Rhon Lombok & Gili
Blue double kayaks and a rack of paddle boards on the beach in the Gili Islands

Kayaking in the Gilis

Single or double · at your own pace

1 to 3 hours Single or double kayak IDR 100,000 single, 125,000 double, per hour

The simplest way to get somewhere quiet. No lesson, no technique, no balance to find — you sit down, you paddle, and ten minutes later you are on a stretch of sand with nobody on it.

Where you can go

Along the shore in either direction, over the shallow reef where the water goes from turquoise to deep blue in one metre, and out to the sandbanks that appear at low tide. Going all the way around one island takes a couple of hours at an easy pace, with stops.

Tell me where you want to end up and I will tell you which way to go with the wind, which matters more than which way looks shorter.

Good with children, good with a picnic

A double kayak takes a parent and a child, or two people sharing the work. It is stable enough to carry a bag, a towel and lunch, and low enough that getting in and out in waist-deep water is easy. The dry bag for phones comes with it.

What is under you

Coral, sand channels and, on a clear morning, turtles coming up to breathe a few metres from the boat. Bring a mask: the best spots are shallow enough to slip off the kayak, look, and climb back on.

Guests on the beach with paddle boards and kayaks ready to go

What it costs

IDR 100,000 an hour for a single kayak, IDR 125,000 for a double, paid in cash on the day. A stand-up paddle board is IDR 125,000 an hour if you would rather stand up. No deposit, and no need to book days ahead — a message in the morning is enough.

The one rule

Stay on your island side. The channels between the three islands move water faster than they look, and a kayak that drifts out of the lee takes real effort to bring back. If you want to cross between islands, go with me or take the boat — I would rather tell you that now than come and find you later.

What is included

  • Single or double sit-on-top kayak
  • Paddles and life jackets
  • Dry bag for your phone
  • Suggested routes from the beach

What to bring

  • Reef-safe sunscreen
  • A hat
  • Water
  • A mask if you want to look down

Questions people ask

Do I need any experience? +

None. A sit-on-top kayak is about as easy as it gets, and the water here is calm in the morning. If you can sit down, you can paddle one.

Can I take a child? +

Yes, in the double kayak with an adult, with a life jacket. Tell me their age and I will suggest a route that stays in shallow water.

Can I kayak to another island? +

Not on your own. The currents in the channels are stronger than they look. If you want to see another island, we do it by boat.

Message me and we sort out your day

No booking platform, no deposit, no commission in between. Tell me your dates and how many you are, and I answer in minutes.

Also worth your morning

Contact me