Sekotong Boat Charter Guide | Island-Hopping Prices and How to Book

Information current as of August 2026

“I want to charter a boat in Sekotong for island hopping, but I don’t know where to book it or how much it should cost.” We hear this a lot from travelers who’ve made their way to Sekotong for the clear waters of the South Gilis. Touts at the harbor are common, and it’s easy to end up paying too much for a boat if you don’t know the going rate. In this article we lay out, from our own position based in Sekotong as Semelar Beach Village, the basics of arranging a boat charter, the classic Nanggu–Sudak–Kedis island route, how pricing works, tips for booking and negotiating, and what to bring and watch for on the day. We’ll leave the highlights of each island and its snorkeling spots to other articles and focus here purely on the practical side: how to arrange a charter, what it costs, and how the day runs.

What is a Sekotong boat charter? The basics to know first

Boats from Sekotong to the South Gili islands (Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, Gili Kedis, and others) don’t run on a fixed schedule like a ferry service. It’s essentially always a “charter” — you hire a whole boat and decide the destinations and timing yourselves. For more on the Sekotong mainland’s layout and how to get there, see our complete guide to Sekotong.

The most commonly used departure point is the jetty area around Tawun. Huts and staff who broker island-hopping boats are stationed here, and you can negotiate on the spot if you turn up unannounced. That said, it’s not unusual to be quoted an inflated price if you approach without knowing the going rate. What we always tell our guests is that arranging a boat through your accommodation or villa tends to be the most reliable option, with fewer issues. Accommodations usually introduce a boatman they already work with regularly, which cuts down on price negotiation and makes coordinating the meeting point and time on the day much smoother.

Another option is booking an online day-tour package. These often bundle transport, island entrance fees, gear, and lunch, which suits first-time visitors to Sekotong or anyone who’d rather not spend time negotiating. The trade-off is less flexibility to choose islands at your own pace or adjust how long you stay at each one.

The classic route: a 3-island tour of “Nanggu → Sudak → Kedis”

The most standard Sekotong boat charter route covers three islands — Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, and Gili Kedis — over a half day to a full day. All three are roughly 15–40 minutes from the Tawun area by boat, and each has a different feel of sand, snorkeling depth, and crowd levels. Most boats start at Nanggu and move on to Sudak and Kedis, with breaks or a meal in between.

We won’t go into the specific highlights of each island, or which beaches tend to be quieter, in this article. For those details, see our guide to the South Gili Islands off Sekotong, which is a useful reference when choosing where to go. For snorkeling spots specifically, and recommended areas across the whole of Lombok, our snorkeling and diving guide is also worth a look.

Some boats will suggest going further out to islands like Gili Gede or Gili Tangkong. The longer distance usually means a higher price, so it’s worth confirming both the total cost for “3 islands” and for “4 or more islands” separately before you commit.

How pricing works — per boat, and cheaper the more you share

The first thing to understand about Sekotong boat charters is that pricing is generally set per boat, not per person. A boat typically seats around 4–8 people. A smaller boat can move between islands faster, but with fewer people to split the cost with, each person pays more. Conversely, if you can find other travelers at your accommodation heading out the same day and share a boat, the per-person cost drops considerably.

As a rough guide, a half-day charter covering Nanggu, Sudak, and Kedis runs around Rp350,000–600,000 (about US$19.70–33.70) per boat. This varies with group size, negotiation, season, and what’s included, and packaged tours that bundle transport, meals, and gear are sometimes quoted at around Rp300,000–450,000 (about US$16.90–25.30) per person. Prices shift with the season and negotiation, so treat these as rough guides and confirm the latest figures when booking.

Diagram: The more people aboard, the lower the cost per person

Based on a Rp350,000 boat (the low end for a half-day, 3-island charter) split by group size.

It’s worth checking exactly what this “boat fee” includes. Snorkel mask, fin, and life jacket rental is sometimes a separate charge (a few tens of thousands of rupiah per person), and each island’s entrance fee (a few thousand rupiah per island) can also be extra. Whether you’re negotiating at the harbor or booking through your accommodation, confirming what’s included and what’s not before you set off will save you an argument over the bill at the end of the day.

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How to book	What it’s like	Price tendency	Good for
Through your accommodation	Your accommodation introduces a boatman they know. Timing and meeting point are easy to arrange	Close to market rate, or easy to discuss	First-time visitors to Sekotong, or those who value peace of mind
Direct negotiation at Tawun harbor	Negotiate destination and price with a boatman on the spot. Flexible, but you need a sense of fair prices	Varies widely with negotiation	Confident negotiators with time to spare
Online tour booking	Transport, gear, and lunch bundled together. Paid in advance, no negotiating on the day	Slightly pricier, but clear on what’s included	First-time solo travelers, or anyone who dislikes negotiating

*General travel-cost estimates as of August 2026. Rates are US$1 ≈ Rp17,800. Actual prices vary with group size, negotiation, and season.

