Rhon Lombok & Gili
Two paddlers on stand-up paddle boards at sunrise with Mount Rinjani in the background

Stand-up paddle in the Gilis

Sunrise and sunset · lesson included

1 to 3 hours Lesson or free rental from IDR 125,000 per hour

An hour after first light the water goes glass-flat, Mount Rinjani turns pink across the strait, and there is nobody else out. It is the best hour of the day here and most visitors sleep through it.

Sunrise or sunset

Sunrise is the calm one: no wind, no boats, the volcano lit up behind you and reef passing under the board. Sunset is the warm one, with the sky going orange over Bali and the water still holding the heat of the day. Both are good, they are just different mornings and evenings.

A session runs one to three hours depending on how far you want to go and how your arms hold up.

A group of paddlers holding hands on their boards at sunset in the Gili Islands

Never stood on a board before

That is most people. We start on the sand with ten minutes on where to put your feet and how to hold the paddle, then you kneel for the first few strokes and stand when you feel like it. The water here is shallow, warm and flat in the morning — falling in is part of it, and it costs you nothing but a laugh.

What is under the board

Coral, sand channels, and often turtles. On a clear morning you see them from above, which is a strange and quiet way to meet one. Bring the board back over the shallow reef on the way in and you will usually find something.

Photos

The sunrise session with drone photos is IDR 200,000 per person, photos sent over on WhatsApp afterwards. Board, paddle and leash on their own are IDR 125,000 per hour. If you would rather sit down, a kayak is IDR 100,000 for a single and IDR 125,000 for a double.

What is included

  • Board, paddle and leash
  • Beginner lesson on the sand first
  • Sunrise, daytime or sunset slot
  • Photos from the water on request

What to bring

  • Reef-safe sunscreen
  • A hat
  • Water
  • Cash in rupiah

Questions people ask

What time is sunrise here? +

Around half past five to six in the morning, year round. Message me the day before and I will tell you the exact time and where to meet.

Can I take my phone? +

Yes, in a dry bag — I have them. But you will probably want both hands on the paddle for the first half hour.

Is it hard if I am not sporty? +

Not on flat morning water. Most people are paddling within ten minutes, and you can kneel the whole way if standing is not for you.

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