Gili Islands travel guide

Car-free islands off Lombok: turtles, bicycles and sunset swings. Most people stay 2–4 nights. Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

Highlights

• Snorkelling with turtles
• Sunset swings on Gili Trawangan
• Cycling around the island
• Lombok day trips

Things to do in Gili Islands

• Turtle snorkel trip around the three Gilis · 3.5 h · about ₹900 per person. Shared glass-bottom boats stop at the turtle reef and the underwater statues off Gili Meno. Don't touch or chase turtles.
• Sunset swings on Gili Trawangan's west coast · 2 h · free. Swings stand in the water at beach bars on the west side; buy a drink to use them.
• Island loop by bicycle · 2 h · about ₹400 per person. ~7km around Gili T; the inland and north paths are sandy — walk those stretches.
• Gili dive or try-dive · 4 h · about ₹6,000 per person. Gili T is a popular place to certify; turtles are seen on most dives.
• Gili Meno and Gili Air island hop · 5 h · about ₹400 per person. Public boats link the islands twice a day; Meno is the quietest.
• Gili night market dinner · 1.5 h · about ₹600 per person
• Lombok day trip (Sasak villages and waterfalls) · Full day · about ₹4,500 per person. Lombok is mostly Muslim — cover shoulders and knees in villages. Options include Sade village or Tiu Kelep waterfall.
• Gili yoga class · 1.5 h · about ₹800 per person

Where to stay in Gili Islands

• Gili Trawangan back-lane bungalows (budget, ₹1,800–₹3,500 a night): Walk to the night market and dive shops.
• Gili Air beachfront bungalows (mid, ₹4,000–₹8,000 a night): Quieter than Gili T, still with cafés and snorkelling from the beach.
• Gili Meno beach stays (mid, ₹3,500–₹7,500 a night): The quietest island; turtles and statues offshore.
• Gili Trawangan sunset-side pool villas (premium, ₹9,000–₹20,000 a night): Private pools near the sunset swings, away from the party strip.

What to eat

• Seafood barbecue: Gili Trawangan night market
• Ayam taliwang (spicy Lombok grilled chicken): Gili T and Gili Air warungs

Getting there

• Padang Bai fast boat ~1.5–2h
• Amed fast boat ~1–1.5h
• Serangan (Sanur) fast boat ~2.5–3h
• Lombok airport (LOP) ~2.5h by boat and car

Good to know

• Crossings are rough Dec–Feb and some boats cancel.
• No cars or scooters; transport is bicycle or horse cart.

Bali itineraries with Gili Islands

• Bali and the Gili Islands · 9 days, Ubud → Gili Islands → Seminyak · from ₹60,300 per person, base estimate before flights. Ubud culture, three car-free nights on the Gilis with turtles and sunset swings, then Seminyak before the flight.
• Honeymoon: Ubud, Gili and Uluwatu · 10 days, Ubud → Gili Islands → Uluwatu · from ₹64,650 per person, base estimate before flights. Jungle villa, car-free island nights and a clifftop finish.
• Backpacker loop: Canggu, Ubud, Nusa Penida and Gili · 12 days, Canggu → Ubud → Nusa Penida → Gili Islands · from ₹83,075 per person, base estimate before flights. Surf, volcano, cliffs and islands on a budget, using fast boats between Penida and the Gilis.