Three car-free islands off Lombok where you get around by bicycle or pony cart. Trawangan brings the nightlife, Meno the honeymoon calm and Air the laid-back vibe, all ringed by turtle-filled reefs.
8.35°S 116.04°E
May to September is the dry season and the most reliable for calm crossings and good snorkeling visibility
3 nights
LOP
$15/night
The Gilis are three small sand-fringed islands off the northwest coast of Lombok, a short hop across the water from Bali but a different world in pace. There are no cars and no motorbikes on any of them, just bicycles, walking paths, and pony carts (the cidomo, which honestly many travelers feel uneasy about). Gili Trawangan is the lively one with bars and a party reputation, Gili Air is the all-rounder with a slower social buzz, and Gili Meno is the quiet honeymoon island where not much happens, on purpose.
They suit snorkelers, divers, and anyone who wants warm shallow water and zero traffic noise. Just know the reefs have taken a beating over the years and the islands get busy in peak season. Come for easy days, not untouched wilderness.
Green and hawksbill turtles are genuinely common in the shallows off all three islands, especially the north side of Gili Air and the waters around Meno. You can rent a mask and fins for around 50,000 IDR a day and swim out from the beach. The man-made underwater statue circle off Meno (Nest, a ring of figures) is a popular shallow snorkel and free to reach by swimming.
The Gilis are one of the cheaper places in the world to get PADI certified, with lots of reputable schools clustered on Trawangan and Air. Dive sites like Shark Point and Manta Point have reef sharks, turtles, and the occasional manta in season. Prices are standardized across the islands by a dive operator association, so shop on vibe and instructor, not price.
You can loop any of the three islands on a bike in well under an hour. Trawangan and Air both have rental shops for around 50,000 to 75,000 IDR a day. The back (west) sides are quieter with fewer people, though parts of the path get sandy and you may end up pushing the bike.
The famous swings standing in the shallow water sit along Trawangan's west coast, lined up to face the sunset over Bali's Mount Agung on a clear evening. It gets crowded and everyone is angling for the same photo, but the light is real. Grab a drink at one of the beach bars and settle in.
Getting there
Most foreign travelers come from Bali by fast boat, leaving from Padangbai (the busiest port, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours at sea), Serangan, or Sanur, and landing directly on Gili Trawangan or Gili Air. Expect to pay around 400,000 to 700,000 IDR each way depending on operator and season, and brace for a rough, bouncy crossing if the water is up. From Lombok itself it is cheaper: fly into Lombok International (LOP), drive about 1.5 to 2 hours north to Bangsal harbour, then take a short public boat or charter across. Coming from Jakarta, fly to Lombok or to Bali first and continue by boat.
Best time to visit
May to September is the dry season and the most reliable for calm crossings and good snorkeling visibility, with July and August the busiest and priciest. Avoid January and February, when wind and rain can make the boat trip miserable and choppy.
Where to stay
Pick the island first: Trawangan for nightlife and the widest choice (hostels from around 150,000 IDR up to slick boutique resorts), Air for a balance of social and calm, Meno for quiet couples and splurge-y beachfront bungalows. Mid-range bungalows across the islands run roughly 400,000 to 900,000 IDR a night.
There are a few ATMs, mainly on Trawangan, but they run out of cash and charge high fees, and many smaller places are cash-only. Bring enough rupiah from Bali or Lombok to cover at least a couple of days.
No. Trawangan has a real party scene on the east side, but the north and west are quiet, and plenty of people come just to dive and relax. If you want zero noise, choose Air or Meno instead.
Malaria is not a significant concern here, but dengue exists across Indonesia, so use repellent, especially around dusk. There is no hospital on the islands, so anything serious means a boat to Lombok.
Build a route across Indonesia in minutes. We work out the travel time and cost between every stop, then a local turns it into a trip.
Build your tripA scheduled public hopping boat runs a couple of times a day between the three islands, so you can base yourself on one and visit the others for a meal or a snorkel. It is cheap, usually under 50,000 IDR per leg. Schedules are limited, so check the last boat time or you will be paying for a private charter back.
Gili Trawangan's night market sets up in the evening near the harbor with grilled fish, satay, and cheap local plates. Point at what you want and they cook it. It is the best value eating on an island where restaurant prices skew high because everything arrives by boat.
Meno is the smallest and sleepiest of the three, with a salt lake in the middle, a handful of low-key beach warungs, and not much else. If you want a couple of days of reading, swimming, and early nights, this is the one. Bring cash, as ATMs are unreliable and some places are card-only or cash-only with no in-between.
The sights worth building a day around. Open any one for a full guide.
islandThe closest Gili to Lombok, balancing easy beach cafes with a relaxed, local feel.
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snorkel siteA ring of 48 life-size human figures sunk off Gili Meno, now growing coral.
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islandThe smallest, quietest Gili, with a turtle hatchery, a salt lake, and barely any noise.
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islandThe largest, liveliest Gili, with no cars, a walkable ring road, and reef off the beach.
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snorkel siteShallow reef off Gili Trawangan and Meno where wild green and hawksbill turtles graze.
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