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Written by Beverley Lennon

As a real island connoisseuse, I am always on the lookout for hidden tropical islands around Indonesia. In fact, I am in a few days leaving on an adventure to the Thousand Islands, but after getting to know about this newly formed secret island in Northwest Bali, I have to say that I am truly reconsidering!

Now, I bet you think I am talking about Menjangan Island. No friends, been there, done that!

The hidden island I am talking about is Gili Putih Sumberkima. It is an island that is accessible by a short walk from the beach (during extreme low tides) or by a quick boat ride from Bangsal harbour (during high tides).

What’s more – this secret island used to be merely just a small plot of sand that slowly expanded to form a wide island and to our surprise, we heard it changes shape every day due to the tidal conditions!

Here’s what you should know about this hidden island:

Read more:

8 Pristine Indonesian islands near Singapore and KL where you can bask in crystal clear waters and white-sand beaches

6 Untouched islands around Bali that will take your breath away

Guide to the Nusa Islands (Bali) – Best things to do, where to stay and eat in Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan and Penida!

15 Hidden beaches in Bali where you can find pristine shores and secret caves

14 Hidden gems in West Bali you need to discover on the road less travelled

1. It is the ideal place to catch both sunrise and sunset!

The best time to visit Gili Putih is early in the morning at sunrise or in the evening at sunset as you can relish beautiful sky colours and enjoy the change in tides! Best yet if you can stay from sunrise to sunset to fully contemplate on how different the scenery is throughout the whole day! From the island, you can even enjoy magical views of the nearby West Bali National Park.

Photo Via Ebykumbha12
Photo Via Wahyuxsaputra

Now, this is the ideal location if, just like me, you hate crowded beaches at golden hours! And if you’re wondering how to reach the island in time for Mother Nature’s show, do not worry as locals at Bangsal Harbour will be more than happy to help you out with a boat ride!

2. There’s an Instagrammable swing on the island!

We bet you’ve seen these Instagrammable swings all over social media; in fact, I have seen people lining up at Nusa Ceningan and Gili Trawangan just for the sake of a picture! Well, here’s where you can get your dose of scenic island swing in Bali with no crowd-fight at all!

Photo Via Prema_s
Photo Via Mao.amore, Oky_rianto


3. The island is uninhabited, so you can have it to yourself!

We absolutely love the sound of that – UNINHABITED! That also means – away from pesky crowds and touts!

Chances are, you might be the only one on the island on the day you visit (depending on the time and season). Although there are swings and some spots to protect you from the sun, there’s absolutely no life on the island (well, besides under water!). There are no houses, no hotels – it just resembles a sandbank in the middle of the ocean. In fact, quite similar to the islands around Flores!

Photo Via Major.d_
Photo Via Bayu_mahendra_

4. It is a place only locals know about so far (shhh)!

By now, you sure do know about the secret island of Gili Putih but rest assured that you’re one of the few who do! The location is still very much unknown to tour companies so that makes it great if you’re looking for off-the-beaten places around Bali! As of now, the island is used by local fishermen but you might want to be quick before everyone else learns about it!

Photo Via Ziccohudyoro

5. The sea water here is as clear as in the Maldives!

Unlike many beaches around Bali (yes, even clearer than Nusa Dua beaches), the water at Gili Putih is crystal-clear with different shades of blue! On the boat ride to the island, you’ll also notice lively corals that attract tons of fishes so that makes it an ideal snorkelling spot!

Photo Via Itasalma.magical

Having visited the Maldives and coming from Mauritius, you surely can trust me when it comes to islands and turquoise waters! Moreover, since the island isn’t popular among tourists (yet), it is still raw and has no development nor is it polluted – you get to enjoy a beautiful stretch of powdery beach with barely anyone around you!

Photo Via Oky_rianto, Ziccohudyoro

6. The island is expanding and changes shape day by day!

Yes! You’ve read it right – Gili Putih is forever expanding and changes shape every day due to tidal conditions in the area! According to locals, this used to be a small plot of sand but throughout the years, it has expanded into a full island where they often go to fish, and some parts even connect to the beach so during low tides, you can walk from the beach to reach the island!

Photo Via Leesaleesangeun, Hansburhanu_____
Photo Via Riskidarmawan_, Mor_tour
Photo Via Dekvinoe

Getting to Gili Putih Sumberkima

If you’re coming from South Bali, drive up northwest of the island to Bangsal Harbour. The drive will take approximately 4 hours and this is where you’ll be able to rent a boat for approximately Rp. 400,000 (per boat for 5 persons).

Directions here (from Kuta to Bangsal Harbour)

PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you!
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