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Gili Gede Guide: The Secret Gilis
The largest of the Secret Gilis, Gili Gede is a laid-back island off Lombok where life moves slowly and tourism hasn’t taken over. Here, travelers are outnumbered by cows, and goats act as the island’s welcome committee – following you around and chatting away until you’re informed of all the services available.
Word of mouth led us to visit this island, described as “the snorkeling spot” and “the best of Lombok’s Secret Gilis”. How could anyone say no to such a pitch? But was it all true? Find out in this Gili Gede travel guide whether this is the island for you, and everything you need to plan your trip accordingly.
Ready to start exploring the Secret Gilis?
Gili Gede Guide: The Secret Gilis
The largest of the Secret Gilis, Gili Gede is a laid-back island off Lombok where life moves slowly and tourism hasn’t taken over. Here, travelers are outnumbered by cows, and goats act as the island’s welcome committee – following you around and chatting away until you’re informed of all the services available.
Word of mouth led us to visit this island, described as “the snorkeling spot” and “the best of Lombok’s Secret Gilis”. How could anyone say no to such a pitch? But was it all true? Find out in this Gili Gede travel guide whether this is the island for you, and everything you need to plan your trip accordingly.
Ready to start exploring the Secret Gilis?
The Secret Gilis
The Secret Gilis are located in Sekotong, on the southwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. These are not to be confused with the popular trio: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air. Nooo…those are no longer a secret!
Some of the Secret Gilis, such as Gili Sudak, Gili Tangkong, Gili Nanggu, and Gili Kedis, are often visited as part of day trips and are quite popular among snorkeling and diving enthusiasts – which doesn’t exactly support the idea of secrecy, I know…but still beautiful and worth exploring.
Gili Gede is the largest and most developed of all the Secret Gilis, offering the widest range of accommodations and restaurants, and it’s the only one with a direct boat connection to Bali. It’s also far less included in itineraries or day trips.
Gili Gede: What To Expect
Gili Gede is a working island made up of five small villages scattered along its 4km length. It’s quite a poor island, where tourism is scarce and locals make a living from fishing and pearl farming. There are no ATMs or supermarkets, and electricity was introduced only relatively recently.
This is a Muslim island, so remember to dress appropriately when walking around. Next to the island’s only mosque is its only school, which teaches children from the ages of 6 to 12.
We love islands with no cars and no fancy beach clubs – places with mainly cozy homestays where you get to learn about your host’s story and feel part of their family, even if only for a few days. However, Gili Gede didn’t make it into our list of the best Gili Islands. Unfortunately, the island is quite dirty and not very well maintained, and the coral reefs that once surrounded it are now mostly dead – all things we hope will change with time.
Why go to Gili Gede?
Gili Gede is by far the Secret Gili with the most accommodation options, as well as restaurants. While we wouldn’t recommend it as a holiday destination on its own, you can still find a great value-for-money villa with a private pool and disconnect for a few days (without relying on the island’s beaches). The island also works well as a base for cool snorkeling day trips to the surrounding islands.
Gili Gede is also the only of the Secret Gilis with a direct boat connection to Bali*, which makes it a very practical stop, even if only for a single night, especially if you wish to visit nearby islands such as Gili Asahan.
Gili Asahan it’s (in our opinion) one of the best Gili islands by a mile! We absolutely adore that small piece of heaven. Read our complete Gili Asahan guide here!
What To Do in Gili Gede
While Gili Gede doesn’t offer a wide variety of on-island activities, its amazing location allows you to explore the surrounding Secret Gilis and make the most of your time in Sekotong. Here are some of the best things to do in Gili Gede:
Secret Gilis Diving
The diving scene around Gili Gede is impressive, and The High Dive* can easily arrange a diving trip around the Secret Gilis for you. Diving in Sekotong is suitable for all experience levels, with the chance to spot turtles, moray eels, white-tip reef sharks, and frogfish in their natural habitat.
For more experienced divers craving some adrenaline, nearby Belongas Bay delivers with sites such as “The Cathedral” and “The Magnet”, where barracudas, tunas, eagle rays and hammerheads can be spotted.
