Speed ​​boats on Gili, how to get from Bali to the islands of Gili and Lombok. Holidays on the Gili Islands How to get to Gili Island from Bali

Lombok is a large island with a very developed infrastructure: an international airport, banks, shops, many 3-5* hotels, private villas and houses. It is most convenient to stay here for those who want white beaches, a more secluded atmosphere than on the island of Bali and a high level of comfort that cannot be found on the Gili Islands. But the island of Lombok is far from being the island of Bali for a number of factors: the locals profess Islam (in Bali - Hinduism), this leaves a serious imprint on many aspects of holidays here. In my personal opinion, the island lacks charm, lacks care and grooming, cleanliness, something special, its own “face”...
For some reason I could not fall in love with it, even though I lived here in the most luxurious hotel, The Oberoi Lombok, with the highest level of service, excellent comfortable rooms and caring staff. The hotel is truly the best on the island!
But from Lombok it is very convenient to make day trips to the Gili Islands for diving and snorkeling, learning to surf and hanging out in local bars. Taxis boats operate all day long, so you can easily travel between the four islands. From serious hotels like The Oberoi you can take a cruise to the islands and learn diving with an instructor, swim to spots with a reef for snorkeling - very convenient and comfortable!

Nature, beaches and climate of Lombok
Lombok still has quite secluded beaches with white or yellow sand, picturesque cliffs and almost untouched by civilization. Many people say that Lombok is similar to Bali 50 years ago, but for some reason I don’t believe in such a comparison. Lombok has a completely different atmosphere in terms of cultural and historical components and a completely different climate and nature. That same Wallace Line leaves its mark on the “picture” that we see here - there are no rice terraces and flood fields, there are practically no gorges like in Ubud with deep rivers. It’s drier here, there are a lot of fields with chili peppers (Lombok translates as “chili”), and in the sea there are plantations of cultured pearls. Inexpensive Kuta is popular among surfers and backpackers (not to be confused with Kuta in Bali!), but Senggigi Beach is considered more developed - there are the most hotels, private villas, shops, exchange offices and restaurants here. Compared to Bali, Lombok is more deserted, but at the same time there is a feeling that it is dirtier and uninhabited, the local population is less friendly.

Mount Rijani in Lombok
Perhaps this is the most beautiful place in the north of the island - clouds often hang here, there are thunderstorms and the area is more picturesque and green. Still, the proximity of the volcano affects the nature and climate even within the same island. In Bali it’s exactly the same - in the east of the island in Amed, for example, it’s very dry, and 40 minutes away on the climb to Agung it can rain. This is due to the thermal activity of the volcano - here clouds and rain condense stronger and more abundantly than in other parts of the island. The last eruption of the Rijani volcano was in 2009, because of which even the island’s airport was closed. In the caldera of the volcano there is a very beautiful lake, and in its surroundings you can also enjoy waterfalls. Just in the north of the island, the luxury hotel The Oberoi Lombok 5* is closest to the island of Gili Air and the Rijani volcano.

In this article I will write about how we got from Bali to Gili. At first glance, everything should have been simple: we order a transfer from Bali to Lombok, and the travel agency employees will think about everything else for us. But such options are not suitable for us at all - everything is too simple and boring. So, we flew to Indonesia for the first time; we did not have any reservations or clearly planned routes. We only knew the main points that we want to visit, and these are: the island of Bali, the Gili Islands, the volcano. And since we only had 10 days planned for Indonesia, we decided to find out everything locally. We arrived in Bali in the morning on a flight from China at about 11 o'clock and immediately took a taxi to Kuta, which is not far from the airport and is a developed tourist destination with a huge beach where there are a lot of surfers.

We arrived with a large suitcase and, realizing that with so many things we could not be mobile, we immediately began to look for a place where we could leave our things, and we were lucky. We met a nice young Balinese couple who run their own small travel agency. We asked them about the trip to Lombok and Gili and agreed to leave the suitcase. They strongly recommended that we go on foot, without bikes, because... the road is long and not easy; We were advised to take a bus to the pier. The bus cost about $10, the distance was 60 km. For comparison, in Ukraine the price of a bus ticket, which covers a distance of 400 km, was about $10-12. We understood that this is very expensive for Indonesia. She also said that the ferry from Bali only leaves 3 times a day, and we had already missed all three. Let me remind you that these were a husband and wife, the owners of a travel agency in the very center of Kuta. In general, we finally decided to go to Lombok and Gili on our own, of course, not because of the bus prices, but because on a bike we feel completely mobile, and therefore free. Sasha had read on blogs before that the ferry departs every hour; also, if we think logically, we understood that a cargo ferry could not sail only 3 times a day between such two huge islands. We decided to take a chance and go. We bought a SIM card from the local operator simPATI with a 3G Internet package so that we could navigate the area thanks to navigation from Google, and went to look for a scooter.

