The most famous Gili Islands are Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. They lie between Bali and Lombok in Indonesia and are very popular with tourists.
However, they’re not the only Gili Islands. In fact the word “Gili” means “island” and given that there are over 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago, there are quite a few “Gilis” about.
When we talk about the “Secret Gili Islands”, we’re talking about islands off of the coast of Lombok and there are quite a few of these tiny islands to enjoy if you feel like jumping on a boat and exploring a little.
How To Get To The Secret Gili Islands
There are several Secret Gili Islands but the basics are that you either need to fly to the international airport in Lombok (which will probably be via Bali as the only direct flights to another country are to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and to Singapore from Lombok).
Or you can jump on a boat in Bali and enjoy a four-hour ride to Lombok from Sanur Harbor or the port at Padang Bai.
Then, you need to get to Sekotong Harbour which is down the Southwest coast from Lembar Harbour or Bangsal Harbour.
From there, you can hire a boat to visit Gili Asahan, Gili Sudak, Gili Kedis, Gil Tangkong, Gile Gede, Gili Lontar, Gily Layar and Gili Nanggu, Lombok.
You can opt to spend some time on each tiny island depending on the boat operator. It’s always a good idea to opt for islands that are close together such as Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis, when you can.
About Sekotong Harbour
It’s worth staying in this area before you visit the secret Gilis. There are some nice things to do around the harbour and it has some great accommodation options too and it’s all very reasonably priced.
We’d check out:
The beaches – these are epic stretches of white sands that are some of the finest places to chill on Lombok. They’re not very busy and they’re great for surfing, swimming and snorkelling.
The mountain roads – rent a bike or hire a driver and explore the hilly coastline. It’s very beautiful and the road here is brand new and far safer than the average road in Indonesia. There are also plenty of safe parking spots where you can stop to grab awesome shots for your Instagram feed.
Scuba diving – you will find a few diving schools and equipment hire shops in Sekotong and you can get out and see some lovely marine life. Better still, if you’re set up for macro photography the conditions around the harbour area are amazing for perfect shots of sea creatures.
Cliff jumping at Orong Bukal – we don’t really recommend cliff jumping, it’s a dangerous pastime. But if you really love it, the spot at the end of the Orong Bukal hiking trail is perfect for it. The views are epic too!
Seek out Pilling Beach – this is a great pebble beach in Lombok that’s really hard to find. You’ll need a local guide to help you find it.
Surf at Desert Point (Bangko Bangko) – one of the finest left-hand barrels on Earth awaits in the dry season. However, getting there is a serious adventure and it requires some serious off-roading efforts.
The 8 Main Secret Gili Islands
Gili Asahan
The first island of the Secret Gilis is one of the most popular places to visit – Gili Asahan.
It’s part of West Lombok and is one of the finest diving spots in Indonesia. The island itself is pretty much covered in mangrove swamps and white sand beaches occasionally thatched with seagrass.
It takes just two hours to walk around the outside of this island and it’s a lovely walk.
There are hotels on this island (such as the Gili Asahan Eco Lodge and the Pearl Beach Resort) and it’s worth climbing up to the viewing point on Belongan to get the most amazing views of the area.
The restaurants serve amazing local cuisine and fresh fish from the catch of the day.
It’s a peaceful place and even the regular call to prayer seems quieter and more subdued when sitting out under the stars and enjoying the early morning before sunrise.
Gili Nanggu
The next island on our whistle-stop tour of the Secret Gilis is Gili Nanggu, Lombok.
This is, perhaps, the smallest island around with a hotel and there’s absolutely nothing to do here except swim, snorkel and chill.
You won’t be hassled by any vendors on the beach, because there are no vendors to hassle you at all.
The only place to stay is the Gili Nanggu Cottages & Resort and it has the only restaurant on the island too.
We recommend taking more than a day trip to this island, stay awhile and enjoy the vibe.
Why not have a camp-fire on the main beach? It’s the perfect way to reconnect with nature.
Gili Sudak
Next to Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak is almost a short swim away but we’d recommend taking the boat anyway.
There is no hotel or resort of any kind on Gili Sudak and that means if you want to stay overnight, you have to camp.
Bring your own tent, but you can source wood for a fire from the local villagers who forage for old, dry wood – it’s all sustainable, and nobody cuts down any trees for this.
The beach along the shore is absolutely lovely and it has some of the softest sand in the region.
It’s another great place to grab your snorkeling equipment and get out into the clear blue water and see all the fish swimming around.
If you love fishing, you can easily fish straight off the beach at Gili Sudak.
Gili Kedis
The tiniest island and not far from Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak. It takes approximately 15 seconds to walk from one shore to the other!
There’s a hut in the centre along with an outdoor toilet and some trees where you could take a little shade if you needed to.
Otherwise, it’s all sand and it’s one of the perfect places to stop with an Esky full of cold beers and relax as the sunset breaks over the horizon.
