We all deserve that tropical escape every once in a while. Sipping on coconut water, soaking in the warmth of the sun and just floating away in the bluest of blues. If you have been following our travels, you know we love exotic islands and you must have read all about our favorite one called Aruba here on our blog. If you are new, feel free to check out our guide to the Caribbean happy paradise called Aruba. However, this time we bring you a guide to these tropical havens called Gili Islands in Southeast Asia and help you decide which Gili island should you visit based on the one that’s right for you and your travel style.
Gili islands are tiny treasures of Indonesia. A cluster of three little islands sitting near the coast of northwest Lombok are a must on your Indonesian itinerary. White sand beaches lined with palm trees and sun loungers. Vistas of bobbling cadiks (traditional wooden Indonesian canoes) floating on the blue waters, flanked by Mount Rinjani, the second highest volcanic peak in Indonesia in the background. Endless views of the crystal-clear azure home to sea turtles, colorful corals and manmade underwater sculptures.
How can you not sneak away to these islands and make it your home even if it is just for a few days! We know we did and loved every minute of it, in fact we even ended up extending our stay here. So, it was only fair to share this guide with our Trot.World family and help you all plan a perfect tropical getaway right from the start.
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE GILI ISLANDS
Picking the right Gili island to visit is key, but so is knowing what’s the best time to visit these islands to make the most of your time free of any inconveniences.
Wet Season: Whenever you are planning to escape to a tropical destination the last thing you want is rainfall and bad weather. Hence, it is advisable to avoid visiting the Gili islands during the rainy months from November-April. During this time, ferry timings are usually affected and choppy waters will hamper your snorkeling experience, with lesser visibility and slightly stronger currents making it difficult to swim
Peak Season: The weather is favorable to visit the Gili islands from around May-October. However out of these months July-August are comparatively busier due to school breaks, so expect crowds, higher rates and accommodations selling out faster. If you do plan to go around these months, you might want to start your booking in advance to secure good deals. You can find best rates for hotels on HotelsCombined and Booking.com, we have always managed to snag some great deals here.
Ps. While being rainy months, December-January do see a peak in tourism due to Christmas and New Years.
Shoulder season: – We would recommend going during the shoulder months September-October when the weather is sunny and favorable, with lesser crowds and hence a higher chance of finding accommodations easily and at a better, less inflated price.
Ps. Religious holidays may affect your stay too so you might want to check that before you leave for your holiday. For example: Ramadan might affect partying schedule and some local outlets mostly likely will be shut, but hotels will remain open and many western outlets and bars will still be open for you to have drinks at.
However, Nyepi that usually falls in March is a Balinese “Day of Silence” celebration where no one is allowed on the beaches, or out on the streets and even the only airport in Bali is shut. This takes place only in Bali so nothing on the Gili islands closes down, however because the airport and boat services from Bali will be shut, this will affect your travel to Gili islands. So if for some reasons your travel falls during this time, head to Gili before this day or after while the transportation services are still operational.
VISA FOR THE GILI ISLANDS
Gili islands are a part of Indonesia and more than 160 countries are exempt for Indonesian tourist visa and can stay for 30 days without any fee. However, if you wish to extend your stay further, there are about 60+ countries who fall under visa on arrival who are also eligible once for another 30 day extension with a fee. Check if your country qualifies for “Visa Exemption” here.
As mentioned over 60 countries have visa on arrival again valid for 30 days which can further be extended once for another 30 days. Check if your country falls under “Visa on arrival” here.
WHICH GILI ISLAND TO VISIT? LET’S PICK THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU
Now that the basics are out of the way, the pressing question is which Gili island should you visit and the one that’s right one for you. The beauty of these little treasures is that they each have their own individuality and characteristics that make them slightly different from one another. We will also tell you why from the three, Gili T is our top pick.