Our route

Bali is a very large island, and without navigation it is better not to go on such a trip. Moreover, if you ride a motorbike, the driver does not have the opportunity to follow the map, since the traffic in Bali is quite dense and I follow the map, guiding Sasha to the right turns.

It is best to shoot a motorbike on the streets Poppies 1 and Poppies 2, which are located opposite the central beach right next to McDonald's (described here). Prices in this area are the lowest, and the selection is excellent. It’s better not to admit to the owner that you will be riding a motorbike to Lombok, because... The Balinese don't like it and may not give it to you. Let people sleep peacefully ;).

So, we rented a motorbike. We returned to our “base” at the travel agency, sorted through the suitcase, put all the things we needed along with warm clothes and shoes for going to the volcano into two 30-liter backpacks, agreed to leave the suitcase at the agency, loaded up and went. The cute Balinese couple were in shock; the guys wished us a good trip.

We left at 17:30 and were on the ferry around 19:00. For beginners the road is very difficult, the traffic is crazy. If you are not a confident driver, allow more time to travel from Kuta to the Lembar pier.

Traffic in Bali (Road from Kuti to Padang Bay)

You need to ride your bike to the Padang Bai pier and buy a ferry ticket. Attention! Buy tickets only at the box office, where they will sell you a ticket at its regular price. At the entrance to the pier there are a lot of intermediaries who blatantly stop the bike and say that you need to buy a ticket from them in order to travel further - it’s all a scam. Drive confidently, stop only near the booth. At the box office you need to order a ticket for 1 motorbike, because... a motorbike ticket costs 100,000 rupees, and a passenger ticket costs 80,000 rupees. It turns out that if five people get on a bike, then you still need to pay not for 5 people, but for 1 motorbike.

It turned out that the ferry still leaves every hour. At 20:00 we set sail. It took 4 hours to swim. At 22:00 I called my parents to say that everything was fine with us, and only during the conversation I realized that from their point of view, everything was exactly the opposite: we were sailing on a ferry at night, arriving on an unfamiliar island at midnight, not The fact is that we will be able to find housing at this hour, we don’t know where to go next. Despite all the nuances described above, I felt as cozy, comfortable and calm as ever; I knew for sure that everything would be fine with us. I learned to trust the Universe 100%, I liked that it answered me.

If you are sailing at night, then on the ferry itself you can rent a mattress and sleep, since the journey is not close.

This is what the ferry looks like

Having landed on the pier at 12 at night and saw only a few men who were closing their shops, we asked them about housing, they answered in unison that there was no housing here on the pier, it wasn’t even a village, but just a village near the pier. They offered us a common room where we could spend the night sitting in a chair, but we refused and decided to go to Mataram - the largest city on the island. Lombok, which is located near the pier, and which definitely has overnight accommodation. Everything was going great: we were driving alone in complete darkness, the navigator was leading us to Mataram, when suddenly a fork appeared, after passing which we realized that the navigator had lost contact with the satellite. That’s when we felt uneasy, we didn’t know what to do, where to go, there was no connection. While we were fiddling with our phones, a motorcyclist was driving along the road, stopped and showed us the way. He stopped on his own, we didn’t stop him (we would have done that;). We returned to the fork, went in the right direction, and the navigator soon started working too. At the entrance to Mataram we found an inexpensive motel (180,000 rupees), where we spent the night. It was very nice to go to bed at 1:30 am, knowing that everything was over and now we would sleep. On the road from the pier to Mataram there are only remote villages with no hotels, so allow time to get to Mataram.

In the morning we continued our journey, our destination was the Bangsal Ferry Terminal, from which we were going to sail to Gili. We drove for about two hours. The landscapes were very beautiful, so we often stopped and looked down from the mountain at the deserted white beaches.

Beautiful lagoon

Mountain View

The road goes right over the sea

You can also lie down along the way!

