll make you forget Wi-Fi exists.

Local Tip: Parking is payable in some beaches (around 10 000 IDR) and totally worth it.

4. Take a Long Walk to Ketapak and Go Fishing with Locals

Keep walking west along the Selong Belanak beach until the crowds fade and the rhythm changes. You’ll reach Ketapak, a black stone end of the lagoon where at sunset fishermen catch octopus and cuttlefish amongst others. You can tag along to watch and learn this simplistic and traditional approach to fishing. 

5. Join the Saturday Morning Beach Clean-Up

Every Saturday at 8 AM, locals and visitors gather near Sempiak Villas for a weekly beach clean-up organized by SBCA (SELONG BELANAK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION). It’s part workout, part social hour, and all good karma. Afterwards, reward yourself with coffee and banana pancakes and if you find a mango tree to sit under, Jack Johnson might sing in your head.

6. Go for a Morning Run (and Pretend It’s a Movie Montage)

Start your run from the main parking area and head straight along the beach, keeping the waves at your side and the morning light in your face. Once you reach the black stone section at the end of the bay, turn right, follow the path until you hit the asphalt road, then turn right again. This last stretch takes you through a peaceful, flat area lined with coconut trees and rice fields, before looping you back to the main crossroads near the beach entrance.You’ll pass locals setting up their warungs, fishermen checking their nets, and maybe a few cows giving you that “you woke up early for this?” look.

Why it’s worth it:

1. Stunning sunrise views
2. Quiet, traffic-free route with natural scenery
3. Feels like a movie scene (minus the dramatic soundtrack)

Bonus: 100% fresh air, 0% gym membership.

7. The 5 PM Buffalo Parade — Nature’s Fashion Show

Around 5 PM almost every day, a herd of buffalo crosses the beach as if auditioning for Lombok’s Next Top Model. Locals pause, tourists cheer, and the buffalo? Completely unimpressed. Grab a coconut, sit back, and enjoy the slowest show on Earth.

8. Catch the Sunset from Aura or Disini

Image (alt text: “Sunset view from Disini Resort over Selong Belanak Bay”)

For a view that’ll make your phone beg for storage space, head toward Selong Selo Aura Restaurant or Disini Sky Eco Houses. Order something chilled, watch the hills catch fire, and don’t even try to look away.

9. Beachfront Dinners: Laut Biru, Codium, Segara & Amber

When the sky turns gold, the grills heat up. End your day with fresh seafood and sunset cocktails right on the sand.

1. Laut Biru: local catch, fancy plating, barefoot luxury.
2. Codium: creative fusion and good wine.
3. Segara: perfect for sunset seafood feasts.
4. Amber: boho-chic, tropical cocktails, and waves practically at your feet.

Because nothing says vacation like eating grilled snapper while your toes are still in the sand.

10. Surf by Boat — The Next-Level Adventure

Already conquered the baby waves? Hire a local fisherman to take you out to the outer reef breaks for serious surfing. It’s wilder, emptier, and just risky enough to make you feel alive (and very hungry for dinner later).

Final Thoughts: Selong Belanak’s Secret Sauce

Selong Belanak isn’t just a beach — it’s a lifestyle with sand between its toes. Mornings start with surfboards, afternoons bring buffaloes, and evenings wrap up with seafood and sunsets that make you forget the rest of the world exists.

Whether you come to surf, paraglide, explore, fish, or just float, you’ll leave with salty hair, a happy belly, and that magical feeling that life should always move this slow.