Private Gili Kedis snorkeling is a chartered boat trip to Gili Kedis, the smallest of the Southwest Lombok islands, where a single sandbar with a handful of trees is ringed by shallow coral and the whole island can be walked around in a few minutes. Because there is no village, no jetty queue and no shop on it, the island only works as a private stop, which is why couples and small groups book the boat outright rather than joining a shared departure.
What makes Gili Kedis worth a private charter?
Gili Kedis is a sand cay rather than a settled island: it has no residents, no accommodation and no infrastructure, so everything you use for the day arrives on your boat with you. That single fact shapes the entire experience. There is nobody selling anything, no boat schedule to catch, and no fixed departure time you have to share with strangers, so the day runs on your pace instead of an operator’s timetable.
The island sits in the same Sekotong cluster as Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak and Gili Tangkong, close enough that a private boat can combine two or three of them in one morning. Most couples use Kedis as the quiet anchor point of the day and treat the neighbouring reefs as the snorkeling stops.
Who is this trip designed for?
A private charter costs more per person than a shared seat, so it earns its place with specific traveller types rather than with everyone. It suits:
- Couples wanting an unhurried day with photographs that do not include other groups
- Honeymoon and anniversary travellers who want a set-up on the sand at midday
- Small families with young children who need flexible timing and short water sessions
- Photographers and drone operators who need control over where and when the boat stops
- Travellers with limited mobility who need calm, shallow entries and a boat that waits
Larger groups of eight or more usually get better value from a bigger boat on a standard island-hopping route, since the appeal of Kedis is the emptiness rather than the capacity.
How does a private Gili Kedis day run?
The typical structure is a morning departure from a Sekotong-area beach, two reef stops on either side of a long island break, and a return before the afternoon wind. Timings shift to suit you, since nothing on the day is shared with another party.
| Stage | Typical timing | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup | Early morning | Private car from your hotel to the departure beach |
| Departure | On arrival | Gear fitting and safety briefing before boarding |
| First reef | Mid-morning | Guided snorkel over shallow coral with the guide in the water |
| Gili Kedis | Late morning | Landing on the sandbar, swim time, shade under the trees |
| Lunch | Midday | Meal served on the sand or on board, your choice |
| Second reef | Early afternoon | Optional extra stop at a neighbouring island reef |
| Return | Mid-afternoon | Boat back to the mainland and transfer to your hotel |
What is included in a private booking?
A private charter is priced as a whole boat for a whole day, so the inclusions are built around exclusive use rather than per-head extras. A standard booking covers:
- Exclusive use of the boat with captain and crew for the agreed hours
- A dedicated in-water snorkeling guide for your party only
- Snorkeling equipment in adult and child sizes, plus vests and floats
- Beach or on-board lunch, drinking water, fruit and cold towels
- Private round-trip road transfer with a named pickup point
- Island contributions and local harbour fees
- Shade set-up on the sandbar where conditions and tide allow
Special requests such as a decorated table, a cake, or an extra staff member for a proposal are arranged case by case and confirmed in writing before the day.
How shallow and calm is the water here?
The reef around Gili Kedis begins in water shallow enough to stand in at low tide, and the bay is protected from the open southern swell by the mainland and the surrounding islands. That combination is why the cluster is used so often for children and first-time snorkelers, and why the guide can keep an entire group within arm’s reach on a single entry.
Tide matters more here than anywhere else in the group, because the sandbar changes size through the day and very low water can expose coral you should not walk on. Guides plan the landing around the tide table, which is another reason a private boat is easier than a fixed shared schedule.
What about the transfer from your hotel?
Gili Kedis is reached from the Sekotong side of Southwest Lombok, so the road transfer is shortest from Senggigi, Mataram and Lembar and longest from Kuta, the Mandalika area and the north coast. Travellers based in the south sometimes pair the trip with a night in the west rather than doing a long return drive on the same day.
What should you bring to an island with no facilities?
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard, since shade on the sandbar is limited
- A towel, dry clothes and a waterproof bag for phones and cameras
- Any medication you may need, as there is no shop or clinic on the island
- Cash for anything you want to add on the mainland side of the day
- A refillable bottle, so drinking water can be topped up from the boat supply
How do you get a price and secure a date?
Private charter pricing depends on group size, boat type, trip duration, pickup point and any celebration set-up, so the trip is quoted per booking rather than sold at one published rate. Send your dates, party size and hotel area and you will receive a written quote listing the inclusions above, plus the tide-based departure time recommended for that day.
Comparing options nearby helps: the Gili Sudak snorkeling trip adds a larger island with more shade, the Gili Nanggu snorkeling package is the best-known route in this cluster, and a full-day Lombok private snorkeling charter lets you combine several islands in one exclusive booking.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Gili Kedis?
Gili Kedis is a small uninhabited sand cay with only a few trees on it, and visitors routinely walk its full shoreline in a matter of minutes. Its size is the reason it feels private even with a couple of boats anchored offshore, and also the reason there are no facilities of any kind, so food, water and shade come with your boat.
Can we have lunch set up on the sand?
Yes, a beach set-up is the standard arrangement on a private booking when the tide leaves enough dry sand. If the water is unusually high, the crew serves lunch on board instead, which is why the departure time is planned against the tide table for your specific date rather than fixed year-round.
Is a private trip better than joining a shared boat?
For two to six people wanting flexible timing, quiet photographs or extra support in the water, a private boat is the practical choice because nothing on the day is shared. Larger groups often get better value from a standard island-hopping departure, since the main benefit of the charter is exclusivity rather than extra capacity.
Can children and non-swimmers join?
Yes. Child-sized masks, buoyancy vests and floats are carried on the boat, and the reef edge begins in water shallow enough to stand in at many points around the island. The guide stays with the least confident swimmer, and anyone who prefers not to enter the water can stay on the sandbar or on board.
Book your private Gili Kedis day
Tell us your dates, group size and hotel area and we will check boat availability and send a written quote with the tide-adjusted departure time. Message WhatsApp https://wa.me/6281139414563 or email bd@juaraholding.com.