Just a short distance from the famous Bali and Lombok lies a group of three small paradise islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. Each has its own atmosphere, pace of life, and type of travelers it attracts. However, they have something in common – azure sea, white sand, turtles, and the opportunity to experience Indonesia in a slightly different, slower, and more authentic way.
In this article, we will advise you which Gili island is best suited to you, what to expect from each one, and what you should know before visiting. Whether you’re looking for parties, romance, or the perfect escape from the world, the Gili Islands have something to offer.
Although Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno are only a few minutes apart by boat, each has a completely different atmosphere, and that is what makes them so magical. If you know what you’re looking for, we’ll make your choice easier.
Which Gili Island to choose?
Gili Trawangan
Gili T is the largest and liveliest of the three islands. It is often referred to as the biggest party island in Indonesia. It is known for its nightlife, numerous bars, restaurants, diving schools, and social atmosphere. If you are looking for fun, want to meet new people, or are attracted by a combination of active travel and evening entertainment, Gili T is the perfect place for you. During the day, you can enjoy beautiful beaches, cycling around the island, and snorkeling, while in the evening you can enjoy sunsets and music.
Gili Air
This island is the golden mean, neither too busy nor completely quiet. The island has a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere that is particularly suited to couples, digital nomads, and those who want peace and quiet but also appreciate good food, cafes, yoga, or the occasional drink by the beach. If you like a balance between relaxation and activities, Gili Air is probably the “right” place for you. We liked it the most out of the three islands.
Gili Meno
Gili M is the smallest and quietest island of the three. It is often chosen by couples in love or people who want to completely escape from the world and have a social detox. You will find only a few accommodations, quiet beaches, minimal tourists, and a romantic atmosphere. It is also the best place for snorkeling – Meno is home to famous underwater sculptures and colorful marine life, which attracts tourists from the surrounding islands. If you long for peace, quiet, and undisturbed relaxation, this is the island for you.
How to get to the Gili Islands from Bali?
Many people include the northern Gili Islands in their itinerary and travel there from Bali. If you are traveling here from Bali, you will probably go from the port of Sanur, from where the journey takes about 3 hours. The second option is to travel from Padang Harbor, which is particularly worthwhile if you are in the Sidemen or Lempuyang area at the time. From here, the journey to the Gili Islands takes approximately 2 hours.
In both cases, you will have a choice of many companies, whose services usually differ only in the type of boat. Some of them have greater capacity, some less, some are newer, some older. As a rule, this is usually reflected in the ticket price.
You can buy tickets online through 12goasia. If comfort is your main priority and you don’t mind paying a little more, we recommend Einstein. They have spacious ships that are not usually too crowded.
How to get to the Gili Islands from Lombok?
If you are traveling to the Gili Islands from Lombok, a speedboat ticket will cost IDR 85,000, and you can buy tickets directly at the port here. The journey from Bangsal Harbor takes 10–15 minutes, depending on which island you are traveling to (Gili Air is the closest). Boats run regularly throughout the day, but the last ones depart at 4:00 p.m.
You can also choose a cheaper alternative, namely the local ferry, which costs only IDR 18K. It is considerably cheaper, but the boat takes about 30 minutes and you will probably share it with many locals. Departure times may also change, as the ferry needs to collect a certain number of passengers before it can set sail. Ferry tickets can be purchased here.
Best season to travel to the Gili Islands?
The best time to visit the Gili Islands is during the dry season, which lasts from April to October. During these months, you can enjoy sunny weather, calm seas, and ideal conditions for snorkeling and diving. During the rainy season from November to March, it can rain more frequently and the sea tends to be rougher, which does not always allow for comfortable sailing between the islands.
What you should know before visiting the Gili Islands
Although the Gili Islands seem like a tropical paradise cut off from reality (and to a large extent they are), it’s good to know a few practical things before you go there. Even though they are relatively close to the island of Bali, they are completely different in some ways.
The first different thing is religion. While Hinduism prevails in Bali, you will find Muslims on the Gili Islands. This is also why there are mosques on the island. The location of mosques, for example, can be an important factor when choosing accommodation. So if you don’t want to hear their loud ceremonies early in the morning, we recommend choosing accommodation outside of these areas.
Another characteristic thing of the Gili Islands is that there are no cars or motorcycles there. You will enjoy absolute peace and quiet there. You can explore the beauty of the island on foot or by bike. The islands are really tiny, so you can usually cycle around the entire island in about 30-40 minutes.
You will often encounter harnessed horses here, which are used to transport either materials or people. So you can pay for this type of taxi. We didn’t take advantage of it, as we don’t support this kind of activity involving animals, and we walked or cycled everywhere.
When entering/leaving the island, you must pay a harbor tax of IDR 20,000 per person. You need to have cash ready for this. The main reason why people travel to the Gili Islands is their beautiful beaches and, above all, their rich underwater world. Snorkels and fins can be rented at small stands along the beach for about €3 per day.
E-book Indonesia
If you are planning a trip to the Gili Islands and want to have all the important information in one place, we definitely recommend checking out our Lombok + Gili Islands e-book, where you will find detailed tips, itineraries, recommendations for accommodation, restaurants, and activities.
If you plan to explore more of Indonesia, we also have a Bali + Lombok + Gili + Nusa Islands Combo e-book, which contains everything you need to travel to these popular destinations.
And for those who want a complete overview, we offer Indonesia – The Complete Guide, containing detailed tips, itineraries, and recommendations for all of Indonesia’s main islands.
Just click below and choose the e-book that best suits your plans.
Still not sure whether to travel to Asia on your own?
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