The Secret Gilis are a collection of small islands off Lombok's southwest Sekotong coast, offering pristine snorkeling, empty beaches, and crystal-clear water without the crowds of the main Gili Islands. Key islands include Gili Nanggu (most developed), Gili Sudak (tiny and stunning), Gili Kedis (smallest, sandbar island), Gili Layar, and Gili Asahan (best for overnight stays). Visit by chartering a boat from Sekotong.
The main Gili Islands — Trawangan, Air, Meno — are justifiably famous. But they are not Lombok's only island paradise. Scattered off the southwest coast, the Secret Gilis offer something the main trio increasingly cannot: genuine isolation, pristine reefs, and the feeling of discovering something for yourself.
These islands do not appear in most guidebooks. They lack the infrastructure, nightlife, and name recognition of the main Gilis. They are tiny, mostly uninhabited, and require effort to reach. That is precisely their appeal.
### Gili Nanggu — The Accessible Secret
The most developed of the Secret Gilis, Gili Nanggu has a small resort, a restaurant, and the clearest water you may ever see. The island is ringed by white sand and surrounded by coral reef, making it ideal for snorkeling directly from the beach.
The snorkeling here is exceptional. The reef starts just meters from shore and extends into deeper water where currents bring pelagic species. Turtles are common visitors. The coral health is noticeably better than at the main Gilis, likely due to the dramatically lower visitor pressure.
Nanggu is small enough to walk around in 30 minutes, and the interior is mostly coconut palms and scrub. There is nothing to "do" here beyond snorkel, swim, read, and contemplate the color of the water. This is the point.
Getting there: Boat from Tembowong harbor (30-40 minutes). Can also be arranged through the resort directly.
Stay or day trip? Both work. Overnight stays allow sunset and sunrise from the island, which are both superb. Day trips are more common and allow visiting multiple islands.
### Gili Sudak — The Postcard
Tiny and almost perfectly formed, Gili Sudak is a small coral island with brilliant white sand and transparent water. A sandbar extends from one end, creating a shallow wading area that looks like it was designed for Instagram.
There is no accommodation and minimal shade. Bring everything you need — water, food, sunscreen, shade (an umbrella or tent). The snorkeling off the south side is excellent, with healthy coral and good fish diversity.
Sudak's appeal is its miniature perfection. The island is small enough to feel like your own private atoll, especially if you arrive early before any other boats.
### Gili Kedis — The Sandbar
The smallest island in the Secret Gilis group, Gili Kedis is essentially a sandbar with a few palm trees. At low tide, you can walk around it in two minutes. At high tide, the walkable area shrinks further.
Despite its size (or because of it), Kedis is extraordinarily photogenic. The combination of white sand, turquoise water, and a handful of palms against a blue sky creates the archetypal tropical island image. Swimming and snorkeling off the sandbar are delightful in calm conditions.
Do not plan to spend a full day here — there is insufficient shade and space. Kedis works best as a 1-2 hour stop on a multi-island boat trip.
### Gili Layar — The Snorkeler's Choice
Slightly larger than Sudak or Kedis, Gili Layar offers some of the best snorkeling in the Secret Gilis group. The reef surrounding the island is diverse and healthy, with good visibility and reliable marine life sightings.
The island itself has a rocky shoreline on parts, with sandy beaches on others. A small fishing community uses the island occasionally, but there is no permanent accommodation or facilities for tourists.
### Gili Asahan — The Overnight Option
For travelers who want to sleep on a Secret Gili, Asahan is the best choice. The island has several guesthouses and a small resort offering basic but comfortable accommodation. The west-facing aspect provides sunset views toward Bali's skyline.
Asahan is larger than the other Secret Gilis, with enough terrain for walking and a more developed reef system for snorkeling. The diving here is also good, with several sites reachable by short boat ride.
Overnight stays on Asahan are peaceful in a way that the main Gilis no longer offer. No bars, no party boats, no late-night noise — just ocean sounds, stargazing (the light pollution is negligible), and morning swims in empty water.
