Gili Meriam in Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province

If tourists look for a new experience during holidays in Indonesia, they must consider visiting Sumbawa Regency. The region has several unique tourist attractions for everyone especially the formation of small islands or gilis. One of the best is called Gili Meriam, which is located in a fisherman village area. To be exact, this small island belongs to Teluk Santong Village in Plampang Sub-District. Not to mention it is the part of Saleh Cape and resides near to other beautiful islands. Most tourists are interested to visit the island due to the various attractive panoramas. Some others are satisfied with the soothing nuance.

The Nuance
The nuance is peaceful because Gili Meriam doesn’t have inhabitants. What tourists can find are only a beautiful hill and several trees and bushes. Considering the name, the island indeed resembles cannon muzzle. “Meriam” means cannon, actually. The good thing is the size is only 3.62 hectares, so tourists are able to get around the island without spending too much time. The next noticeable feature is the pure white sandy shoreline. Tourists can even walk on it barefoot. As for the sea, the shallow water and calm waves lure those who love water sports!

Exploring Gili Meriam
Before reaching Gili Meriam, tourists should take the chance to take photos of the island while on the boat. It is because the island looks unique (which is similar to the muzzle of cannon). Therefore, they must ask the boat operator to stop for a while before getting on the island. What is more? The real fun begins once tourists get on the island. The first thing they can do is to play water on the shallow shore. As an alternative, they can simply conduct beach walking and playing and on the shoreline. The soft texture makes these activities more comfortable to do!

Sightseeing becomes the next common thing to do in Gili Meriam. Thanks to the green Tosca and crystal clear sea. In the midst of the island, tourists may find two attractive hills as well. That means visitors would have a more satisfying panorama if they conduct sightseeing from the top of those hills. Here is the tip. Tourists should come only during the wet season when the landscape is more beautiful due to the lush grasses.

Some tourists would feel disappointed, as they can’t find facilities like toilets and eateries in Gili Meriam. In order to take care of this issue, they should prepare the snacks and drinks beforehand. As for the comfort, they can take advantage of nearby trees for resting or avoiding the heat of the sun at noon. It is also recommended to carry a mat for a better comfort, actually.

Nearby Attractions

• Rak Island
• Gili Lipan

How to Get There
From Soekarno – Hatta International Airport in Jakarta City, a flight to Sultan Muhammad Kaharuddin III Airport in Sumbawa takes about 4 hours and 5 minutes. After arriving at Sumbawa Besar City, the next destination is Teluk Santong Village in Plampang Sub-District. Tourists can simply take any local transportation service to get there. The distance is 78.8 km, so the trip may take around 1 hour and 39 minutes. It can be done faster if tourists take Diponegoro Street.