Booking and negotiating tips — talk to your accommodation early, and leave in the morning

You can sometimes arrange a boat charter on the spot at the harbor, but during high season or on weekends, boatmen’s schedules can fill up, or you may be left with only pricier options. Talking to your accommodation the day before lets you decide on the destination, group size, and departure time calmly, and staff can often help arrange sharing with other guests on the same schedule.

For departure time, an early morning start is best. Waters off Sekotong tend to get windier and choppier in the afternoon, while mornings are calmer and boats more stable. Snorkeling visibility also tends to be better earlier in the day. If you plan to visit all three islands, build your schedule around a half day to a full day so you have room to enjoy it without rushing.

When negotiating a price, state clearly “how many boats, how many seats, how many islands, how many hours” and confirm the total price, and if possible, ask your accommodation staff for the local going rate beforehand. Cash is the norm, so having smaller notes on hand makes getting change much easier. For more on currency exchange and payments in general, see our money and payment guide.

Diagram: How a charter day unfolds

1

Talk to your accommodation and confirm the booking the day before

Decide destination, group size, and departure time, and confirm what’s included in the price (gear, entrance fees, etc.).

2

Head to the harbor (near Tawun) in the morning

A morning departure is standard. Your accommodation may arrange pick-up as well.

3

Check life jackets and gear before departure

Check on the spot that there’s enough for everyone and that sizes fit before boarding.

4

Island 1: snorkel at Gili Nanggu

About 15–20 minutes from Tawun. The boat anchors offshore and you enter the water from there.

5

Islands 2 and 3: Sudak, then Kedis

Move between islands with breaks and snacks in between, spending relaxed time on each beach.

6

Return to harbor, settle up, and finish

Payment on the day is standard. Check the total matches what you agreed to before paying.

What to bring on the day

The islands have little shade and strong midday sun, so sunscreen (reef-safe if possible), a hat, and something to cover up with are all reassuring to have. Drinking water isn’t always available to buy on every island, so bring more than you think you’ll need. Cash (small notes) is necessary for entrance fees and snacks, so make sure you have it.

Snorkel masks and fins can usually be rented locally, but if fit or hygiene concerns you, bringing your own makes for a more comfortable time. A waterproof bag for wet swimwear and gear, plus a waterproof case for your phone or other electronics, are also handy. A few plasters for sunburn or scrapes give extra peace of mind too.

Diagram: What to bring on a boat charter day

Safety points to check

Before boarding, always check that there are enough life jackets for everyone. Smaller boats sometimes fall short, or have jackets in poor condition mixed in. If you’re unsure, it’s fine to ask the boatman on the spot for extras or a swap.

During the rainy season (roughly November to March), stronger wind and waves can lead to canceled trips. For more on Sekotong’s best season and weather patterns, see our best season guide, which is useful when planning your travel dates. Sea conditions on the day may also mean you can’t visit every island you planned, or that departure times shift, so it’s reassuring to build some flexibility into your schedule.

In summary: talk to your accommodation first, and confirm the price breakdown before you book

Boat charters from Sekotong to the South Gili islands mostly depart from harbors around Tawun, and pricing is set per boat. The more people you have, the cheaper it is per person, so it’s worth looking for other travelers to share with at your accommodation. For the classic 3-island Nanggu → Sudak → Kedis route, plan for half a day to a full day, and aim for an early morning departure.

If it’s your first time in Sekotong, talk to your accommodation’s staff first rather than negotiating cold at the harbor. Not only can they tell you the going rate, they can often introduce a boatman they trust, which makes a real difference to your peace of mind on the day. We at Semelar Beach Village are also happy to help with island-hopping arrangements as part of our stay program, so do get in touch if you’re visiting Sekotong.

Sources for this article

• Home Is Where Your Bag Is, “Sekotong: Gili Island Hopping in South Lombok” (rough boat-fare and group-sharing figures)https://homeiswhereyourbagis.com/en/sekotong-gili-island-hopping/
• Lombok Society, “3 Sewa Boat di Gili Nanggu Sekotong” (example boat-charter fee breakdown)http://www.lomboksociety.web.id/2023/07/3-sewa-boat-di-gili-nanggu-sekotong.html
• Go Travela Indonesia, “Harga Snorkeling Gili Nanggu” (per-person pricing, gear rental fees, departure harbor)https://www.gotravelaindonesia.com/harga-snorkeling-gili-nanggu/
• We Seek Travel, “How to Visit the Secret Gili Islands in Lombok” (rough island entrance fees)https://www.weseektravel.com/secret-gili-islands-kedis-nanggu-sudak/
• Our own operating experience running Semelar Beach Village in Sekotong, and feedback from guests (as of August 2026)