La Cocoteraie Ecolodge: Glamping on Gili T

After spending a few weeks on the ever popular Indonesian island of Bali, we were excited to take a step off the beaten path and visit a nearby chain of tropical islands called “The Gilis.” The Gilis are three specks of white sand known for their beaches, laid-back atmosphere, and freedom from motorized vehicles — an ideal setting for some tropical glamping at La Cocoteraie Ecolodge.

To get to the Gilis from Bali, you need to take a makeshift “fast boat” some 50 kilometers across the Lombok Strait. Local Indonesian operators strap on as many outboard engines as will fit on their boats’ sterns and punch it, full throttle, hence the name. Our glamping adventure was off to a quick start.

outboard-engines

Two bumpy hours later, we were deposited on the eastern shore of Gili Trawangan — or Gili T — as it’s known.

unboarding-on-gili-t

Gili T is the largest and most developed of the three Gilis. It also has a reputation as a bit of a backpacker destination which we sensed immediately. While we have nothing against backpackers, we tend to favor more tranquility these days. Fortunately, La Cocoteraie is located on the western side of Gili T where it’s much, much quieter.

To get to the other side of the island with our luggage required a ride in the island’s signature mode of transportation: a cidomo (or “one-horse carriage”). Rather than circumnavigate the sandy beach ring road, the cidomo carried us briskly through the village and over dusty trails, into the heart of the tiny island. Small signs marked the faintly visible path to our destination.

CIDOMO-S

Unlike most other development on the Gilis, La Cocoteraie is not located on the beachfront. Instead, it’s tucked away about 300 meters along a dirt path into the woods. It is from this location among the coconut trees that La Cocoteraie derives its name — “the coconut place” in French. This location might not work for a traditional Gili resort hotel, but it is perfect for a glampsite.

La Cocoteraie was developed a little less than three years ago as a boutique resort with eight safari tents. Each tent is identical in design with the glamping upgrades of a porch, ensuite bathroom, electricity, wifi, and air conditioning. The decor and finishes are simple, striking a perfect balance between the natural aesthetic of camping and the luxury of a hotel stay. Bamboo is prevalent throughout — from the furniture to permanent construction — connecting the generic safari tent to the tropical locale.

coconut-grove-by-david-doyon

our-safari-tent-1-d-doyon

Other amenities include a modest bar & restaurant, a swimming pool, bicycles, and snorkeling gear. We love riding bikes so we immediately dropped off our bags and set out to explore Gili T.

bicycles-d-doyon

When we emerged onto the sandy loop road, we were instantly relieved to see that the western coastline is significantly less developed, still retaining some of that tropical paradise feel. We followed the coast north and then east to a beach where we were told sea turtles abound. Unfortunately, the swells were too powerful so we decided to pack it in before we spotted any turtles.

Another perk of the west coast of Gili T is its view of the sunsets. The sunset is celebrated nightly and you have a variety of “scenes” to choose from, ranging from club hits to live acoustic bands. We opted for the chilled out drum sesh at The Exile, which also sold the coldest beer I’ve enjoyed in over ninety days of tropical travelling. My kind of place.

we-have-beer-colder-than-your-exs-heart

the-exile-sunset

After the sunset, we went for dinner “downtown” on the other side of the island. By the time we finished our nasi goreng, things were already starting to get a little rowdy, so we skipped town and set off on a harrowing bike ride back home through the darkness. Thanks to our trusty headlamps, we made it to La Cocoteraie in one piece, giggling about a close encounter with a baby goat and his irritable mother. These are the kinds of adventures you don’t usually get staying in a normal hotel.

It had been a long day and we were exhausted. Before going to bed, however, we had an important decision to make: au naturale or air conditioning? After much deliberation, we finally decided to zip up the tent flaps and activate the aircon. Call us “soft” if you want — we don’t care. What’s the point of glamping if you’re not going to enjoy some of its glamours anyways?

In the cool and quiet, we slept like babies.

The rest of our Gili T adventure was spent in much the same way as our first day: exploring the island on our bikes, lounging on the beach, hunting for turtles, and enjoying the sunset. La Cocoteraie was the perfect home base, showcasing the best side of Gili T while offering a genuine tropical glamping experience among the coconut trees.

Escape to Gili Eco Villas

Leave the cars and paved roads behind, and come to a place where horse carts and snorkeling fins are the best way to get around. Gili Trawangan is in a string of islands off of Lombok, Indonesia and a world away. To embrace its charms and create a true getaway for family and friends, the founders of Gili Eco Villas built seven sustainable houses tucked away on the sunset side of the isle. It offers all the amenities of a hotel (full-service restaurant, pool, concierge, etc.) and home (kitchen, multiple bedrooms, balconies, and utter privacy). We stayed here three nights soaking up the island life and are counting the days until our return.

2-GiliEcoVillas-Path-HoneyTrek.com

Our horse cart left the port, cutting through the jungle and coconut groves, and emerged at Gili Eco Villas beach-side retreat. We were shown under the bougainvillea arches to our two-story Joglos-style home.

