Overview
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1. Cycle Around the Island
As there are no motorized vehicles on any of the Gili Islands, the only way to get around is by foot, by bike or by horse-drawn carriage (which we do not recommend!). Renting a bike and cycle around the island is one of the most fun things to do on Gili and a great way to see the island you are staying on. You can either cycle all the way around the island along the coastline, or you can get lost in the small streets in the center of the islands. Whatever you choose, exploring the islands by bike is always a fun experience. Since the islands are so small, you can probably even go for both options.
Practical
Renting a bicycle costs an average of IDR 50,000 per day. You can often rent a bicycle at your hotel or somewhere in the street.
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2. Snorkeling
Probably the best thing to do on the Gili Islands is exploring its underwater world. The visibility, water temperature, beautiful coral reefs and fascinating marine life make the Gili Islands an ideal place for snorkeling. The water in front of the beaches is often shallow and yet there is a lot to see. You can choose to join a snorkel trip, but you might as well just enter the water from the beach.
If you didn’t bring your own snorkeling gear, you can easily rent one from local stalls along the coastlines at an average of 15.000 IDR per day.
Snorkel with turtles
Around the Gili Islands, there are many sea turtles roaming around and they often come close to the coast. So, there is a good chance that you will come across one somewhere. Had no success from the beach? Then you can always go on a snorkeling trip, which will take you to deeper waters and the guides know where you have the best chance of spotting them!
Find the underwater scooter - Gili T
Not far from the beach on Gili T, two scooters and some other objects have been placed under water. Take a deep breath and put yourself on one of the mopeds. You can enter the water in front of Hotel Vila Ombak and start the search. This is the exact location on Google Maps. Also here, you have a chance to see turtles. We saw 2 very large ones here!
Please note: at high tide, you have to swim quite deep. Don’t take unnecessary risks.
Snorkel at the underwater statues - Gili Meno
Another nice place to go snorkeling, is at the underwater statues. These statues are placed under water, but there is still something mysterious about them. You will also see many colorful fish swimming around.
However, this is a very popular place for snorkeling and large groups of snorkelers are dropped off here during the snorkel trips. To avoid the crowds, we recommend that you get into the water yourself from Gili Meno at a time when there are no large groups, mostly around noon.
3. Visit the other islands
The islands may be similar to each other, but there are definitely some differences between them. That is why it can also be fun to take a look at the other islands.
To get from one Gili Island to another, you can take the public boat to go island hopping. You have to check the schedules at the harbors in advance, especially for your return to the island you’re staying on. This is also where you can buy the tickets.
Another option is to rent a kayak and paddle yourself. This is what we did too! More about this below in number 4!
4. Rent a kayak or SUP
You can also explore the waters around the Gili Islands and go from island to island by renting a kayak or SUP, and paddling yourself. For example, we kayaked from Gili T to Gili Meno to go snorkeling at the underwater statues without a tour.
Please note: there can sometimes be very strong currents, especially if there is a lot of wind. If you have no experience with kayaking, we do not recommend going on the water.
Practical
Hourly rate:
- Single: 70.000 IDR
- Double: 130.000 IDR
Full day rate:
200.000 - 300.000 IDR per kayak
5. Meet the baby turtles - Gili Meno
On Gili Meno, you will find a turtle sanctuary where you can see the cutest baby turtles! The volunteers of this sanctuary collect turtle eggs and raise them, until the little ones are strong enough to go their own way. There’s no entrance fee for visiting, but the sanctuary relies on donations. A donation is therefore always very much appreciated and helps them to continue the project.
Indonesia
6. Get your Padi diving License
Has it always been your dream to get your Padi diving license? Or would you like to try scuba diving for the first time? Then the Gili Islands are the right place for you. The crystal clear and calm waters around the Gili Islands are the perfect place to learn diving and get your diving license. On the islands, especially on Gili T and Gili Air, you will find several licensed diving centers that offer diving courses for every level at reasonable prices.
Activities
Discover the Gili Islands in a unique way through our partner GetYourGuide.
7. Relax on the beach
If you want to do nothing at all and just soak up the sun, the Gili islands got your back. All three Gili Islands are surrounded by beautiful white sand beaches, ideal for spending a day on the beach. You will find beach chairs and parasols in front of the various bars, where you can relax the whole day and take a refreshing dip in the beautiful blue water every now and then. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen!
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8. Watch the sunset
On the west side of the islands, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset in the evening. Put yourself in a bean bag in one of the lovely beach bars, order a cocktail and watch the sun disappear into the sea.
9. Dine at the Gili T Night Market
Go for a local diner at the Gili Trawangan Night market. It is open-air food market with warungs and food stalls serving a wide variety of local (sea)foods. From fresh fish and crabs, to lobsters and prawns, it is the place to be for a delicious meal for a small budget, where you can meet a lot of other like minded travelers an backpackers.
Practical Information
On which Gili island should you stay
Gili Trawangan, also known as Gili T, is the largest and probably the most popular island. Here, you will find the most accommodations, bars and restaurants. This also means it is the most busy and crowded. It is increasingly gaining the reputation of a party destination. So, if you are looking for a little party and meet other party-vibe travelers, Gili T is the island you should go for.
Gili Meno is the smallest islands and quietest island. It has the fewest number of accommodations, which are also slightly more expensive compared to the other two islands. This is therefore more of a destination for people who are looking for a more luxurious and secluded island time.
Gili Air is the golden mean between Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno. It has a quiet, relaxed atmosphere with some nightlife options, but not the hustle of Gili T.
How to get to the Gili Islands
You can take a fast boat from both Bali and Lombok to the Gili Islands.
The boat to Gilis from Lombok departs in Senggigi and takes approximately half an hour. It is also possible to go on a day trip to the Gili Islands from Lombok.
From Bali, the boats depart from either Sanur, Serang or Padang Bai and take an average of 2,5hours. Padang Bai is port with the most options and shortest travel time. The fast boats generally go to Gili Trawangan first, continue onwards to Gili Air and then Gili Meno.
You can book your fast boat tickets in advance on 12go.asia or GetYourGuide.
Note: There are public slow boats from Bali to Gili as well. However, the journey takes a couple of hours, so we highly recommend taking the fast boat.
How many days for Gili
Gili Islands are three very small islands, but that does not make it less ideal for a few days’ stay. From Senggigi on Lombok, you can join a one day snorkel tour to the Gili Islands. However, if you have the time, we definitely recommend you to stay at least 2 to 3 days. This way, you have plenty of time to do various activities such as snorkeling, cycling or visiting the different islands, but also to spend some time on the beach and enjoy the laid back vibes of the Gilis.
Best Time to Visit the Gili Islands
The Gili Islands experiences only two seasons: wet season and dry season. However, the islands do not seem to be affected much by the rainy season and you should not expect extreme showers such as on Lombok or Bali.
The best time to visit the Gili Islands is generally between April and October, during dry season. Know that the months of July and August are high season and that is when you can expect the biggest crowds and higher prices. Therefore, we recommend you to visit the Gili Islands in the shoulder seasons April to May or September to October. During these months, it will be less busy, less expensive and you are most likely to have pleasant weather.
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