Gili Trawangan (Also known as Gili T): The largest of the three Gili islands, Gili Trawangan has garnered the reputation of being a party island. That certainly does make sense as it has the most happening and active nightlife from the other two. However lately that is changing and in our opinion Gili T is more than just raging parties and noise, it is what you make of it and has the capability of giving you the best of both worlds. There are parts of Gili T that are peaceful and laid back and parts that are bustling. Also, being the largest of the three means there are more options when it comes to restaurants/bars, accommodations and even dive schools. You can find a variety of accommodation options ranging from luxury to budget and even hostels and huts. So, if you are looking to shop around, eat and drink at different restaurants/bars, and at the same time sneak away for some peace and tranquility, then Gili T is for you.
Summary: Should you visit Gili Trawangan, is it the right island for you?
Yes: If you enjoy an active tropical getaway more than just being a beach bum.
No: If you have no intentions of seeing or being around people on this tropical getaway.
Gili Meno: The smallest and the quietest of the three, Gili Meno tends to attract honeymooners and those on a romantic getaway. It also hosts backpackers who want to get away from the parties, unwind and completely slow down. The nightlife is not as happening here, in fact it is only limited within your respective hotels and its bars. There aren’t many accommodation options to choose from as in Gili T and neither are there an entire line of eateries to pick from. So, if you prefer to enjoy a laid back holiday with not much to do and sunbathe on serene empty beaches, then this one might be the one for you.
Summary: Should you visit Gili Meno, is it the right island for you?
Yes: If you want to just lay on empty beaches and in company of your partner all snuggled up undisturbed. Or also if you are an introvert, this is the paradise you have always wished for.
No: If you are a people person and being social is your drug.
Gili Air: This one is a perfect blend of the two. Also, being the one closest to the Lombok islands, you can enjoy endless beautiful views of Lombok’s lush mountains on its northern coast.
There is a decent amount of nightlife in Gili Air, which is again a balance of the other two. Nothing too crazy, but rather a chilled sip on drink at laid back bars kind of vibe. There are also a fair number of restaurant/bars & dive schools to choose from, along with a variety of accommodation options for varying budgets.
Summary: Should you visit Gili Air, is it the right island for you?
Yes: If balance is your way of life. If you don’t want too much crowd but all the modern facilities.
No: If nightlife equals noisy parties rather than drinks at breezy chilled out bars.
HOW TO GET TO THE GILI ISLANDS FROM BALI
You have a few options to choose from when it comes to commuting between Bali and the Gili Islands. Based on your time, budget and preference, you can choose the one from the following which suits you most.
Fast Boats
Cost, time and convenience wise, this is the most popular way to get from Bali to the Gili islands. There are several departure points around Bali and most fast boats leave from these harbors: Padang Bai, Sanur Jetty, Serangan, Benoa Harbor and Amed.
You can see the one nearest to where you are located and take the fast boat from there. Most tours also offer hotel pick-up in the total price from Bali to one of the harbors, so make sure to have that included and pay attention to this service while booking.
The journey from Bali to Gili islands takes somewhere between 1.5-3 hours based on the departure points and weather conditions.
Private Charters & Public Ferry
Private boat charters are obviously more expensive whereas public ferries are cheaper but take longer up to 5 hours or so and include having to change boats from Lombok to the respective Gili islands, plus the wait time.
Flights
When it comes to flights, you might many times find cheaper deals than fast boats via local airlines. However, the total cost ends up being higher than that of the fast boats due to the airport being located in Lombok and you need to arrange yourself a transport to Gili. Also, the journey ends up being a longer one again due to factors such as airport transfers, landing in Lombok, getting to the harbor, wait time before you board a boat to get to the respective Gili island. This one ends up being a longer, more expensive journey and involves multiple modes of transport.
However, this is a good option for those who get sea sick and just can’t travel by boats.
Also, if you are feeling fancy and have the urge to splurge you can even book private air charters to get to your tropical paradise.
To conclude, based on travel convenience, time and budget, our preferred way to get to the Gili islands from Bali is through fast boats. You can find some great deals on fast boat transfers here.
Another one we often use for good deals and routes is 12Go Asia.
HOW MANY NIGHTS ARE GOOD IN THE GILI ISLANDS
Gili T: A minimum of 3 nights for sure.
Gili Meno: Since there isn’t much to do, it could get a bit boring so 1 or 2 nights should be enough unless you really want to be cooped up with your loved ones for endless days of summer and beach days!
