Mawun Beach — Attraction in West Nusa Tenggara

As far as beaches of the world go, this is still a beautiful one. Green rolling hills on either side, trees, waves crashing on the sides over the rocks and so on.

However… there’s a lot of plastic in the sand and bits of rubbish floating around (literally in the ocean too) as compared to other Kuta beaches. You have to pay a parking fee at the entrance which is fairly normal, however they told us they were out of tickets - I thought they were going to try to scam us on the way out for another fee because we didn’t have a ticket, but they let us through. Who knows. The dogs are quite nice so unless you don’t like dogs, there seems to be nothing to worry about there. As with a lot of locations near Kuta Lombok there are also lots of children asking you to buy bracelets. They were really lovely and explained where there were corals though. The water was really murky when we visited and had strong currents, so we only stayed a brief time and were quite disappointed…

Not sure that I will give this one another try given there are many other good beaches...

Avoid at all costs. While the physical beach is beautiful with clean clear water and white sand, the environment was horrible.

First, you have to pay entrance fee AND then pay for parking (2 separate payments.) it’s a scam. Second, there were mountains of trash in between the parking and the beach sand. Plastic, diapers, paper, dog corpses, you name it, all rotting in the sun. The stench alone is enough to bring you to tears, if not for the trash destroying the beauty of the place.

Then, if you manage to wade through the legions of people trying to flog you sun beds and trinkets and actually manage to get down to the sand, there’s a few nice sunbeds. Once you’re in the sun bed though, the suffering really begins - armies of kids trying to sell you bracelets, and if you even look at one of them, they want ice cream, food, cigarettes… I understand these kids are much less fortunate and it’s sad, but if you want to just relax on the beach, this place is the furthest thing from it.

1 star is...

Mawun Beach is a stunning slice of paradise with its pristine white sand, clear turquoise waters, and breathtaking views of the surrounding hills. It’s an ideal spot for relaxing, swimming, or simply soaking up the sun in a more laid-back setting compared to some of the busier beaches in Lombok.

However, one thing to be prepared for is the persistent sellers on the beach. You will likely be approached by people selling food and drinks or kids trying to sell you bracelets. While they are friendly enough, the constant interruptions can get a bit tiring, especially when you're just trying to relax. You’ll need to be firm but polite when declining, as they can be quite persistent.

Despite this, Mawun Beach is still well worth a visit for its natural beauty and peaceful vibes once you get settled. Just be prepared to stand your ground with the sellers, and you'll be able to enjoy the gorgeous...