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

If you’re looking for a tropical paradise in Indonesia, look no further than the Gili Islands. Made up of three small islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air – the Gili Islands are a popular destination for backpackers, honeymooners, and anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. These islands offer dream beaches, top notch snorkeling and scuba diving and low prices! Discover the treasures of this tropical paradise in this Gili islands guide!

Funny enough, these three tiny islands that are so similar in size, geography and climate, can have distinct personalities based on the vibe that people are looking for. In this Gili island guide, we will cover the three main Gili islands and introduce you to their personalities, and give you links if you want to dig deeper in any of them.

Foto de Tom Bixler en Unsplash

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1. Gili Trawangan – the party island

Let’s kick off this Gili islands guide with Gili Trawangan. Also known as Gili T, it is the largest and most popular of the Gili Islands. It has become the party island, and it boasts the highest variety of bars, pubs, swimming pool parties and beach clubs. Gili T is also the most rich in terms of activities, including snorkeling tours, scuba diving and surf, as well as many island hopping trips.

Quick Gili Trawangan guide: the party Gili

Aerial view of Gili Trawangan. Foto de Danny de Groot en Unsplash

2. Gili Meno – the honeymoon island

Gili Meno is the smallest and most quiet of the Gili Islands. Because of this, it has become the top choice for honeymooners. The island boasts a variety of resorts and luxury hotels, so if you’re looking for a relaxed getaway in Indonesia, this is your place! It is also home to a salt lake and mangrove forest and some of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago.

Quick Gili Meno guide: the honeymoon Gili

Aerial view of Gili Meno. Foto de Mathis Jrdl en Unsplash

3. Gili Air – the chill island

Gili Air is a mix of the other two islands, with a blend of laid-back beach vibes and fun activities. It is considerably less crowded and more chill than Gili T, while being more lively and social than Gili Meno. It is also the most authentic of the three, probably because of its proximity to Lombok. It also has, in my opinion, the best food of the three. 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!

Quick Gili Air guide: the chill Gili

Aerial view of Gili Air. Foto de Atilla Taskiran en Unsplash

How to get to the Gili islands

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 the Gili islands 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 the Gili islands 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 mande 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 the Gili islands

Despite their size, the Gili islands are home to a wide range of accommodations, from the most budget-friendly hostels to full fledged luxury resorts by the beach of Balinese villas with private pools. You can choose your accommodation from the map below. However, if you have decided in one of the islands, I suggest you look at the dedicated posts, where I give specific recommendations based on your budget.

Booking.com

Where to eat in the Gili islands

Being a popular touristic destination, there is a wide variety of restaurants and warungs to cater to anyone. All the Gilis have restaurants offering Indonesian staples, such as curries, nasi goreng or sate skewers, as well as tasty fresh seafood cooked on the grill. Due to tourism, there are also a wide range of international options, such as pizza, pasta, tacos or sushi. Have a look at our recommendations in the links below:

Gili Trawangan: best restaurants and what to order

Gili Meno: best restaurants and what to order

Gili Air: best restaurants and what to order

Delicious fresh shrimps @ Warung Sunny

Closing statement

As you can see, the Gili islands can be a relaxing paradise but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do! This Gili islands guide was only a taste of them and I suggest that you dig deeper in each of the Gilis to unlock their true potential!

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

Perfect 3 days itinerary in Ubud, Bali

11 top things to do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Hiking Mt. Bromo and Mt. Ijen in Java, Indonesia

What to do in North Sumatra, the secret Indonesia keeps from you

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