In front of the coast of northwest Lombok is the location of the idyllic Gili Islands. The Gili Islands are three paradise-like islands with white beaches and coconut trees looking like postcards. However, the Gili’s are no longer hidden. They are still the dream destination for travellers that want to follow their one path and do not need to follow the craziness of the busy cities.
Every of the three Gili Islands offers their own experience. Gili Trawangan is the party island, Gili Meno is cherished because of the romance and peacefulness, and Gili Air is a relaxational sanctuary for those who want the combination of both worlds. What all three islands have in common are the beautiful white beaches and the magnificent coral reefs.
Transportation
Travelling from Bali to the Gili Islands has two options: public ferries or fast boats.
If you plan on coming from Bali to Gili by public ferry, you need to know that this will be a long journey. It would help if you first got the boat from Padang Bai to Lombok. This boat departs every hour, but it will take five hours to travel to Lombok. After that, you must take another boat to the Gili Islands. This will take you up to eight hours to travel. But this will be the cheapest way. So, if you are travelling on a budget, this option might be attractive.
The better option is with the fast boat. From Bali, you can take fast boats to Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. Most fast boats will depart from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan, but you can also depart from Sanur Jetty and Serangan. You can choose from different tour operators to make the boat trip. The journey from Padang Bai to the Gili Islands will take approximately one to two hours. Usually, the boats will leave between 9:00 and 9:30 in the morning. Because the boats can always have delays or some journeys cannot occur because of the bad weather forecast, this luckily rarely happens. It can be interesting to look for tickets online or at your hotel for boats that include pick-up service from your hotel.
Gili Trawangan
Gili T is the party island, as Gili Trawangan is also known. If you come to Indonesia looking for a beach paradise where you can dance until late at night, this is your island. People come here to relax, party and have a good time. Every night of the week you can party in another club or bar. This ensures that every business on the island gets a share of the action. There are also pub crawls multiple times a week, which you can join.
The small surface of the island makes sure you get a village feel. In two hours, you can walk or bike around the whole island. Just like the other Gili Island, there are no cars allowed, but the main road of Gili T can be impressively busy. You find not only here pedestrians and cyclers but also horses and wagons.
If you like snorkelling, then Gili Trawangan can lure you with some beautiful spots on the island’s north coast. Colourful fish and also turtles swim among the corals.
Gili Meno
If you want a romantic holiday destination to escape the stresses of the modern world completely, then Gili Meno might be your island. Gili Meno is the smallest and quietest of the Gili Islands. As soon as you step off the boat, you will find that couples love this place. This is the haven for those in a romantic mood and the perfect holiday destination for those who – in between hugs – like to lie in the sun, cycle or snorkel. For the rest, there isn’t that much to do here.
On the island’s eastern side, small, thatched huts for two line the beach. Here you’ll also find a few secluded resorts, a handful of restaurants and dive companies that take you to unusual dive sites. The island’s west side is almost entirely undeveloped, and there are plenty of vacant spots that couples can have all to themselves.
Gili Air
to Gili Air to soak up a more local atmosphere or dive, snorkel or cycle the island’s dirt roads. This island offers the best of both worlds. Gili Air is a combination of the other two islands. You’ll find the facilities and amenities of Gili T combined with the relaxed atmosphere of Gili Meno. The result is a hippy atmosphere.
There is nightlife, but not as robust as on Gili T, and it is less crowded. More along the lines of strumming guitars. There are full-moon parties every month, but clubbing is only one of the activities for visitors to Gili Air.
Diving and snorkelling on the Gili Islands
The Gili Islands are best known for proper diving and snorkelling paradises. Both novice and experienced divers can go there to enjoy the vibrant underwater world. The Gili Islands are also the perfect place for those who want to snorkel.
Those who want to try diving can take an introductory diving course online. You will be picked up at your hotel in Lombok and depart from Teluk Nara. You will board the boat and receive theory lessons on diving and equipment. You’ll try everything out in the water first, and then the instructor will take you around the most beautiful reefs of the Gili Islands.
Certified divers can also buy tickets online for a full day of fun diving along the most beautiful coral gardens of the Gili Islands. This activity is only suitable for divers who have at least an Open Water Diver certificate. You will swim past impressive corals, manta rays, turtles and sharks! You have lunch on the island of Gili Meno.
If you don’t want to dive but do want to snorkel, you can also buy tickets online for a snorkelling tour. You pass by the most beautiful spots in front of the three islands and snorkel among colourful fish, corals and turtles! You have lunch on the island of Gili Meno.
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