The three beautiful Gili islands, located in Indonesia between the islands of Bali and Lombok, are ideal spots for relaxation, fun, diving, snorkeling, and more. Coral reefs surround the islands, and at certain locations, turtles arrive daily, allowing you to observe them up close. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the islands, except for electric scooters, so you can either travel by horse-drawn carriages or bicycles. When you see the skinny ponies pulling carts full of tourists and their luggage, you might think walking is not a bad option. The islands aren’t very large (about 2 km in diameter), and you can walk around them easily.
You can easily reach the islands by boat from Lombok (the cheapest option) or from Bali via Padangbai or Amed. There is no public ferry from Bali to the Gili Islands, so it’s impossible to find a low-cost option. The only option is private speedboats. You can buy a ticket from one of the vendors in the port before 9 AM, and you can haggle over the price. To travel between the individual islands, you can either take a private boat (which is quite expensive considering the distance) or buy a ticket at the port office for the public ferry just before departure. This is the cheapest option and allows you to reach any of the islands or even Lombok.
But which island should you choose? If you are looking for a touristy place with vibrant nightlife, massages, restaurants, beach cinemas, or drinks, then definitely Gili Trawangan. Here, you can almost be certain of swimming with turtles. On the other hand, if you are seeking peace and don’t need tourist facilities, Gili Meno is the way to go. Gili Air is somewhere in between.
The islands offer excellent snorkeling on the coral reefs. We recommend bringing your own snorkeling gear or renting it here, including fins, for a fee. You can also buy it locally. Due to significant low tides, we recommend water shoes or fins, which will help you get into the sea over sharp rocks and corals during low tide.
It’s important to monitor the tides and plan your activities accordingly. Otherwise, you might find that the sea literally disappears in the afternoon, leaving you on the beach under the scorching sun without any way to cool off. The sea level can fluctuate by up to 3 meters, exposing the seabed for tens of meters. In some places, swimming becomes impossible, while in others, you can walk across the seabed and try to reach the water where it starts again. This is also where the coral reefs begin, which means that walking on them will damage them and most likely injure you, as they are very sharp. It’s not ideal. To monitor the tides, you can use the mobile app Gili Tides.
Gili Trawangan
The largest of the three islands, Gili Trawangan, is also the most touristy, with the most developed nightlife. It’s often referred to as the “Party Island.” Beautiful beaches can be found all around the island.
You can find beautiful coral reefs practically all around the island, just a few dozen meters from the shore.
The northern part of the island is calm, with no large waves, making it perfect for snorkeling, and in the northeast, you can also spot sea turtles. The southern part is rough and more suitable for surfers. It’s also where you’ll find the island’s only hill, where you can go to watch the sunset. The western beaches offer a beautiful view of the sunset behind Bali and the Balinese volcano. The eastern part of the island is mostly the town area, filled with tourist shops, tour offers, massages, and the port. Every night near the port, there’s a night market where you can buy skewered meat or fresh fish for dinner. Prices are usually negotiable.
The nightlife here is quite lively, locals are accommodating and welcomingand the beaches are cleaned regularly, which is a rarity in Indonesia.
Gili Meno
The smallest and quietest of all the islands, Gili Meno is also the most expensive. People typically come here to spend their honeymoon, so instead of cheap hostels, expect romantic thatched cottages right on the beach. However, this luxury is still reasonably priced. Most parts of the island lack internet access, so accommodations may not include it. Free internet can be found on the eastern part of the island, where the town area (a few shops) and the harbor are located. The northern part of the island is peaceful and far from the mosque, which is especially pleasant in the morning, as no one will wake you up at five. Paths around the island are sandy trails, giving the island a calm and natural feel.
In the north and northwest of the island, there are beautiful coral reefs, but you have to swim about 50 meters from the shore to see something (at high tide). Here, you can also observe sea turtles. On the eastern part of the island, there is one of the tourist attractions—underwater statues. You can dive near the beach to see the famous circle of human statues. The site is easy to find—lots of boats and people. In the water right by the statues, it feels like a shipwreck full of people, with everyone bumping into each other, pushing, and almost climbing over one another. You can easily swim here from the shore, but most people visit this spot as part of boat tours.
The biggest waves are on the south side of the island, where the most beautiful beach starts and continues east towards the harbor. As you head east, the water calms down, and you can swim in the beautiful turquoise water. In the southeast, visit the turtle hatchery. Locals here incubate turtle eggs and protect them until they are big enough, releasing them into the sea after about six months. They do this to save as many as possible from predators. The turtles are released into the sea when they have a high chance of survival. Admission is free (the hatchery consists of a few tanks), but you can leave a donation.
Inside the island, you will find a salt lake and a bird zoo.
Warning! If possible, wear a shirt when snorkeling instead of using sunscreen. Sunscreen easily gets into the water, and the chemicals it contains halt coral growth, gradually destroying them. High levels of tourism in these areas pose a great threat to the future of coral reefs.