Quick Answer
Cidomos are horse-drawn carts that act as the only motorised-alternative transport on the Gili Islands. Whether to use them is a real personal call, not a no-brainer. They're an important part of the local economy and the only way to move heavy loads on a car-free island. They're also visibly working animals in tropical conditions. We lay out the honest case both ways and let guests decide.
What a cidomo is
A small wooden cart with two wheels, a brightly painted canopy, and one horse. The driver sits at the front. Two passengers fit comfortably on a bench seat behind, plus luggage in a small rear shelf. The driver controls with reins and voice. The cart sounds like its name: a soft clop and the clack of small bells on the horse's harness.
Cidomos have been used in Indonesia, particularly Lombok, for over a hundred years. The Gili version is a smaller variant suited to the islands' sand-and-shell paths.
What they're used for
Three honest categories:
Goods transport. This is what cidomos do most of the day. Building materials, food deliveries to restaurants, dive cylinders, anything that arrives by boat at the harbour and needs to reach the inland of the island. There is no other mechanical option. Cidomos are essential infrastructure for the islands' economies.
Visitor luggage from the harbour. Most guests arrive with bags, and walking from the harbour to a resort in soft sand isn't practical. The standard solution is a cidomo for the bags. We arrange this for arriving BASK guests.
Visitor leisure rides. Slower, longer rides where the cart is the point, not the destination. Sunset perimeter loops, runs to dinner at a resort the other end of the island, that kind of thing.
The first two are basically infrastructure. The third is the one with the bigger ethical conversation.
The honest concerns
Several things matter to visitors who think about animal welfare:
Sun and heat. Lombok and the Gilis are hot. Carts work in midday sun. Some drivers have shade cover at home; some don't. Hours of standing in sun between rides is a real welfare consideration.
Workload. A loaded cart with two passengers plus luggage in soft sand is harder on the horse than a city carriage on tarmac. Repeated trips in a day, especially in heat, are hard.
Water and rest. Standards vary. The best drivers stop frequently to water their horses and give them breaks. The worst run them too hard. Visible signs of distress (panting, salivating heavily, ribs prominent, sores from poor tack) appear when standards slip.
Veterinary care. Limited on the islands. Horses with minor problems can develop bigger ones over time.
A small group of local drivers and welfare advocates has been working on standards for years, and the situation has improved. It is not perfect.
The honest case for use
Equally:
It is local employment that won't be replaced. The cidomo trade supports families. If visitors stop using them altogether tomorrow, the horses don't go to better lives; many would simply be sold or worse.
Goods can't move otherwise. A cidomo carrying construction materials or a fresh delivery to a kitchen is doing work that has to happen on an island without trucks.
Walking and biking with luggage doesn't work for everyone. Elderly guests, families with small children, anyone with mobility limits. The cart is the practical answer.
Specific drivers and horses can be in very good shape. Choosing well makes a difference.
How to choose well, if you choose
Five honest filters:
- Look at the horse. Healthy weight, calm posture, alert eyes, clean coat. No visible sores under the tack. If anything looks off, walk away politely.
- Look at the cart. Reasonable condition, no rusted edges, brakes that work on the downslopes.
- Look at the driver. Calm, kind voice with the horse. Good drivers don't shout or whip.
- Pay fairly. Don't haggle aggressively. The going rate is fair; pushing it down means the driver has less to spend on the horse's care.
- Tip if the ride is good. A small extra meaningfully changes the day's earnings.
There's no rating app or formal welfare scheme. Visual judgment is the tool.
The middle ground that most BASK guests use
A common pattern we see:
- Cidomo for arrival with luggage (and departure, on the way out).
- Walk or bike for the rest of the stay.
- A donation to the local horse welfare initiative at some point during the visit.
This balances supporting local livelihoods with not creating extra rides simply for novelty. It is also approximately how we move our own staff and supplies: cidomos when there is genuine cargo, foot or bike otherwise.
The full skip
Some guests opt out entirely. Carry their own bags from the harbour, walk or bike for everything, donate to local welfare separately. Genuinely respectful position, and we have no objection to it.
If you'd like to skip cidomos, we can:
- Send a porter to meet your boat and walk your bags down the shoreline path.
- Arrange a small wheeled trolley for the final stretch.
- Recommend the longer walk-in route from a quieter dock if your bags are light.
What we ask of guests, either way
A short list, regardless of which side you land on:
- Don't yell at drivers or horses. It happens. It shouldn't.
- Don't photograph drivers without asking. The same courtesy we'd want.
- Don't feed the horses. Especially sugary foods. It seems kind; it isn't.
- Speak to the activities team if you see anything that concerns you and we'll follow up with the driver and the local welfare contact.
What we do as a property
A short, honest list:
- We use the same small set of drivers for arrivals who have shown consistent care for their horses.
- We pay slightly above the standard rate so those drivers have more for feed, care, and rest.
- We donate to the local welfare initiative monthly.
- We won't book the leisure cidomo loops unless guests specifically ask for them. We'd rather steer toward bike or foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cidomos ethical to use on Gili Meno?
It's a real personal call. They're essential to the local economy and the only way to move heavy loads on a car-free island. They're also visibly working animals in tropical conditions. Choosing well, paying fairly, and not creating extra rides is a reasonable middle ground.
Are the horses treated well?
It varies. The best drivers care for their horses meticulously. Others fall below standards we'd find comfortable. Visual judgment is the only filter; ask the activities desk for a known-good driver if you'd like to use one for arrival.
What's the going rate for a cidomo?
Short rides on Gili Meno are typically tens of thousands of rupiah. Longer routes are higher. Don't haggle aggressively; the published rates are fair and pushing them down means less for the horse's care.
Are there alternatives to cidomos?
Walking and biking for most things. The activities desk will arrange a porter to carry luggage on foot if you'd prefer.
Should I tip a cidomo driver?
Yes, a small extra when the ride is good. Drivers' margins are thin and the money goes to the horse's care as much as theirs.
Can I support horse welfare on the Gili Islands?
Yes. There are several local initiatives. We can put you in touch with one we donate to monthly.
Will I see distressed horses on Gili Meno?
Possibly. The situation has improved over the years but isn't perfect. If you see something that concerns you, tell the activities team and we'll follow up.
