Information as of August 2026
Sekotong is an area in the southwest of Lombok. It isn’t as well known as Gili Trawangan, but it still has a sea that has seen almost no development, the “Secret Gilis” – a scattering of as many as 12 small islands offshore – and fishing villages that live from pearl farming. We are Semelar Beach Village, based here in Sekotong, and in this guide we’ve brought together everything in one place: an overview of the area, how to get here, what to see and where to stay.
What this guide covers
- ✓Where Sekotong is and what kind of place it is (how it fits into Lombok as a whole)
- ✓How to get here from Lombok International Airport and Mataram
- ✓The main sights, including the Secret Gilis and the beaches
- ✓Places to stay, and things worth knowing before you visit
IN SHORT
Sekotong doesn’t yet have the tourist infrastructure of the Gili Islands – and that is exactly why its sea is still largely undeveloped and fishing-village life carries on as it always has. There is no public transport, so plan on getting here by car or motorbike.
What is Sekotong? Lombok’s little-known southwest
Sekotong sits at the southwestern tip of Lombok. Unlike the northern “Gili Islands” – Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno – the waters off Sekotong are dotted with as many as 12 small islands, known locally as the “Secret Gilis”. There has been almost no tourist development of the kind that lines a coast with hotels and restaurants. Its biggest draw is that the everyday lives of people who make a living from pearl farming and fishing simply become the scenery of your trip.
We, Semelar Beach Village, are based here in Sekotong and run a stay program that we build together with the people of the village. For the basics on Lombok as a whole, see What Is Lombok? A Complete Guide to Getting There, Climate and Highlights.
Getting here from Lombok International Airport and Mataram
There is almost no public transport to Sekotong, so a private car or a rental motorbike is the standard way to get here. From Lombok International Airport (Praya Airport) it’s about 70km, or about 1 hour 10 minutes by car. From Mataram, the provincial capital, it’s about 50km, or around 1.5 hours by car. Motorbike rental is said to cost around Rp100,000–150,000 a day (about US$5.60–8.40; based on US$1 ≈ Rp17,800, September 2026).
Figure: Approximate distance to Sekotong
About 1 hour 10 minutes by car from the airport, and around 1.5 hours from Mataram (as of August 2026).
Some stretches of road are less developed than those towards the Gili Islands, so we recommend avoiding travel after dark and giving yourself plenty of time during the day. For airport transfers, it’s reassuring to arrange them in advance with your accommodation or stay program.
Sights at a glance
← Scroll the table sideways
| Name | Type | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Gili Nanggu | Secret Gili | A small island popular for snorkelling, with one resort on the island |
| Gili Gede | Secret Gili | Relatively large, with fishing villages and several places to stay |
| Gili Sudak | Secret Gili | Soft sandy beach; also known as a place where you can camp |
| Gili Kedis | Secret Gili | So small you can walk across it in under a minute; views of pearl farms too |
| Mekaki Beach | Beach | A wide, uncrowded white-sand beach |
| Elak Elak Beach | Beach | Calm water that’s easy to swim in |
*A rough guide based on general travel information (as of August 2026).
Figure: Sights off Sekotong at a glance
The Secret Gilis: 12 small islands off Sekotong
By chartering a boat from Sekotong’s harbour, you can hop between the islands scattered offshore. The four most often visited are Gili Nanggu, Gili Gede, Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis. Gili Nanggu is well regarded for snorkelling; Gili Gede has fishing villages and is relatively easy to spend time on; and Gili Kedis is known as an island so small that “it takes less than a minute to walk across”. Prices and travel times depend on how you negotiate the boat charter, so we recommend checking with your accommodation or a local tour operator in advance.
These islands still see far fewer visitors than Gili Trawangan or Gili Meno, which makes them ideal if you’re after “quiet Gilis”. For how all the Gili Islands fit together, see What Are the Gili Islands? The Three Islands Compared and How to Get There.
In a March 2026 video on our team’s YouTube channel, Hiroki Nakamura, who runs a business in Sekotong, explains that Bali lies directly opposite Semelar Beach, that on a clear day you can see Bali’s Mount Agung and the sunset at the same time, and that there are very few places on Lombok where you can do this (video).
