{"id":714,"date":"2026-10-02T06:18:56","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T06:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/?page_id=714"},"modified":"2026-10-02T06:20:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T06:20:01","slug":"gili-gede","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/id\/gili-gede\/","title":{"rendered":"GILI GEDE"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/span>
\n
\n

GILI GEDE… the Gateway to the Southwest Gilis!<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Rising out of the calm sea just off the southwest coast, the island of Gili Gede is so big that it is often mistaken for part of the mainland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s only when you get closer that you see that it is actually separated from the mainland by a small stretch of ocean and is, in fact, a large island \u2013 hence the name \u2018Gili Gede\u2019, which, translated from the native Sasak language, means \u2018Big Island\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gili Gede (pronounced \u2018Ge-day\u2019) is the largest of the southwest islands dubbed \u2018the Secret Gilis\u2019 \u2013 in contrast to the well-known \u2018Gili Islands\u2019 of Trawangan, Meno and Air off the northwest coast of Lombok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Secret Gilis are arguably Lombok\u2019s best kept secret… thirteen pristine islands surrounded by clear blue waters, mostly undeveloped and only visited by the few who don\u2019t mind wandering off the beaten track to discover their personal slice of paradise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Gili Gede is an island where you unplug \u2013 forget your phone and Facebook! Days can be spent enjoying the beaches, swimming, diving and snorkelling, or rocking in a hammock with a good book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stroll through the villages and chat with the friendly locals who make their living by fishing and pearl farming. The children are particularly delighted to see westerners and eager to practice their English (and have their photo taken!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The irregularly shaped island has an area of \u200b\u200babout 450 hectares, and is around four kilometres long and a kilometre wide. There are two salt lakes on the island and many hills to climb, with lovely views across the ocean and to the surrounding islands. The sunrises are sublime with the Rinjani volcano silhouetted on the mainland and, in the evening, the sunsets on Gili Gede are glorious.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

From the east coast, views extend as far as the islands of Nusa Penida and Bali, with fantastic sunset views of the volcanoes on Bali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the adventurous, hire a kayak and paddle around the island discovering hidden coves and beaches. The water is perfectly clear and it\u2019s easy to see the fish and coral on the reefs beneath your canoe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A \u2018must do\u2019 is to charter a boat for island hopping to the nearby islands. Gili Ringgit, Gili Layar and Gili Asahan are all within easy reach and have fantastic snorkelling sites (and beaches for non-snorkellers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boat charter, fishing trips and snorkelling tours are easily arranged by all of the hotels and home-stays on the island. The waters around Gili Gede are great for fishing, with snapper, tuna, travelly, grouper and squid in abundance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Gili Gede is also a popular stop for yachts and marine tourism, with one of the safest natural harbours in Indonesia. Marina Del Ray opened on the island last year and provides safe mooring and full marina facilities for visiting boats, together with accommodation and a restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodation on the island ranges from luxurious to rustic, with many small places offering just a few rooms on the beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most luxurious is Ko- ko-mo Resort, Gili Gede \u2013 a sublime resort with private pool villas on the beachfront and perched on the hillside behind the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facilities at the resort include a tennis court, a putting green, a small gym, a resort swimming pool, purpose-built Spa facility and the best restaurant on the island.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Located on the hill above Ko-ko-mo is stunning Villa Selalu, an architecturally-designed four bedroom villa with stunning views and a host of luxe amenities for discerning travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bakau Estate is currently under construction and will offer high end villa accommodation and over the water villas, a three-tiered swimming pool, as well as beachfront bar and up-market restaurant. Stage one of this exciting development is due for completion this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other accommodation choices are simple and suit people looking for a no-fuss beach getaway. Keep in mind that this is a developing island \u2013 hot water is rare, internet may be patchy and electricity may be limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimate Resort has good quality air conditioned rooms, a good restaurant and a range of amenities, including SUP and kayaks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

In addition to good accommodation, Ultimate Resort is the only professional dive operator on the island and offers Padi and SSI courses, as well as dives at the many fabulous sites around the Southwest Gilis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alam Karang is fairly new and has spacious air conditioned cottages on the beachfront, as well as sun lounges and a restaurant serving Indonesian and French food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thamarind Resort, on the beachfront with the shady trees that give the resort its name, offers traditional style cottages and a restaurant. Staff can arrange a host of activities including boat hire, snorkelling and fishing trips.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Hoola Hoop is an eco friendly resort on a terraced hillside looking out over Gili Layar and Gili Asahan, with a beachfront restaurant and a reef out the front for good snorkelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yut Inn has recently upgraded its facilities and has peaceful rooms and bungalows in a pretty garden on the beachfront. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tanjungan Bukit Lodge has chic, well furnished rooms on the hillside and a reputation for great food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Papalagi Resort offers clean and comfortable cottages and rooms, some with air conditioning, set in a lovely garden with fruit trees. The restaurant serves tasty meals and there is good snorkelling from the beachfront.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Getting there<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gili Getaway fast boat<\/strong> offers fast and easy boat transfers between Gili Gede and Bali, and the Gilis in the north. The boat docks at the purpose built jetty in front of Ko-ko-mo Resort. www.giligetaway.com<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drive<\/strong> around 45 minutes south of Lembar Harbour to the small village of Tembowong. Look for the petrol station and the signposts advertising transport to Gili Gede on small wooden fishing boats. Alternatively, arrange your transfers direct with any of the accommodation listed above. Gili Gede is a very short hop from the mainland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rising out of the calm sea just off the southwest coast, the island of Gili Gede is so big that it is often mistaken for part of the mainland. It\u2019s only when you get closer that you see that it is actually separated from the mainland by a small stretch of ocean and is, in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"superbaddons-page-template","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-714","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=714"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":730,"href":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/714\/revisions\/730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelombokguide.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=714"}],"curies":[{"name":"WP","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}