While the old favourites of Bali and Gili Trawangan have expanded to nightmarish tourist proportions (and Lombok is racing to catch up with them) Gili Gede offers a peaceful and quiet alternative.
Travellers of all sorts and from all over the world are joining cruisers in the search for somewhere fresh and new to visit. Aren’t we all looking for a destination with an authentic atmosphere and peaceful vibe?
We reckon that if you’re looking to relax in an unspoiled destination that still offers stylish accommodation and activities, Gili Gede is that perfect blend of seclusion and creature comforts. We anchored off the southern part of the island to shield from the weather and ended up staying in the area for three months!
And since we were there, the best news of all? FERRIES ARE NOW RUNNING AGAIN BETWEEN BALI AND GILI GEDE.
Indonesia’s Hidden Paradise
Gili Gede is a small island located off the south-west coast of Lombok. Before we arrived we had heard stories about this place, but not very much. Turns out, it’s a hidden paradise! Largely untouched by tourism, Gili Gede has no cars, plenty of wildlife on land and sea and some classic palm-fringed sandy beaches.
There’s a small local population here making a traditional living from fishing, building wooden boats and pearl farming.
Secluded Destination
Joe, a local man who had helped us with a couple of electrical repairs on SY Esper, invited us to his home and on a tour round the island. This was an offer we jumped at.
Surrounded by beaches with winding trails over the hills and through forests and a thoroughly laid back vibe, the small island can be toured on foot in a day.
Traditional Way of Living
The island is free of cars, with the occasional scooter passing on the muddy paths. This makes it great for a quiet stroll through untouched trees and shrubs and the occasional village.
Everyone we passed (and that was not many people) stopped to wave and say a few words. Smiles are free and easily given. And with the island’s small population, you can get a glimpse of the traditional way of living, which they are more than happy to show you.
*These kinds of lures have been used across the Indo-Pacific for catching octopus since around 1500BC. To find out more, check out these links:
Smithsonian
Classicult
Gili Gede – Final Thoughts
Visiting Gili Gede is a unique experience. Its unspoilt nature, local communities and lack of traffic provide a tranquil and relaxing holiday for both cruisers and landlubbers. We believe that Gili Gede and the surrounding tiny islets (more on those coming soon!) are the most unspoilt destination that the Bali, Lombok and northern Gili Islands region has to offer.
Accommodation and Eating Out
Obviously, we stayed on our boat, but we ate at a few places (there aren’t many). These were our favourites:
- High Dive Resort (Superb vegetarian and fish!)
- Tanjungan Bukit Lodge – Search on FB
- Kokomo Resort (Luxury aka expensive!)
- Marina Del Ray (Quality pizzas!) – https://www.marinadelray.co/
Getting There
You can fly to Lombok and take a five minute ride on a local boat across from Pelangan Harbour. Or take the ferry from Bali.
Peace and fair winds!
Liz and Jamie xx
Check out the video for lots more detail…
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