Gili Asahan is one of the “secret Gili islands” and it’s the most popular of these Gili Islands because it’s one of the few secret Gili islands to have resort accommodation available.
Some of the other islands you encounter on an island-hopping tour of this area have nothing but a beach to sit on.
Our guide to Gili Asahan will you enjoy the island to the fullest and help you plan your trip to this part of Indonesia.
Where Is Gili Asahan?
The secret Gili islands are all off the south coast of Lombok, Indonesia. Lombok is the island opposite Bali to the East.
It is not as popular with tourists and is not as well developed as Bali. This
How To Get To Gili Asahan?
Firstly, you will need to get to Lombok, Indonesia. If you’re coming from Bali, you can either fly to South Lombok or you can catch a fast boat or a ferry.
We should warn you that while the boat journeys to Lombok are generally unproblematic if the weather gets rough, you may find that you get very seasick.
If you want to visit the secret Gili islands, you will need to either hire a private boat or join a boat tour of the area.
There are plenty of boat tour company choices (for example, Adventure Divers Lombok are very popular) and most secret Gili tours incorporate Gili Asahan.
When Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit This Tiny Island?
We would always recommend that you go on island hopping trips during the dry season.
Not because the rain is a major impediment to having a good time in the rainy season (we still get 8 hours of sun each day on average at that time of year) but because rain can make a boat trip much harder on you than it needs to be.
So minimize the risks of rain and opt for the dry season.
Is There An Entrance Fee For The Tiny Islands On An Island Hopping Trip?
No, while you will be expected to pay for any activities you take part in, for accommodation, food, drinks, etc. you will not be charged entrance fees for the islands themselves.
What To Expect On The Island?
This is a place of outstanding natural beauty which provides a real break from civilization and crowds. There is not much to do on these islands.
You’re there to enjoy the sun, sand and sea and fall into the pace of island life. You will know whether this is your idea of a good time, already.
What To Do?
This is not a destination with a ton of entertainment options. It’s a place that people enjoy on an island hopping tour. You can find a hotel with a swimming pool, go snorkeling by the coral reefs and explore the marine life and wander the small island paradise to find:
Bukit Batu Nangkok Seribu Tangga Observation Deck – it’s an observation deck that lets you look out over the ocean to the next island and enjoy being on this true hidden gem of an island.
North Cape Gili Asahan – this is also an observation point over the water and you can see huge schools of fish in the ocean below.
Gili Asahan Utara – this is a small botanical garden consisting of a diverse variety of plants on the island (and a few trees).
Abandoned Pearl Farm – this is indeed abandoned and falling to pieces but if you want to enjoy yourself after taking some photos, rent some snorkelling gear and hit the water in front of the private beach area as it’s home to some of the best fish on the island.
Where To Stay At Gili Asahan
This island is one of the places you can stay when island hopping among the Secret Gilis and thus, there are several resorts for you to enjoy on the island and our favourites include:
Gili Asahan Eco Lodge & Restaurant – a lovely spot with the best ice cream on the island. It’s very affordable too.
Bleu Mathis Gili Asahan – a fabulous and quite upscale resort for the location with an amazing view over the ocean and sunset. It’s a great place to get away from it all.
Amahelia Luxury Resort & Restaurant – a proper paradise spot with some of the best food and drinks on the island.
Pearl Beach Resort – the most isolated resort on the small island quite expensive for what it is, but super peaceful.
Taman Fajar Gili Asahan – a simple and comfortable resort that offers high-end hospitality.
Where To Eat At Gili Asahan
The majority of restaurants on the island are part of resorts but there are a handful of independent places too:
Sand Restaurant Gili Asahan – is a fabulous restaurant that serves the best food for reasonable prices and which has an exceptional cocktail menu too.
NAGA Restaurant – a lovely Asian restaurant which is part of the Amahelia grounds. If you like amazing Indonesian dishes, this is the place to be.
Pulau Restaurant – a new place directly on the sand of the beach with a very varied and interesting menu.
Nautilus Restaurant – if you’re in the mood for Italian food, this is your best and only option on the island. Their pizzas are surprisingly good too.
Other Secret Gili Islands For Island Hopping Trips
Gili Sudak
Gili Sudak is just across the water from Gili Nanggu and if you go Gili Nanggu snorkeling you could almost swim between them (we’d recommend catching a boat though).
