Pearl Beach Resort Gili Asahan – Snorkeling Insights And Resort Info
Pearl Beach Resort is our top recommendation if you are looking for the perfect place to stay in Gili Asahan. This eco-boutique resort on a tiny island in southwest Lombok has everything you might need to recharge your batteries far away from your busy everyday life. With its romantic bungalows set up in an idyllic tropical environment and various activities, including snorkeling at the house reef right in front of the resort and kayaking all around the island, it offers a perfect escape for those who want a relaxing yet adventure-filled vacation. Staying in Peal Beach Resort felt like being in paradise for us, and we can promise this is a place you never want to leave. Do you want to know more? Get all your questions answered from our Pearl Beach Resort review!
Pearl Beach Resort Gili Asahan – Our Experience
Despite the island’s small size, there is a wide variety of accommodation choices in Gili Asahan. The reason why we recommend Pearl Beach Resort over other popular Gili Asahan resorts like Eco Lodge or Amahelia Luxury Resort is that based on our personal experience, this resort has the best location on the island snorkeling with an easily accessible house reef, which is always our main priority when choosing where to stay.
Besides this, we experienced excellent hospitality during our stay, and all in all, the resort met (and even exceeded) our expectations; our bungalow was spacious, the food was excellent, and the resort’s tropical garden provided a relaxing environment.
Pros
- the best snorkeling area on the island lies just in front of the hotel
- well-maintained, private garden with bean bags, sunbeds and umbrellas
- free kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard, yoga mat, life vest and snorkel gear
- free drinking water
- fabulous buffet breakfast
- complementary tea and coffee in the afternoons
Cons
- Internet is available only in the restaurant and the signal is not strong
- the restaurant is not open all day
- some items in the bungalows need to be fixed/updated
Snorkeling Pearl Beach Resort Gili Asahan
Pearl Beach Resort Lombok is proud to have the best house reef for snorkeling in Gili Asahan. You can easily get into the water through the resort’s beach and find yourself in a natural aquarium. The shallow reef runs along the coast, so you can swim in both directions and explore fantastic coral gardens.
We preferred the right side because the reef gets a bit deeper on that side, so there are bigger coral structures and more fish. Here, you can even find an artificial reef where you can observe how planted corals grow on man-made metal structures.
The sea is usually calm and current-free on this side of the island, and there are very few boats around. Therefore, the Pearl Beach Resort house reef offers beginner-friendly snorkeling in Lombok.
Besides the vibrant corals and various fish species, you can spot sea turtles, moray eels, sea stars, and sea horses, as well as macro creatures like sea slugs and nudibranchs. The rumor has been that even a harmless thresher shark lives here, but unfortunately, we were not lucky to find her. Message us if you encounter her!
Tip: If you are staying in mainland Lombok but want to go snorkeling in Gili Asahan, book a Secret Gilis full-day trip that takes you around the best snorkel spots in the area!
Other Activities In Pearl Beach Resort
Besides snorkeling, lying on the beach, and enjoying the slow life, there are several activity options to keep yourself busy while enjoying your vacation in Gili Asahan, including
- kayaking
- stand up paddleboarding
- walking and hiking
- going on snorkeling tours to Gili Rengit and Gili Layar
We believe that snorkeling at the Pearl Beach Resort house reef will be the highlight of your days, but don’t miss out on paddling around the island and visiting the nearby uninhabited Gili Goleng, too. Pearl Beach Resort provides you with free kayaks, canoes, and SUPs.
If you enjoy walking and easy hiking, climb up to the viewpoint and enjoy the sunrise or sunset! Or just take a long walk around the island by following the beach. You will explore wonderful nature and discover the locals’ life in the Gili Asahan village.
Moreover, you can sign up for snorkeling tours to discover the nearby islands’ house reefs. We went on a full-day Gili Rengit/Gili Layar trip organized by the resort and enjoyed it a lot. We liked Gili Layar so much that we even decided to spend a few days on that island too.
How To Get To Pearl Beach Resort?
To get to Pearl Beach is situated on the small island of Gili Asahan, in southwest Lombok. Despite its secluded location, it is easy to reach from Lombok and Bali too.
If you are arriving by plane at Lombok Airport, first, you need to reach Tembowong local port, which is about 2 hours by car from the airport. You can grab a taxi at the airport or book a private transfer. From the port, you will reach the island by a short boat trip, usually organized by the resort. The transfer details are communicated with the reception team after reservation.
If you are coming from Bali, the best option is to take the Gili Getaway Speedboat to Gili Gede. From here, the rest is the same: the resort’s transfer boat will be waiting for you and take you to the island.
Resort Facilities And Services
The Pearl Beach Resort Gili Asahan is a luxurious boutique resort built in harmony with nature. They operate a green business applying eco-friendly solutions like:
- solar panels supply electricity
- the buildings are built from natural materials
- sustainable seafood is served in the restaurant
- they donate part of the profit to local conservation projects
Please appreciate these efforts and contribute to preserving the resources by switching off all your electronics and the A/C when you are not in the room and paying attention to your water consumption.
I think there is no need to explain how plastic pollution affects the ocean and sadly, the situation is really bad in Indonesia. Help to keep the island clean! Never leave any rubbish behind and collect trash from the beach!
Bungalow Types
The resort offers spacious bungalows and villas (choose between garden or seaside ones) with semi-outdoor bathrooms that have stylish stone decor and bamboo elements. There is hot water in the shower. Each building features an outdoor relaxing area, too, with swing beds and hammocks. The bungalows are equipped with fans, while some villas have air conditioning.
The natural wooden structure and thatched-roof buildings are surrounded by tropical plants, creating a peaceful environment for a romantic holiday or an unforgettable family vacation. Sunbeds, umbrellas, and bean bags are free to use on the beach.
Dining Options
A fabulous buffet breakfast is served daily in the restaurant from 7 am to 9:30 am. Besides the basic breakfast items like toast, butter, jam, cheese, salami, and some fruits, it includes freshly made juices, homemade yogurt, waffles/pancakes, and, of course, you can order eggs prepared to your choice. Local Lombok coffee, Nescafe, and tea are, of course, also served.
The cozy open-air restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, although cocktails and drinks can be ordered throughout the day. To get the freshest ingredients, the staff advises guests to pre-order their food choices in the morning.
The menu includes local dishes and some international meals like hamburgers. We opted for local dishes and they were really tasty.
There is complimentary coffee and tea between 4 and 5 pm, which we found lovely. Romantic beach dinners can also be arranged.
Internet/WIFI
Free internet is available in the restaurant area, but the service is very slow, and sometimes there is no reception at all. Think about the lack of internet as an advantage and enjoy being disconnected while you stay at the Pearl Beach Resort Gili Asahan. Talk to your family, socialize with other guests, or enjoy the days spent in such a paradise environment.
If you need to be connected for work or other reasons, buy a local Indonesian SIM card.
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