Final Up to date on June 23, 2026 by Eve Dawes
The Gili Islands sit simply off the northwest coast of Lombok, a tiny trio that’s turn out to be one in every of Indonesia’s most photographed escapes, and for good cause. The identify itself merely means small island within the native language, and the three that make up this well-known cluster, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, can every be seen from each other throughout the water, which makes island hopping fast and simple. Vehicles and motorbikes are banned throughout all three islands, and whereas electrical bikes and scooters have turn out to be extra widespread in recent times, strolling, bicycles, and horse drawn carts are nonetheless how most guests get round, one thing that genuinely adjustments the tempo of a day right here in a approach images by no means fairly seize. Among the finest issues to do within the Gili Islands occur proper within the water, snorkeling with sea turtles, discovering underwater sculpture installations, and island hopping between three fully completely different atmospheres in a single day.
We truly booked the southern Gilis tour first, a separate, a lot quieter cluster off the coast of Lombok that shares the identical identify, earlier than switching to the northern Gili islands as an alternative. On this article I’m evaluating each so you possibly can see precisely why we modified our plans, what we did on every island as soon as we arrived, and the place the snorkeling is genuinely price your time, so you possibly can resolve which tour is best for you.
This overview relies on our personal go to to the Gili Islands, the place we skilled every island firsthand and made our personal selections on excursions, snorkeling spots, and actions. No a part of this journey was sponsored.
Northern Gilis or Southern Gilis: How We Selected
Right here’s the half most individuals don’t know stepping into. “Gili” merely means small island within the native language, and there are two fully completely different clusters that share the identify. The northern Gilis: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno, are the well-known trio most individuals consider once they hear Gili Islands. The southern Gilis: Gili Layar, Gili Rengit, Gili Nanggu, Gili Tangkong, and Gili Kedis, additionally sit close to Lombok however additional south, and are a separate, a lot quieter, undeveloped set of islands.
We had initially chosen to do the Non-public Day Journey 5 Secret Gilis: Layar, Rengit, Nanggu, Tangkong, Kedis as we love fairly, non-public seashores. Nevertheless, we didn’t need to be snorkeling all day and love a seaside bar, so we pivoted to a personal northern Gili Islands tour. The choice actually comes all the way down to what you need out of the day.
How you can resolve: In the event you’re attempting to resolve between the 2: select the southern Gilis and Secret Gili’s tour choices if you would like one thing quiet, undeveloped, off the everyday vacationer path and like seaside hopping and snorkeling. Select a northern Gilis islands tour, like we did, if you would like extra selection throughout the day as there’s extra to truly do on every island together with snorkeling, with choices for each tempo, from energetic to laid again. In addition they provide their signature zero vehicles setup that makes the entire expertise really feel completely different from wherever else we’d been throughout our Indonesia journey.
We booked a personal boat for the day so we weren’t tied to anybody else’s schedule, which mattered most once we wished to decelerate for the turtles or keep longer at one island or snorkeling spot than deliberate.
Gili Air
Gili Air was our first cease and is quieter with a extra native feeling than Trawangan. It was a fantastic place to begin the day and is the place we slowed the tempo down. It was solely 8:30am once we received there so too chilly to be swimming, so we simply loved the view from the seaside for about an hour.
Gili Meno
Gili Meno is the smallest and most laid again of those three Gili Islands however well-known for its Nest underwater sculpture by artist Jason deCaires Taylor. The circle of underwater statues consists of 48 life-size figures off the coast of Gili Meno. Sure, it’s a preferred snorkeling spot however whilst somebody who’s fearful of snorkeling, I liked this spot. Nevertheless, one of the best snorkeling of the day occurred at Turtle Metropolis, Gili Meno. This was a a lot quieter spot the place we even received to feed them within the water which was the spotlight of the day. In the event you’re eager to go snorkeling in Gili islands positively take into account stopping at a few spots round Gili Meno. Extra on snorkeling in Gili islands under.
Gili Trawangan
That is the Gili island most individuals know and was our final cease, so we had essentially the most time right here. We appreciated having extra time right here as Gili Trawangan has essentially the most to do and is the liveliest of the three predominant Gili Islands. In saying that, it nonetheless felt gradual and peaceable throughout the day, even with the ferries coming and going. I’m undecided if it will get livelier at night time as we left at 3:30pm earlier than the water received too tough for the journey again.
