The Gili Islands, or Gili Indah, are a set of beautiful little islands just off the coast of Lombok. Whether you’re looking to just lounge on the beach or want to explore the neighboring islands, we’d definitely recommend a visit to this slice of paradise. Between Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, there are many activities to fill your time here. Here are a few great things to do on the Gili Islands as well as some considerations when picking which island to stay on.
Which of the Gili Islands Should You Stay On?
While living in Lombok as a kid, my family and our friends visited the Gili Islands frequently to snorkel and experience their beauty. Back then, Gili Meno and Gili Air didn’t have much tourist infrastructure, like restaurants and hotels, and therefore weren’t a place people commonly stayed for multiple days. Today, Gili Trawangan remains the most popular and built up, but the other two islands have also grown with the increase in tourism to the area.
Each island offers its own unique experience and charm, and whichever island you choose to stay on is really up to your preference. So, following are some details to consider when picking where to stay. Whichever island you do choose, we want to note that they are all so close that you can easily hop over to another for a while if desired.
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, or Gili T, is the largest and westernmost of the Gili Islands. As mentioned above, it is the most popular of the islands to visit. It hosts the widest range of hotels, restaurants, and activities. This island has more of a bustling vibe and is a great spot if you enjoy meeting other travelers. If you’re looking to party on the beach long into the night, this is also the place to be because this island boasts quite a vibrant nightlife scene.
Gili Meno
Gili Meno sits in the middle of Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. This is the smallest and least busy of the islands as it isn’t quite as built up. It’s the best island to stay on if you’re looking for a quiet and tranquil experience. This spot is a popular choice among couples who are looking for a peaceful and laid back vibe, which has earned it the nickname of Honeymoon Island.
While all three islands offer great snorkeling right from shore, Gili Meno is said to have the best opportunities because the reef is more untouched, it is known to have an abundance of turtles, and the Nest underwater sculptures sit just off its western shore.
Gili Air
Gili Air sits the furthest east of the three islands and is closest to Lombok. This island is known to be the happy medium between Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. It has some more options when it comes to restaurants and hotels than Gili Meno and is a bit busier. While you can experience nightlife and bustling restaurants, it’s not on the level of Gili Trawangan. The beaches here are less crowded than those on Gili T, yet you’ll have more beachside amenities than on Gili Meno.
We stayed on Gili Air on our most recent trip and loved the balance of quieter beaches and abundance of restaurants, shops, and activities.
Things to do on the Gili Islands
1. Hit the Beach
We’ll start with the most obvious. If you’re visiting the Gilis, chances are you’ll spend quite a bit of your time relaxing on the beach. Each island has various stretches of nice sand, but also areas that consist more of coral and rock. There are some sandy areas to swim when the tide is high, but much of the area inside the water is reef. This reef is largely exposed when the tide goes out, forming many tide pools.
There are many sandy spots on each of the islands to lay out a towel and relax in the sun. There are also establishments on each of the Gilis that have loungers, tables for dining, and little cabanas where you can hang out right on the beach.
2. Go Snorkeling or Diving
Indonesia is one of the top diving and snorkeling destinations in the world. The Gili Islands are a popular place to do both! On each of the islands, you can find snorkeling tours and dive companies that will take you out or be able to get you certified. We brought our own snorkeling masks, but there are spots where you can rent fins and a snorkel/mask, even if you plan to just snorkel off the shore for an hour. We stayed at the Blue Marlin, a popular company among those looking to go out diving. There’s a Blue Marlin on each of the islands.
We snorkeled off the shore of Gili Air daily and saw many turtles, an abundance of different fish, and a decent variety of corals. One day, we also embarked on a morning snorkeling tour that brought us to the famous underwater sculptures and to various other spots around Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno.
3. Admire an Island Sunrise or Sunset
Some absolutely stunning sunrises and sunsets can be admired from the Gili Islands. From the islands you can see the mountainous landscape of Lombok and Gunung Agung, a volcano on Bali. These views look even more gorgeous under the vibrant pinks and oranges that frequently cover the skies. Many of the restaurants on the western side of the islands get busier in the evening as many post up to watch the sunset.
