Gili Trawangan
The biggest and liveliest Gili: dive schools, sunset swings, a night market and bars that stay open late.
Gili Trawangan · Gili Meno · Gili Air
The Gili Islands, island by island
Three small coral islands off Lombok with white sand, sea turtles and not a single car. One is lively, one is silent and one sits happily in between — this guide helps you pick yours, get there and make the most of it.
8 destination guides45 hand-picked tours & transfersFast boats explainedIndependent & ad-free
Welcome to the Gilis
Three islands, no engines, one very blue sea
The Gili Islands lie in a row off the north-west corner of Lombok, an hour and a half by fast boat from Bali. Gili Trawangan is the biggest and busiest, with dive schools, restaurants and bars. Gili Meno, in the middle, is the smallest and quietest, with the best beaches and the famous underwater statues. Gili Air, closest to the mainland, mixes a real village with good food and easy snorkelling.
None of them has cars or motorbikes. You walk, cycle or take a boat; the loudest sounds are the call to prayer and the sea. Under water there are green and hawksbill turtles on almost every reef, and some of the most affordable dive training in Asia.
Gili.com covers the islands in depth — and the things around them that make a trip work: the fast boats from Bali, the Lombok harbours, Mount Rinjani, Kuta Lombok and the Secret Gilis.
3car-free islands
~1.5 hby fast boat from Padang Bai
27–30°Csea temperature all year
3,726 mMount Rinjani on the horizon
Destinations
Eight guides: the islands and everything around them
Each destination is a mini-guide of its own, with tours, sights, how to get there, practical advice and the best time to go.
Gili Meno
The smallest, quietest Gili: empty beaches, a salt lake, the underwater statues and turtles on every snorkel.
Gili Air
The balanced Gili: a real village, good restaurants, easy snorkelling and just enough life after dark.
Senggigi & the Harbours
Lombok’s west coast: Bangsal and Teluk Nara for the Gili boats, Senggigi’s sunset bays and the temples of Mataram.
Mount Rinjani
The 3,726-metre volcano behind every Gili sunrise: crater-rim treks, a turquoise lake, and the waterfalls of Senaru.
Kuta Lombok & the South
Surf bays, empty white beaches, Sasak villages and the Mandalika circuit — the wild southern half of a Gili trip.
The Secret Gilis
Lombok’s other Gilis: Nanggu, Sudak, Kedis, Gede and Asahan in the south-west — the famous three as they were decades ago.
From Bali
Padang Bai, Serangan, Sanur and Amed — the Bali departure points for the Gilis, plus Nusa Penida and Lembongan on the way.
Top experiences
What people come to the Gilis for
Six things that define a trip to the islands — each with a guide to doing it well.
Snorkel with sea turtles
Green and hawksbill turtles graze on the reefs a few metres off the beach on all three islands. Our guide covers the best spots, the tides and how to behave around them.
Hop between the three islands
A cheap public boat links Air, Meno and Trawangan twice a day, and private boats go whenever you like. See all three without changing hotels.
Watch the sun set behind Bali
From the west coast of each island the sun goes down beside Mount Agung. Trawangan has the swings and the crowd; Meno and Air have the quiet.
Slow down: no cars, no motorbikes
Bicycles, bare feet and boats. Our getting-around guide explains the options — and the uncomfortable truth about the horse carts.
Climb Mount Rinjani
The volcano that fills the eastern sky is a two- or three-day trek to a crater lake and a 3,726-metre summit, starting two hours from the harbour.
Find the Secret Gilis
Off south-west Lombok, a scatter of barely visited islets — Nanggu, Sudak, Kedis, Gede — shows what the famous three were like decades ago.
At a glance
Gili Trawangan vs Gili Meno vs Gili Air
The short version of the most common question about the islands. The full comparison, with verdicts by traveller type, is one click away.
| Gili Trawangan | Gili Meno | Gili Air | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character | Lively, social, the most developed | Very quiet, romantic, undeveloped | Relaxed, village feel, balanced |
| Best for | Diving, nightlife, groups, first-timers | Couples, honeymoons, peace | Couples, families, slow travel, yoga |
| Beaches | Good on the east and north-east | The best of the three | Good on the east; tidal on the west |
| Snorkelling from shore | Turtle Point (north-east) | Statues and turtle reef (west) | East-coast reef |
| Nightlife | Bars and parties every night | Almost none | Low-key beach bars |
| Food choice | Widest | Limited | Very good |
| ATMs | Several | Few and unreliable | A few |
| Walk around the island | About 2 hours (7 km) | About 1.5 hours (5 km) | About 1.5 hours (5 km) |
| From Lombok (speedboat) | 10–15 minutes | 10–15 minutes | About 10 minutes |
Tours & tickets
The best-reviewed things to book
Real GetYourGuide listings with real reviews — snorkelling boats, fast-boat tickets, try-dives, classes and Rinjani treks. Prices are indicative; check the live price before you book.
Gili Trawangan from €13 Gili Islands: Private or Shared Snorkelling Boat Trip
The most-reviewed Gili activity on GetYourGuide by a wide margin. Choose a shared boat or a private one and a short or longer route; guides point out hawksbill turtles and the better coral. Check which pick-up island your option covers when booking.