There are covered parking areas for motorbikes at the pier. The owners wanted 25,000 rupees per day, we negotiated for 15,000 rupees, wholesale, so to speak, for 3 whole days and we still look young, so our catchphrase about students works always and everywhere)))). A ticket from Bangsal to Gili Trawangan cost about 10,000 rupees (public bot or public transport), departs several times a day, the schedule, unfortunately, was not photographed. The boat is small and takes about 30 minutes to the farthest and largest island of Trawangan.

This is what a public bot looks like

Later we realized that we had done the right thing by choosing the farthest island first, because... Tickets from the island to land are more expensive, and the further away the island, the more expensive the ticket.

From Bali to Gili you can travel by plane [via Lombok], helicopter [via Trawangan only], ferry [via Lombok] and speed boats.

This page provides an example of Wahana's speedboat ride from the port in Padang Bai.

Boat selection

Boat companies in Bali differ in boat size, routes, quality of service and price.

Inside some boats everything is almost like in an airplane: comfortable seats, a toilet, life jackets. Even sometimes pre-flight briefing is carried out.

Prices range from Rp 500,000 to Rp 1,200,000 for a return ticket, but due to high competition, some companies have sales through agents and sometimes reduce prices to Rp 400,000.

How do you like the situation?

In good weather, boat companies with larger boats can take on additional passengers and transport them on the roof.

If you are interested in low ticket prices, pay attention to the boats of Wahana | Eka Jaya | Marina Srikandi. But if any problems arise [the transfer did not arrive | not enough places | late for registration | lost tickets, etc.] only the agent who booked the tickets can help you.
These companies, as a rule, do not delve into customer problems, regardless of whose fault the problem arose.

Tickets to Gili

Choose a reliable agent before purchasing tickets. Feel free to ask the agent questions at 7am. If the agent does not respond to messages, draw conclusions. Morning transfer is the number one problem in any tourist destination in Bali.

To book tickets you will need the following information:
first and last name of the contact person
number of tickets and travel dates
destination
name and address of your hotel
local phone number

If you do not have a local SIM card, please indicate the room number and phone number of the hotel from which the transfer to the port will be carried out. If you are not in Bali yet, you can send your phone number/room number later.

Transfer from your hotel in Bali

For morning boats from Padang Bai, the transfer arrives at the hotel between 06.30 and 07.30 am. It’s better to pack your things in the evening, solve the problem with breakfast, top up your phone balance and charge your batteries.

If your hotel/villa is not located on a main road, please clarify this when booking and discuss a location where the driver can easily find you.

Sometimes there are traffic jams due to ceremonies. This is Bali – everyone has to wait. The transfer is delayed - call/write to the agent.

Payment for tickets

Please note: Only cash is accepted, it is better to have rupees.

The driver will tell you where to pay for the tickets. Keep track of your luggage and tell the porters the name of the island you are heading to.

Find the name in the registration log for which you booked the tickets.
The manager will issue boarding tags and tickets. Save your tickets until you return to Bali!

From Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan, large boats take about 2 hours and make one or two stops along the way. Travel times may vary due to wave heights.

09.00 – departure from Padang Bai
10.30 – Lombok /Senggigi/
10.45 – Gili Air
11.00 – Gili Trawangan

When traveling to Gili, booking tickets, transfers and check-in are key. Then everything will be much simpler.

Don't hold your emotions!

If you feel bored inside the salon, feel free to go upstairs. The boat goes very fast, so keep your hats and glasses on.

Don't forget to apply sun cream, even if the sun is not visible because of the clouds.

Being inside the cabin, there is practically no chance of seeing this. The captain is usually the first to notice the dolphins and sounds a sound signal.

Dolphins love to race with boats, but speedboats are not their level))
But there may be a lot of dolphins and the moments of delight from the spectacle you see will last a little longer.

If your plans include visiting several islands, you can land on Lombok, in a day or two move to Gili Air, then to Gili Trawangan and from Trawangan return to Bali. Check your options with your agent; boat companies periodically change their routes and rules.

You can get to the island of Gili Meno by public boat from Trawangan or from Gili Air. The public boat runs twice a day. The schedule and prices are available at the ticket office at the pier of each of the islands and are further below in the text.

That ladder, on the left, will be the pier today))

If your choice fell on the island of Gili Air, then it’s time to leave the boat. For those who do not want to walk along the side, there is a comfortable exit through the roof. Don't forget to wait for your luggage.

