The Gili Islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air & Gili Meno

The Gili Islands are 3 small and incredible beautiful islands about +/- 2 hours by fastboat from the mainland. If you are looking for white beaches, no traffic and turquoise water, this is your go-to place! There are no cars allowed on the islands so getting around is different than on Bali. You can walk, use a bike or get a horse and carriage (not kidding!).

From my personal experience, I would only stay 2 nights, maximum 3 nights on each island. As they are so small, you get to explore them in a short amount of time. You can also choose one island, and from there take a quick and cheap ferry to one of the other islands.

If you are looking to party => Go to Gili Trawangan

If you are looking to relax => Go to Gili Air or Gili Meno

TIP: Check the weather forcast before you leave to the islands and not only to avoid a rocky boatride. You also want to avoid being on the islands when it’s raining all day. As there is not a lot to do (except from sunbathing and snorkling), you might get bored easily ;)

TIP: Make sure to bring some cash to the islands as there are not many ATM’s

HOW TO GET THERE FROM BALI

I would suggest to take a fastboat, it’s the easiest and fastest way. There are other options but they are more time consuming.

You can take a boat from Padangbai or Sanur, depending on where you are in Bali at that moment.

I recommend buying tickets directly at the harbour, but you can also get them at every tourist stall you find in Bali. Tho they will probably charge you a lot more money…

Last time I went there, I bought a return ticket for 550.000 Rupiah with a company called ‘ Scoot Fast Boats’, but there plenty other good companies to choose from.

TIP: Try to get on board first, so you can sit on the upper deck, outside. For people like myself who get seasick easily, I wouldn’t recomment sitting in the space downstairs but that’s up to you.

Photo credit: The Island Houses

WHERE TO STAY

Gili Trawangan

€ Havana Hideaway + Gili Breeze Tropical Bungalows 

€€ Bleu Verde hotel Turtle Point Beach + Jali Resort

€€€  Casa Vintage Villa (so pretty) + Coral Flora Villa Beach Front + Utara Villas + Majo private villas

Gili Meno

€ + €€ Gili Meno Escape + Gili Meno Getaway + Avia Villa Resort

€€€ The Island Houses Gili Meno

Gili Air

€+ €€ Captain Coconuts Gili Air + De'Coco Villa and Suites 

€€€ Pinkcoco Gili air +  Atoll Haven Villas + Slow villas Gili air

Photo credit: The Island Houses

WHERE TO EAT

Gili Trawangan

·      Casa Vintage beach/ Living

·         Pituq

·         Le Pirate Beach club

·         Scally Wags

·         Karma Kayak

·         The Banyan Tree - veggie

Gili Air

·         Pachamama Organic Cafe

·         Captain coconut

·         Le Cirque

·         Biba beach cafe

·         Waterfront

Gili Meno

·         Mahamaya

·         Adeng Adeng

·         Diana cafe

·         Ana warung