Southwest Lombok holds its own archipelago, a spread of green islands scattered across the sheltered waters of Sekotong that most visitors sail straight past on their way to the famous three. This full-day trip takes its time there, linking five of them into a single unhurried day of snorkeling, beaches and very few other boats.
The day starts at the harbour with a briefing and a gear fitting before you head out across water that is typically glassy in the morning. Gili Gede is the largest of the group, a genuinely inhabited island with fishing villages, boatbuilders and mangrove-fringed shores. Gili Asahan rises higher than the rest and offers a laid-back beach with a low hill behind it, making it a natural place to stop, rest and look out over the bay. Gili Layar, Gili Rengit and Gili Goleng are smaller and quieter still, each with its own reef and stretch of pale sand.
Snorkeling is the focus throughout. The reefs here get a fraction of the traffic that the northern islands see, and in many places the coral is dense and healthy, with good hard coral structure, soft fans swaying in the current, and reef fish in real numbers. Depths vary from shallow enough to stand in to gentle drop-offs, so there is something suitable whether you are learning or already confident with a mask.
- Boat with crew for the whole day
- Mask, snorkel and fins provided in a range of sizes
- Snorkeling instructor accompanying you in the water
- Island entry tickets included
- Multiple snorkeling sites plus beach time at each stop
Between swims there is time to dry off on deck, watch the coastline of Lombok slide past with hills rising behind it, and walk on beaches where you may not see another traveller all day. Your instructor points out marine life you would otherwise swim right over and helps anyone who is still finding their confidence in the water. Life jackets are available for anyone who would rather float than swim.
The itinerary suits travellers who want more than a single snorkel stop, families comfortable in the water, couples looking for somewhere genuinely quiet, and anyone who has already done the Gili islands and wants to see a different side of Lombok. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a towel and a dry bag, since shade on the smaller islands is limited.
Plan on around seven hours on the water, returning in the afternoon. The exact order of the islands depends on conditions that day. Let us know your preferred date and we will get the boat ready for you.
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