Who likes such straw umbrellas on the beach, and even with a view of the Rinjani volcano, go to the Gili Air Hotel
An excellent place for romantics, good snorkeling a hundred meters from the shore and the best point to watch the sunrise over the island of Lombok. The same hotel on Agoda.com

There are cheaper and more expensive hotels nearby. Open the map and select (click “Show map”).

There are no cars/motor vehicles on Gili. Everyone walks, pedals bicycles or takes a tailed taxi.
Chidomo /cidomo/ is the Sasak name for a traditional two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage. Lombok Ferrari is its more modern name))

By the way, the boat docks in the south of the island, and the Gili Air Hotel with straw umbrellas is located in the northeast, a 30-40 minute walk. On a horse, in 50 thousand and 10 minutes you will rush to the sound of bells, dispersing unwary pedestrians. Local “taxi drivers” are reluctant to bargain - if you don’t need to roll your suitcase along the sand, then let them continue to stand at the “pier”.

And this is the southwest. A lot of algae grows in the water here, so the beaches are mainly suitable for contemplation. But what pictures...

There are also hotels here: both very cheap and more expensive. Be sure to compare prices on Booking and Agoda and read reviews. Even if you are not going to book and are looking for accommodation already on the spot. Although, for example, there is no Villa Casa Mio hotel on Booking. That does not prevent him from successfully selling all the rooms for the coming days only through Agoda. Not a bad place.

Public bot on Gili

A public boat operates on the Air-Meno-Travangan-Meno-Air route twice a day. On all islands there are ticket offices at the pier, with schedules and prices. Ticket price: 35-40 thousand rupees

Departure from Gili Air
– 08.30 and 15.00
Departure from Gili Trawangan
– 09.30 and 16.00
Departure from Gili Meno to Trawangan
– 08.45 and 15.15
Departure from Gili Meno to Gili Air
– 10.15 and 16.15

This is the final station. We've arrived!

When dropping off passengers on other islands, some boat companies will allow you to travel to Gili Trawangan on their speedboat once at no extra charge. One day before the trip, notify the boat company - in person at the office or by phone indicated on the ticket.

You can top up your phone balance, for example, at the pier, at the ticket office that sells tickets to the public bot. When replenishing your balance, be sure to wait for the money to arrive!

Also in the pier area there are many good hotels in the price category up to $50. For example Nirwana Guest House

Important point!

Tickets for speed boats are sold with an open return date - you can return to Bali on any day convenient for you.

One day before returning, you must notify the boat company - in person at the office or by phone indicated on the ticket.
30 minutes before departure, you must present your tickets to the office and receive a boarding tag.

The rules have long been known to everyone: boat, hotel, free...

Personally, everything related to the ocean always comes first for us. We love to swim, dive, chase turtles and take photos.

The most beautiful coral reef (easily accessible on the Gili Islands) is located on Gili Meno, opposite Mahamaya Resort, 50 meters from the shore.

Photos of Gili

On the opposite side of Gili Meno there is also something to see underwater. And opposite the hotel

Today we will talk about the Gili Islands in Indonesia: which island to choose, what to do, where to eat, pros and cons, snorkeling and diving, how to get there.

The Gili Islands are located 1 km northwest of. The archipelago consists of 3 islands:

1) Gili Trawangan,

2) Gili Meno,

3) Gili Air, or Gili Air.

Information

The word "gili" means "small island" in Indonesian, so "Gili Islands" is a tautology. But they are already used to being called that.

Dimensions of the islands: Gili Trawangan 2.5x1.8 km, Gili Meno 2x1 km, Gili Air 1.4x1.5 km.

Population less than 4,500 inhabitants (according to Wikipedia).

Only Gili Air has fresh water sources. On Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno they use desalinated water, which is not drinkable. We tried to make tea out of it - it turned out disgusting, we threw it out.

In 2018, due to an earthquake on the island of Lombok on Gili, a tsunami occurred and a lot of things were destroyed. Find out the latest information before your trip.

Overview of islands and attractions

Which island is better? Which Gili island should you choose? Which Gili Island is the best to go to? Where are the best beaches on Gili?

The answer to these questions depends on the purpose of your holiday in Indonesia and the Gili.

All three islands are equally beautiful, and their beaches are also similar: fine white sand and clear blue water.

In the southwest there may be waves, but in the east it is usually calm.

