Lombok River tubing: How to Visit Bawak Goak Sesaot

On Lombok we trade infinity pools for the raw, rushing mountain springs like that of Bawak Goak Sesaot. This hidden river playground in West Lombok is where the locals go to escape the heat, offering ice-cold freshwater straight from the Rinjani foothills and a vibe that remains untouched by mass tourism.

Whether you’re looking to visit after the Lombok Loop or you want to explore Bawak Goak Sesaot independently, here’s a quick local guide to help you plan your visit.

Bawak Goak Sesaot Overview

• Location: Sesaot Village, Narmada, West Lombok – 45 minutes from Mataram, 1 hour from Senggigi and 1.5 hours from Kuta
• Opening hours: 8 am – 6 pm
• Entrance fee: Rp 3,000 – Rp 5,000 (depends on who is at the gate)
• Parking: Safe and right by the Masjid Nurul Ikhlas sesaot Mosque Rp 10,000 per bike
• Facilities: A handful of local warungs along the river with restrooms and change areas
• Swimming: Generally calm near the side of the river however after rain this could be more powerful, though there are many pools and areas that are out of the rapids
• Best time to visit: Mornings are usually quiet and not too crowded. Around midday, small groups and tours sometimes drop in and on the weekend it can have many visitors
• Safety Note: The river is fed by Mt. Rinjani run-off. If it has been raining heavily in the mountains, the water turns brown and the current becomes dangerous. If the water looks murky, stay out.

Read more: Epic Waterfalls on Lombok

How to Get to Bawak Goak Sesaot

Getting here is part of the adventure, taking you around some of the greenest rice paddies in West Lombok depending on your departure point if you’re staying in Senggigi or Kuta.

By Motorbike

We left from Mataram and the easiest way to reach Bawak Goak Sesaot is to head east toward Narmada. The roads are in good condition, but watch out for the occasional cidomo (horse cart) as you get closer to Sesaot. Using Google Maps is reliable here, once you enter the village, look for the Masjid Nurul Ikhlas. This is your landmark for parking.

If you’re coming from Senggigi or Kuta place Bawak Goak Sesaot into google maps and you’ll be given the route.

What’s There to do At Bawak Goak Sesaot (Rapids & Tubing)?

While it looks like a simple river, there’s actually a fair bit of action here if you know where to look.

River Tubing & Rapids: This is the main event. Unlike a “lazy river” this is the real deal where you can gear up with helmets and pads to take on the faster rapids downstream. Follow the guides as they know exactly where the rocks are hidden.

• Cost: Tubes are Rp 10K–20K guided rapid tours cost extra.

The “River View” Lunch: There are many warungs along both sides of the river. We recommend the first stall after crossing the bridge and turning right then you’ll find it on your left for chicken satay.

• Costs: between Rp 10,000 and Rp 20,000 per dish

Swimming
If the bridge area is too loud, walk 15 minutes up or downstream to find more secluded areas that are much quieter and less people.

• Costs: Free

Note: Even in the wide sections, the current is strong. Test the water with your feet before committing to a jump.

IMPORTANT: If you intend on swimming here you’ll need to cover yourself respectfully. This is not an appropriate area for bikinis.

Our Lombok Loop Bawak Goak Sesaot Review

Bawak Goak Sesaot is a hidden attraction in Lombok that our local riders like to relax at when they’re not working on the Lombok Loop. This location is not known by many tourists however after our time here it is evident that this is an awesome place to visit when exploring Lombok.

Arriving at Bawak Goak Sesaot

We parked the motorbikes along the main road next to the Masjid Nurul Ikhlas sesaot Mosque and the parking officer arranged the bikes. We then walked along the long yellow wall with small shops/houses to the left side until we reached a small bridge with clear running water underneath and a big green sign reading Bawak Goak Sesaot.

We continued to walk along the path and paid the Rp 3,000 entry fee before passing more small pools filled with orange koi fish and then found ourselves at the base of the main rainbow bridge. The roaring river was filled with many local families enjoying river tubing and eating at the restaurants. We arrived quite late around 2 pm on a Saturday.

Our riders mentioned this is the busiest time to visit and if we wanted less people then during the week or early mornings are the best times to arrive.

After walking over the bridge we found small restaurants serving delicious chicken satay sticks and banana leaf wrapped rice with local prices between Rp 20,000 – Rp 50, 000. One of our Riders families runs the first stall as you enter on the left and we all sat and enjoyed lunch and of course Lombok coffee.

The river has a range of sections to which you can swim and also you can rent tubes to float around. The main attraction here is the rapid tubing experience which has you getting all geared up with helmets, elbow pads and a tube and setting off down the river with guides. We didn’t have time to do this however it looked very fun!

Note: Bawak Goak Sesaot is self-funded by the locals so spending your money here helps to improve services and quality.

After lunch we all set off downstream to find a more secluded area for swimming. The rapids slow and the river widens (there is a lot of force so be careful where you choose to swim). We walked around 15 minutes along the nearby rice fields dodging the mud and chickens before finding a small area which had a big rock and an area to relax. We stayed here for about an hour before returning the way we came back to the motorbike.

That’s a wrap for our Bawak Goak Sesaot guide. If you’re planning your Lombok trip, check out our blog for more local tips and hidden spots across the island.

If you want the full Lombok experience without the planning join our epic Lombok Loop trip. We depart weekly from Senggigi and Kuta Lombok, hitting all the beaches, waterfalls, and hidden gems we love. While Bawak Goak Sesaot isn’t on the standard route, our riders are always stoked to help you find your way here once the loop is finished.