### Gili Gede — The Largest
Gili Gede is the biggest of the southwest islands and the most developed, with a local community, several accommodation options, and basic infrastructure including small shops and warungs. It serves as a hub for exploring the surrounding smaller islands.
The island's size means it has more diverse terrain — hills, mangroves, beaches, and a functioning village. The cultural element adds dimension: you are not just visiting an uninhabited sandbar but experiencing a small island community's daily life.
Ferry connections to Gili Gede are more regular than to the smaller islands, making it accessible without chartering a private boat.
### Gili Petelu — The Trio
Three tiny islands clustered so closely they appear as one from a distance. The passages between the three create interesting current patterns that concentrate marine life, making the snorkeling here among the richest in the group. Reef sharks are occasionally spotted in the deeper channels.
No accommodation, no facilities — pure island in its most elemental form.
### Gili Rengit — The Dive Site
More notable for its underwater topography than its above-water appeal, Gili Rengit offers dive sites with walls, overhangs, and current-swept channels that attract larger marine species. Snorkeling is also good but the diving is the primary draw.
### From Where
The Secret Gilis are accessed from the Sekotong area on Lombok's southwest coast. Key departure points include Tembowong harbor and Taun harbor. Both are approximately 90 minutes by car from Kuta Lombok or 60 minutes from Senggigi.
### Boat Charter
The standard approach is chartering a boat for a half or full day. A typical itinerary visits 3-4 islands with snorkeling stops. Costs depend on boat size, number of islands, and negotiation.
Half-day (4-5 hours, 3 islands): IDR 400,000-600,000 for a small boat (2-4 people). Larger boats for groups cost IDR 800,000-1,200,000.
Full-day (7-8 hours, 4-5 islands): IDR 600,000-800,000 for a small boat. Group boats IDR 1,000,000-1,500,000. Full-day trips include more distant islands and longer snorkel stops.
Prices include the boat and pilot. Snorkeling gear rental is usually available for an additional IDR 30,000-50,000 per set, though bringing your own is preferable for hygiene and fit.
### What to Bring
The Secret Gilis have minimal infrastructure. Pack accordingly.
### Combining with Sekotong
The Sekotong peninsula itself merits exploration. The coastline features quiet beaches, simple warungs serving fresh seafood, and a pace of life dramatically slower than Lombok's tourist areas. Consider basing yourself in Sekotong for 2-3 nights: one day for the Secret Gilis boat trip, one day for coastal exploration, and one day for relaxation.
Accommodation in Sekotong is limited but growing. Several beachfront properties offer comfortable rooms at prices significantly below Kuta Lombok or Senggigi equivalents. The sunset views — west across the strait toward Bali — are consistently magnificent.
The comparison is not about better or worse — the experiences are fundamentally different.
Main Gilis (Trawangan, Air, Meno): Established infrastructure, diverse accommodation, restaurants, nightlife (T), dive shops, social atmosphere, regular boat connections. More convenient, more social, more facilities.
Secret Gilis (Nanggu, Sudak, Kedis, etc.): Minimal infrastructure, limited or no accommodation, pristine reefs, complete isolation, no nightlife, charter boat access. More adventurous, more remote, more natural.
Most travelers will prefer one or the other based on travel style. But including both in a Lombok itinerary provides a remarkable contrast — the social island experience of Gili Air or Trawangan against the Robinson Crusoe isolation of Gili Sudak or Kedis.
The Secret Gilis' greatest asset — their pristine condition — depends on continued low-impact visitation. As awareness grows, these islands will face the same pressures that have affected the main Gilis.
As a visitor, you can protect these places through simple actions. Take all trash with you. Do not touch or stand on coral. Use reef-safe sunscreen. Do not take shells, coral fragments, or other natural materials. Anchor on sand, not reef (communicate this to your boat operator). Report any destructive fishing practices to local authorities.
The Secret Gilis represent what the main Gilis looked like decades ago. Whether they stay that way depends on how we visit them now.