If you want a higher vantage point, head to Gili Trawangan and hike up to the hilltop viewpoint. While the islands are relatively flat, a short walk up this hill will give you a pretty view over the island and the islands in the distance. Access to the viewpoint is free.
4. Experience Island Nightlife
Whether you’re looking to just enjoy a drink on the beach or are wanting to party long into the night, Gili Trawangan is the place to be. If you’re looking for something more laid back, visit one of the beachside bars to enjoy a cocktail or head to the Aston Resort or Royal Regantris to watch a movie at the outdoor cinemas. You can find the current movies and showing times displayed on a sign at each location. If you’re looking for a bit more of a party, consider bar hopping to some of the lively spots where you may find live music, dancing, or karaoke.
We also found a lively nightlife scene on Gili Air where many of the beachside restaurants and bars have live music, trivia nights, and various fun spots to party. We didn’t experience the nightlife on Gili Meno, but it is known to be the quietest island.
Both Gili Trawangan and Gili Air also hold monthly full moon parties where there are usually live music and DJs, drinks, and plenty of dancing into the early morning. There isn’t an official website for this and the party location changes based on whichever venue opts to host it, so if you’re there during the full moon, ask locals to see where it will take place or just make your way to the action when the sun goes down.
5. Take a Day Trip to Another Island
If you’d like to check out the beaches, restaurants, and other activities on the other Gili Islands, it’s easy to hop over on a quick boat ride. Because they are so close, you could visit for anywhere from a half-day to switching islands for a few days.
You can take a private boat, the public ferry, or a shuttle boat. Alternatively, you can kayak between the islands if you’re up for it! Do remember to bring cash to pay for the boat ticket and the dock fee. We’ll cover more details on getting between the Gili Islands in another post.
6. Visit the Shops
On Gili Trawangan and Gili Air, there are various shops, particularly along the streets around the more built-up port areas. Gili Meno also has a few shops selling some souvenir items, but your best bet is to visit the other two if you’re planning to shop.
In these shops, you can find anything from magnets and keychains to apparel, jewelry, and beach gear. The shops range from street vendors to little boutiques. Make sure you have cash as not all accept card.
7. Take a Cooking Glass
Both Gili Trawangan and Gili Air have places where you can take a cooking class with an experienced local chef. Gili Cooking Classes is a popular company, but there are a couple others as well. During the class, you’ll use a variety of locally sourced ingredients to create some delicious traditional dishes over the course of a couple hours. We do recommend booking this in advance when possible to secure your spot in the class of your choice.
8. Treat Yourself at a Spa
Each of the islands have spas where you can go to get various massage treatments, get your nails done, get a facial, etc. They’re pretty affordable here, so my sister and mom definitely enjoyed going on multiple afternoons.
Some of the spas, like Gili Mo Spa and PinkCoco Spa, have their information online for you to reach out with any questions or make an appointment. Others do not have their info online, so we’d recommend stopping by in the morning to see if the spa offers the treatment you’re seeking and if they have any openings for that day or the following days. As you walk around the islands, you’ll see some spas that put a ‘menu’ out front detailing the services they offer.
9. Watersports
Many hotels and tour companies offer kayaks and paddle boards for rent. You can choose to go out for just an hour or rent equipment for the day if you’re looking to kayak between islands. Do take note of the tides when deciding when to go or how long to rent a board for because when the tide is out, it’ll be more difficult to get a kayak or board over the reef and into the water in some areas. Check the tide charts here.
We rented paddle boards from in front of the Blue Marlin on Gili Air and spent the morning kayaking along the island and hopping in the crystal-clear water.
10. Play a round of Mini Golf
If you’re wanting a break from the beach or are looking for a fun group activity, head to Gili Golf to play a round of mini golf. There are 18 holes at this fun spot and you can enjoy a drink while you play. It only costs a few USD per person for a round. There are also other activities here, including pool, darts, ping pong, basketball, and more.
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