It lights up all the pearl farms and boats and islands that you can see from the shores at Gili Kedis and it’s one of the most memorable things you can do anywhere in Indonesia.
It’s certainly better than a night’s partying on Gili Trawangan or Gili Air.
Gili Tangkong
No trash, no hawkers and almost no tourists. That’s what Gili Tangkong offers and it’s one of our favourite places in the Secret Gili Islands.
Like Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis, there are no hotels here, so your island hopping must occur during the middle of the day, so you can move on later.
The nicest way to see this place is from the deck of a private yacht charter but even a local boat ride out and a trek on the sands of the white sand beach is something very special, indeed.
Sadly, there are already plans to develop this island, so we’d recommend that you get there while it remains an unspoiled slice of paradise.
You never know what a new resort will do to a place, sometimes, it’s a huge asset, and sometimes it’s an environmental disaster.
Gili Gede
This island is the kind of place that inspires us all to go island hopping. It’s home to a couple of lovely resorts and fishing villages.
You can watch the local pearl fishermen at work on the beach as they build and paint their wooden boats.
Every beach here is secluded and if you’ve always dreamed of having a sandy beach all to yourself, it’s very easy to realize your dream here.
There are absolutely no cars on this island and you can enjoy walking from place to place with no fear of the traffic you face on the mainlands. There is the occasional scooter, mind you, but the riders are never in a hurry.
Visiting this island is like going back in time to the days before Bali became so popular, everyone stops to say “hello” and you’re warmly welcomed everywhere with no underlying motive to sell you something.
Gili Lontar
This charming almost circular island has beaches all around the circumference and they are of the softest white, almost pink, sands.
There are no inhabitants on this island and no resorts or hotels (planned or otherwise). There are also no toilets, which means your visit to Gili Lontar is likely to be brief as you’re not allowed to urinate on Gili Lontar (seriously).
However, it’s worth stopping here for a few photos of the attractive environment and to see a pink beach without paying the hefty fees required to get into Komodo National Park.
We wouldn’t bother scuba diving or using a snorkel here, for whatever reason, the coral isn’t as varied and doesn’t attract as much ocean life as other islands in the Secret Gili Islands.
Gili Layar
Another resort-free place in the Secret Gili Islands and it’s far less developed as a whole when compared to nearby Gili Asahan and Gede.
However, the snorkelling at this island is absolutely incredible and the marine environment is second to none in our book.
Take some food and drink with you, hit the beach, set up an umbrella and wade out into the turquoise sea and enjoy the perfect clarity of the coastal waters.
Many people say that Gili Layar is their favourite island out of all the Secret Gili Islands and from our short time there, we could see why.
More Gili Islands?
Yes! There are a lot of other Gili islands out there and your island-hopping trips tour of Lombok could go on pretty much forever if you wanted it to.
The Secret Gili Islands are the best known of these islands, ironically.
One other Gili island worth visiting, for example, is Gili Rengit/Gili Ringgitt which is renowned for sea cows or “dugongs”, the creatures that are said to have inspired the legend of mermaids!
FAQs
What Are The Secret Gili Islands?
They are a collection of small islands between Lombok and Bali in Indonesia.
What Are The Hidden Islands In Lombok?
The hidden islands are the islands of Gili Kondo, Gili Bidara and Gili Petagan. They are great places to go snorkeling and if you take your snorkeling equipment to these places, the marine life on each beautiful island is quite incredible.
How Do I Go From Bali To Gili Asahan
You need to get to Sekotong Harbour in Lombok and then rent a boat to take you to Gili Asahan.
What To Do In Gili Asahan?
The main attraction of this one of the secret Gilis is the underwater environment. You will need to go diving or snorkelling to enjoy the Secret Garden or Belongan.
However, you can also climb Sangking Point if you want amazing photos of the ocean.
Is Gili Gede Worth Visiting?
Yes! Gili Gede is famous for the turtles that wander around the island and swim in the waters there. You can snorkel and enjoy the absolutely stunning views underwater.
You need to get to Sekotong Harbour in Lombok, by air and taxi or by boat and taxi from Sanur or Padang Bai, and then rent a boat to take you to Gili Asahan.
How To Arrange A Holiday In The Secret Gili Islands?
You can book a holiday through the Bali Res Centre which specializes in Balinese and local travel. They can ensure your adventure off the beaten path is exactly as you’d hoped.
They can get you competitive deals on hotels, flights, day trips, etc. even in locations that are beyond the current reach of mass tourism.
Final Thoughts On The Secret Gili Islands
The Secret Gili Islands aren’t really a secret. If you spend time on the Southwest Coast of Lombok, everyone knows about them, but they are off the beaten path.
If you’ve always dreamed of having a tropical island all to yourself, even briefly, then island hopping in this area is a great idea.
They are also much nicer islands than the famous three “Gili Islands” which appear to have become a victim of their own success recently with overcharging and late night noise becoming a serious problem.
