How to Visit the Secret Gili Islands in Lombok

Learn how to island hop and snorkel at the Secret Gilis of Lombok.

Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu, and Gili Sudak are four epic southwest Lombok Islands tucked away from their frenetic island cousins in the north. Nicknamed the Secret Gili Islands of southwest Lombok, they’re known for incredible snorkeling and actually aren’t really that secret.

But, compared to the more famous Gili Islands like Gili T, these are remarkably more peaceful and off-the-beaten-path Lombok travel destinations.

I’ve visited these islands several times now on camping trips and day trips. In this blog post, I’ll outline my experiences to help you plan a day or overnight Secret Gilis Island hopping experience.

How to Get to the Secret Gilis of Lombok

Due to being a far more remote region of the island, getting here takes a little bit of planning. Below I'll break down each option but here's an overview.

• Option 1: Book an Island Hopping Day Trip - The easiest way to reach the Secret Gilis is on a full-day snorkeling tour from Lombok, which includes hotel pickup in popular tourist areas like Sengiggi or Mataram.
• Option 2: Public Transport Route - For a more independent approach, take a metered Bluebird Taxi to Sekotong for approximately 27,000 IDR from Senggigi. From Sekotong, you'll find small boats at the main harbor offering island-hopping trips to Gili Nanggu, Gili Kedis, and Gili Sudak, (though prices and quality may vary).
• On the Lombok Loop - While not officially one of the stops on the famous Lombok Loop, the co-founder of the loop was also the first to offer Gili Kedis camping trips. Therefore, most Sundays you have the option of including a Gili Kedis camping night after the loop.

Option 2: Public Transport Route

Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu, and Gili Sudak are located in the region of Sekotong. While there is some tourist infrastructure here, it's still very raw, and finding regular transport here will be difficult.

Since there are no regular shuttles or public transport services to Sekotong, you'll have to organize private transport. After asking around, I found that the cheapest and easiest option was to get a metered Bluebird Taxi, which cost me 27,000 IDR from Senggigi.

• Once you arrive in Sekotong, there are a number of small boats at the main harbor that opportunistically offer island-hopping trips to Gili Nanggu, Gili Kedis, and Gili Sudak.
• Quality for these island-hopping trips are hit and miss and price will vary dramatically depending on the size of your group.

Therefore the independent route can often work out more expensive than just booking the local tour above.

My Experience Visiting the Secret Gilis

Wondering what to expect on the islands of Gili Nanggu, Gili Kedis, and Gili Sudak? Below is a breakdown of my trip with highlights so you know what to expect once you arrive.

Snorkeling at Gili Nanggu

After arriving in Sekotong Harbour, a Secret Gilis island hopping trip usually begins with snorkeling on the beautiful Gili Nanggu island.

Gili Nanggu is one of the largest of these islands and even has a resort at the back. The main beach is a stretch of white sand on the southern tip, which backs onto a pristine coral reef.

The vibe at Gili Nanggu is extremely relaxed. There's almost nothing going on here, which is a relief from the constant tourist buzz of Kuta Lombok or Gili Trawangan.

However, once you strap on your mask and snorkel, you'll find one of the most diverse snorkeling locations on Lombok. In my opinion the underwater life here is more vibrant and healthy than what I experienced snorkeling on the Gili Islands.

There are huge schools of fish of all colors and even a bio-reef formed around a sunken berugak (traditional gazebo).

If you're lucky, you might even spot the odd turtle making its way from Gili Kedis and the other islands.

Exploring Gili Sudak

Before heading to Gili Kedis, the boat will stop at Gili Sudak. Compared to the other islands off Sekotong, Gili Sudak is probably the least impressive. However, here you'll find an authentic Lombok Island experience. There are no resorts or tourist infrastructure, just rows of palm trees, some cows and small local huts.

If you choose to join in on a camping trip, you'll stop at Gili Sudak to get some firewood. There is a healthy supply of dry and old wood on this island. What I liked about Feel Lombok's island camping tour is that they use resources sustainably, and they didn't cut down any trees or leave any rubbish behind.

If you're only here for a Secret Gili Islands snorkeling and island hopping tour, you'll still get to check out Gili Sudak.

Arriving at Gili Kedis: The Honeymoon Island

The last island is my personal favorite; Gili Kedis. It's a tiny sandbar island that you can walk across in about 15 seconds. There's not much here, just a small swing, some benches, a hut, an outdoor toilet, and a few trees.

Gili Kedis is also the island sunset spot of choice. You'll get to watch as the sun sets behind the horizon, lighting up the floating pearl farms and tiny islands that dot the Sekotong coastline.

After sunset, our tour cooked a traditional BBQ dinner of fresh fish, vegetables, rice, tempeh, and tofu. We then sat around the campfire, watched the stars, and learned some local Sasak songs by the talented guitarist and singer; Ilham.

More Photos from the Secret Gili Islands

I hope you've enjoyed this quick guide to visiting these hidden Islands in southwest Lombok! While you're still here, make sure to check out some of my other travel guides to the region below.

Looking for more travel inspiration? Here are some more photos from my trip below.