Located on the south western tip of Lombok and accessible by short boat ride from the village of Sekotong lie a group of islands commonly referred to as the Secret Gili’s. Many of the smaller islands are totally uninhabited and a number offer beachside cafes but have no accomodation so it is important to do some research beforehand as it will be necessary on some islands to plan ahead and carry your own supply of water.
But where some of these islands may lack facilities, they make up for it with all the best features that tropical paradise has to offer, namely powder white soft sand, crystal clear blue waters and pristine coral reefs with an abundance of marine life. And the beauty of having a large number of closely connected islands to choose from is that you can find one that offers accommodation to use as your base and spend your days island hopping from one tropical paradise to the next.
The secret Gilis are spread into two main clusters with a small number of tiny islands scattered in between. The largest island in the group unsurprisingly has the widest choice of accommodation. Gili Gede is a short boat ride from the western end of Sektong Beach and comprises 5 villages spread over 260 hectares of land. From Gili Gede it is a short trip by boat to the islands of Gili Asahan, Gili Layar, Gili Rengit and Gili Anyaran. Accommodation is also available at Gili’s Asahan and Layar.
A further group of 4 islands are accessible from the eastern end of Sekotong Beach. The largest, Gili Sudak offers comfortable accommodation and onward travel to the islands of Gili Kedis, (think tiny, Robinson Crusoe style paradise) Gili Tangkong (great beachside cafe) and Gili Nanggu (which also offers accommodation.)
Although the Secret Gili’s are slowly becoming much more well known they are still far enough off the beaten track that accommodation is generally cheaper here than on other islands around Lombok making these islands perfect for budget travellers as well as those looking for a slice of untouched natural beauty far from the tourist hordes.
A number of tour operators also offer day trips to either the eastern or western clusters of this island group if you find yourself on a tight schedule.
Getting there – The secret Gili’s are located off the Sekotong Peninsula on Lombok’s south west coast. They can be reached from Mataram or Kuta, Lombok but it is also possible to take a ferry direct from Bali.