Gili Air: Due to the fact that it is balanced with a decent amount of activity, 2 nights would be good.
If you plan on getting dive certified then you might need more days on these islands depending on the level you want to go up to, so plan accordingly. Besides you can either stay at one of the islands or even split your days between the three if you want to experience them all.
MODE OF TRANSPORT WHILE ON THE GILI ISLANDS
One of the main reasons why we love these islands so much are that they are non-motorized islands, meaning no cars or scooters run here on the islands. This means these pieces of paradise are free of air and sound pollution. The only sound you hear is of crashing waves, music and laughter and the only smells you smell are that of the yummy food and the refreshing ocean smell. The way to get around while on the islands is through bicycles that you can easily rent from your hotel or anywhere on the island,
Another mode of transport, a rather questionable one, is through cidomo (horse and carriage). Although, we would like to request you to refrain from using cidomos for the horses look sad and many a times ill-treated. Besides it is cruel to have them drag carts filled with people and their heavy luggage. We preferred to just bike and walk it through. Plus look at how gorgeous is that biking view, this way you can also just stop over anywhere you like for pictures!
With all this information, now all that’s left for you to do is book your tropical getaway.
So, fill your bags with swimsuits, flowy beach attires and all the tropical essentials and get ready to live the island life, which by the way is the best life to live 😉
We would love to know in the comments below which Gili island do you think is the right one for you to visit. Our favorite is Gili Trawangan, as we love the fact that we can make it what we want it to be. We can have both peaceful & happening experiences all at one spot. It is also the one we recommend for first timers.
We encourage you to check out our detailed Gili Trawangan travel guide here, which can help you in choosing the right areas to live in, depending on whether you want a peaceful or an active vacation. We share with you some useful tips and recommendations that will help you with planning your perfect getaway and have a memorable trip!
Now if sunbathing, beaches and island life are not really your thing and you would rather chase waterfalls, swim in jungle pools, play with monkeys, or prance in rice fields, then you should definitely plan on experiencing them in Bali.
Here’s our free guide for the Best things to do in Bali in ONE day that shows you different shades of Bali, takes you through the most scenic/instagramable spots and is the perfect route to see everything from temples to waterfalls that Bali has to offer. Plus, there is a Map included for your convenience!
[…] If this will be your first time to the Gili islands and you have time to visit just one of them then we highly recommend you pick Gili T. Besides if you are still confused between which Gili islands (Trawangan, Meno, or Air) you should visit then you can use our travel guide to help you decide on the Gili island that is right for you here. […]
If and when we get to Bali, we would 1000% want to explore other islands. Its so nice to have places we can add to itinerary to add to the overall chill vibe we would want when visiting the islands.
I’m not very knowledgeable about the islands in Asia, but Gili Islands looks so pretty and very relaxing. I love the photo of the swing in the water, that’s something that I would love to try out. Thanks for comparing the three islands as well!
I must admit that based on the information here, I would probably opt for Gili Air as a compromise between the other two. As someone who loves nature and exploring islands, I would just love to visit all three islands while I was in the region. Love the images you have shared here and would love to see this all in person one day.
What beautiful islands. I’ve never heard of them before today. I can see why anyone would visit. I think Gili Meno with my husband would be my speed, if there is good snorkeling. I can see walking around with my camera and taking loads of photos and spending hours in that amazing water.
Sweet memories: I’ve visited the Gilis. First, I was on Trawangan which was not bad. However, I fell victim to a classic tourist scam: They spiked my drink with some terrible alcohol so that I got really sick. Thank God, I didn’t order a second one…. Then, I spent a couple of days on Gili Meno and that was just paradise. Would definitely return 😀
This is the first I’ve read about the Gili Islands and they sound (and look) utterly captivating. Indonesia is on my wishlist for South East Asia and I think a few days at one or more of the islands might be a great way for us to relax. I think the party island reputation of Gili T is not for me, but Gili Meno and Gili Air look better for our preferences!
I too am a lover of all things islands but when thinking of an island typically the Caribbean comes to mind, not Asia. I for sure would choose to head to Gili Air since it has a mixture of both active and leisure activities. I do tend to get bored sitting on a beach by myself day after day lol.