Quick Gili Air guide: the chill Gili

Gili Air is one of the three Gili islands located in Northwest Lombok, Indonesia. It is the most chill of the three, generally less crowded and more relaxed than Gili T, while being more lively and social than Gili Meno. This is my favourite Gili! So if you’ve been following Feast of Travel and you share my sense of traveling, I recommend you visit Gili Air. Discover the top things to do, where to stay and where to eat in Gili Air in this quick Gili Air guide!

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Gili Air guide: Top 5 things to do in Gili Air

1. Relax at the beach

Did this surprise you? As with all other quick guides to the Gili islands, chilling at the beach is a top activity. The beach in Gili Air has a different vibe to those in Gili T or Gili Meno. There are not foam parties or crazy loud music as in Gili T. However, you can find some nice social vibe. Especially on the Western coast at sunset. If you’re looking for isolation, then your best bet is the northern and eastern shores, the furthest from the harbor, the better.

2. Go on a snorkeling or scuba diving adventure

As with the other two Gilis, Gili Air is home to a fantastic reef and diverse marine life. It is also one of the best spots in the world to find sea turtles! In fact, just minutes after arriving to Gili Air we rented snorkeling gear and tried our luck. I was pretty convinced that we would not find a turtle so easily. However, 5 minutes later we had already seen our first! At the end of our few days on the Gili islands we lost the count of the turtles that we saw. I’ve been to many places where I’ve seen wild turtles, like Sri Lanka, Costa Rica or the Philippines, but I’ve never seen so many in so little time as in the Gili islands. The coral and fishes are also incredible. And if you’re lucky you’ll even see a reef shark!

3. Learn how to cook Indonesian food

You were wondering when we would get to the Feast in Feast of Travel? Well here it is! One of our most fun experience in the Gili islands was to learn how to prepare some local dishes by the hand of Chef Hero from Warung Sunny. Not only the food at the restaurant is great (we ate there many times, even when staying in Gili T we took a boat to have lunch there!), but also Chef Hero’s enthusiasm will make you want to cook his dishes at home. And you can! The class was only 250k IDR per person (16€), lasted for a few hours and, of course, we got to eat our meal after the class! I can really recommend this experience, especially if you’re a foodie. Check out our experience here:

Warung Sunny Cooking Class review: our experience in an Indonesian cooking class in Gili Air

If you want to book a class at Warung Sunny, just call them at this number +6283830069699 or simply pass by and ask. The whole staff are super friendly! I’m writing a blog post about our experience in Warung Sunny so stay tuned!

There are other cooking classes in the island, such as Gili Cooking Classes, both in Gili Air and Gili Trawangan.

4. Boost the relaxation and send stress away

Gili Air is the chill island, and that means that there are a lot of relaxation and hippie vibes. This comes with a fair share of spas and yoga classes. The Gili islands are a haven of relaxation, but adding some cleansing massage or a purifying yoga session can boost your relaxation even more! One of the most praised spas in Gili Air is Slow Spa, which is part of Slow Gili Air hotel. In terms of yoga, I suggest Flowers & Fire Yoga or H2O Yoga (which offers Aqua Yoga!)

5. Go on a shopping spree

Surprisingly for the size of this island, there are quite a few cute stores offering local crafts and beach gear. There are a few beachfront stores that cater more to tourists, but if you ask me, the best stores are within the island. Just wander around to find the best deals in clothing, jewellery or handicrafts made of wood or coconut.

How to get to Gili Air

Getting to the enchanting Gili Islands is a breeze. However, they do not have an airport of their own, so you’ll first have to get to Bali or Lombok.

Getting to Gili Air from Bali

The most common way to reach these tropical gems is by taking a fast boat from Bali. Boats depart from various ports in Bali, such as Padang Bai, Serangan, or Sanur. This journey typically takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on the port and weather conditions. I must say that, in our case, when we returned from Gili T it took almost 4h to get to Padang Bai. We stopped at all the other Gilis as well as Lombok. You can book your speed boat ticket in advance in the link below, although I must say we booked it at the pier the day before. The boat arrives first in Gili T and then stops in the rest of the islands and circles back through Lombok.

Getting to Gili Air from Lombok

If you’re in Lombok, the ferry ride to the Gili islands is much shorter and cheaper. In our case, we were coming all the way from Komodo National Park in a boat expedition. We made our way to Bangsal harbor (north of Senggigi), were the ferries to the Gili islands depart from. If you’re staying in one of the main areas in Lombok, chances are your accommodation can book a shared transportation for you. In Bangsal we took the local boat, which is quite basic but really cheap at only 20k IDR (1.2€). You can get the deluxe version if you book the tourist boat in advance below. It should take you back around 150k IDR (9€).

Where to stay in Gili Air

Budget

If your budget is very limited, find a room in Sister Bungalow 2 or Melbao Homestay. Both offer basic but very decent rooms for less than 200k IDR (12€). For very little more, 200k IDR (12€), you’ll find Mirna Homestay, offering bungalow-style rooms with air conditioning, big beds and included breakfast.

We stayed at Sejuk Cottages, which costs around 350k IDR (22€) and offers very spacious beautiful bungalows with a nice big terrace facing the garden. The swimming pool is gorgeous! And the location of the hotel makes it very easy to get anywhere but private and calm. Breakfast is included. A couple of friends stayed at Follow The Rabbit Bungalow, a hotel with similar price and characteristics that they really liked. Other options include Saeri Matahari Bungalow or Captain Coconuts Gili Air.

Mid-Range

If your budget can afford a little more, check out the following. Hakuna Matata Resort Gili Air offers charming bungalows with private terraces, providing a cozy oasis amidst lush tropical greenery. The Koho Air Hotel, a tranquil and centrally located establishment, features lounge chairs, a pleasant pool, and a calm ambiance. Villa Coco Republic presents inviting bungalows with terraces and a shared pool, striking a perfect balance between privacy and socializing. Similarly, Chill Out Bungalows offer comfortable accommodations and a welcoming atmosphere, ideal for unwinding. Senang Villa, while affordable, provides a touch of luxury with tastefully decorated villas and exceptional service.

Luxury

If you’re ready to splurge, Akasia Villas offer privacy and tranquility with their private pool villas. On the other end, PinkCoco Gili Air (only for adults) stands out with its unique pink-themed concept, personalized service and more social vibe.

Dolcemare Resort provides spacious rooms in a serene resort-style setting, while Sunrise Resort offers a resort experience with tropical vibes and several pools reminiscent of a Caribbean resort. Kempas Villa sets the bar for super luxury with its two-bedroom private pool villas. Musa Villas and Bungalows showcase authentic Balinese-style loft bungalows, while Slow Gili Air offers a peaceful atmosphere and utmost privacy. These luxurious options offer a variety of indulgent experiences, catering to different preferences and ensuring an unforgettable stay in Gili Air.

Where to eat in Gili Air

The Gili islands are quite a popular tourist destination. As a consequence, a big part of the restaurants tend to cater their food to tourists. That being said, I found Gili Air to the the most authentic of the three in terms of local food! Find out the best spots to eat Indonesian or international food as well as the best places to get a drink in the link below:

Where to eat in Gili Air: best restaurants and what to order

Closing statement

As you can see, the Gili islands can be a relaxing paradise but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do! Gili Air will offer you a more chill and local experience and mesmerize you with its gorgeous sunsets, white sand beaches and incredible snorkeling!

Since you’re in Gili Air, why not checking out some of the other Gili islands?

Quick Gili islands guide: a starters kit for paradise seekers in Indonesia

Also, since you’re already in Indonesia, you’ll probably find these useful:

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