Gili Air from €15 From Gili Air: Snorkelling with Turtles & Underwater Statue
The best-reviewed trip that starts on Gili Air: turtles, the Meno statues and coral gardens, with free time for lunch on Gili Meno. Over a thousand reviews at an excellent average.
Gili Trawangan from €15 Gili Trawangan: Sunset Boat Tour and Snorkelling
A late-afternoon glass-bottom boat to three snorkelling spots, finishing on the water as the sun drops towards Bali. A good choice if you would rather keep the hot middle of the day for the shade.
From Bali from €26 From Bali: 1-Way Speedboat Transfer to Gili Trawangan
The most-booked crossing on GetYourGuide, with well over a thousand reviews. A one-way fast-boat seat from Bali to Gili Trawangan; check the departure harbour and pick-up options on the listing.
Mount Rinjani from €129 Mount Rinjani Summit 2-Day Trekking Tour
The most-reviewed Rinjani trek on GetYourGuide: up from Sembalun to the crater-rim camp on day one, a pre-dawn push to the 3,726 m summit for sunrise on day two, then all the way down. Very demanding and very rewarding.
Gili Air from €23 Gili Air: Kaktus Traditional Cooking Class
A relaxed, hands-on class in traditional Indonesian cooking — pastes ground by hand, a few classic dishes, and lunch or dinner at the end. Rated a perfect five by well over a hundred guests.
The Secret Gilis from €44 Lombok: Private 5 Secret Gilis Snorkelling Tour
The outer group by private boat: Gili Asahan, Layar, Gede, Rengit and Goleng, with snorkelling over some of the best coral in south-west Lombok. Far fewer boats come this way than to Nanggu.
Gili Trawangan from €90 Manta Dive Gili Trawangan: Discover Scuba Diving
A try-dive with one of the island’s oldest dive centres: briefing and pool session, then a shallow guided dive on a nearby reef. No certificate needed, only reasonable comfort in the water.
When to go
The Gili year in four parts
May – June
Early dry season
Sunny, green and not yet crowded. Calm seas, clear water and good prices: the best all-round time to come.
July – August
High season
The driest, breeziest weather and the most visitors. Book boats and rooms ahead; afternoon crossings can be choppy.
September – October
Late dry season
Still dry, warmer and quieter. Excellent visibility under water and the Rinjani trails are open.
November – April
Wet season
Hot, humid and showery, with lower prices. Fast boats from Bali are cancelled most often from December to February.
Live availability in the Gili Islands
Today’s prices and free dates, straight from GetYourGuide.
Itineraries See the full itineraries
How long, and in what order?
Realistic routes that allow for boat timetables and the odd rough sea.
4 days: one island, done properly
Bali to Gili Air or Trawangan, a snorkelling boat day, a day trip to Meno and back to Bali — with the crossing in the morning both ways.
7 days: all three Gilis
Three nights on Trawangan, two on Meno and two on Air, hopping by public boat and finishing closest to Lombok.
10–14 days: Gilis and Lombok
Add the Senaru waterfalls or a Rinjani trek, the surf beaches of Kuta and a day in the Secret Gilis, flying out of Lombok.
Where to stay 
Compare places to stay
Pick your island, then your beach
Thirty-three well-reviewed hotels and resorts, grouped by destination, with Trip.com guest scores — from Trawangan’s sunset coast to a bungalow on Gili Gede.
Compare places to stay 
Plan your days in the Gilis
Turn a strip of white sand into a trip
Snorkelling boats, fast-boat seats and Rinjani treks run with limited places and fill up in July, August and around Christmas and New Year. Compare what is bookable online and reserve in a couple of taps.
Good to know
Gili Islands: frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Gili Islands?
Off the north-west coast of Lombok, in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province, about 50 km east of Bali across the Lombok Strait. The three islands — Trawangan, Meno and Air — lie in a line a few kilometres from the Lombok shore.
Which Gili island is best?
Trawangan for diving, nightlife and choice; Meno for quiet and beaches; Air for a balance of the two with a village atmosphere. Our comparison guide gives a verdict for each type of traveller.
How do I get to the Gili Islands from Bali?
By fast boat, most commonly from Padang Bai (about 1.5–2.5 hours on the water), or from Serangan, Sanur, Amed or Nusa Penida. You can also fly to Lombok and cross from Bangsal in 10–15 minutes. Details are in fast boats & getting there.
How many days do I need in the Gili Islands?
Three or four nights is the minimum to justify the journey. A week lets you see all three islands; ten days or more lets you add Lombok. See our itineraries.
Are there really no cars on the Gilis?
Yes. Motor vehicles are banned on all three islands. People walk, cycle or use horse carts, and electric scooters are increasingly common. We explain the options, and the welfare concerns about the horses, in getting around.
When is the best time to visit the Gili Islands?
May, June and September: dry weather, calm seas and fewer people than July and August. The islands are warm all year; the main wet-season drawback is cancelled boats from Bali between December and February. See when to go.
Is it safe to visit after the 2018 earthquakes?
Yes. The islands were rebuilt and reopened within weeks to months of the August 2018 earthquakes and have operated normally for years. Lombok remains a seismically active region; our plain-language account explains what happened and what to know.
Do I need cash on the Gili Islands?
Yes. There are ATMs on all three islands, but they can run out or refuse foreign cards, and Gili Meno has very few. Bring a reserve of rupiah. Bigger hotels, dive centres and restaurants take cards, often with a surcharge.