Gili Sunut: Lombok’s Hidden Savanna Island

Gili Sunut is a tiny island that looks its most striking in the dry season. Dry season usually gets a bad reputation for being hot and parched, but on Gili Sunut that is exactly what makes the scenery worth the trip. Fields of tall grass turn a warm brown and the trees shed their leaves, leaving behind a one-of-a-kind landscape that is hard to look away from.

A Hidden Gem Among Lombok’s Gili Islands

Say Lombok and most travellers picture Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. In reality there are around 200 gili (small islands) scattered around Lombok, and Gili Sunut is one that barely anyone has heard of.

People used to live on Gili Sunut, but the community was relocated to mainland Lombok because the island had too little in the way of facilities and infrastructure. Today it is uninhabited, and that is precisely its charm: you get the run of a private island with nothing and no one to interrupt the quiet.

Where Gili Sunut Is and How to Get There

Gili Sunut sits in the Sekaroh area of Jerowaru district, East Lombok. There are a couple of ways to reach the island:

From Pink Beach (Pantai Tangsi): boats are available here to take you across.
From Tanjung Luar: local fishing boats will happily take you across as well.

If you would rather keep things simple, you can book a Lombok tour package with The Langkah Travel.

What Makes the Island Special

If you are lucky, you can walk across a sandbar that stretches from mainland Lombok all the way to Gili Sunut at low tide. The beach here is clean white sand with almost no plastic or litter, just a scattering of dry leaves blown in on the dry-season wind.

The little island is also a great spot for a swim, a lazy afternoon, or an hour of sunbathing under the tropical sun.

The Savanna That Steals the Show

The main draw of Gili Sunut is its wide, sweeping savanna. Most of the island is blanketed in tall grass that fades to brown once the dry season sets in, and the view brings the savannas of Africa to mind.

The bare, leafless trees add to the effect, making the island an ideal spot for after-wedding photo shoots, or simply for soaking up a romantic setting.

Tips for Visiting Gili Sunut

A few tips worth keeping in mind before you set off, so the trip is an enjoyable one:

Bring your own food: there are no food stalls on Gili Sunut. Pack a picnic or eat at a restaurant before you head over.
Take your rubbish home: always carry your trash back with you. Keeping the island as beautiful and clean as it is now is on all of us.

Enjoy the natural beauty of Lombok, and above all Gili Sunut with its stunning savanna. Happy exploring, and make some unforgettable memories on this little slice of paradise!