3-GiliEcoVillasLivingRoom-HoneyTrek

We entered our open-air living room, looking out to the gardens and sea, and felt completely at home. The mix of modern and Indonesian decor was perfect with comfy rattan sofas, a teak dining area, and a full kitchen (plus, room service to indulge our laziness.)

4-GiliEcoVillas-Patio-HoneyTrek.com

The Gili Islands are sunny and warm most of the year (best months to visit are April-November) and the villas are designed to embrace the outdoors. To get to the second floor, the staircase runs along the outside of the house and onto a sweeping patio with two more bedrooms. Though each of the seven villas are different so you can find the style and size that suits you.

5-Gili-Eco-Villas-Ocean-Pool_HoneyTrek.com

Spoiled for choice, we had both the Gili Eco Villas private beach and a shaded pool for swimming and relaxing. The pool pump is actually one of the only things that uses outside energy at this eco-friendly resort. They use wind and solar power wherever possible for minimal environmental impact.

6-GiliEcoVillas-Dining

When we saw these charming tables set up along the beach, we had to book a sunset dinner for two. Grilled prawns, fish curry, jasmine rice, and home-grown vegetables were a culinary delight. The fish was caught by local fisherman and Gili Eco Villas grows their own organic vegetables either in their garden or greenhouse for a wider selection of produce.

7-BikingGiliT-HoneyTrek

The next day we took out bikes (the only other form of island transport after horse cart and boat) and cycled the four-mile circumference of this tiny island. “Downtown” is a lively place with a mix of posh restaurants, beach bars, adventure outfitters, and funky shops which quickly fades to pristine beaches, jungle, and local villages.

8Gili T Snorkel Trip-HoneyTrek.com

The Gilis are known for excellent scuba diving and snorkeling. We took a boat trip out to the neighboring isle of Gili Meno and spotted sea turtles, lion fish, box fish, Nemos, and more along the coral reef.

9-GiliEcoVillas-Bedroom

Any bed would have looked amazing after a full day of activity but the fragrant flower petals and ocean breeze wafting through our window made it a slice of heaven.

10 Gili T HoneyTrek

Gili T is an up-and-coming destination with more people discovering Indonesia’s best kept secret. As it gains popularity, sustainability is key and accommodations like Gili Eco Villas are the type of place you want to enjoy and support to protect paradise.

Anne and Mike Howard are creators of the around-the-world honeymoon blog HoneyTrek.com and Long Term Travel Coaches for anyone looking to travel the world safely, affordably and off the beaten path. You can follow @HoneyTrek on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

5 Reasons Why Glamping Should Be Your Next Family Vacation

Glamping is a new form of vacationing that will take any family trip to whole new heights. Glamping ensures you and your family will have a fun adventure in the outdoors with the luxurious amenities of hotels. Glamping is an opportunity for any vacation to be more than a vacation that takes family time to new heights, whether it be in a treehouse or in the mountains overlooking a valley. A glamping adventure will turn in to lifelong memories that any member of your family will cherish.

The top 5 reasons to take your family glamping:

Eco-resorts

nightfall wilderness camp
nightfall wilderness camp

Almost all Glamping Destinations are conservations that are invested in keeping the surrounding area preserved for both the nature and the wildlife that inhabits the area. In addition, the glamping locations like to preserve the land by taking precautions for both the guests and the wildlife. Also, most of the glamping destinations on our website feature locations that use solar power to preserve energy and make for an environmentally safe stay.

Locations

Patagonia Eco Domes
Patagonia Eco Domes

Most properties featured on Glamping.com are located on privately owned land, forests, mountains, beaches and even national parks which make for the most unique views and experiences. Each location, for the most part, is isolated from the urban cities offering peaceful serenity, fresh air and beautiful panoramic views, bringing guests back to nature in the most modern ways.

Inclusive Stays

Mustang Monument
Mustang Monument

A majority of the properties that offer glamping accommodations offer all inclusive stays. Each location offers unique and luxurious lodging, exquisite food and an abundance of activities that bring glampers back to nature and in touch with their inner selves.

Activities

Misool Eco Resort
Misool Eco Resort

All of the above reasons to go glamping have lead us up to this, what to do while glamping. When staying in one of the many remote locations, one must wonder what will I do all day? most locations offer an abundance of activities, depending on where in the world you are glamping, locations offer horseback riding, zip lining, fishing, kayaking, safari tours, hiking, biking and trekking through the wilderness. In addition to all these fun activities that can make your glamping trip the most memorable experience for you and your family, there are more extravagant activities to really bring your trip to the next level. Some destinations offer helicopter tours, hot air balloon rides, safari tours and more.

Pet Friendly

Kumsheen Rafting Resort
Kumsheen Rafting Resort

Because guests aren’t staying in urban areas or hotels, a large portion of glamping properties are pet friendly. That way every single member of the family can join in on the glamping experience!