Lombok Secret Gili: Island Hopping & Snorkelling Trip

Three small islands, one very full day. This private Lombok trip combines clear-water snorkelling, quiet beaches, a local lunch and boat rides with wide views of the island’s southwest coast. I like the freedom of a private boat, and I like that the day is built around three different stops rather than one crowded beach.

The strongest points are the relaxed pace and the kind guides. Paul, also written as Pol in one booking account, picked up guests from their hotel, stayed with them through the day and helped shape the schedule around their needs. The main caution is the snorkelling equipment: one booking found two leaking snorkels and no spare available, so bringing your own gear is sensible if you have it.

Quick Take: What Matters Most

• Three separate island stops: Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis, also written as Gili Bedis in the itinerary.
• Private boat and vehicle: Your group of up to two has private transport from the listed Lombok pickup areas.
• Strong underwater sights: Expect chances to see coral, many fish, turtles and clownfish, depending on conditions.
• Lunch by the water: A simple local meal is served at Gili Sudak, with one booking describing a private table set up on the island.
• About eight and a half hours: The 510-minute day includes road transfers, sailing, snorkelling, lunch and free time.
• Bring backup snorkel gear if possible: Equipment is supplied, but quality may vary.

What This Secret Gili Trip Actually Feels Like

This is not a fast checklist tour with a boat full of strangers. The experience is private, so you travel with your own party, guide and boat crew. That makes a real difference when you want more time in the water, less time on the beach, or a slower lunch.

The day lasts 510 minutes, or eight hours and 30 minutes. That sounds long, but the schedule includes pickup and return by road, the trip to the private harbour, three island visits and the boat rides between them. You should still expect a substantial day outdoors, with sun, salt water and boat movement.

Pickup is offered in Praya Barat, Praya Barat Daya, Kuta, Senggigi and Pujut. You wait in your hotel lobby, or at your cruise ship port if that is your arrival point. The same areas are used for drop-off, which keeps the plan simple for visitors staying in different parts of Lombok.

The price is $147 per group of up to two people. That works out to $73.50 per person for two, before personal extras such as cold beer. For a private vehicle, private boat, guide, equipment, lunch, entrance ticket and mineral water, that is a fair package price, especially if you value privacy and direct hotel transport.

I would not compare it with the cheapest shared boat excursion. The value here comes from control over the day. You are paying to avoid a mixed group, not to sit in a luxury cabin. The boat and lunch are practical rather than fancy, and the islands are appealing because they are simple.

From Your Hotel to Lombok’s Private Harbour

The road transfer is more than a taxi ride. Your English-speaking guide takes you from the pickup point to the harbour and remains part of the experience. One family especially appreciated being told about Lombok along the way, rather than being handed over to a boat crew and left to manage the day alone.

That arrangement is useful if you are unfamiliar with the island. The drive connects the inland or resort areas with the coast, then the trip changes pace once you board the private sailing boat. You get a clear division between transport on land and time on the water.

The private group format also gives you room to ask for adjustments. One family with a five-year-old said the guide followed their wishes and let the day run at their pace. That does not mean every timing detail is guaranteed, but it does suggest this is a better choice than a fixed group departure if your party has mixed swimming abilities or a child.

You should be ready in the lobby at the agreed pickup time. Since the day includes several transfers, a late start could reduce time at the islands. Starting times are subject to availability, so check the chosen date before booking.

Gili Nanggu: Your First Clear-Water Stop

Gili Nanggu is the first island and the main introduction to the underwater side of the trip. The planned visit lasts about 90 minutes, including sailing, walking, swimming and snorkelling.

The appeal is simple: step from the boat into clear water and look for coral and fish. The guide or snorkelling guide can point you toward the better spots, which matters because the best view is not always directly beside the beach. Several bookings described seeing fish, coral and turtles across the three snorkelling sites, though marine life is never guaranteed at a precise location.

This first stop also gives you a chance to test the equipment before the day gets too far along. Check the mask seal and snorkel before swimming away from the boat. If water enters the tube, ask for a replacement immediately. One person had to use a leaking snorkel because no spare was available, while the guide gave up his own snorkel to help another member of the group.

That equipment problem is the clearest practical weakness in an otherwise highly praised day. If you own a mask and snorkel, pack them. If not, test the supplied set while you are still close to the boat and guide.

Gili Nanggu is not only a swim stop. You can walk, look back at the coast and enjoy the quiet setting before sailing onward. The 90-minute allocation is long enough for a good snorkel without making you spend the entire morning in one place.

Gili Sudak: Beach Time and a Local Lunch

Gili Sudak gets the longest scheduled stop, about two hours. That extra time covers snorkelling, swimming, walking, sightseeing and lunch, so this is the most complete island visit of the day.

The water gives you another chance to see coral and fish, while the beach offers a break for anyone who would rather sit out one snorkel. This makes the stop more flexible than a pure water excursion. You can alternate between the sea and shade, though the information provided does not specify how much natural shade is available, so bring sun protection.

The lunch is one of the nicest details. It is served at a local restaurant on or beside the island and features Lombok food. The meal is described as simple, tasty and filling rather than elaborate. One booking had a table arranged just for the group on the island, creating a private, special feeling without turning lunch into a formal event.

That is exactly the right kind of meal for this day. You get a local taste and a proper pause, but the focus remains the sea and the islands. Mineral water is included. Cold beer is not, so budget for it separately if you want one with lunch or after swimming.

Gili Sudak also offers the best chance to slow down. The first island may feel like an immediate jump into the water. Here, you can dry off, eat, walk along the beach and decide how much more swimming you want. If you are travelling with a child, this break may be welcome.

