FAQ

By plane

The quickest and the easiest way of getting to Lombok is by plane. Lombok International Airport has direct flights from:

• Kuala Lumpur (Air Asia) - 3hrs
• Singapore (Scoot) - 2hrs
• Jakarta (Garuda, Air Asia, SuperJet, CityLink, Lion) - 2hrs
• Bali (Wings Air, CityLink) - 25mins
• Other Indonesian airports

We're a 25-min drive from the airport.

The easiest way to book domestic flights is via Traveloka.com - an Indonesian equivalent of booking.com as some of the airlines do not accept online payments on their websites. Use Traveloka for airlines other than Garuda and AirAsia - AirAsia and Garuda can be booked directly.

By fast boat from Bali

Another, not-so-fast option, is a fast boat from Padang Bai in Bali to Bangasal/Senggigi in Lombok. The boat takes around 3 hours and it's another 2.5 hr drive from the harbour to Xanadu.

There are multiple fast boat companies, to name a few: Eka Jaya, Ostina, Blue Water Express etc. You can check the schedule and book your ticket directly with them.

By public ferry from Bali

It's the longest ride you can take and the cheapest one. The ferry leaves from Padang Bai and goes to Lembar. The ride takes anything between 4-6 hours depending on the sea conditions. There is no schedule and no advance bookings. The ferry operates 24/7 and leaves on average every 2 hours or when full. The drive from Lembar to Kuta takes 1.5 hour.

Click here to read more about getting to Lombok

Yes, Lombok is very safe. If you're travelling solo, it's totally fine. There are many solo travellers here in Lombok. The only thing we'd suggest is to pre-book your transport from the airport or a harbour to avoid flocks of private drivers trying to convince you to use their services as soon as you disembark.

Aside from the stunning pristine white sand beaches in around Kuta, you can also visit waterfalls, climb Mount Rinjani (the second highest volcano in Indonesia), go on a snorkelling or a diving trip, visit any of the three Gilis (Trawangan, Air or Meno) or go to Gili Asahan, a hidden gem. In the North of Lombok you will also find rice fields around Tetebatu.

Bali is much more developed than Lombok, which means lots of crowds and traffic. Lombok is still traffic free and offers countless white sand beaches with nobody around (maybe just a few water buffalos). So if you're looking for more nature and less city scene, this is the island for you. Yet, you will still find great restaurants in Kuta Lombok.

If you're coming to surf, the best time is between November to April, which is considered the best surf season here (opposite to Bali). However, you can still surf in Lombok all year round.

Read more on our blog

It rains but not all the time. The south of Lombok receives much less rain during the rain season (November-April) than the north of Lombok or Bali. November to April is also the best surf season - no wind and glassy waves.

You can expect scatterd rains and January is the wettest of the year. Although, with the climate change who knows anymore!

Usually it rains heavily at night or in the evenings for a 1-2 hours.

Lombok's surf season is the opposite of Bali. You can surf in Lombok all year round but the best months are considered November to April, when the wind drops, many surf breaks start working and you can expect glassy waves.

Plus there are less people in the water as everyone seems to think Lombok is the same as Bali, which it is not;)

Read more on our blog

Definitely! The waves in Lombok are very forgiving and we have a good choice of surf breaks suitable to beginner and intermediate surfers. Plus less people in the line ups than in Bali.

YES, you need to be a good swimmer to start surf lessons. Even though as a beginner you will take your first steps on a surfboard on a tiny wave close to the beach in a hip-high water, we're dealing with open ocean here so knowing how to swim is an absolute requirement.

Also, most of the surf breaks are reef breaks and are accessible by boats, which means once you learn how to pop up on the board, you will be surfing away from the beach.

Even though most of the breaks in the area are reef breaks, you don't need reef booties. The reefs are not very sharp and we do not surf on alow tide. However, if you feel more comfortable wearing them, go ahead.

Water is very warm in Lombok most of the year. If you are coming over in between July and September, you may want to have a 1 mm neoprene jacket or a spring wetsuit.

Most people surf in bikinis though all year round.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

The programme at Xanadu Retreat includes some additional activities, not included in the surf & yoga package at Xanadu Village, such as surf strength training, Sasak culture & cooking workshop, free town shuttle (5-min drive), daily snack and a free surf option (if you're keen to surf more by yourself - the driver can take you to a surf spot free of charge). We also have an ice bath at Xanadu Retreat and run ice immersion workshops.

