A Complete Guide to the Gili Islands

The Gili Islands are a group of three islands off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia that are each small enough to traverse in under 2 hours. But their small size does not mean there is a lack of activities! In fact, these little islands are a great place to spend a few days (or a few weeks) of your Indonesian vacation!

Getting to the Islands

From Bali: The quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to get to the Gili islands from Bali is one of the many fast boats that travel there and back. The journey one way lasts between 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Tickets can be purchased from most hotels or tour booths in Bali. The standard price range is 250,000 IDR – 300,000 IDR (~$19-22) for one way, and 500,000 – 600,000 IDR (~$40-45) round trip. If you are good at bargaining, you can always try to lower the initial price you are quoted (I got 50,000 IDR knocked off my ticket by haggling). It is possible to buy an ‘open' round trip ticket with no exact departure date or island. Just make sure to check with the fast boat service at least a day in advance to ensure a spot on a boat for your desired departure date. I took a fast boat and had no problems with the journey – I actually fell asleep! The interiors are air conditioned with cushioned seats and some boats even play a movie inside to help pass the time.

From Lombok: Lombok is the closest bit of land to the Gili Islands. Fast boats leave from the main pier daily to each of the islands and back.

From elsewhere: Coming from other corners of the globe, the easiest way to get to the Gili Islands is to fly to the Lombok airport and grab a taxi to the pier where you can catch a fast boat to the islands.

Island Hopping

No matter which island you start your trip on, you can easily catch a boat between them. The local boats travel twice to each of the islands: once in the morning, and once in the afternoon. It is also possible to hop on a fast boat heading to the island of your choice, but this option is far more expensive. I would opt for the ‘island hopper' boat instead. Just be sure to check the schedule in advance and arrive at least 20-30 minutes prior to purchase a ticket.

Getting Around on the Islands

Because the Gili Islands are so small, there are no cars or motorized vehicles allowed on them. The three ways of getting around are taking a taxi, riding a bicycle, or walking.

Taxi: These are no ordinary taxi's, but horse drawn carriages, known as cidomos. These horse carts are an important part of Indonesian culture and the horses are bred specifically for pulling carts; they are much stronger than their small size may suggest. Many visitors to the island often feel like the horses are mistreated, but measures have been put in place to protect the animals. For example, each owner of a cart must have two horses so that one isn't overworked. They are a great way to get around and a cool part of Indonesia everyone should experience.

Bicycle: Most resorts and hotels offer bike rentals to guests. If your hotel does not, there are many place on the island that offer rentals to tourists. Riding a bike around is the best way to see the islands at your own pace. It makes it easy to stop for a drink or a bite to eat anywhere, and the islands all have roads that go all the way around.

Walk: Another great way to see more of the islands is to walk. This is obviously the cheapest option to get around but may take you a bit longer. It will not take more than 2 hours to go around any of the three Gili Islands, but in the Indonesian heat, it is not always the most pleasant. I did do a lot of walking along the beaches where my bike couldn't go and explored the edge of the islands in this way.

Which Island?

While all of the Gili Islands admittedly have an ‘island vibe' to them, each of them is unique in terms of the overall feel. If you are looking to party, then Gili Trawagnan is for you. If you are looking for a more local vibe, then Gili Air might be your best bet. Gili Meno, the smallest of the three islands, is the most relaxed and perfect for those beach bum days. I spent some time on each island and, though they are different, loved each one! Read more about each of the Gili Islands below.

Gili Air

The first stop on my Gili Islands adventure was Gili Air. This island attracts mostly families and those looking for a more authentic Indonesian island experience.

Where to stay: There are a range of options on Gili Air for accommodation. For those on a budget, there are countless hostels scattered throughout the island. For those wanting more of a resort vibe, there are plenty of options as well. I stayed at Begadang Backpacker on the north side of the island and only a 5 minute walk to the beach. They had private rooms as well as dorms, a great lounge area, and a mushroom shaped pool! Read my full review of Begadang Backpacker here.

Where to play: There is plenty to do on Gili Air. From diving, to snorkeling, and just laying around.

For those interested in diving, there are several places to sign up for lessons. One of the best known is Oceans 5 Resort which has a large pool where beginners can practice their skills.
Make sure to stop by the north beach to watch the sunset. The beach restaurants put out beanbags for beach strollers to sit on and catch the last few rays
Bike around and explore! I found more than one private beach while biking around Gili Air. The bike made it easy to quickly stop anywhere that looked appealing
Snorkel: There are many places that can organize a snorkeling trip around the Gili Islands. It is also possible to rent equipment and go yourself
Be a beach bum: Part of island life is just laying around and soaking up the sun! Enjoy your time and relax!

Gili Islands — Dive lesson as Oceans 5 Dive Resort

Where to eat: Gili Air has a bunch of great little restaurants located on all parts of the island.

