Located in the Straits of Lombok, about 35 km west of Bali center, the Gili Islands, Indonesia is known as the most unique island paradise in Asia. The place is covered by the perfect coastline with clear blue water, beautiful cool reefs.
Gili Islands is the favorite destination of many travelers when traveling to Indonesia. Gili in Indo means small islands. In fact, this is exactly three small islands, including Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. The islands are off the coast of Lombok and are easily accessible from Bali.
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Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan is perhaps the most bustling and modern island among the Gili Islands. Here you will find beautiful bars, great restaurants, clubs and comfortable accommodation. If you like scuba diving, Gili Trawagan is the best choice as there are many diving schools along with ideal diving locations. Night activities are also popular in Gili Trawangan, but it is also true that in the next 10 years the island will suffer heavy impacts from the tourism industry such as Bali.
Gili Air
Because Gili Trawangan is becoming increasingly crowded, many visitors have chosen Gili Air as a more tranquil destination. The reasonably priced hotel and motel services and beautiful stretches of coastline in Gili Air are also the reason why this place is gradually attracting more tourists.
Gili Meno
Gili Meno is even deserted than Gili Air. Even during the peak tourist season, the air here does not seem to change compared to the ordinary pace of life. Gili Meno is famous for its beautiful beaches for those who like to experience the tranquil yet still captivating beauty.
Activities in Gili Islands
Despite its relatively modest size, Gili has a lot of attractions. For dive enthusiasts, this place is definitely a great destination with many diving schools in Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. The marine life in Gili is also varied with sea turtles, fish and coral, etc.
If you do not like swimming, there are many other interesting activities on the Gili Islands. You can rent a bicycle to visit Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. If you like, you can also stop at the beach or bar to enjoy a favorite drink. However, as the weather in Gili is quite hot, we recommend that you take this bike tour at the end of the day while enjoying the cool weather while watching the sunset sink down the ocean.
It’s the hottest place in Indonesia, and do you know what is the same in Vietnam? It’s likely to be Halong bay. Afterwards, you can also join in our Halong bay tour from Hanoi!
Accommodation in Gili
The demand for accommodation in Gili is usually higher than the number of guest houses and hotels, so almost price of the rooms are pushed up comparing with Bali or Lombok. Especially during peak seasons (July, August, December, January), even guests must book and pay in advance for a comfortable stay. Therefore, we recommend that you go to Gili soon to find the best room, and if you are late and fall into the room, the advice is to sleep on the beach one night. (Do not worry because the area is quite safe).
There are many cheap guesthouses on the island; however prices vary depending on the season and the island you will be staying in. Therefore, you should negotiate a little to get a reasonable price, remember to ask whether the price listed above includes taxes and breakfast or not. Most of the major hotels and diving centers in Gili Trawangan have fresh-water showers, while smaller inns can use salt water for living.
How to go to Gili?
From Bali and Lombok, you can catch the train to reach the Gili Islands. Most trains travel to Gili Trawangan and from there you can move to Gili Air and Gili Meno. If you depart Bali, you can take the train to some places like Sanur, Sereangan and Padangbai. And if you depart from Lombok, you can take the train from Bangsal.