Gili Trawangan is the largest, cheapest and most popular of the Gili Islands, especially among party people. There are most restaurants and bars, discos and partying until the morning. Parties, dating, get-togethers - this is here. But Gili Trawangan is also suitable for a relaxing holiday, because all the partying is concentrated along the eastern beach, and it is quiet in the interior of the island and in the western part.

Gili Meno is the smallest and calmest of the Gili Islands. There are fewer people and more expensive housing. Gili Meno is suitable for those looking for romance, privacy and comfort. Great place for a honeymoon. Disco lovers will find it boring here.

Gili Air- the closest island to the “mainland”. There are mostly locals here, there are many hotels and restaurants and various entertainment options. Gili Air is considered the best island for families with children. Something between Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno in terms of entertainment and prices. There are good views from here.

The three Gili Islands are a continuous village, there are no tall buildings, and the pace of life is leisurely, like in a village.

💡 A similar place, only even more secluded, is .

Things to do and see on the Gili Islands

There are no special attractions here, this is just a place for a pleasant, relaxing holiday.

1. Relax on the beach and swim in the sea.

2. Swim with a mask and snorkel (snorkeling) and look out for turtles.

3. Photograph stunning tropical sunsets.

4. Overeat on fish and seafood in restaurants and at the night market. The night market is open in Market Square every evening from 18:00.

5. Ride a bike around the island.

6. Go diving or freediving, or take a course.

7. Do yoga at Yoga Place.

8. Go to the cinema. In the evenings from 19 to 21 in one of the restaurants they hang a screen, put a projector and play films. Usually you either need to pay a small fee (Rs. 50,000) or order something.

9. Ride a SUP - they rent them here.

10. Go surfing. But there will not be such huge waves as in Lombok or.

11. Go fishing.

12. Ride a kayak with a transparent bottom.

13. Watch stick fights (Sunday afternoons at Market Square).

14. Visit the turtle sanctuary on Gili Meno (Bolong’s Turtle Sanctuary).

15. Visit the Gili Meno Bird Park. It's not as impressive as or, but it's nice.

What not to do on the Gili Islands

1. Try to get from one island to another by swimming. There are strong currents between the islands; you can simply be carried away into the open sea.

2. Horseback riding. They are kept in terrible conditions, so we call for a boycott of this business.

Snorkeling on the Gili Islands

The pale blue color on the map is where you can snorkel from the shore. There are mainly corals and colored fish there.

Map: Lonely Planet Guide

When we snorkeled on Gili Trawangan, we saw five large turtles, one of them near the shore, at a depth of 2 meters. She ate, came up to breathe, and went about her business, completely paying no attention to us.

Snorkeling is similar to Gili Air.

There are also statues underwater on Gili Air.

There are snorkeling tours to three islands with departures from Gili Trawangan and Bali.

Diving in the Gili Islands

It may not have the best diving in Indonesia, but the Gili Islands boast more than 3,500 species of marine life. This is 2 times more than the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

There are reef sharks, two species of turtles, many types of smaller fish and colorful corals.

There are a dozen dive shops on Gili Trawangan. Most of them are united in an association, and have set a minimum price of $35, below which they do not want to dump, in order to maintain the quality of the equipment and the professionalism of the staff at the level. We walked around, talked, they were all about the same, so we chose according to the principle “this school will take us exactly where we wanted tomorrow.”

On the morning dive there were 30 people in our boat, on the afternoon dive there were 20 people.

No comfort and super-individual approach, as, for example, in Amed in Bali.

Here is a map of dive sites.

Map: lombok-network.com

The dive shop staff assembles, disassembles and checks everything themselves, all we have to do is do a pre-dive check with our buddies (standard procedure).

Diving - depending on your luck. Our first dive was on Deep Turbo, which is considered the coolest on the island. Gili Trawangan, but there was nothing special there except one average stingray.

But at Shark Point we saw several huge moray eels, a meter-long shark, small sharks, several turtles and a bunch of interesting fish.

Diver insurance

Regular policies do not cover diving. Separate sports insurance is required. The best option is to buy an insurance policy from for active days - this is international insurance, issued online, even if you are already traveling, and covers diving (including cave and cavern) and freediving up to 50 meters.

Surfing on the Gili Islands

Gili Trawangan has surfing in its southwestern part, but the big waves don't come here.

Nightlife and restaurants on Gili Trawangan

After snorkeling and diving, tourists relax in numerous bars and restaurants.