Secret Gilis Snorkeling
The Secret Gilis are known for their snorkeling opportunities, and while we didn’t find an epic snorkeling spot on Gili Gede itself, if you have your own gear, you can easily negotiate a day trip to some cool nearby spots – or even a return trip to Gili Asahan for the day, where pygmy seahorses and turtles can be spotted right off the shore.
The trip from Gili Gede to Gili Asahan costs typically between 300 000 and 400 000 IDR (17 to 24€), for up to 4 people.
Alternatively, you can book a Secret Gilis snorkeling tour with The High Dive*, who provide all the necessary gear and take you to several excellent snorkeling spots.
Hike Around Gili Gede
We walked the island from side to side, checked the views from every hill, and visited every single village. While we can’t sit here and say it’s a particularly scenic experience, you do get to explore the island, chat with locals (which is often how you’ll get the best boat deals for island-hopping), and maybe even catch the sunset from Sunset Hill.
Stargaze
No bars? No clubs? No problem. It’s not every day you get almost zero light pollution and such clear stargazing. Lie back and admire the shooting stars, the moon, and the night sky, with the sound of the ocean as a backdrop – it doesn’t get much better than this.
Gili Gede Accommodation
When we mentioned that Gili Gede is the largest of the Secret Gilis and has, by far, the highest number of accommodations, you probably didn’t expect there to be fewer places to stay than tabs open on your phone…and yet, that’s what you are getting – there are currently around 20 places to stay on Gili Gede.
Make sure your accommodation offers dinner, or choose a place near the Gili Gede Port, as that’s where most of the island’s restaurants are located. The island isn’t particularly easy to walk around at night.
Some areas of Gili Gede’s shore are dominated by mud and mangroves, while others offer white sand beaches, so choosing the right place to stay can make all the difference. Here are our top Gili Gede accommodation recommendations:
How to Get to Gili Gede
Getting to Gili Gede is possible from both Lombok and Bali. While your accommodation may be able to arrange a transfer from Lombok’s airport and main ports, you can also easily plan the journey yourself.
How to Get to Gili Gede from Lombok
If you are already in Lombok, to get to Gili Gede you need to go to Tembowong Harbour in Sekotong. From there, you can catch a small boat that takes around 10-15 minutes to reach the island, costing approximately 50 000 IDR (3€), one way. The harbor is about 2 hours from Lombok International Airport, and 1 hour from Lembar Harbor.
We strongly recommend booking a land transfer to the harbor before your arrival to Lombok, either online or through your hotel, to avoid scams or inflated prices.
Join a Secret Gili Islands Tour
If what you are looking for is a one-day experience with great snorkeling and don’t want to bother with transportation details and transfers hassles, book a Secret Gili Islands Tour, such as:
How to Get to Gili Gede from Bali
From Bali to Gili Gede, you have several transportation alternatives to suit all preferences and budgets:
Fast Boat from Serangan to Gili Gede
This is the fastest (about 2 hours) and most hassle-free way to get to Gili Gede from Bali – and, in comparison with the alternatives, it is a decent value for money option.
Domestic Flight from Denpasar to Lombok
The flight takes less than 1 hour from Bali airport to Lombok*, followed by a 2-hour drive to Tembowong Harbour*, and finally, a 15-minute boat ride to Gili Gede.
Public Ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar
This is the most budget-friendly option to get from Bali to Gili Gede, but it is also the most time consuming by far. The public ferry from Bali to Lombok is a wild card, as the journey can take anywhere from 4 to 7.5 hours. Tickets cost 75 000 IDR (4.30€), but are not available for purchase online. Upon arrival at Lembar, the drive to Tembowong Harbour takes around 1 hour, plus the 15-minute boat ride to Gili Gede.
Best Time to Visit Gili Gede
The best time to visit Gili Gede is during the dry season, between May and mid-November, when you’ll get plenty of sunshine and the best visibility for snorkeling. That said, thanks to its tropical climate, you can visit any time of the year really, just be mindful the rainy season runs from December to April, with daily showers and frequent thunderstorms.
If you visit during the dry season make sure to book your accommodation in advance, as there aren’t many from which to choose from.
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