Villa Sapi - en elit oas

1. Chef Kantun manages a cookery school at Villa Sapi dedicated to training young up-and-coming Indonesian chefs for positions at the forefront of Lombok hospitality. Villa guests can take advantage of these facilities for private cookery lessons, just notify us of your interest when making your reservation.
2. If you want to go shopping in Lombok, don’t expect modern malls or designer clothing; instead seek out local products. Sweta’s ‘Bertais Market’ at Mataram (31km) sells everything that is made or produced on the island, including Lombok’s intricate basketware.
3. Banyumulek (40km) is one of the three main pottery centres on the island; in the mornings, you can watch the women potters at work. At the traditional weaving village of Sembalun (77km) in the foothills of Mt Rinjani, you can witness the production of the island’s striking hand-woven textiles.
4. Sire Beach Golf Club, designed by Peter Thompson, lies within Sira Bay. A golf buggy can pick you up to enjoy this uncrowded and serene 18-hole championship course.
5. Eat out for a change of scene. Inspect the history, artefacts and curios of nearby funky Hotel Tugu, a living museum of Indonesian antiques and local artwork, over a beachside lunch or dinner. Or enjoy the gourmet food at the 5-star Oberoi Resort and The Lombok Lodge which is opposite the Oberoi.
6. Visit the Gili islands to experience a different side of Lombok. Of the three small coral-fringed islands, Gili Meno and Gili Air are fairly quiet and Gili Trawangan has the nightlife.
7. Investigate the attractive market village of Tanjung, where stalls overflow with mysterious and exotic produce such as locally grown tobacco, coffee, soya and peanuts.
8. For a gentle trek, head to Senaru village, the gateway to Rinjani National Park. Local Sasak guides will show you the park’s two beautiful waterfalls of Sindang Gila and Tiu Kelep.
9. Revitalise and rejuvenate with an in-villa massage treatment.