LombokBeaches / Southwest Peninsula / Gili Gede
SOUTHWEST PENINSULA · SEKOTONG
Gili Gede
The largest of the secret Gilis, with five small villages, a resident community, and a shoreline that shifts from coral and sand to mangrove
SAND
White sand, north side
SWIMMABLE
Yes, calm bay
BEST TIME
Dry season, calm seas
ACCESS
CROWD LEVEL
Low to moderate
Boat from local operators
OVERVIEW
The largest of the Secret Gilis
Gili Gede is the biggest and most developed island in the Sekotong cluster, home to five small villages and a resident population of around a thousand people, which sets it apart from the mostly uninhabited islands nearby. It has real infrastructure without tipping into the party-island territory of the northern Gilis, more a laid-back island community than a resort strip.
The shoreline changes character depending on where you land. The north side has coral reef and proper sandy beach, while the west side is dominated by mangroves, so it's worth picking accommodation with the beach you actually want out front.