Many people say that "you haven't been to Lombok if you haven't been to the Gili Islands". They aren't just great, they are famous because they are wonderful, exotic and complete. And did you know that the word Gili means small island in the local language?
Actually, there are 35 different ones around Lombok for you to explore, whether inhabited or not. In this article, we will however focus on the most famous trio: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. This group of islands is located in the North-West of Lombok, Indonesia.
About the Gili Islands
If you google 'Gili Islands', it's the aforementioned trio that will pop up. They are all inhabited islands and provide you with adequate facilities for an amazing stay. You can include them in your Lombok itinerary as a honeymoon destination, for family holidays, and even to experience the exotic nightlife.
One particularity is that you won't find motorised vehicles on the Gili Islands. So you can take a break from the usual air and noise pollution. But don't worry, because it is a small island, you can explore the islands by bicycle or even on foot. So let's have a look at what each of them has to offer.
Gili Trawangan
If you are bored with the noisy clubs and busy bars of Bali, yet still want to party, Gili Trawangan Lombok or Gili T is the right choice. You can find lots of beach bars with a wide selection of your favourite music genres. However, don't forget the underwater beauty and the sunset or sunrise on this Lombok Gili.
Gili Meno
This island is the smallest, only 400 people live here.Therefore, this island is suitable for those of you who want a quieter stay. If you visit here, don't forget to visit the Bird Park and Gili Meno Turtle Sanctuary. Although small, this island still has a variety of lodging options.
Gili Air
On this island, maybe you can fill in almost all of your list with things to do in Lombok. When compared, Gili Air is a mixture of the other two. This island has restaurants, cafes, bars, ATMs, villas, cottages, hotels, and resorts. The atmosphere is not as busy as Gili Trawangan which is known as the party island and more lively than Gili Meno, the retreat island.
Where to stay?
Gili Trawangan is more sparkling and made for party nuts. So there will be more choices between hotels, villas, resorts and others. We recommend Pink Coco or Pink Hotels for couples. They feature shades of pink throughout the building, and have an iconic swing by the beach. Another recommendation is Pearl of Trawangan, which has bamboo and wood nuances, and a homey touch. The rooms offer beach views.
Gili Meno is a quiet small island, perfect for family vacations and honeymoons. We recommend a resort with cottages and bungalows. If you don't require a room with a beach view, you can even find bungalows starting from IDR 300,000 (USD 19 | AUD 30 | EUR 17.5).
Gili Air is an island with a vibe between the other two. You can find beautiful hotels or quiet villas. We recommend The Koho Air Hotel in white and blue tones. Or Gili Air Escape, which is a terraced bungalow with natural wood nuances.
What to do on the Gili Islands?
The Gili Islands are suitable for your various holiday needs. These are but some of the things you should try here:
Cycling through the island
These three small islands have one thing in common: there are no motorized vehicles. Usually your accommodation can provide a bicycle for you. If not, you can also rent a bicycle elsewhere to go around these small islands.
The Gili Islands are super easy to navigate. There's a beachfront road that connects to the bars there. It's perfect to end your beautiful day by enjoying the incredible Lombok sunset.
Scuba diving
Lombok diving has been made easy with lots of diving courses, guides, communities, coaches, equipment rentals, and diving trip packages. Within Indonesia, Lombok is known as an outstanding diving destination. Within Lombok, the Gili Islands are a must-visit for underwater explorers.
The beauty of this underwater world is between the three dykes. You can go by traditional boat to reach underwater spots. You'll meet both marine biota and human-made spots. The seawater is very clear with an average visibility of 10 - 39 m (30 - 120 feet).
Nightlife
Gili Trawangan is also commonly called the 'party island'. Because life on this Gili Island after sunset is absolutely crazy. It is probably the best known Lombok nightlife destination. You can visit the famous open beach bars with reggae songs or beach clubs to dance the night away with Indonesian beer or some cocktails.
Surfing
Apart from being an underwater paradise, the waves on the Gili Islands are also not to be missed. Compared to the mainland, they are not the best, yet surfing in the Gili’s is fun because of the vibes. Surf point Bongkas, is the most famous. The right timing is the key to surfing on Gili Island. So make sure you really listen to the opinions of local people beforehand.
Manoeuvre like a manta ray with a subwing
This is one of the most fun ways to explore the Gili Islands underwater. A subwing is a sporting instrument shaped like a fish's wing or rear fin that can be rotated in all directions and pulled by a motorboat. You will be pulled slowly and use swimming goggles. So you can enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery.
Visiting a local night market
The most famous is the Gili Trawangan night market. You can even search it on Google Maps or Waze. The mainstay is fresh Lombok seafood that will be cooked freshly for you. But you can also find lots of other local food options.
Trying a local spa with special techniques
You can find local spas everywhere throughout the Gili Islands. There are even therapists by the beach that come to your daybed. You can enjoy reflexology or a full body massage. Make sure to prepare cash, and don't forget to bargain the price first.