I had breakfast a few days at Coffee & Thyme, which also serves a great cup of coffee. Its location right across from the pier make it a great stop either right when you arrive or when you are leaving.
For some amazing Mexican, head to The Mexican Kitchen on the North side of the island. They have pretty good happy hour specials as well.
On a bike ride around the island, the decor of Le Cirque, a french fusion restaurant caught my eye. They have a great stretch of beach and awesome couches to take in the views.
On the North beach are a few restaurants with great sunset views. I tried some traditional Indonesian cuisine at one of them and was not disappointed.

Gili Meno

Stop number two on the Gili Islands adventure, and frankly my favorite of all the islands, was Gili Meno! It was a nice place to spend a few days doing pretty much nothing except laying around, catching up on reading, and snorkeling.

Where to stay: One of the best resorts on the island, well known by both tourists and locals alike, is Seri Resort. The property is spotless; they have a pool as well as a beach area. They have bamboo bungalows for those on a budget as well as newly renovated rooms closer to the beach. I couldn't find any fault in the resort and wouldn't stay anywhere else if (or when!) I return to Gili Meno. Read my full review of Seri Resort here.

Where to play: On Gili Meno, the major activity is just laying on the beach. In fact, I spent most of my time at the resort, leaving just to walk partway around the island and to watch the sunset (the Indonesian sunsets are different and beautiful every single day).

My favorite activity though was snorkeling! Just a few hundred meters directly in front of the resort is a spot where sea turtles are frequently spotted! I was fortunate enough to find one while swimming – it was unbelievably magical! There are plenty of colorful fish to see while snorkeling in the area right in front of the resort too. You can rent equipment directly from the resort to save money on a snorkeling trip. The best time to go snorkeling, I found, was in the morning. During the afternoon the water was just too shallow. One quick note: be careful and keep an eye out for sea urchins! I was warned by the hotel staff and saw a bunch while I was out snorkeling.

Where to eat: I stayed at Seri Resort and saw no need to venture away from the resort for food. Their menu consisted of traditional Indonesian foods as well as American classics and some Italian dishes. Everything was delicious, and at night they set up candle light dinners along the beach that were ridiculously beautiful and romantic.

Gili Trawagnan

The last stop on the Gili Island adventure was Gili T (as it is nicknamed…most likely for tourists who can't pronounce Trawagnan)! Gili T has the most nightlife, but the entire island isn't a constant party; there are plenty of quiet spots on the northern part of the island, perfect for relaxing. This is the biggest of the three islands, and a bicycle is essential for exploring.

Where to stay: Gili T is another island with quite a range of accommodations for any budget. The eastern part of the island near the pier is the most condensed with lots of bars, hostels, and homestays. The northern part of the island is much more relaxed. I stayed in the northern area at Eden Cottages, which was simply lovely! A short walk away from the beach and restaurants that line the beach, it was an ideal spot for me. All of the action of the island was only a short bicycle ride away. Read my full review of Eden Cottages here.

Where to play: Lots to do on this island! Since it is the largest, there are a lot more bars and restaurants to try out as well as activities to help you pass the time.

Hoseback Riding: Stud Stables offers horseback rides along the beaches of the island. 400,000 IDR per hour; really pretty to do at sunset
Rent canoes/wind surf boards/stand up paddle boards: On the main beach road, rent lots of equipment for some fun on the sea at Trawagnan Dive, located north of the harbor. 100,000 per hour
Cooking Classes: Learn to cook authentic Indonesian dishes at Sweet & Spicy on the main beach road
Yoga: Two yoga studios with regular daily classes are The Yoga Place and Soraya Yoga (both recommended by Eden Cottages); there is also flying yoga available on the north beach road on certain nights
Sama Sama: A great reggae bar with live music. Spent an awesome few hours here during my trip
Scuba Diving: Lots of places offer diving classes but one of the best is Lutwala Dive which has highly trained instructors who specialize in dives for all levels of divers from beginners to advanced.
Swing in the ocean: On the west side of the island is the famed swings in the ocean at Ombak Sunset Hotel. Stop by and take a picture on a swing suspended above the water. Prettiest at sunset (but also busiest)
There are loads of bars on the main beach road at night. If you wander around you should find some type of music that strikes your fancy!

Where to eat: Gili T has something for every possible craving.

For delicious caribbean food, head to Casa Vintage Sunset Beach. Located on the West side of the island, this spot is great for eating and watching the sunset. The owner is from Jamaica and the food is amazing.
The absolute most amazing pizza can be found on Gili T at Regina Pizza, just one street over from the main road near the pier on the East side of the island. The owner is from Italy and the pizza is incredibly authentic and tasty. You must eat here!
For cheap, yet delicious food, check out the local market. Located near the pier, the market has stalls offering all kinds of local food for great prices.

Have you been to the Gili Islands? Which is your favorite? Share below!

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.