Ahhh the Gili Islands. Small specks of paradise a short boat ride away from the hectic mainland of Bali or Lombok.
Fun fact: Gili in Indonesian actually just means “island” so when we are saying Gili Islands we are literally saying - Island Islands. And there are thousands of islands that make up Indonesia - 17,504 of them in fact. But if you’re talking to someone and they ask if you’ve been to the “Gili Islands” chances are they’re talking about the 3 islands off the coast of Bali’s neighboring island Lombok - Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. Each of these teeny islands has their own vibe and character, and while getting in between them is quite easy by boat I’d recommend picking one to base yourself on for a few days.
We’ve been traveling for about 7 months now and I would say that our time on the Gili Islands was the most relaxing we’ve spent yet. It’s a place where the only clothes you really need are a bathing suit and hat. Because they’re so small in size, there isn’t a ton to do each day outside of deciding between spending your day tanning on a beach or snorkeling with turtles. Mornings here are relaxed and lazy with some delicious and healthy breakfasts at cafes and evenings are spent at a beach bar watching as the sun slowly descends with the most gorgeous views back to Bali and Lombok. Depending on which island you choose, your night could end around that time or you could spend the remainder with some more drinks or potentially dabbling with the “plant based” shakes that the Gili Islands are famous for.
Stepping off the boat is instantly a breath of fresh air as you notice there isn’t the chaotic chorus of cars and motorbikes everywhere that you need to navigate through. This is because motors are not allowed on the Gili Islands, so the only way to get around is via bike, walking or a horse drawn cart. We chose to spend our time on Gili having a bit of a detox, which meant no alcohol for us, considering we’ve been on a fairly lengthy bender. Traveling will do that to you. But we still enjoyed the sunset every single night at Mowie’s with a fresh coconut or a smoothie and left here feeling so relaxed and hopeful to be back soon!
How to Pick - the differences between the Gili Islands
Gili Trawangan
More commonly known as “Gili T” this is the largest of the 3 small Gili Islands. It has a reputation as the party island with the most bars, restaurants and hostels. Gili T is also famous for turtles in the shallow waters off the island.
Pick Gili T: If you’re looking for a party and a wide range of things to do
Gili Meno
Nicknamed the Honeymoon Island, this is the smallest of the 3 and also the quietest. There are some nice luxury hotels and this is often the choice for couples that want a nice quiet and romantic trip.
Pick Gili Meno: If you’re a couple on your honeymoon or just really want to spend your time relaxing
Gili Air
This island is described as being a mix betwen Gili T and Gili Air. It’s the second largest so there are plent of restaurants and hotels or hostels to choose from. There are also tons of beach bars but things tend to slow down after 10 pm (although there is sure to be a party found somewhere). This is where we chose and we are so glad that we did!
Pick Gili Air: If you want a good mix of relaxation and things to do
What to do on the Gili Islands:
Snorkeling trip around all three islands - The waters here are beautiful, warm and crystal clear. Most trips will bring you to three different spots. A coral reef off the coast of Gili Air, the famous underwater statue at Gili Meno and to swim with turtles at Gili T. Our favorite stop was definitely the last and we were blessed with 6 different turtles that we could enjoy and slowly swim around with. You can do either a private or a group tour. The group tours leave at 9:30 am from Gili Air and were around $10pp. The private tour was about $60 for the boat and you can choose when to leave. We chose the private boat and it was totally worth it because you aren’t with dozens of people jumping into the water at the same. Plus empty pink longboat!!
Watch the sunset - No matter what you’re doing, make drop everything around 5:30pm to make sure you’re somewhere great for the sunset. On Gili Air virtually anyplace on the West side of the island will have stunning views, but the best option is to head to a beach bar to grab a seat for the show. We ended up back at Mowie’s Beach Bar every single night because we just loved the vibe. Other recommended spots are Gili Lumbung or Pink Coco.
Grab a bike and bike around - The best way to explore is on a bike so I’d recommend renting one for the entire time that you’re there. Typically your accommodations can rent them for you or you can snag one from the rental places around the port (around $5-$10 per day). It’s impossible to get too lost so just hop on the bike and explore the little shops and residential areas where you can get a glimpse into local lives. We stopped and watched some kids play soccer for awhile, who were smiling and waving at us. Everyone here is so nice - the island life baby!
Eat! - For a small island, Gili air has a lot of great dining options. Some of our favorites were Mama Pizza (go right after the sunset at Mowies), JUJU Zero Waste Store & Vegan Cafe, Barefoot Blondie and Warung Mexicana.
Relax at the pool at your hotel - We stayed at The Koho Air hotel and loved it. It has a Greek boho vibe with two pools and delicious breakfast. Most hotels on the island have a pool or are beach side so you can snag a lounger and just chill the day away.
Hopefully you’re now convinced that it’s totally worth the journey. So - now how to get there. There are two ways to get to Gili Islands from Bali, the most logical jumping off point.
Fly - You can fly from Denpasar to Lombok (the main island mass next to the small Gili Islands) for around $50. Then take a short taxi ride and boat ride over to one of the Islands (around $60). Check it out on Google Flights.
Ferry - You can take a fast boat from the Gili Islands back to Bali for around $60. I would recommend going with BlueWater Express. They boat was comfortable and they were reliable, plus the price includes pick up or drop off from your accommodation in Bali. Just make sure to take a dramamine if you get boat sick, things can get pretty choppy!
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