Vehicles and motorbikes are additionally banned right here, so the primary methods to get round are on foot, by bicycle, or by horse and cart, although electrical bikes have turn out to be a preferred possibility on Trawangan in recent times too. In the event you’re solely right here for a number of hours, a number of concepts for issues to do in Gili Trawangan embrace:
- Discover a cute spot for lunch overlooking the seaside and water.
- Stroll up and down the primary avenue to take images of the horse and carts, buy groceries, or seize a drink.
- Go for a therapeutic massage. They’re so inexpensive and good. We went to Gili Pearl Spa and it was IDR 500,000 for a 1 hour therapeutic massage for each of us.
- Cease at Seaside Home for a chew or a drink and to chill off of their pool. Simply don’t be doing that with out buying one thing. In the event you’re in search of a lodge in Gili Trawangan, positively take a look at the Seaside Home.
Snorkeling within the Gili Islands
That is the half we had been least enthusiastic about as we’re each fearful of the water however it’s positively price contemplating and planning round. Snorkeling within the Gili Islands isn’t simply good, it’s genuinely the most effective causes to decide on the northern or southern Gili islands in Indonesia. The water is crystal clear, heat, and calm. Two moments stood out:
Feeding wild sea turtles by hand, in open water, simply off the coast. Not a tank, not a sanctuary, an precise wild turtle encounter that felt fully unscripted. Happening a personal tour with simply my husband and I made us each really feel rather a lot safer as we had the information to ourselves. He stayed closed, fed the fish and turtles, had us feed them, and made certain we had been secure always.
Snorkeling to the underwater statues close to Gili Meno, a preferred however surreal sculpture set up beneath the floor that you just genuinely don’t look forward to finding on a seaside day like that is additionally price your time.
If snorkeling is the precedence on your journey, construct additional time into the Gili Meno leg particularly. It was the cease we had been happiest we didn’t rush.
Tip: Lease or deliver a GoPro when you can. We had been gutted we didn’t have one, for the reason that underwater photographs would have been a few of the finest images of the entire day.
Greatest Issues to Do within the Gili Islands
In the event you’re brief on time and simply need the highlights, right here’s what made our day within the Gili Islands genuinely memorable:
Feed wild sea turtles by hand in open water, no tank, no sanctuary, simply an unscripted encounter simply off the coast.
Snorkel to the underwater statues close to Gili Meno, the well-known sculpture set up beneath the floor with plenty of colourful fish. There’s plenty of folks as it is a fashionable Gili Islands snorkeling spot however it’s price visiting anyway.
Island hop between all three northern Gilis in a single day, Trawangan for vitality, Air for a straightforward tempo, Meno for one of the best snorkeling.
Get a therapeutic massage on Gili Trawangan, since slowing down between islands is half the purpose of a day like this.
When you have additional time, trip a horse drawn cidomo or hire a motorbike, since exploring with none vehicles or motorbikes round is without doubt one of the issues that makes the Gilis really feel completely different from wherever else in Indonesia.
Gili Islands Tour: The Verdict
Three islands, one non-public boat, and the invention that “Gili” means much more than we anticipated stepping into. In the event you’re selecting between the northern and southern Gilis, the north is the higher name for first timers who need selection throughout the day, simple snorkeling, and that fully automotive free island feeling that’s genuinely exhausting to seek out wherever else. For these of you who’ve already been or would simply fairly be lazing on a seaside and snorkeling, go to the Secret Gilis: Layar, Rengit, Nanggu, Tangkong, and Kedis.
In the event you’re not sure which Gilis you’re even taking a look at, hopefully this protects you an identical scramble. The northern Gilis, Trawangan, Air, and Meno, are the higher name for many first time guests.
Observe alongside @glamourandgains for extra from our Indonesia journey together with Bali, Lombok, Flores, and Komodo Nationwide Park.
Gili Islands FAQ
The northern Gilis, Trawangan, Air, and Meno, are the well-known trio with essentially the most infrastructure, issues to do, and tourism. The southern Gilis, Layar, Rengit, Nanggu, Tangkong, and Kedis, sit close to Lombok and are quieter and much much less developed.
Gili Trawangan has snorkeling spots, however Gili Meno is the standout for clear water, turtles, and the underwater statue set up.
No. Vehicles and motorbikes are banned throughout all three islands. Strolling, bicycles, and horse drawn carriages are nonetheless the most typical methods to get round, although electrical bikes and scooters have turn out to be more and more fashionable, particularly on Gili Trawangan.
