We’ve all heard of the Gili Islands, but while the famous trio gets the crowds, Gili Asahan remains Lombok’s best-kept secret. Tucked off the coast of Sekotong, this is the island people are actually looking for when they say they want to “get away from it all.”

There are no engines, no crowds, and no stress here just a few world-class eco-resorts sharing a shoreline with a local village, traditional fishermen, and wandering livestock. Whether you’re here for the yoga, the world-class snorkeling, or just to escape the noise of Bali, Gili Asahan is the ultimate off-grid retreat.

We often tell our guests on the Lombok Loop that if they want to see a tiny remote Indonesian Island without the crowds, this is the spot.

Getting to Gili Asahan

Map showing the location of Gili Asahan off the coast of Lombok — Location of Gili Asahan off the coast of Lombok

Reaching Gili Asahan is a journey through the scenic, winding roads of Southwest Lombok. You’ll pass the Secret Gili Island pick up point and continue on for around 30 more minutes.

The most common pick-up point is a small stretch of sand known as Kepo Beach (near Pantai Kores). You can leave your scooter here for a small fee of around Rp 10K-15K per night. From here, it is a quick 5-minute boat trip across the channel to Gili Asahan.

We always recommend reaching out to our friend Adi (+62 877-4078-5322). He is from the local village on Gili Asahan and can organize a reliable boat transfer if your accommodation doesn’t provide one. It’s always better to support the local village guys directly and it costs Rp 25,000 per person one way.

From Mataram: Expect a 1.5-hour drive. The roads are generally in good condition, but keep an eye out for livestock crossing the road as you get closer to the coast.
From Kuta Lombok: It’s a solid 2-hour journey. It’s a beautiful drive, but if you’re on a moped, make sure your tires are in good shape before you head out.

Once you reach Gili Asahan your only mode of transport is your own two feet. The island can be walked around in about 2 hours and everything is within walking distance.

Goats walking along beach on Gili Asahan — Island goats

Hill walk over to Bleu Mathis Resort — Island goats

10 Best things to do on Gili Asahan

We have rounded up the best things to do whilst visiting the beautiful Gili Asahan Island!

1. Hike to the viewpoint

This will viewpoint is a must as it gives you 360 degree views of the island. To begin you’ll need to walk through the Gili Asahan Eco Lodge Resort and follow the signs until you reach some concrete stairs. Follow these until you reach the yoga hut and then continue along the trail up the mountain.

The trail on our last visit was a little overgrown however you can still clearly see a path. There is a wire gate which you’ll pass through and then head up to your right. There are some white painted arrows showing the way however if you head for the highest point this viewpoint is very hard to miss. Once at the top there are two different ways you can head to see both sides of the island.

This is a great spot for a sunrise or sunset hike. Just take note of the way you came up.

Tip: If you’re doing this for sunset be sure to bring a torch/enough battery on your phone for a light.

Hiking to the viewpoint, Gili Asahan — Concrete stairs

2. Walk with the horses

For a truly unique island experience, head to the Gili Asahan Eco Lodge to meet their herd of eight rescue horses. Unlike the overworked ponies you often see in other parts of Lombok, these are rescue horses that have been given a second chance at life. There are a range of activities offered with the horses with prices ranging from Rp 500,000 for in-house guests or Rp 1,000,000 for others.

Horse Walk (30 mins): A peaceful beach walk guided by a trainer. If the tide is right, you can even swim into the crystal-clear ocean with them.
Children’s Excursion (30 mins): A hands-on, educational stable visit for young animal lovers to learn about rescue care and meet the herd.
Liberty Lessons (1 hour): For those looking for a deeper connection, these sessions focus on communicating naturally with free-roaming horses.

We didn’t personally do these activities however on our visit we seen many couples walking the beach with the horses and swimming nearby them. The best part was the horses are free to move as they please and no riding is involved.

Rescue horses on Gili Asahan — Gili Asahan Eco Lodge rescue horses

Gili Asahan rescue horses swimming on beach — Gili Asahan Eco Lodge rescue horses

3. Kayak to Gili Goleng

Nearby Gili Asahan you’ll find the beautiful untouched Gili Goleng. The best way to explore this island is to rent a kayak (from one of the resorts) they do full/half day hires for around Rp 250,000 to 300,000.

It is about a 15-20 minute paddle across and the island is covered in coconut trees and surrounded by shells. If you’re lucky and have a keen eye, the seagrass beds here are one of the few places you can spot wild seahorses. We must note that there are strong currents in this area so do keep this in mind when swimming.

During low tide you’re able to walk around the island completely. Just be warned we did this and didn’t take into consideration how quickly the tide would come in and needed to turn around on one of our visits.

There are no facilities on the island at all so it is best to pack some snacks and water. Just remember to take back everything you bring and leave only footsteps!

Kayaking Gili Asahan — Kayaking to Gili Goleng

4. Walk the island Loop

Just like mainlands epic waterfall hikes walking around the island is a great FREE activity during your visit! The best time to do this is during the low tide as it allows you to walk completely around the island on the sand and rocks. There are multiple resorts dotted along the path, so you can easily stop for a cocktail or a meal if you find yourself feeling hungry or needing a break.

