The Sasak Trails & Horse Cart Riding
The Sasak Trails
&
Horse Cart Riding
Lombok’s inhabitants, the Sasak, still protect their way of life and ways to make a living for
generations, as their skills in handicraft and art have withstood the tests of modern
times. A horse-drawn carriage ride makes the trip even more authentic.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Sasak traditions are kept alive and nurtured on Lombok. The Sasak people are the indigenous people of this Indonesian island and have a proud and rich cultural heritage that stands firm to date.
Although closely related to the Balinese, the Sasak people remain predominantly Muslim compared to the more Hinduist majority and influences, found in Bali. As tightly-knitted to what their ancestors have created, handicraft, and the finer art of making beautiful objects, remains the primary source of income of the inhabitants.
TRAIL ITINERARY
08:00 - 16:00
After a good night’s sleep at your hotel along Senggigi and Mataram (other regions come with supplementary charges), your guide and driver for the day welcome you at your hotel lobby and head out to the first stop of the day. The Kediri Traditional Market is one of the best places to see the locals going about with their business – trade here has not changed in centuries so what you will see here is how it has been going on for generations. At the end of the market, we hop on a ‘Cidomo’ – a horse-drawn carriage that is quite the popular means to travel around the market and nearby village.
The trip ends at Banyumulek village, the centre for pottery on Lombok. Skilled artists still use ancient techniques in turning clay into daily household objects. Next will be the weaving village of Sukarare; if patience is a virtue, then this is the place where one can admire the creation of stunning, brightly-patterned songkets, ikat and clothes for sarongs. Your guide will clearly explain the various functions of this fabric. Finally, the village of Sade has to be one of the more unique places on the islands – villagers primarily use buffalo dung to create their lodges, and these processes still are used.
We head out to Kuta Beach, Lombok’s answer to sugar-white beaches and views over the waters of the Lombok Strait (Laut Lombok). Lunch will be served here at a local restaurant with a great location along Kuta. Before we move back to your resort, we make our final stop at the Mayura Water Palace. Close to 400 years old, this palace houses the King’s former family temple and is proclaimed a holy pilgrimage site for the Hindus living on Lombok. After leaving the palace compound, we head back to your hotel where you will arrive at around 4 pm.