Sumbawa

Sumbawa sits in the Lesser Sunda Islands, with Lombok to the west, Flores to the east and Sumba to the southeast. It sees a fraction of the visitors its neighbours get.

The island is split into four regencies: Sumbawa Besar, Bima City, Dompu and West Sumbawa.

Sumbawa Besar

The capital of the Sumbawa Regency, in West Nusa Tenggara province. There are local markets, Sumbawan food and dance performances, plus a few buildings left from the Dutch colonial era. Saleh Bay, where you can swim with whale sharks, is reached from here.

Moyo Island

Just off the coast of Sumbawa Besar, Moyo has white sand beaches and the Mata Iju waterfall. Snorkelling and diving around the island turn up sharks, eagle rays and reef fish.

Bima

Heading east, Bima is the largest city on the island, on the eastern shore of Bima Bay. The water here suits snorkelling and diving. Sites nearby include Mount Tambora, the Wawo and Sambori traditional villages, Snake Island, Ana Fari Lake (Lake of the Angels) and Satonda Island.

Dompu

Dompu, in the eastern part of the island, is the surf area. Lakey Beach hosts international surfing competitions. There is trekking and cultural sightseeing too: Mount Tambora, Satonda Island, and the Doroncanga Savannah, which travellers call Africa van Sumbawa.

West Sumbawa

Maluk Beach and Plampang Beach are the main beaches here, and the National Park of West Sumbawa Island is open to walk. Other spots include Kenawa Island, Puncak Bukit Mantar (Mantar Village), Kertasari Beach, Ai Mual Waterfall and Tropika Beach.

Things To Do in Sumbawa

The main draws are the diving, the whale sharks in Saleh Bay and the climb up Tambora. Sumbawa also has a strong macro dive scene.

Scuba Diving

Best time to go: April to November

Scuba diving in Sumbawa is available year-round, with the most favorable conditions generally experienced between April and November. During this period, the weather is relatively stable, the sea is calm and better visibility underwater. Exploring the underwater of Sumbawa reveals a diverse range of marine creatures inhabiting this environment.

Sumbawa’s coastline is cut by peninsulas that form sheltered bays, with islands off the north coast including Moyo, Sangeang and Satonda. There are more than 45 dive sites, from walls to active underwater volcanic vents, and the conditions suit muck diving. Boat traffic is low, so sites are rarely crowded.

Swimming with Whale Shark

Best time to go: April to November

Whale sharks turn up in the Saleh Bay area, including around Moyo Island and Gili Dua. They are usually seen early, from about 6.00 AM, around the fishermen’s boats.

The Saleh Bay whale sharks draw visitors from across Indonesia and abroad.

Climb Mount Tambora

Best time to go: May to October

Experienced hikers might consider conquering Tambora Mountain. This volcano erupted in 1815, ejecting approximately 100 cubic kilometers (25 cubic miles) of material into the atmosphere with a force akin to several hydrogen bombs, resulting in the infamous ‘year without summer’ in 1816.

The caldera sits on the northern tip of Sumbawa at 2,821 metres (9,250 feet), with long views on clear days. The climb starts at Calabai, a small coastal logging town. It takes three days, it is hard going, and you need a guide.

Sumbawa suits travellers who want diving and wildlife without the crowds of Bali or Komodo.

Get in touch to plan a trip to Sumbawa.