In a July 2026 video on our team’s YouTube channel, Nakamura climbs “Semelar Hill” in Sekotong. By his own estimate it’s about 300m high (video). Locals say you can climb it in 30 minutes, but it’s a steep path with no proper trail, and a companion who came without water had a hard time (video). From the top, he describes seeing Gili Layar and Gili Asahan along with the sunset (video).
For Sekotong’s night sky, see our detailed guide Stargazing in Sekotong, Lombok: When and Where to See the Southern Cross and the Milky Way, and Tips for Viewing.
Pearl farming and fishing-village life
The Sekotong area is known as one of Indonesia’s most active pearl-farming regions. Farming rafts float on the calm water between the islands, and together with daily life in the fishing villages they create a landscape all of their own. What makes Sekotong special is that you encounter pearl farming as part of everyday life, rather than through a touristy shop.
Where to stay
There aren’t as many places to stay as on Gili Trawangan, but there’s a full range, from budget bungalows to boutique resorts on the sea. Some of the islands off Sekotong also have lodge-style accommodation, so you can experience “staying on an island”. Specific properties and prices change, so please check each property’s official information for the latest details.
Good to know
- No public transport: you’ll need to arrange a private car or rental motorbike. It’s reassuring to sort this out in advance with your accommodation or stay program.
- Limited tourist infrastructure: there are fewer convenience stores, ATMs and places to eat than on Gili Trawangan and similar spots. Bring more cash than you think you’ll need.
- Connectivity: mobile signal and Wi-Fi vary from place to place.
- Island hopping depends on the weather: especially in the rainy season (roughly November to March), boats may be cancelled because of sea conditions.
🏝️ A word from us in Sekotong
The lack of polished tourist infrastructure is an inconvenience, but it’s also exactly what makes Sekotong what it is. We’re building our stay program in this area together with the people of the village. We plan to keep updating the details in this guide (prices and first-hand information on specific sights) as we check things on the ground. (As of August 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Sekotong different from Gili Trawangan?
Gili Trawangan is a lively island with plenty of tourist infrastructure, while Sekotong has seen very little tourist development so far. If you want restaurants and nightlife, go for Gili Trawangan; if you’d like to experience a quiet, simple way of life, Sekotong is the better fit.
Q. Can I get to Sekotong by public transport alone?
Not easily at the moment. A private car, a rental motorbike, or a transfer arranged by your accommodation or stay program are the realistic options.
Q. Can I visit the Secret Gilis as a day trip?
Yes – a day-trip boat charter is the usual way. If you want to visit several islands, we recommend setting off in the morning.
Q. How many days should I spend in Sekotong?
If you just want to hop around the islands, enjoy the beaches and see the pearl farms, a few days is enough. If you’d like to “live here for a while”, we also recommend a longer stay of several days to a few weeks.
Watch: Five days in Sekotong and the southern Gilis
Related reading
- What Is Lombok? A Complete Guide to Getting There, Climate and HighlightsOur main guide to the basics of Lombok as a whole.
Summary: a part of Lombok that hasn’t been turned into a tourist spot
Sekotong doesn’t yet have the convenience or buzz of the Gili Islands. In exchange, its sea hasn’t been over-developed, and a way of life tied to pearl farming and fishing is still intact. It suits travellers who want not a “tourist destination” but “a trip that feels like an extension of everyday life”.
We, Semelar Beach Village, run a stay program here in Sekotong together with the people of the village. You’ll find the details of the program below.
SEMELAR BEACH VILLAGE
Stay in the Sekotong village we call home
About 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport. A stay program where you sleep in a seaside villa, explore the islands by local boat, and watch the sunset at SAKURA CAFE.
Sources for this guide
- General travel information and various travel media (as of August 2026)
- Based on Semelar Beach Village operational materials
- Based on the understanding of our team members in Sekotong (as of August 2026; details to be updated after further checks on the ground)
- Our team’s YouTube channel, “Building a town in Lombok” (the view from Semelar Beach and the climb up Semelar Hill; videos published in March and July 2026)https://www.youtube.com/@Pengembangan-Kota-di-Lombok