In order not to create competition, restaurants host parties in turns, according to a pre-agreed schedule, so that disco lovers do not have to choose, but can simply follow the schedule.

In many restaurants, small prices are indicated on the menu, and in small print at the bottom there is a 10-20% charge for service and taxes, pay attention to this!

Many places have a happy hour - two drinks for the price of one, but usually this does not apply to all drinks, but only to a limited list, also check immediately.

Alcohol on the Gili Islands is more expensive than on Bali or Lombok, so bring at least some supply with you.

Good restaurants according to tourist reviews: Le Petit Grill (24 hours), Pizzeria Regina, Kayu cafe, The Roast House, Greens & Beens, The Yoga Place.

People also come here to eat “magic mushrooms,” but we didn’t notice any rowdy tourists.

How to get to the Gili Islands

There is no airport on Gili. You can fly to or by plane, and from there you can take a ferry or speedboat to Gili.

It's easy to do it yourself.

If you live in a cool hotel, they can help organize a private transfer.

From Lombok to Gili

Get there from Lombok to Gili Islands only possible by boat.

The entrance to the boat is knee-deep in water, so it will be uncomfortable with suitcases on wheels;) and wearing nice shoes is also not cool;)

These boats operate when full and when there is no storm, from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Near the pier in Lombok there are several covered parking lots, who charge 10,000 rupees per day or 5,000 for half a day per bike. We rented to the one closest to the pier.

In theory, 35 passengers are allowed on the boat and it moves as it fills, in practice there were 50 of us and a bunch of baskets and boxes of food. At the same time, there were only 15 life jackets. We drove for about half an hour. There were a lot of passengers, we didn’t have to wait long. The sea rocked and splashed well.

From Bali to Gili

From Bali to Gili There are fast boats called speedboats, so if you don’t have a goal to see Lombok, it will be faster to go directly.

1.5-3 hours - and you are on Gili, depending on the place of departure and the island you are going to.

The price of a boat ticket is $20-30.

See schedules and ticket prices at. There are also reviews from tourists and ratings of carriers.

Here are the transfer options from Padang Bai:

There are also boats from Sanur. From other cities of Bali (Ubud, Kuta, Amed), you must first go to the port, or book tickets with a transfer already included. This service is offered by MyBaliTrips.

From Nusa Lembongan to Gili

From Nusa Penida to Gili

Excursions to Gili

If you are not going to go to Gili for a long time, then an excellent option would be to go here on an excursion from Bali or Lombok. Then they will take you and show you everything, and you won’t have to organize everything yourself.

I selected excursions from different operators.

1) Tour to Gili for 2 days and 1 night from MyBaliTrips - $105

Included:

• boat to Gili and back,
• overnight in a hotel near the beach (with breakfast),
• snorkeling with turtles at three different spots,
• Russian speaking guide.

2) One-day excursion to Gili from Sputnik8 - $40

Included:

• transfer from the hotel to the port and back,
• boat to Gili and back,
• Russian speaking guide.

3) 1-2-day snorkeling tours from Bali to Gili on Viator - from $125

Included:

• transfer from the hotel to the port and back,
• boat to Gili Trawangan and back,
• snorkeling equipment,
• bike tour around the island,
• lunch, juice, water,
• tourist collection,
• English speaking guide.

Compare prices- they may differ on these sites.

Airbnb has more than 300 rental options, from modest rooms to cozy bungalows and luxurious villas with a pool. In addition, it is possible to stay on a yacht or sailboat.

If you haven't signed up for Airbnb yet:

There are no all-inclusive hotels on Gili.

Transport on Gili

There are no cars or mopeds on the three Gili. People travel around the islands on foot, bicycles, electric scooters and horse-drawn chidomo carts.

Bicycle rental starts from 50,000 rupees per day, but you can walk everywhere.

Gili Islands on the map of Indonesia and the world

The Gili Islands are located in Indonesia, between Lombok and Bali.

The distance from Gili Air to Lombok is just over a kilometer, from Gili Trawangan to Bali 35 km.

On the map it looks like this:

When to go to Gili: climate and weather by month

The climate on the Gili Islands is different from other Indonesian islands: it is drier and hotter than Lombok and Bali, but cooler in the evenings.

The hottest month is October, the coldest month is July. The wettest is January, the driest is August.

Rainy season: from November to April, but it still rains less at this time than in Bali.