There is nothing on Gili Sudak and you need to bring everything you need with you and take your trash with you when you leave.
Gili Kedis
The smallest of all the Gili Islands, Gili Kedis is a great place for a photo stop but you can’t stay on Gili Kedis and you can walk from one side to the other and back again in less than a minute!
Gile Gede
An inhabited island with a welcoming and friendly population great for a longer stay.
Gili Nanggu
With only a single resort and restaurant, this small island is ideal for a day trip.
Gili Tangkong
This place probably won’t stay unspoiled for much longer as there are plans to develop it in the offing.
So, we’d recommend you go now before that happens.
Gili Layar
An amazing spot for snorkeling and there are some resorts you can stay in.
Gili Rengit
This island is famous for sea cows or dugongs. It’s very much worth visiting if you snorkel or dive.
The Main Gili Islands
More on the beaten path, than the Secret Gili Islands, there are the three main Gili Islands. These are experiencing something of an upswing in popularity at the moment and some reports say that they’ve become somewhat overcrowded as a result.
However, they’re much easier than the secret Gili islands to reach from mainland Bali.
Gili Trawangan
The largest of the three islands and famous for its party vibe. Gili T is popular with backpackers who come to drink and stay up late.
If that’s not your idea of a good time, you should head somewhere else as the party will go on all night long and you will be able to hear it, even if you’re not taking part.
Gili Meno
Is the smallest of the three islands and it has a very low-key chilled-out vibe. It’s ap place you go for a romantic retreat or to take a book and lay out in the sun all day long.
Gili Air
Gili Air is becoming more and more like Gili T every day and that means this once pleasant oasis of calm is now party central too.
FAQs
What To Do In Gili Asahan?
Not that much. You can go snorkelling among the coral restoration structures. You can enjoy the white sand on the beach, relax on the sun terrace of your hotel, swim in a private pool at your resort and enjoy fresh fish and nasi goreng at the local restaurants.
People come to Lombok and the Secret Gilis to get away from fast-paced tourism and this is the first island on most island hopping tour itineraries because this little island has hotels and restaurants. Many of the other Secret Gili Islands do not.
Can You Walk Around Gili Asahan?
Yes. It takes about an hour and a half to walk around the perimeter of the island and it’s a lovely walk.
It’s best not to go at high tide, mind you, as it can make some parts impassable but even if you’re only on a day trip, you should be able to circumnavigate this island with ease.
How To Get From Gili T to Gili Asahan?
You will need to get a ferry from Gili Trawangan to Gili Gede and then take a transfer boat to Asahan. This takes about 90 minutes in total.
What Are The Secret Gili Islands?
There is no official definition of the Secret Gili Islands and many lists contain different islands.
Popular islands on most lists include Gili Gede, Gili Sudak, Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu, Gili Tangkong, Gili Layar and Gili Rengit.
What Are The Hidden Islands In Lombok?
They’re not really hidden but the Secret Gili Islands consist of several islands including Gili Gede, Gili Sudak, Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu, Gili Tangkong, Gili Layar and Gili Rengit.
Which Are The Lesser Known Gili Islands?
The Secret Gili Islands are the lesser-known Gili Islands and they include Gili Gede, Gili Sudak, Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu, Gili Tangkong, Gili Layar and Gili Rengit.
Are There Police On Gili T?
There is no permanent police presence on Gili Trawangan or any of the other Gili islands. However, that doesn’t mean they are a free for all or lawless.
Local people can often provide temporary policing/security services until a police officer can reach the island from the mainland.
Is Gili More Expensive Than Bali?
Yes, and no. If you want goods that need to be imported from the mainland, then they tend to be slightly more expensive to reflect the costs of transport.
But if you want to eat fresh fish caught on the beach and stay locally, the Gili islands can be very cheap places to stay.
Final Thoughts On An Island Hopping Tour Including Gili Asahan
If you intend to visit the secret Gilis then Asahan has to be the first island on your list for an island-hopping tour of the area.
The three islands group that it is part of are usually people’s top choice of spot in this part of Lombok, Indonesia. Then you can enjoy the other islands at your leisure.
However, we do have to note that they’re not much to do in this part of Indonesia and if you want much more than a bit of snorkelling while the call to prayer rings out in the background, you may find the Secret Gili Islands a bit constraining.
