By air
Lombok (LOP), then road to Bangsal and a short boat, or a fast boat from Bali
Southeast Asia · Indonesia
Gili Islands, Indonesia
Car-free islands of turtles and white sand
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to October — dry season
Don't miss
Gili Trawangan
Gili Meno's underwater statues
Gili Air
Turtle Point
Things to do
Snorkelling with turtles
Diving
Cycling around Gili Trawangan
Sunset swings on the west coast
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Laurent Bigué · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Snorkel gear, reef-safe sunscreen, cash (few ATMs)
A quieter corner
Gili Meno, the quietest of the three
Questions travellers ask
How do I reach the Gili Islands from Bali or Lombok?
Fly into Lombok (LOP), then go by road to Bangsal and take a short boat, or take a fast boat from Bali.
Do I need cash on the Gili Islands?
Yes, there are few ATMs, so bring cash, plus snorkel gear and reef-safe sunscreen.
Which of the Gili Islands is the quietest?
Gili Meno, the quietest of the three. It's also where you'll find the underwater statues.
What can I get up to on the Gili Islands?
Snorkel with turtles, dive, cycle around Gili Trawangan and catch the sunset swings on the west coast. Then try the grilled seafood at the Gili Trawangan night market.
About Gili Islands
- Island
Where it is
The Gili Islands are three small coral islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, off the north-west coast of Lombok in the province of West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
History
Bugis fishermen first used the Gilis as a stopping place on their voyages, but permanent settlement began only in the 1970s, when coconut plantations were established and prisoners from Mataram, many of whom stayed on, were sent to help with the first harvests. Backpackers began arriving in the 1980s and the islands grew into a diving and holiday centre; the 2018 Lombok earthquake caused significant damage to buildings there.
People
The islands' permanent residents include Sasak, Balinese, Sumbawa and Flores families as well as Chinese and Arab Indonesians, and Indonesian and Sasak are widely spoken. Many live from fishing, coconuts and the dive shops, guesthouses and cidomo horse carts that serve visitors.
Known for
- Snorkelling with sea turtles
- Diving around the three islands
- Gili Meno's underwater statues
- Bicycles and horse carts instead of cars
- Sunsets over Bali's Mount Agung
Did you know?
Motorised vehicles are not allowed on any of the three islands, so people get around on foot, by bicycle or by cidomo, a small horse-drawn cart.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.