Peak tourist season: July-August and December-January.

May-June and September-October are excellent: the weather is good and there are few people.

During Ramadan, some tourism businesses are closed.

The average air and sea temperature is 26-30 °C all year round.

For snorkeling, it is important to check the tide times on the Internet so that they are not too shallow.

Disadvantages of Gili

1. Roads are dirty primers that are watered with dust, so that dirty puddles form. That is, until you get somewhere, your feet are always dirty. Therefore, the best shoes here are easy-to-clean and quick-drying rubber flip-flops. Any decent shoes should be worn upon returning to Lombok or Bali.

2. Since the local population is Muslim, there are mosques on the islands that do not just briefly call for prayer, as for example in other parts of Indonesia or in Istanbul, but actually scream for a long time and loudly many times a day (in the middle of the night too).

3. Prices here are higher than on the mainland, because everything is imported.

4. There are a lot of tourists, and therefore there are a lot of barkers who constantly shout at you “Yes please! How can I help you?! Hello mister! Please come in!”

Bottom line: our review of holidays on the Gili Islands

It’s worth going to Gili, it’s nice, there’s a relaxed atmosphere, you can lie on the beach, snorkel right from the shore, do a couple of dives, go to a nightclub (if you like), surf on the other end of the island.

If you like parties, then Gili Trawangan is for you. The paradise island of Gili Meno is ideal for a romantic, secluded getaway. The combination of the first two is Gili Air.

If you want to go to a large tropical island, then either Indonesia or Thailand will be more suitable for you.

Gili Trawangan is the largest and most popular of. From the sea side, Gili Trawangan looks touching - a tiny strip of land that easily fits into the camera lens. The island is even more touching - a snow-white beach, turquoise water, no transport except horse-drawn carts, many cafes and beach restaurants with beds (a Gili specialty) and a huge number of cats of different sizes, colors and colors.

Don't miss out on Gili Trawangan

• Spend a couple of days adjusting to the rhythm of the island - a pillow, a hammock, a book, beer, shrimp and/or fruit juices (as you prefer) and beautiful views of the calm emerald sea.
• Rent a bike and ride around the island.
• Take your cool photo on the Gili Sea Swing.
• Take a day to explore the underwater beauty of the island...
• and another day for a trip to the neighboring islands - Gili Air and Gili Meno.
• Pamper your body and soul with a massage on the beach.
• Browse the hipster shops along the main beach for stylish beach items.
• Find your favorite spots to watch gorgeous sunsets.
• Treat your stomach to a feast with a visit to the famous Trawangan Night Market.
• And, of course, don’t miss the evening and night beach parties that Trawangan is famous for.

Trawangan by bike

Gili Trawangan is ideal for lazy cyclists) The flat landscape, lack of transport and small size allow you to go around the island in an hour, but you will definitely want to make a stop (and more than one) during your tour. Leave early in the morning or a few hours before sunset to avoid the midday heat and crowded bike paths.

You can rent a bicycle everywhere on the island - almost all hotels and guest houses on the island offer bicycles to their guests. The average rental price is 40,000 IDR.

The main transport on the island. Photo credit: Casi Contreras Gerber, Flickr

Gili Trawangan. Photo credit: Ben D. Johnson, Flickr

Sea swing

Thanks to social media, the sea swing has become a local landmark. Along the west coast you can find several places with swings and hammocks on wooden stilts submerged in the water. The view through the lens is naturally beautiful - behind the textured wooden swing there is only water and sky. So, get on your bike and look for your beautiful swing along the coast)

Sea swing. Photo credit: Mike Salamanca, Flickr

The Gili Islands are one of the best diving destinations and one of the best places in the world to learn to dive. At the Gili dive spots you can meet huge turtles, manta rays, rays, sharks and barracudas, as well as see sunken ships.

Diving to interesting spots is accessible even to beginners. Two of the four main Gili dive spots, one of which you can meet sharks, are available for diving immediately after completing the basic courses, the third (a dive spot with turtles) - after completing the Open Water Padi Course.

Dive centers are located along the main street of Trawangan and offer both certified dive courses for divers of different levels and dive trips. Diving is very popular on Gili, so there are many excellent instructors and very affordable prices - a 3-day basic course allowing diving to a depth of 18 meters (Open Water Padi Course) will cost around $390. Trawangan also has short introductory courses and trial courses with introductory lessons and one dive. The minimum age for diving training is 10 years.