The entire loop should only take around 2 hours, and there are plenty of things to spot along the way. You’ll notice the North side of the island has far fewer people and is used primarily for local farmland. If you aren’t walking directly on the shoreline, you will need to pass through a few gates; just be sure to close these behind you so the cattle and goats do not escape their paddocks.

Tip: We recommend wearing shoes for this as there are some sections with sharp rocks before the hill heading towards Bleu Mathis Resort.

Walking near the abandoned pearl farm on Gili Asahan — Walking track near abandoned pearl farm

Fishing boats of Gili Asahan — Walking track near abandoned pearl farm

5. Morning or Afternoon Yoga

During our stay, we found ourselves heading to the yoga shala more times than we could count. Located at the Gili Asahan Eco Lodge, the shala offers some of the most incredible views on the island, making it easy to actually find your zen.

The resident teacher, Cilia, is fantastic and tailors the flow for everyone from total beginners to seasoned yogis with classes of Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin yoga. Classes run daily at 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, providing the perfect bookends to a day of island exploring.

Price: 160,000 IDR per person.

Tip: Work smarter, not harder after your morning yoga class, don’t head back down to the beach immediately. Since the shala is already built into the hillside, you’re essentially halfway to the summit. Continue up the trail from the shala to reach the 360-degree viewpoint while you’re already warmed up!

Haylea doing yoga in the morning with ocean view

6. 2 for 1 cocktails

If you’re looking for a place to sip incredible cocktails while the sky turns orange, we can’t recommend Bleu Mathis Resort enough. We stopped by for a few Mai Thais during a loop around the island, and they were easily some of the best we’ve ever had!

Timing is everything. If you start your walk from the main resort area and head anti-clockwise around the island, you’ll hit Bleu Mathis just as their Happy Hour (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM) kicks off.

The best part? If you purchase drinks, they’ll let you use their swimming pool which offers some pretty awesome views over the ocean. It’s the ultimate “win-win” to cool off after the lap of the island.

7. Snorkeling

Another thing we loved about Gili Asahan was the quiet uncrowded snorkelling areas. Much of the best snorkeling is accessible right from the beach on the island and its very different from with the crowds of snorkeling on Gili T or Gili Air.

Below we have listed the best snorjeling locations that we found on Gili Asahan.

Pearl Beach Resort Reef: This is arguably the best shore-entry spot on the island. Look for the white buoy markers. Inside this area, you’ll find massive cabbage corals and might even spot “Nemo” clownfish. Do not stand here or wear shoes as this area is trying to rehabilitate its coral!
The Bleu Mathis Frontage: Directly in front of the resort, the reef drop-off is home to schools of colorful reef fish and the occasional turtle passing through the channel. Be sure to use the concrete walking track out so that you don’t stand on the coral.
Gili Goleng (Secret Garden): For the best experience, grab a kayak or a local boat to this tiny uninhabited island. Keep a very close eye on the seagrass beds as this is one of the rare spots in Lombok where you can find wild seahorses hiding away.

Tip: The current in the channel between Gili Asahan, Gili Goleng can get surprisingly strong during tide changes. Always check the direction of the water before you swim and don’t go far out if you’re not a confident swimmer.

Coral area on Gili Asahan — White marker reef area outside Pearl Beach Resort

Sign showing the location to swim and snorkel — White marker reef area outside Pearl Beach Resort

8. Delicious Island Pizza

It sounds wild, but some of the best pizza in Indonesia is found right here on this tiny island. Nautilus Restaurant serves up delicious wood-fired pizzas that rival what you’d find in a major city.

We personally recommend the classic Margherita it’s simple, authentic, and never disappoints. The best part? While you wait for the mains, they bring out freshly baked bread with a tomato dip as a free appetizer which we found to be very generous.

If you have any room left, you absolutely have to try the pistachio gelato as it is easily the best dessert to finish the night with.

Fire at night at Nautilus restaurant on Gili Asahan

9. Diving

If the snorkeling isn’t deep enough for you, the diving around Gili Asahan and neighboring Gili Layer is world-class. These sites see a fraction of the traffic that Gili Trawangan gets, which means the coral is in pristine condition and the marine life isn’t shy.

You’ll find dramatic drop-offs, vibrant soft corals, and a huge variety of macro life. We went out with Signature Scuba Dive, who picked us up directly from Gili Asahan, and the experience was incredible. During our dives, we spotted several sea turtles and a huge range of nudibranchs which was very cool!

10. Massage by the waves

After a big day of exploring, a massage is the best way to unwind. Most of the resorts on the island offer massage services in open-air huts right near the water. There is nothing quite like the sound of the ocean waves and the island breeze to help you fully relax into the island life.

And thats a wrap for our best things to do on Gili Asahan!

Gili Asahan is proof that the best parts of travel are often the quietest. It’s not a rush for ticking off a checklist here it’s about the slow mornings and finding a beach all to yourself. This island captures exactly what we love most about the Southwest and it rewards those who are willing to go a little further and slow down a little more.

Feel free to reach out if you need more recommendations or help planning your Lombok adventure. Until then, happy exploring, and we hope our paths cross on this incredible island!

10 Awesome things to do on Gili Asahan, Lombok