Gili Islands Guide — Where to Stay, What to Do & Travel Tips
- Mar 2
- 6 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The Gili Islands are an archipelago of three small islands — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — located off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia.
Here you’ll find turquoise water, white-sand beaches and a super relaxed atmosphere, perfect for unwinding after Bali’s more intense pace.
Here’s a quick overview of each:
Gili Trawangan: the liveliest
Gili Air: a mix of calm and social life
Gili Meno: the quietest, perfect for fully disconnecting
But they all share two things in common:
🌊 turtle snorkeling 🌴 car-free islands
What you will find in this post
🚶 Getting around the islands – walking, bikes and cidomo
🚤 How to get there – boats from Bali and Lombok
🏨 Where to stay – which island to choose
🌊 Things to do – snorkeling, diving and beach life
🍽️ Where to eat – our favorite spots
🌦️ Best time to visit – weather and seasons
✨ Our experience – tips and honest thoughts
How to get around the Gili Islands
Broadly speaking, the islands differ in size:
Gili Trawangan: the largest and most developed
Gili Air: medium size
Gili Meno: the smallest and quietest
They’re very close to each other but their surface size does vary.
🚶♂️ Even so, they’re still tiny and easy to explore on foot.
🚲 Another very common way to get around for both visitors and locals is by bicycle.
🐴 You’ll also see horse-drawn carts (called cidomo), usually used to carry luggage from the port to your accommodation.
🛵 There are also electric scooters as a more modern option, although they’re not very common on the islands.
GOOD TO KNOW
🔸 How long does it take to walk around each island?
Gili Trawangan: a full loop takes about 1.5–2 hours, depending on pace
Gili Air: about 1 hour to walk around
Gili Meno: roughly 5 km perimeter, about 1.5–2 hours
This shows you don’t really need to rent transport. The islands are perfectly walkable.
That said, biking is a great plan! you can stop at beaches and cafés with amazing views along the way.
🔸 Electric bike and scooter rental
Both bikes and electric scooters are easy to find as soon as you arrive at the port and around each island.
💰 Bike rental costs around 45,000 rupiah per day (2.25 - 2.26 euros), though prices vary.
How to get to and from the Gili Islands
From the Gili Islands to other islands, there are two main options:
🚤 Fast boat — the most common option
Connects the Gilis with Bali (Padang Bai, Sanur, Serangan, Nusa Penida)
Also connects with Lombok (Bangsal or Teluk Nare)
Tickets can be bought at the port, through agencies, or online
Several departures per day
⛵ Public boat — the cheapest option (used by locals)
Mainly to Lombok (Bangsal)
Leaves in the morning or when full
Slower and more basic, but works fine
Where to stay in the Gili Islands
For practicality, we recommend staying on just one of the three islands and visiting the other two during the day.
🚤 Boats run constantly every day, so moving between islands is very easy and quick.
When choosing where to stay, the most important thing is defining your travel mood, since each island has a different vibe.
Here’s what each one is like:
🌴 Gili Trawangan: if you're more into partying, movement and meeting people.
The largest island with the most to do
Ideal for bars, young travelers, restaurants, snorkeling, diving, and energy
Has quiet areas if you stay away from the port, but still the liveliest
👉 Our experience: we stayed at Gilibong Bungalows.
Do we recommend it? Yes, with a few things to know:
The positives:
Room was nice, spacious, and comfortable
Shared pool was very quiet (almost always empty)
Staff were extremely kind and attentive
They had bikes to rent right there (HUGE WIN)
The small downside 😅:
It was a bit far from the center. Not a big deal because the island is small, but after a long beach day you might not feel like:
walking 15 minutes back to your room
changing
then walking another 15 minutes to go out for dinner
Our final take:
Great if you want peace and quiet
If you prefer being in the middle of the action, stay closer to the center
🌿 Gili Air: perfect balance between relaxation and social life.
Ideal if you want calm but still some life: cute cafés and great snorkeling
Everything feels relaxed without feeling empty
Great for couples or travelers wanting peace with a touch of activity
🌙 Gili Meno: silence, nature, and total calm
The smallest and quietest.
Very peaceful beaches and romantic vibes
Ideal for honeymoons or full disconnection
General tips for choosing accommodation
Always check reviews before booking, regardless of the island.
All three islands offer similar activities, since travel between them takes only 10–15 minutes.