The best dive centers in Trawangan are Manta Dive and Trawangan Dive Center, see also Blue Marlin Gili and Mango Dive. Each of the mentioned dive centers has its own dive resort, where the bulk of the courses are conducted (for the cost of accommodation, see the links; the cost of PADI courses, dives and snorkeling tours, plus or minus, is the same in all Gili dive centers).

Diving on Gili. Photo credit: P E E K I N G, Flickr

Southeast Beach

South-East beach, i.e. The southern part of the east coast of Gili Trawangan is the heart of the island. The often mentioned above Gili Central Street stretches along the southern part of the northern coast. Around the main street there are beach restaurants, beach party clubs and pubs with live music and reggae rhythms. Tour offices, shops and souvenir shops are also concentrated here. In the same part of the island there is a pier and the island's night market.

The main format of housing here is beach bungalows and guest houses with cozy cottages and bungalows located a little further from the beach. The average cost of very good housing in this part of the island is $30-40 per room.

Southern part of the eastern coast of Gili Trawangan. Photo credit: Oscar Liber, Flickr

The main street of the island. Photo credit: hl_1001, Flickr

The northern part of the east coast is much calmer, which compares favorably with the noisy and sleepless southern part. There is a lot of different accommodation here, but much less restaurants. The beach in this part of the coast is beautiful and relaxing, with massages on the beach and small food stalls.

Near this part of the coast you can most often find turtles; masks and fins for snorkeling off the coast can be rented here, along the beach.

The traditional housing format for the eastern part of Trawangan in the form of bungalows and small cottages is complemented by beach resorts, stylish boutique hotels and villas.

Snorkeling on Gili. Photo credit: hl_1001a3, Flickr

Northeast Beach. Photo credit: booking

North West Beach

North West Beach is a more populated part of the west coast. Lazy and atmospheric resorts with beach bungalows, cottages and villas stretch along the coast. Almost all the housing here is located along the beach. There are also several atmospheric beach restaurants along the beach, where guests of local hotels gather in the late afternoon waiting for the sunset.

Photo credit: booking

Photo credit: booking

Southwest Beach

There is practically no housing in this part of the island, but there are many nice beach restaurants, bars and even a beach club with the promising name Malibu Beach Club.

South-West Beach is located a short and easy bike ride from the popular South-Eastern part of the island, so this is where those staying on the east coast most often go to watch the sunset.

Next to one of the few guest houses on the coast, The Exile Gili, there is a beach bar of the same name and a very photogenic swing.

The Exile Gili. Photo credit: Marvin Ancian, Flickr

find suitable accommodation

Where to choose accommodation on Trawangan Island

As mentioned above, the main format of housing in Trawangan is bungalows and guest houses.

General advice for choosing accommodation: look for accommodation in the South-East part if you want to be “close to everything”, in the North-East part - if you want a beautiful, quieter beach next to a bungalow, while remaining close to the main party.

More affordable options for good housing along the east coast of the island are most often located at some distance from the beach.

Look for beach accommodation options with “sea views”, a relaxed atmosphere and maximum distance from civilization on the west coast of the island.

The main problem of settling on the western beach is getting from the pier to the hotel. On foot with luggage you will have to walk for at least half an hour (2-3 kilometers). An alternative is to take a horse-drawn carriage ride. It should be noted here that the mistreatment of carriage horses in Trawangan is a real problem, so if you consider yourself an animal lover, this experience should either be avoided or be very careful in choosing a carriage. Another alternative is to leave your main luggage at (if you plan to return to the same hotel) and come to Trawangan with a small backpack. In this case, you can rent a bicycle on the main street and get to the west coast without any problems.

Our pick on Gili Trawangan

on the east coast

- a charming bungalow complex with that same lazy atmosphere of island life for which they go to Trawangan. Cute little bungalows with cozy terraces, a flowering garden, pleasant hosts, delicious breakfasts - and all this is a 5-minute walk from the southeastern and southwestern beaches of Trawangan. Book in advance!

on the west coast

- a complex of small, cute bungalows located right on the beach, the “deluxe” part of which is equipped with its own lounge areas with wide sun loungers and hammocks. All bathrooms are located in the open air, which adds island authenticity to the place. Very calm and relaxing atmosphere. Beach equipped with sun loungers, small swimming pool on site, bicycle rental. A little further along the beach there are excellent beach bars and restaurants.