Kuta, Lombok

A coastal town on the south coast of Lombok, Kuta (Lombok) is surrounded by a series of bays and white-sand beaches backed by dry savannah hills — a landscape entirely different from its Bali namesake. The area serves as a base for exploring a string of beaches including Mawun, Seger, and Tanjung Aan, the last of which features unusually coarse, peppercorn-textured sand and turquoise water. The region also hosts some of Lombok's best surf breaks, particularly during the southwest swell season.