Bali is pretty glorious with its beautiful beaches and iconic rice paddies. It’s known for being the “must-visit” island of Indonesia, but did you know there are other island gems tucked away in the Indonesian scene?
Rustic and boho have been the ‘in’ thing for quite some time now, which is what makes the Gili Islands AKA Gili, a magnet for a lovely holiday. I was clueless about the Gilis before my visit. But thanks to booking a tour, my adventure introduced me to this wondrous place.
Gili is located off the northwest coast of Lombok (a breathtaking, quiet escape you’ll visit if you travel on this trip) accessible by a two-and-half hour boat ride east across from Bali.
If you’re trying to round up that Instagram engagement and have friends be all jelly they didn’t get to this destination first when you post about it, these islands need to be on your bucket list!
Here’s pretty much everything you need to know about the Gili Islands.
Why Visit the Gili Islands?
The sands are powdery white, the beaches are lapped by brilliantly blue and perfectly temperatured waters, the view of sunsets arching over Bali’s Mt. Agung volcano in the west stop you in your tracks, and any motorized form of transportation is completely banned from the islands.
In other words: no motorbikes. No cars. No pollution or smog. Just good, clean, breathable fresh air foreign to Angelenos such as myself.
Get around by foot, by bike, or opt for the royal treatment of getting pulled around in horse-drawn carriages known as cidomos. As our Geckos group could tell you, it’s quite the experience!
Gili is the sea turtle capital of the world. I found turtle conservation projects and efforts to preserve the natural turtle habitat all around the islands. If your holiday timing is right, you can actually witness these regular turtle releases, and I imagine it would be the cutest thing ever (insert double heart eyes emoji).
Which Gili Island is Right for You?
Let’s just say there is something for everyone; the Gili Islands really are a make everyone happy kind of place. Every island, whether it’s Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, or Gili Air, offers experience for every personality. It’s the epitome of having your cake and eating it too, and the flexibility of a tour allowed me to spend the perfect amount of time on each one!
Gili Trawangan, tenderly known as “Gili T”, is the most popular amongst all the Gilis. This destination is for all the hippy party-goers. It is the central location for all-you-can drink Bintang beer, delectable tropical cocktails, and the most bumping Full Moon Parties.
Gili Meno is the least developed island of all the Gilis. It is small. It is pretty. And it is absolutely fantastic if you’re looking for a quiet little place to chill out on. It’s for the people who love lounging on the coral sands from sunrise to sunset, snorkeling right offshore, and enjoying a few drinks in peace.
Gili Air is the closest Gili Island to Lombok, and is easily the best of both worlds: it has a little bit of Gili T’s sweet poise combined with Gili Meno’s minimalist hipster vibe. Serene, with just enough nightlife buzz, this bamboo bungalowed island allows you to essentially sit on the cerulean seas while dining on lounge chairs under banana leaf huts. Eating lunch over the ocean was my absolute favorite!
Top Things to Do
These are some unmissable things to do on Gili, and where to do them:
If you’re like me, being surrounded by the freshest of fresh seafood is a serious dream. So, the fact my tour leader introduced me to so much authentic Indonesian food was just amazing! You’ll find markets where each stall is piled high with grilled meats, seafood straight out of the ocean, and plates fully loaded with Indonesian side dishes to accompany your delicious mains. Definitely love at first bite!
Snorkeling is THE THING on the Gili Islands. You can do this off the shores of Meno, Air, and Trawangan on most of the beach stretches.
Swim with the fishies, chase the turtles, and get the wildest sights of sea creatures in the clear ocean blue. If you’re feeling fancy, schedule a private boat and your guide will take you out for a full day of island hopping. That’s what I did! And, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options, don’t worry, your Geckos leader will help you take care of all the arrangements!
Gili T swings — two words. INSTA WORTHY. Trawangan’s west side beaches are lined with swings, perfect for people who want to shell out hardcore wanderlust envy. Swing into a cotton-candied sunset dream, and enjoy the view on top of the waters.
Oh, PS: Have fun finding a strategic ways to get on these picturesque playthings because it is very much possible that you’ll try to get on and will gracefully flip backwards and fall straight into the ocean because you lose your balance. Yeeeppppp that happened to my travel buddies. #truestory
Nature lovers will adore the greenery and serenity of Gili Meno’s Saltwater Lake. This was our leader’s favorite place on the island, and I’m so glad he took us there! It has lakeside timber shelters, and is the perfect escape on a hot day to do some bird-watching, and to rest and be still. The mini 10-minute walk from the main beach to the lake is also rather enjoyable, lined with palm trees and all the foliage.
IMHO The Gili Air seabeds are the best amongst the three Gili Islands because they are wealthy with colorful tropical fish and corals. Safety first though! Don’t even think about seabed adventures without wearing proper shoes. The last thing you want is to step on sharp shells or poisonous creatures. So take caution, otherwise, your experience will be a total bummer.
Last but not least, let’s take a second to talk about riding a “seahorse.” Not actually riding a seahorse, but riding a horse. In the sea. Yes, it’s a thing! And you can do this on all the Gili Islands. It’s not the same as riding a unicorn obviously, but probably the closest to all the magicalness of it–galloping on a horse, with the ocean waves beneath your feet, and the colorful horizon out in the distance. You’ll never want the moment to end. Or this trip…
Ready to jump straight in to island paradise? View my guide to the best tour companies. You might also like to check out my Indonesia travel guide for more recommendations. You won’t regret it.