You probably heard about the famous Gili Islands as a popular holiday destination. But do you know the Secrets Gili's? Let's find out why these are worth your time more than the trio in the North.
Lombok gili’s
First of all, gili is not a name for a place. Gili translates as small island in the local language of Lombok, Sasak. That's just like nusa is used for the islands surrounding Bali. The main island of Lombok is surrounded by many more gili’s than the famous three.
Officially, there are even 35 small gili islands listed in total. But according to locals, Lombok has much more than that. Some of them, which are so small, will disappear when the sea water is high. So it's safe to say that not all gili’s have residents. And some of them literally only consist of sand because they're so small.
Origin of the Secret Gili’s
The vibe of the Secret Gili’s is extremely relaxed. That’s because they are still less popular than the main Gili Islands trio. That's why these are called 'Secret’ Gili’s. The small islands we’re talking about are located in the Sekotong Bay. The distance between them is relatively close. You can even explore some of them on a one day trip.
Visiting the Secret Gili's
If you either fly in from your country or from within Indonesia, you will arrive at the international airport on the main island of Lombok. However, if you come by boat from Bali (Sanur or Padang Bai port), you will arrive at the famous trio within 4 hours by medium-sized speed boat.
To visit the Secret Gili’s, you’ll have to head towards Sekotong, past Lembar harbour. There you can rent a small local boat which takes you to the preferred island or islands. Some of them share the same path so that you can immediately visit 3 or 4 during a single day trip.
And even if you book accommodation on Gili, the accommodation will sometimes pick you up from the main island.
There are several areas that you can visit. You have Gili Asahan furthest to the West, Gili Gede in the middle and Gili Nanggu closest to the harbour.
Gili Asahan
This Secret Gili is located in West Lombok, Sekotong area. The ecosystem on Gili Asahan is seagrass and mangrove. You can even find 6 types of seagrass out of 13 types that grow in Indonesia. This island is suitable for Lombok diving, because of several famous diving and snorkelling spots:
- Secret Garden: Suitable for those of you who like underwater photos, because it has visibility of up to 25 metres with various kinds of coral reefs. Secret Garden is also home to nudibranchs (sea slugs and sea rabbits).
- Sangking Point: It has dynamic waters that can have a current or can be calm. Here you’ll have visibility up to 30 metres.
- Belongan: Here there is a cluster of pinnacle coral with a diameter of 2 metres and a height of around 5 metres. Plus you’ll encounter frogfish and lobsters.
If you want to stay and explore longer, there are also resorts and lodgings like the Gili Asahan Eco Lodge. Other accommodations on this small island are Bleu Mathis and Pearl Beach Resort.
Gili Gede
You shouldn’t just explore Gili Asahan, you can travel to several nearby Secret Gili’s such as Gili Gede, Gili Layar, Gili Rengit, and Gili Layar. This area is no less good and also has snorkelling and diving spots.
For instance Gili Gede which is famous for the turtles that roam around it. Or Gili Rengit which is famous for dugongs. And don't forget the hidden gem spot, Stairs to Medang or The Lighthouse. This type of hard coral reef is the habitat of trevally, barracuda, and white tip reef sharks.
Gili Nanggu
Geographically, this trio Secret Gili’s which is Gili Nanggu, Sudak and Kedis is in a special area. They are located between the transition of the warm water of the Pacific Ocean which has low salt content and the water of the Indian Ocean.
The Wallacea region is a meeting point for various organisms from various parts of the world. And because of that, the nickname of Gili Nanggu (sometimes Gili Nangg) as aquarium island is not without reason. The seawater around this area is really clear like an aquarium.
Simply put, it’s one of the best places for snorkelling in Lombok. The water around these three islands is very calm, almost without waves. This is because they are located further inland, so the currents of the Lombok Strait don't really have a significant effect.
It’s very soothing, and looks like a swimming pool. Therefore it’s suitable for those of you who are on holiday with your family. Suitable for beginners or children and teenagers with supervision.
Of the three Secret Gili’s, only Gili Sudak and Gili Nanggu have hotel facilities. This island is small, but still has decent facilities compared to its size. Then in just 10 minutes by kayak, you will reach Gili Kedis. Kedis stands for small in the local language. It only has an area of 3 hectares, which means that you can explore it in 5 minutes.
Best Secret Gili activities
Apart from snorkelling, freediving, and diving, like we mentioned before, you can try other things when visiting the Secret Gili’s.
- As there are no vehicles on the small islands, you can get around the islands by renting a horse and going horse riding.
- At the Belongan spot you can go snorkelling and diving at night. This is only recommended during a full moon to get a completely different perspective of the underwater world.
- With the approval of locals, you can head for a camping trip on an uninhabited island. Imagine, a bonfire on a night filled with stars in the sky.
- Finally, if you’re looking for more activity, you can go canoeing or kayaking around and between the islands.
You can still ask the locals for other activities if you really get bored. Or you can head back to the mainland. Boats are generally always available to transport you.
Time to prepare
If you're wondering if you should visit the Gili Islands or Lombok, then these secret gili's are worth considering. You get a vibe similar to three famous ones, but you don't have to spend so much time to reach them. A daytrip suffices.
Don't forget that these are mostly small, natural islands. This means that you can witness pure nature, which also has a drawback of limited or no facilities. So, depending on the island you need to prepare snacks, cash, mineral water, sunblock, and mosquito repellent.
Always go to the bathroom while you can. Because some very small gili don't even have them. Lastly, get enough physical rest. You will be doing outdoor activities, and maybe camping or visiting a simple accommodation on a small island which can be less comfortable after a long journey.
Therefore, while you are still on the main island, you should rest in a place of full comfort. Including one where they serve great food. This of course you can get at Amazing Lombok Resort.
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Last updated on: 08 August 2026