Overall, Gili Trawangan is the most complete option because it combines social life, good food, and quieter zones if you choose the right area.
What to do in the Gili Islands
In general, the three islands share similar activities because travel between them is so quick.
Still, some experiences are better on certain islands. Here’s what to do and where to enjoy each one best.
SNORKELING WITH TURTLES
Without a doubt one of the most beautiful experiences in the Gilis.
On many beaches you can enter straight from shore and encounter turtles just a few meters out.
🐢 The best areas are usually Gili Air and Gili Meno, but all three islands have excellent snorkeling spots.
EXPLORE THE SEA BY DIVING
The Gilis are a diving paradise, whether it’s your first dive or certification.
Warm water
Excellent visibility
Coral, tropical fish, and even reef sharks
🤿 Gili Trawangan has the most dive centers, but all islands are great for diving.
BIKE AROUND THE ISLANDS
There’s nothing better than biking around with incredible beaches all around you.
🚲 In 30–45 minutes you can loop the island, stopping at beaches, cafés, and viewpoints.
VISIT ALL THREE ISLANDS BY BOAT
Most snorkeling tours include the best spots of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno in one trip: turtles, coral, fish, and the famous underwater statues.
⭐ Our experience: We did a tour departing from Gili T, and at lunchtime we stopped on Gili Meno, where we had free time to explore before returning.
🚤 You can also move independently using public boats.
ENJOY THE BEST SUNSETS
Gili sunsets are unreal.
In Gili T: beach bars, chill music, and seating facing the sea
In Gili Air: more relaxed and romantic
🌅 Whichever island you choose, the sky puts on incredible colors every evening.
EXPLORE THE BEACHES
Quiet beaches, white sand, and stunning blue water everywhere.
Gili Meno: the quietest and most untouched
Gili Trawangan: livelier stretches with bars
Gili Air: perfect balance of calm and local life
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT...
yoga and local cuisine
If you’re into a more zen plan, Gili Air is the best choice.
By the beach and surrounded by palms you’ll find:
yoga classes
meditation
Indonesian cooking workshops
Perfect for connecting with the calmer side of the islands.
IDEAL SUGGESTION
DO NOT MISS A MASSAGE!
Nothing beats a Balinese massage after a beach day.
There’s not much to say, it’s a must-do!
Where to eat in the Gili Islands
Since we stayed on Gili Trawangan, most of our meals were there. These are places we recommend.
☕ Breakfast and afternoon snacks
Coffee & Thyme Gili Trawangan: great for afternoon coffee, specialty brews, and sweet bites.
Hello Capitano Lifestyle Cafe : we love acai bowls, and here we found an amazing one. Great coffee too.
🥗 Lunch
Better Me Coffee: perfect beachfront lunch spot with fresh, light salads.
our favorite lunch place — amazing poke bowls and fresh coconuts.
Extra: if you like training, the resort has a full gym.
🍽️ Dinner
Gili Teak : wide menu (Western and Indonesian), generous portions.
TASTE cafe & restaurant: star dish = curry. Must try.
Pearl Beach Lounge : our last dinner in the Gilis with beautiful setting, great food, lovely service.
Best time to visit the Gili Islands
The Gilis have a tropical climate, meaning heat and humidity most of the year. Daytime temperatures usually range from 26–32 °C (79–90 °F).
The main seasonal difference is rainfall, not temperature.
🌞 Dry season (April – October)
Sunny, warm days
Ideal for beach, snorkeling, diving
Best months: May, June, September
🌧️ Rainy season (November – March)
High humidity and frequent rain
Fewer tourists and lower prices
Outdoor activities can be affected
Our experience with the weather: We visited in July and had spectacular weather. Even though it’s high season, staying slightly away from the Gili T center gave us lots of calm despite more visitors.
Our experience in the Gili Islands
Honestly: an incredible place. We’d return a thousand times.
We stayed 5 days, which might be more than necessary, since the islands are small and activities revolve around similar things beach, snorkeling, massages, and good food..
❗️Our recommendation: 3 days is perfect to enjoy the Gilis and still add another destination.
But if your goal is to rest and truly unwind, the Gilis are ideal.
We honestly have nothing negative to say, beautiful in every direction 🌊✨
🇮🇩 Still planning your Indonesia trip?
The Gili Islands were one stop on our Indonesia route and combine perfectly with nearby destinations.
If you’re planning your itinerary, continue with:
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