Yoga
The three Gili Islands have many choices of Yoga places. They offer daily classes in various styles. Including hatha, vinyasa, yin yoga, aerial, nidra, and more. Plus all of them are suitable for all levels. They also organise yoga retreats, yoga camp, healings camp, meditation, and workshops that you can try.
Horse riding by the beach
This is also a normal activity on the Gili Islands. You can find them on various beaches. The types of horses for rent are regular horses with normal stature and racehorses with very tall stature. Horses are rented by the hour, together with the guide. Perfect activity for your Gili Instagram journey by taking a silhouette pic by the sunset Gili Trawangan.
Snorkelling
If you go to Gili Island, of course you have to try snorkelling. If you bring small children or you can't swim, don't worry. You can snorkel from the coast, with a life jacket. The underwater scenery of Gili Islands is already very beautiful from the coast. But if you go deeper, you can spot turtles.
Experiencing spearfishing
When you snorkel, usually the service provider will offer you to try spearfishing. Gili Islands fish are plentiful and varied. So it won't be that hard to try spearfishing. Just remember to listen to your guide about fish that can be caught and which ones are dangerous.
And more…
You can also do other fun activities such as joining a cooking class with a traditional and local menu, enjoying live music by the beach during the sunset, swimming with turtles, joining a wholesome beach cleanup, or enjoying a day with yoga, meditation, or pilates. You will not run out of activities at the Gili Islands.
Where to eat?
The Gili Islands have lots of dining options. Don't worry if you are a vegetarian, vegan or don't like strong local food. Here are some recommendations:
- Pachamama Organic Cafe - Gili Air
- Various vegan and organic dishes.
- Gili Trawangan Night Market - Gili T
- Open just before sunset, open-air food stalls selling authentic local cuisine.
- Mamma Mia - Gili Air
- Delicious pizza and other Italian food.
- Pearl Beach Lounge - Gili Trawangan
- All-bamboo layout, with colourful bean bags. Also offers seaside film screenings.
- Mahamaya Restaurant - Gili Meno
- Beachfront restaurant with Western and Asian options.
- Adeng Adeng Restaurant - Gili Meno
- Beach Restaurant and Bar offers Western and local fusion dishes.
- Warung Sunny - Gili Air
- A cheap and good place to try local food.
How to get to the Gili Islands?
When you make the decision to visit the Lombok Gili Islands, the next step is to learn how to get there. Like we explain here, you have the option to travel from Lombok or from Bali.
Travel from Lombok
Of course, you need to know how you get to the islands. There is no airport, so the only option is to take a boat. Most boats depart from Bangsal harbour, some 25 km North of Senggigi. It’s easy to book your trip on the spot. It’s a short trip, for instance, Gili T to Lombok takes 20-30 minutes by fast boat, and 30-45 minutes by public boat.
- Public boats are IDR 19,500 to 22,500 (USD 1.25-1.4 | AUD 1.95-2.25 | EUR 1.15-1.3)
- Public fast boats are around IDR 100,000 (USD 6.5 | AUD 10 | EUR 6) per person
- Private boats are IDR 350,000 to 1,000,000 (USD 22-63 | AUD 35-100 | EUR 20-58) per boat
Public boats have a capacity of around 40 people. They operate every day from 08.00-16.30. But try to get to Bangsal at around 09:30 or 10:30 as most boats go in the morning. The boats leave without time-scheduling but they depart when they have enough passengers, so usually max 40 people per boat.
The difference is, the fast boat service from Bangsal to the Gili Islands has a departure schedule, starting from 9.00 to 17.00. It is recommended to buy tickets online or through an agent so you can see clearly what the schedule is.
Boat charter is the service of choice for those of you who don't want to wait until the minimum capacity is met. Or if you come with a large group, you can share the boat with other people. Maximum capacity is 20 pax per boat. Price is variable and depends if you book a round-trip, one-way, single destination or all three Gilis.
From Bali to the Gili Islands
If you are in Bali, you can go directly from Bali to the Gili Islands by sea. We recommend taking a fast boat from Padang Bai as this is the closest harbour. And a fast boat is the wisest choice, considering the distance is quite far. Fast boat tickets start from IDR 220,000 to 700,000 (USD 14-44 | AUD 22-70 | EUR 13-41) and take 1.5 to 2 hours.
Actually, you have many more options for transportation from Bali to Lombok Gili. For example, you can go from Denpasar to Gili Islands from Serangan, Bali with tickets starting at IDR 250,000 (USD 16 | AUD 25 | EUR 15).
Vice versa, for example, you can go directly from Lombok to Nusa Penida with tickets starting at IDR 310,000 (USD 19.5 | AUD 30 | EUR 18). So you are really free to choose between Bali, Lombok, and the Gili Islands.
Alternatively stay in Lombok
The Gili Islands are a popular destination in Lombok. You can choose to go for a 1-day trip or stay a while. However, they are known to be quite lively. If you are looking for a more relaxing holiday, you can consider Amazing Lombok Resort. We are an all-in accommodation in Serangan, Lombok with cosy rooms and an outstanding restaurant. Book one of our rooms like the Superior Bungalow to start planning your holiday.
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Last updated on: 08 August 2026