The facilities and standard of accommodation is also different between the two locations. Xanadu Retreat is our luxury property featuring an infinity pool, yoga shala with ocean views, spa, restaurant and very spacious indoor/outdoor lounge. Xanadu Village is a small cosy property in the town centre with a garden pool, outdoor lounge and a rooftop yoga space.

• Xanadu Retreat Surf, Yoga & Wellness Programme
• Xanadu Village Surf & Yoga Programme

You can find details of inclusions on respective package pages. Check the Surf & Yoga Camps section for more information about each package.

No. We split our guests into groups and choose the surf spots based on the level and surf conditions.

We set the surf schedule a day ahead due to the tides continuously changing and after we assess the surf conditions for the following day. Once we know the surf time, we set the times for the remaining activities.

The student instructor ratio is 2:1 unless it's a more advanced group then it may be 2,5:1.

Of course! We split you into groups based on your level of ability. This means beginners go with other beginners and so on. We’ll then give you a comprehensive rundown on the beach before we go in. You’ll surf small, mellow waves in waist-deep water under the careful guidance of our experienced instructors. And we’ll make sure your first waves are on a soft foam board that’s safe and super user-friendly.

Surfing is a sport that at times may lead to injuries, such as grazes and cuts, sprains etc. Therefore, we require all our guests to have an appropriate travel insurance covering surfing activities.

World Nomads seems to be a very comprehensive option, which we can recommend.

This is a great question and we totally get where you’re coming from. You want to surf as much as possible. It’s natural! The reason why we have one session per day is that we prefer to run our sessions in the best conditions possible and not just send you out to tick a box. This means we have one window per day when the tide, wind and swell align. We then pick a spot with the least amount of people. Plus, trust us when we say that as a beginner, 2 hours in the water is plenty of time. You’ll be tired by the end, for sure. And we’d rather have you enjoy one epic session as opposed to two average ones.

However, if you still feel you haven't had enough surfing in a day, you are welcome to venture out to practice by yourself on your own.

If you're staying at Xanadu Village, you can use the Xanadu board and head out surfing by yourself. Btw, on Saturdays, the surf trip is usually a double surf session.

If you're staying at Xanadu Retreat, you have the option of a free surf every day included in the package i.e. surfboard, transport to the break and boat.

No, you don't have to. The activities are there for you and completely optional. if you feel like skipping part of the programme, it's okay. It's your holiday after all:)

Yes. There is time between the activities to venture out and explore Kuta.

The ocean is unpredictable. We do have surf all year round and it's very rare the conditions don't allow us to get in the water (it happened only once in 3.5 years). If that happens, we'll try to make it up to you the next day with an extra surf so you don't miss out.

It is important to remember the surf conditions and waves change on a daily basis and depend on various factors (swell, wind, weather conditions) and we are unable to guarantee a certain size or shape of the wave. But what we can guarantee is that we will take you every day to the surf spot that we believe will be the most fun on a given day.

For the organisation purpose, we have created three levels. Read the below descriptions and choose the level that best describes you. You can move up or down the level throughout the week, so don't stress about it. This is just to start the week.

Level 1

You’ve surfed before but you still have some issues with the pop up, use your knee when standing up or easily loose balance. Select this level to go over the basics once again and create strong foundations to progress faster. You can change the during your stay. Also, this level is suitable for first time surfers and very early beginners.

Level 2

You are comfortable in the ocean and being in the waves when slightly bigger sets arrive (we surf easy mellow waves normally but there may be a bigger set or two as the ocean can be unpredictable). Your pop up is on point and are starting to do your turns. If you’re a longboarder, select this level as Level 2 waves are perfect for longboarders.

Level 3

Perfect if you are looking for more challenging waves and if you are using a shortboard or a mid-length. You know how your way around in the water and can take waves by yourself. You want to work on more advanced skills, such as cutbacks, snaps etc.

Yes, the board is included in the package. We have a range of boards from 6'0 to 9'2 (hard tops) and 8'0 as well as 9'0 soft tops. The shorter boards are fun boards with a bit of volume. If you are surfing a performance shortboard or a twinnie, we recommend travelling with your own board as we don't have those in our quiver.

In order to confirm the booking we require a 20% deposit, which is fully refundable up to 30 days before the check-in date. Please refer to the Booking Terms & Conditions for more information.

