Where Gili Nanggu, Sudak and Kedis are
Lombok has two groups of Gili islands. The northern three, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, are the famous ones, off the north-west coast. The southern Gilis are scattered off Sekotong, a district on the south-western arm of Lombok and part of West Lombok Regency.
Gili is the Sasak word for a small island, which is why so many islands around Lombok carry the name. The Sasak are Lombok's largest community, and their language is still spoken across the island.
Nanggu, Sudak and Kedis are three of the best known in the southern group. They lie close together, so a single boat trip can take in all three. My page on Sekotong and Buwun Mas covers the wider district.
How to get to the southern Gilis
There is no road to the islands. You get there by boat from the Sekotong shore, and most people go out for the day on a local boat.
Getting to Sekotong comes first:
| Starting point | Rough time to Sekotong |
|---|---|
| Lombok International Airport | Roughly 90 minutes to two hours by car |
| Lembar ferry port | Around three-quarters of an hour |
Lembar is the port for ferries from Bali, so it is possible to come across by sea and reach the islands without flying.
Sea conditions change with the weather and the season. Go with an experienced local boat operator, check the conditions on the day and wear a life jacket.
Why the water around Gili Nanggu, Sudak and Kedis is calm
The bays along this part of the Sekotong coast are sheltered. On a typical day the water around the southern Gilis is calm and clear, and that is a large part of their appeal.
Calm, clear water makes the islands popular for swimming and snorkelling. It also makes them fragile. Coral is easily damaged, so a few simple habits help:
- don't stand on coral or touch it
- don't feed the fish
- take every piece of rubbish back to the mainland
Planning a day trip to the southern Gilis
A few practical points make the day easier:
- Timing. Lombok's dry season generally runs from about May to October, and the wet season from about November to April.
- Supplies. Facilities on the smallest islands are limited. Bring water, shade and sun protection.
- Cash. Small local operators often prefer cash in rupiah, so carry some.
- Respect. Lombok is mostly Muslim, and modest dress away from the beach is appreciated in villages on the mainland.
The islands reward a slow day more than a rushed one. For anyone used to Bali's busier beaches, that contrast is the point. There are far fewer people, the pace is gentler and the day is shaped by the boat and the weather rather than a schedule.
Why the area has stayed quiet
The quiet isn't an accident. Several things kept Sekotong off most travel plans for a long time.
Roads. For years, getting down the peninsula by road was slow. That alone kept most day-trippers and developers away.
Land titles. Many coastal plots have passed down through families and were never given modern certificates. Anyone who wants clean title has to go through court rulings and BPN records, one parcel at a time. Kinnara Capital has spent years doing exactly that in Buwun Mas.
Famous neighbours. With Bali across the strait and the northern Gilis an easy boat ride from the north-west coast, most visitors simply never looked south-west.
None of these reasons was about the place itself. The beaches and islands were always here.
What I hope stays the same
Sekotong is starting to change. Visitor numbers across Nusa Tenggara Barat, the province that includes Lombok, are rising, and more people are discovering the south-west. My page on why I build on Lombok explains the wider picture.
My view is that small islands like these should stay small. Day visitors, local boats and clean water are what make them worth the trip. Big construction on the islands themselves would trade that away.
Our own project, Saraya Beach Resort & Residences, is on the Sekotong peninsula itself, not on the Gilis. I'd like guests there to see the islands the way they are now, with local boatmen who know the water.
That also means the community around Sekotong should share in the visitors who come. Kinnara Capital's community days and school support are a start, and local jobs in tourism are the longer-term answer.