West of Lombok, in the sheltered bay of Sekotong, sits a scattering of small islands in water so still it often looks like glass. They are close enough to reach in a short boat ride, yet quiet enough that you may share a whole beach with nobody but your own group.
The day begins with a morning pickup from your accommodation and a scenic drive along Lombok’s southwest coast, past fishing villages, mangrove inlets and hillsides dotted with grazing cattle. At the harbour you board a boat reserved for your party alone, with no waiting for other passengers and no fixed turnaround time to rush you back.
Gili Nanggu is usually first, a classic castaway island of pale sand and calm shallows where reef begins only a few metres from shore. Snorkeling here is gentle and forgiving, which makes it a good place to find your confidence in the water. Gili Sudak follows, larger and greener, with a shaded stretch of beach that is perfect for lunch and a slow afternoon. Gili Kedis is the smallest and the most striking of the three, a crescent of white sand barely big enough for a few trees, which you can walk around in a couple of minutes.
- Private boat with captain and crew for your group only
- Round-trip land transfer from hotels in the main tourist areas
- Snorkeling mask, snorkel and fins in a range of sizes
- Time on all three islands, with the order adjusted to conditions
- Unhurried stops for swimming, sunbathing and photographs
What sets this trip apart from the better-known Gili islands is the atmosphere. There are no nightlife strips, no queues of day boats and very little development, just warm protected water, reef fish that come in close, and long empty stretches of sand. Because the bay is shielded from open swell, the sea stays flat for most of the year and visibility is generally excellent.
It works beautifully for families with younger children, couples after a quiet day out, first-time snorkelers and anyone who wants island scenery without a party crowd. Confident swimmers will find plenty of reef to follow, while those who prefer to stay close to shore can stand in waist-deep water and still watch fish drift past their feet.
Allow roughly seven hours in total, returning to your hotel in the late afternoon. If you would like extra time on one particular island, a later start or a picnic lunch arranged on the sand, let us know when you book and we will build it into the day.