We accept surfing children above 10 years old. Unfortunately, our venue is not suitable for infants and small children as we only offer surf & yoga packages. If your child is already surfing but is younger than 10, drop us a message to see what we can do.

The Yoga & Wellness package includes:

• Daily yoga and meditation session (as per the schedule)
• Breakfasts & lunches
• Daily healthy shot & snack
• Welcome dinner
• Farewell dinner
• Complimentary ice bath
• 2x 60-min relaxing massage
• Free town shuttle
• Complimentary beach shuttle
• Sasak culture & cooking workshop

*All the activities are optional - if you feel like skipping any of them, no problem! No questions asked:)

Visit the Yoga & Wellness Retreat page to view the detailed schedule.

For anyone who is looking for active and yet relaxing holidays at Xanadu, but who is not too keen on surfing. The Yoga & Wellness package is great for those who are new to yoga as well as those who practice on a regular basis and would like to go deeper in their practice. An intimate setting means we can cater to your individual needs.

With yoga, breathwork, meditation, workshops plus spa treatments and cultural experiences, it can be either a soothing balm for a busy life or an opportunity to explore your mind and body.

Unfortunately, all our programmes are Saturday to Saturday. We don't offer short retreats.

All the guests arrive and leave on the same day which ensures you spend your week in a familiar environment and have space to unwind. One round of introductions, deeper conversations, deeper practice.

Unfortunately not. For organisational reasons you won't be able to switch between packages during your stay, but feel free to reach out if you're unsure which option is best for you.

Yes, absolutely! If one of you would like you book a Yoga & Wellness package and the other one Surf & Yoga, this is not a problem. Contact us to help you make a mixed-package booking.

We've designed both programmes in a way that you share some activities together and some of the activities are only for yogis or surfers.

Not at all. The activities are for you to enjoy but if you feel like skipping some of them, it's totally fine! It's your holiday after all.

Check in is from 2 PM onwards and checkout at 11 AM. Arrivals and departures are every Saturday.

No. We're only a 5-min drive down the hill. We also offer a free shuttle to town for a hassle-free experience.

Unfortunately, we do not offer room only rates. At Xanadu Retreat you can choose between Surf & Yoga Retreat package or Yoga & Wellness retreat package.

Xanadu Retreat is our luxury property featuring an infinity pool and yoga shala with ocean views, a restaurant, a spacious indoor and outdoor lounge area and a spa. The surf & yoga programme at Xanadu Retreat is also different than the one at the Village and includes additional activities. Also, at Xanadu Retreat the Yoga & Wellness is available, which is not available at Xanadu Village.

Yes! Many of our guests travel solo so it's a perfect place to meet like-minded people.

Internet connection at Xanadu Retreat is pretty fast and reliable.

Yes, we do offer airport transport at an extra charge of IDR 200.000 and a pick up from Bangsal and Senggigi at IDR 550.000.

You can add it to your reservation at the time of booking, or by sending us an email or a WhatApp message.

Unfortunately not. At Xanadu Village we only offer Sunday-Sunday stays. Everyone arriving and leaving at the same time creates a unique atmosphere - you only introduce yourself once and can actually get to know people. After a week everyone becomes like a one big family.

Yes, all the rooms have a private bathroom with a shower.

Yes, the shared rooms are mixed. At Xanadu Village we only have 2 shared rooms, so cannot guarantee single-gender accommodation.

Yes, the Wi-Fi is pretty stable and reliable.

Yes! Quite a few of our guests travel sorry. It's a perfect opportunity to meet new like-minded people.

Yes, we do offer airport transport at an extra charge of IDR 200.000 and a pick up from Bangsal and Senggigi at IDR 550.000.

You can add it to your reservation at the time of booking, or by sending us an email or a WhatApp message.

Xanadu Village is our smaller property tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac just a few minutes walk from the main street of Kuta. It has only 6 rooms so on average you can expect 8-10 people throughout the week.

The rooms are cosy and comfortable, each with a private veranda, private bathroom, a desk, a safety box and a clothes rack.

You can enjoy the garden with a pool, communal dining area, a tropical lounge and a rooftop yoga space.

The check-in and check-out times are as follows:

• Check-in: from 2PM
• Check-out: until 11 AM

Our Sunday welcome dinner is at 6PM.