Transport guide · How to get from Sekotong to Gili Nanggu
Sekotong to Gili Nanggu is a 15-minute boat ride from Tawun beach (or 20 minutes from Lembar). Shared public boat costs 25,000-50,000 IDR per person each way; private charter for a half-day with 2-3 island stops costs 250,000-400,000 IDR. The 'Secret Gilis' (Nanggu, Sudak, Kedis, Tangkong) are typically visited as a 4-island circuit from Sekotong rather than individually.
| Method | Time | Cost | Comfort | Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter (4-island Secret Gilis circuit) | Half-day, 4-5 hours | 350,000-450,000 IDR per boat (3-6 people) | On demand from Tawun beach | Day-trippers from Lombok mainland, families, snorkelers | |
| Public shared boat | 15 minutes one-way | 25,000-50,000 IDR per person each way | When boat fills (5+ people), morning only | Solo budget travelers or pairs without time pressure | |
| Direct charter (Nanggu only) | 15 min one-way + waiting | 150,000-250,000 IDR round trip | On demand | Travelers who want one island, not a tour |
Half-day, 4-5 hours · 350,000-450,000 IDR per boat (3-6 people)
Tip: Confirm 'all four islands' is included in the negotiated price. Some boats try to drop the smaller stops to save fuel.
15 minutes one-way · 25,000-50,000 IDR per person each way
Tip: Often unavailable in shoulder/low season due to insufficient passengers. Plan for charter as backup.
15 min one-way + waiting · 150,000-250,000 IDR round trip
Tip: Cheaper than the 4-island circuit if you only want Nanggu. Confirm pickup time clearly to avoid being stranded.
Take the 4-island Secret Gilis circuit charter. For 350,000-450,000 IDR split among 3-6 people, you see Nanggu, Sudak, Kedis, and Tangkong with snorkeling at each — vastly better value than the public boat to Nanggu alone. Tawun beach is the standard departure point; arrive by 9-10 AM to negotiate properly. If you're staying overnight on Nanggu (the only Secret Gili with accommodation), book your return boat the day before with the resort.
# Sekotong to Gili Nanggu: The Short Crossing to the Secret Gilis
Gili Nanggu is the most accessible of southwest Lombok's "Secret Gilis" cluster — four small islands (Nanggu, Sudak, Kedis, Tangkong) that sit a short boat ride off Sekotong's beaches. The crossing is brief, the water is clear, and the islands offer the closest thing to the original Gili Trawangan experience before mass tourism arrived.
The standard departure point is Tawun beach in Sekotong (sometimes spelled "Taun"), a small fishing village 30 minutes south of Lembar harbor and 90 minutes from Senggigi. Boats also depart from:
For independent travelers, Tawun is the right starting point.
It's a calm, protected crossing across a shallow channel:
Boats are not luxury. They seat 4-8 people on wooden benches, no shade, no toilet. Bring water, hat, sunscreen.
The Secret Gilis are too close together (and individually too small) to justify visiting just one:
| Island | Size | Best for | Time needed |
|--------|------|----------|-------------|
| Gili Nanggu | Largest of 4 | Snorkeling, fish feeding, lunch | 90 min |
| Gili Sudak | Small | Snorkel reef, beach photos | 45 min |
| Gili Kedis | Tiny (heart-shaped) | Iconic photo, walking around | 30 min |
| Gili Tangkong | Reef island | Best snorkeling | 60 min |
Total circuit time: 4-5 hours including transit. Cost split among 3-6 people: ~80,000 IDR each. This is dramatically better value than 25,000 IDR for Nanggu alone.
Shared boat (25,000-50,000 IDR per person):
Private charter (350,000-450,000 IDR per boat):
For solo travelers in shoulder season, charter is often the only realistic option because shared boats don't fill.
| Season | Charter (4-island) | Shared boat | Private direct |
|--------|--------------------|-------------|-----------------|
| Peak (Jun-Sep) | 400,000-500,000 | 25,000 each | 150,000 round trip |
| Shoulder (Apr-May, Oct-Nov) | 350,000-400,000 | Often unavailable | 175,000 |
| Low (Jan-Mar, Dec) | 300,000-400,000 | Almost never runs | 200,000 |
Gili Nanggu has a fish-feeding area near the resort jetty — bring bread or buy at the resort. The water is calm and shallow, ideal for first-time snorkelers.
Gili Sudak has a small day-use restaurant where most boats stop for lunch. The reef on the south side has good coral and small fish.
Gili Kedis is the photo island — tiny, sandy, surrounded by clear water. Walk around it in 5 minutes. No facilities.
Gili Tangkong has the best snorkeling — drop-off reef on the north side with bigger fish, occasional turtles. Many boats skip it; insist on inclusion.
Gili Nanggu has a small resort (Nanggu Cottages) with maybe 15 rooms. Booking is required (no walk-up availability). Cost runs 700,000-1,200,000 IDR per night. Day-trippers leave by 4 PM, so overnight stays offer the rare experience of having a Lombok island essentially to yourself.
If you're staying overnight, arrange your return boat with the resort the day before. Independent boatmen rarely come back to pick you up without prior arrangement.
Best months: April-September (dry season, calm sea, good visibility)
Acceptable: October, March (occasional afternoon rain)
Avoid: December-February (wet season chop, poor visibility, boats often cancel)
Within a day, morning is better than afternoon — calmer water, less chance of rain, more boats running.