Gili Kedis: The Tiny Final Island

The last stop is Gili Kedis, called Gili Bedis in the detailed schedule. It is described as the smallest and most beautiful island of the three, with about 90 minutes for visiting, swimming, walking, sightseeing and snorkelling.

Its small scale makes it a good final stop. After two longer water sessions, you can use the island for photos, a last swim or simple beach time. The emphasis here is on the island atmosphere and views, not only on marine life.

This is likely the place where you will want your camera ready. The tiny-island setting gives the day a clear final image, with the boat offshore and the wider west Lombok coast visible in the distance. The schedule leaves enough time for photos without making you rush straight back aboard.

Keep your expectations practical. Gili Kedis is a mini island, not a large place with several attractions. Its value comes from the setting, the feeling of space and the chance to enjoy a short stop without crowds around your private group. You may find that a slow walk and a swim are more rewarding here than trying to fill every minute with activity.

What You Can See Underwater

The trip is built around three snorkelling locations, and the reported marine life is a major reason to book. Guests saw turtles, clownfish, other fish and coral. That mix gives you more variety than a trip that stops at only one reef.

The snorkelling guide is included and can show you where to look. This is useful even if you already know how to snorkel, since local guidance can save you from swimming past the best areas. The guide can also help less confident swimmers stay oriented.

Still, sea conditions affect visibility and wildlife. The trip promises access to snorkelling locations, not a guaranteed turtle encounter. You should treat turtles and clownfish as possible highlights, not fixed parts of the schedule.

The equipment is included, along with entrance tickets. That reduces the amount of planning you need, but the mixed report on snorkels means you should inspect your set before entering the water. A properly fitting mask matters more than almost anything else on a snorkelling day.

If you are travelling with young children, bring familiar equipment if you can. One family with a five-year-old brought its own gear and found that useful. The private format gives your guide more ability to adjust the pace, but you remain responsible for choosing how far and how long each person swims.

The Boat Ride Is Part of the Experience

The sailing between islands is not dead time. It gives you views of southwest Lombok, a change of scenery between swims and a chance to dry in the breeze. You move through the day by water instead of simply being driven from one beach to another.

The private boat is paired with two boat crew members, who were praised for being especially helpful. That kind of service matters when you are stepping in and out of the water, handling equipment or settling in for lunch.

You might also be offered optional filming for an extra charge. One booking paid a small additional amount for footage with turtles and clownfish. Since this is not included in the tour price, ask about the cost before agreeing. It could be worthwhile if you want a record of the day, but it is not necessary for enjoying the islands.

Bring a dry bag or another way to protect phones and wallets. The tour includes mineral water, but personal expenses remain your responsibility. The provided details do not specify onboard storage, so keeping valuables limited is sensible.

Who Will Get the Most from This Day

I would recommend this trip to couples, friends and small families who want a private day on the water without joining a large group. It suits people who care about flexibility, personal attention and a quieter island setting.

It is also a good match for cruise ship passengers because pickup and drop-off at the cruise port are included. You should still confirm the timing carefully against your ship schedule. The experience is 510 minutes, and road transfers form part of that total.

Families may appreciate the private arrangement, particularly if one person wants a break while others keep swimming. The guide can respond to the group rather than following the needs of a full boatload of strangers. Children should still be comfortable around open water, since swimming and snorkelling are central to the day.

I would think twice if you want polished equipment, a short outing or a resort-style lunch. The meal is local and straightforward, and the snorkel gear may need checking. This is a day of sea, sand and simple service, not a luxury cruise.

Practical Details That Improve the Day

The experience includes:

• Private vehicle pickup and drop-off
• Private boat
• Snorkelling equipment
• Snorkelling guide
• Lunch
• Entrance ticket
• Mineral water

Cold beer and other personal spending are extra. The activity is guided in English, and the group is private.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Lombok plans are still changing.

For comfort, I would bring reef-safe sun protection, a hat, swimwear, a towel and a waterproof phone pouch. The tour details do not list towels or sun protection as included, so plan to bring your own. Most important, check your snorkel gear at Gili Nanggu and ask for help immediately if it leaks.

The overall rating is 4.9 from eight reviews, with praise focused on the guides, the three snorkelling spots, the private pace, the lunch and the low number of other people nearby. The one specific complaint concerned snorkel quality. That balance gives you a fair picture: excellent day design and service, with one piece of equipment that could be better.

Should You Book the Secret Gili Trip?

Book it if you want a private island day with three water stops, a local lunch and an English-speaking guide who stays involved from hotel pickup to return. The price is reasonable for two people once you count the vehicle, boat, equipment, lunch and entrance fee.

I would choose it over a shared excursion if privacy and pacing matter to you. I would also choose it for a family that wants room to adapt the day, or for a couple hoping for quiet beaches and good photo stops.

Just bring your own snorkel set if you have one, and treat marine wildlife sightings as a bonus rather than a promise. If you are happy with simple food, practical boats and a full day outside, this is a strong way to see Lombok’s smaller Gilis.

FAQ

How long does the Lombok Secret Gili trip last?

The experience lasts 510 minutes, which is eight hours and 30 minutes. This includes pickup, driving, sailing, the three island visits, lunch and return transport.

Which islands does the trip visit?

The trip visits Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis. The itinerary also spells Gili Kedis as Gili Bedis.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Private pickup and drop-off are included from Praya Barat, Praya Barat Daya, Kuta, Senggigi and Pujut. You should wait in your hotel lobby.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is a private group experience for up to two people at the listed price of $147 per group.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a private vehicle, private boat, snorkelling equipment, a snorkelling guide, lunch, entrance ticket and mineral water.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.