Gili Gede (the name means “Big Island” in the local Sasak language) is a large island located just off the southwest coast of Lombok, easily reached in just a few minutes from mainland Lombok.

Here you will find an island of unspoilt natural beauty with a small local population of some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met!

The island is around 4km long and 500m wide, surrounded by beaches, with a ridge of hills running through the centre that afford stunning views across the ocean on both sides – as far as the volcanoes on both Bali and Lombok.

People come to Gili Gede seeking a peaceful and relaxed island escape, far from crowds and congestion.

Being on an undeveloped island however doesn’t mean a sacrifice in comfort or amenities.

The luxurious resort is spread out over spacious grounds and offers a tennis court, a gym, private jetty, a resort swimming pool, purpose-built Spa facility, and a world-class beachfront restaurant.

The fifteen 1- and 2-bedroom villas, each with private swimming pools, lead down the beach, and the Villa Kecil (small villas) are located on the beachfront and hilltop for fabulous views.

Both the one and two bedroom villas are spacious and elegantly appointed with large separate bedrooms, a kitchenette and dining area, and comfortable living rooms overlooking the private pool in a walled garden.

What we love most about the villas at ko-ko-mo is the thoughtful way they have been designed. A small kitchenette with adjacent dining area provides a space for making drinks or in-room dining, if you’d prefer to have breakfast or meals in your villa.

The adjoining living area has a large comfortable sofa, flat screen TV and bifold doors that open onto the private swimming pool, perfect for leisurely days and private nights in.

Bifold doors in the bedroom also open onto the decking and pool area, so you can open the entire villa up to the outdoors and enjoy open-air living.

Ceiling fans throughout keep the interiors cool during the day and, of course, there are air conditioners once you have closed everything up.

The bedrooms are spacious with extra-large comfortable beds, separate ‘his and her’ vanities and wardrobes, and ample storage space. These open onto the large indoor/outdoor bathrooms, which are beautifully appointed.

All villas feature modern comforts such as air conditioning and ceiling fans, flat screen televisions with satellite channels, Wi-Fi, built-in USB charging points and ample power points, fresh (not salt) hot water showers, refrigerators, tea and coffee making facilities, and more.

Some inter-connecting villas are designed to open up into two bedroom villas as required, while stand-alone villas are perfect for couples. The two bedroom villas suit families or couples holidaying together.

The Villa Kecil – smaller than a full villa but larger than a bungalow – enjoy prime positions either right on the beachfront or on the hill overlooking fantastic views.

Built from precious reclaimed teak wood, they are spacious and airy with high ceilings and a wide terrace for lounging and taking in the views.

While the smaller villas do not have private pools, the resort swimming pool is available to all guests and boasts fabulous views of the beach and aqua waters surrounding the resort.

ko-ko-mo Restaurant, situated on the beachfront and managed by an ex-Sydney chef, offers up gourmet dining experiences that never cease to surprise and delight guests. It truly is a foodie heaven!

While local produce and fresh seafood purchased from the island’s fishermen is a given, you’ll also find quality imported Australian beef on the menu and a surprising selection of Asian fusion dishes, as well as healthy and vegan choices.

The resort also has its own garden, no small feat on an island, and grows fresh vegetables and herbs used in the restaurant.

Guests can dine on dishes such as a freshly-prepared Mixed Japanese Plate for Two with nori rolls, prawn sushi, tuna sashimi, seaweed and wasabi.

Meat-eaters will love the seared and roasted Australian Harvey Bay beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes and rosemary demi-glaze. Or try the delicious BBQ Seafood Platter of perfectly cooked snapper, prawns, calamari and tuna with salad, fries and dipping sauces.

Light lunches include gourmet salads, burgers made completely in-house from patty to bun, vegetarian Vietnamese spring rolls, and the most delightful tiger prawns in garlic butter and fresh herbs, served with toast.

Breakfast choices are equally delicious and all patisserie – breads, croissants and desserts – are made in-house at the resort’s custom bakery. A must try is the healthy almond, coconut and pistachio bread, fresh from the oven!

The wine list is impressive, especially for a remote island, and features a selection of quality French, Italian, Australian and New Zealand wines, as well as French Champagnes.

The well-stocked bar serves everything from icy cold beers to impeccably crafted cocktails, a full range of imported spirits, plus fresh juices, smoothies and more.

Guests can spend their days exploring the island, climbing the hills for fabulous views, watching the local fishermen bringing in their catch for the day, and discovering the new cafés and hotels that are springing up everywhere on Gili Gede.

Other activities include visiting the bays by kayak, swimming in the pools, having a relaxing and healing massage in the resort’s Spa, snorkelling directly from the jetty, or island hopping to the many small islands surrounding Gili Gede.

Staff are only too happy to arrange snorkelling and fishing trips, island-hopping excursions, or even a private picnic on a deserted island. In fact, impeccable service and attention to detail are outstanding features of the resort.

If you are wondering how to get there, Ko-ko-mo operates their own bespoke fast boat service under the ‘Gili Getaway’ mantle between Bali and Gili Gede, making transfers to and from the resort fast and easy.

Book direct for the best deals and easy transfers from Bali, Lombok and the Gilis. Click https://kokomogiligede.com/ for more details.