The Secret Gili Islands: Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak Lombok

The Secret Gili Islands: Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak Lombok

Complete island hopping and snorkeling guide to the secret Gili Islands off Lombok, Indonesia; Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak. Explore these hidden island gems on an island hopping tour from Lombok and experience a true hidden gem in Indonesia!

Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak are three epic southwestern Lombok islands hidden from their frenetic cousins ​​to the north. Also known as the secret Gili Islands in southwest Lombok, they are known for incredible snorkeling and are actually not that secret.

But compared to the more famous “Gili Islands,” these are a remarkably more peaceful and remote Lombok destination.

For those looking for a more authentic Lombok experience, visiting the Sekotong Coast and the island-dotted coastline will be a new sigh of relief. Here you'll find epic coral reefs, tiny tropical sandbars and palm-fringed islands without a tourist in sight.

In this blog post I will describe my experience on the Secret Gili Islands Night Hopping Tour, where I visited Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak and camped under the stars on the tiny island of Gili Kedis.

secret Gili Islands video

Below is a video I made of my experience camping on Gili Kedis and exploring the nearby secret Gili Islands.

How to get to the secret Gili Islands off Lombok?

Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak are located in the Sekotong region. Although there is some tourist infrastructure here, it is still very rough and it will be difficult to find regular transport here.

As there is no regular shuttle or public transport to Sekotong, you will need to arrange private transport. After asking around, I found that the cheapest and easiest option was a metered Bluebird taxi which cost me IDR 27,000 from Senggigi.

Once you arrive in Sekotong, there are a number of small boats at the main harbor that occasionally offer island hopping trips to Gili Nanggu, Gili Kedis and Gili Sudak. The quality of these island hopping trips is a godsend and the price varies dramatically depending on the size of your trip.

However, if you don't want to waste time, I highly recommend simply booking a tour to the Secret Gili Islands, available from either Senggigi or Kuta Lombok and including round-trip transport.

Book: Full-day snorkeling tour to Gili Nanggu, Sudak and Kedis islands

However, if you prefer to stay on Gili Kedis, you should definitely visit Feel Lombok. These guys run an incredible tour (the one I did) and are some of my best friends in Lombok.

READ MORE: 12 EPIC THINGS TO DO IN GILI TRAWANANGAN

Secret Gili Islands Hopping and Camping Trip

While day trips for island hopping and snorkeling are popular, by far the best way to see the secret Gili Islands of Sekotong's Gili Kidis, Gili Nanguu and Gili Sudak is on a camping trip.

As far as I know, Feel Lombok is the only travel company that organizes overnight trips.

BOOK NOW: SW Secret Gilis Snorkeling, Island Hopping and Camping Trip

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Gili Nanggu Snorkeling

After arriving at Sekotong Port, a Lombok island hopping trip to Secret Gilis and Gili Kedis usually begins with snorkeling at Gili Nanggu.

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

The atmosphere on Gili Nanggu is extremely relaxed. There's almost nothing going on here, which is a relief from the constant tourist hustle and bustle of Kuta Lombok or Gili Trawangan. It's easy to see why they call these Gilis the Secret Gili Islands!

However, once you put on your mask and snorkel, you will find one of the most diverse snorkeling spots in Lombok. There are huge schools of fish of all colors and even a bio-reef formed around a sunken berugak (traditional pavilion). If you're lucky, you might even see a turtle or two making their way from Gili Kedis and the other islands.
alt=“GILI NANGGU SNORKELING”>SNORKELING WITH HUGE SCHOOLS OF FISH AT THE BIOR REEF ON GILI NANGGU

Gili Nanggu snorkeling tip

While the snorkeling on Gili Nanggu is high quality throughout the island, if you swim over to the northeast tip you will find some larger sections of hard coral. Just remember not to touch or handle corals.

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Gili Sudak

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

If you decide to go on a camping trip, stop in Gili Sudak to get 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 don't cut down trees or leave trash behind.

If you're just here for a snorkeling and island hopping tour of the secret Gili Islands, you can still visit Gili Sudak.
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alt=“GILI SUDAK, FIREWOOD FOR CAMPING ON GILI KEDIS”>COLLECTING FIREWOOD ON GILI SUDAK

Gili Kedis Camping on the island of Lombok

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

Gili Kedis is also the sunset spot of choice on the island. You can watch the sun dip below the horizon, illuminating the floating pearl farms and tiny islands on the Sekotong coast.

After sunset, our tour cooked a traditional BBQ dinner with fresh fish, vegetables, rice, tempeh and tofu. We then sat around the campfire, watched the stars and learned some local Sasak songs from the talented guitarist and singer; Ilham.
alt=“GILI KEDIS LOMBOK, ISLAND HOPPING SEKOTONG”>
alt=“GILI KEDIS LOMBOK, SUNSET ISLAND”>SUNSET ON GILI KEDIS
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Accommodation near the secret Gili Islands

Overnight in Sekotong

Because this reign is somewhat hidden. To save money on transportation, I would recommend staying a few nights in this largely unexplored part of Lombok, Indonesia to see the best things to do. Here are my top tips for budget accommodation.

MY SEKOTONG ACCOMMODATION: Krisna BungalowsKrisna Bungalows and Restaurant is located in Pelangan, not far from Sekotong Port. Sekotong Beach is just a step away from the room door. Each double room is equipped with a fan and a bathroom and is conveniently located in a quiet area. You also get a free breakfast and there is motorbike rental next door so you can explore the best things to do in Sekotong yourself!

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BUDGET HOMESTAY: Pelangi HomestayPelangi Homestay Bungalow has a sun terrace and a garden, as well as a private beach area. There is Wi-Fi throughout the property and there is a free breakfast included. Pelangi Homestay Bungalow also offers snorkeling trips to the surrounding islands. This is a great place to stay and costs $17 per night.

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SEKOTONG RETREAT: Silver Fern Beach RetreatIf you are looking for a place in Lombok, Indonesia to escape the crowds, meet amazing people and relax by the swimming pool, then this is the place. Breakfast is included and the owners can organize plenty of tours and activities in Lombok.

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MORE EPIC SECRET GILI ISLANDS PHOTOS

Looking for more Lombok Island travel inspiration? Here are a few more photos from my trip to Gili Kedis and the secret Gili Islands!
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alt=“GILI KEDIS LOMBOK, ISLAND HOPPING SEKOTONG”>
alt="GILI ISLAND NANGGU LOMBOK">
alt=“GILI KEDIS CAMPING TRIP FEEL LOMBOK”>

BEFORE YOU GO: DON'T MISS THE COMPLETE LOMBOK TRAVEL GUIDE

PIN FOR LATER

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