How to Plan the Perfect Gili Islands Escape

Planning a trip to Indonesia? Then the Gili Islands should be on your radar. These three tiny specks of land: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno are tucked just off the coast of Lombok and not far from Bali. Known for their white sand beaches, clear turquoise water, sea turtles, and zero cars or motorbikes, the Gilis offer a slice of tropical island life that’s surprisingly easy to reach.

First time in Indonesia? Make sure to check out the ultimate beginner’s guide to Indonesia Travel!

But while they’re popular, the information online can be a bit scattered. This is the guide I wish I had before going. How to get there, how long to spend, where to stay, what to do, and how to island-hop like a pro.

What Are the Gili Islands?

The Gili Islands are a group of three small islands: Gili Trawangan (Gili T), Gili Air, and Gili Meno, located off the northwest coast of Lombok in Indonesia. Despite being close to Bali, they feel completely different. There’s no traffic noise, no towering resorts, and no fast pace. Instead, you’ll find sandy lanes, beachfront cafés, and bicycles everywhere. Each island has its own personality:

• Gili T is known for nightlife and activities
• Gili Air is a peaceful blend of chill and fun
• Gili Meno is quiet and best for couples or solitude seekers

They’ve become incredibly popular with backpackers, honeymooners, and divers alike. Not just for their beauty, but because you can hop between them easily and experience a lot in just a few days.

How to Get to the Gili Islands (and Between Them)

There are no airports on the Gili Islands—you can only get there by boat. You’ve got a few options depending on where you’re coming from:

🚤 From Bali or Nusa Penida

Most travelers come straight from Bali on a fast boat. Boats leave from Padang Bai, Serangan, Sanur, Amed, and even straight from Nusa Penida. Fast boats take about 1.5–2.5 hours, depending on the route and ocean conditions. Book online via 12GoAsia, but double-check reviews—some companies are more reliable than others.

💡 Pro tip: Morning departures tend to be smoother than afternoon ones when the sea gets choppier.

🛶 From Lombok

If you’re already in Lombok, it’s much cheaper to get to the Gilis. Head to Bangsal Harbour and take a local public boat for just a few dollars (25k IDR ~ $1.50). These leave throughout the day, it’s budget-friendly and quick, around 20 minutes to Gili T or Gili Air. If you’re not up for taking the local boats, sharing space with the supplies to the island, you can also take the tourist boats. Book online via 12GoAsia.

🚢 Between the Gili Islands

There’s a daily public ferry that connects all three islands (Gili T, Gili Meno, and Gili Air). It’s super easy, and tickets can be bought at the small harbors. No need to pre-book unless it’s high season. The rides are short, only about 10–15 minutes each.

However, make sure to check the schedule because these only go once or twice a day. We missed the first one in the morning from Gili T to Gili Meno, which meant we had to pay for a more expensive one (85k ~ $5.20 on the way there and 40k ~ $2.50 on the way back on the cheaper one) and only had a few hours to explore the island on a day trip. The ferry from Gili T to Gili Air was 45k ~ $2.75.

How Long to Spend on Each Island

If you want to visit all three islands, you’ll want at least five days, although more time is always better. Which island you spend your time on totally depends on the vibe you are looking for. Here’s a breakdown of what we did:

• Gili Trawangan: 3 nights
• Gili Meno: 1 day (or 1 night if you really want peace and quiet)
• Gili Air: 2 nights

It’s absolutely possible to see all the highlights in five days, but if you’re looking to fully unwind, stretch it to a week and stay longer on Gili Air or Meno.

Where to Stay on the Gili Islands

Each island has plenty of guesthouses, homestays, mid-range resorts, and some luxury villas. Here’s a quick guide:

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What to Do on the Gili Islands

There’s way more to the Gilis than just lying on the beach (though that’s a big part of it too). Here’s what to expect:

🐢 Snorkeling and Diving (All)

This is the reason most people come. The Gilis are home to turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, lobsters, eel gardens, and loads of tropical fish. You can snorkel straight from the shore of the islands or take a snorkeling boat tour that visits all three islands. I shouldn’t have to say this, but as it’s not common sense for some tourists, don’t get too close to the turtles! If you don’t have snorkeling equipment, you can usually find it on the islands for about 50k IDR ~ $3 for the day.

Diving is also great. There are tons of reputable dive schools offering fun dives, courses, and intro dives. The visibility is usually excellent, and the water is warm all year round. It’s a popular place for backpackers to stay for a few months and do their divemaster.

🌅 Watch the Sunset (Gili T)

The west sides of all three islands offer stunning sunsets, but Gili T is furthest west and looks out onto the ocean. It has loads of beachfront bars with bean bags and cocktails. It’s a ritual—grab a drink, find a spot, and watch the sun melt into the ocean.

🍻 Go Out (Gili T)

Gili T is the party island, and it doesn’t hold back. From reggae bars to booming beach clubs, there’s something happening every night. We started with drinks at a party hostel and somehow ended up at a massive beach club getting fed free shots, then finished the night with live music at Sama Sama Reggae Bar, which I highly recommend.

🎥 Beach Movie Nights (Gili Air + Gili T)

On both Gili T and Gili Air, there are movies right on the beach at night, every night. It’s a perfect way to wind down after a day in the water. On Gili T, head to Aston Sunset Beach Resort and on Gili Air, it’s at a different place each day of the week.

🐢 Visit the Turtle Sanctuary (Gili Meno)

We took the public ferry to Gili Meno for a day trip. The turtle sanctuary is a common stop, though it’s worth mentioning that it raises some ethical questions; some visitors feel it’s more of a photo op than a conservation effort. It’s free to enter, but they are grateful for donations.

🤿 See the Underwater Sculptures + Shipwreck (Gili Meno)

The famous Nest sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor are located just off Gili Meno. This is probably the main “attraction” on the Gili Islands, and it’s worth a visit. They look amazing in photos, but be warned, it can get very crowded, especially midday, as many people come on boat tours. However, if you find yourself on Gili Meno, you can just follow Google Maps and swim out from shore; it’s not too far. If you want a chance at seeing them without dozens of fins in your face, go early morning or later in the afternoon.

🚲 Ride a Bike (Gili Air)

After the buzz of Gili T, Gili Air was the perfect chill-out zone. There isn’t much “to do,” and that’s the point. We spent most of our time beach-hopping, watching sunsets, and eating good food at beachfront cafés. If you’re looking to relax without total isolation, this is the island to do it.

It’s worth noting that you can do a full lap of all three islands (Gili T being about 7km and Gili Meno and Gili Air about 5km). You can walk all the way around the islands, or rent a bike and ride around, but some parts of the path are fully sand, making them hard to pedal through.

Final Tips Before You Go

• 🚫 Don’t ride the horses. They’re overworked and often underfed. Walk or cycle instead.
• 💸 Bring enough cash. Some ATMs exist, but they occasionally run out or charge high fees.
• 🌊 Pack motion sickness tablets if you’re prone to seasickness—speedboats can get rough, especially if you’re coming from Bali.
• 📶 Don’t expect perfect Wi-Fi. It’s part of the charm.

In Summary

The Gili Islands are everything you imagine a tropical escape to be—crystal water, no cars, and laid-back island life. Whether you want to party, dive, relax, or do a bit of all three, there’s a Gili island for you. With just a bit of planning, you can hop between them easily and make the most of your time in paradise.