Gili Air – Highlights & Tips for the Indonesian Island Paradise

The Gili Islands, made up of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, are three small paradisiacal islands near Lombok, Bali’s neighboring island.
We visited Gili Air and immediately fell in love with this island! The turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, charming beach bars, and breathtaking sunsets are simply dreamy.

If you’re looking for peace, relaxation, and a fascinating underwater world, Gili Air should be on your list.
In this post, we’ll share the highlights you can expect in Gili Air and provide additional useful information.

INFO & GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT GILI AIR

1. WHY GILI AIR?

If you have some extra time, you can also take a Gili island-hopping tour and visit all three islands. Although they look similar, each island has its own unique vibe.

Gili Trawangan, the largest of the three islands, is the place to be if you’re into long party nights. Here, you can not only enjoy paradise-like cocktails but also dance until sunrise.

Gili Meno, the smallest island, is known as the honeymoon island. This beautiful yet relatively expensive island mainly attracts couples in love and newlyweds.

Gili Air offers the perfect mix of the other two islands. You can unwind and relax here, but if you feel like some company and a few drinks at a cool beach bar, you’ll find that too.

2. GETTING THERE

There are several departure points in Bali, like Sanur, Amed, or Padang Bai, where fast boats and public ferries leave for the Gili Islands. The crossing takes between 2 and 5 hours, depending on the departure point. You can buy your ticket at one of the many counters on-site or online in advance on directferries.com or 12Go.com.
We recommend buying your ticket online in advance, as you might have to wait an hour or more for the next boat if all seats are booked.

Good to know: Speedboats are heavily motorized boats with up to six engines.
They travel at high speed over the water, so you won’t have much time to relax during the crossing – sleeping or reading in peace will be challenging.

Please note that boat trips may be canceled during severe thunderstorms, storms, or rough seas. Be flexible with your arrival and departure!

3. GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND

If you’re coming from Bali’s traffic chaos, you’ll experience the complete opposite in Gili Air: There are no cars or motorbikes here.
Apart from a few electric scooters, motorized vehicles are entirely off-limits. You can only get around by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage, known as a Cidomo.

Cidomos are often criticized by tourists, as horses on the Gilis are considered working animals and aren’t always treated kindly.
However, for the locals, these horse-drawn carriages are one of the few main sources of income. It’s up to you to decide how you want to get around.

The island is so small that you can walk around it in about 2.5 hours. This walk is worth doing to get an authentic feel of island life.
Remember to wear a hat to protect yourself from the sun and bring something to drink.

If you choose a bicycle, you can likely rent one from your accommodation. However, keep in mind that you’ll mostly be exploring the island's interior, as some sections of the promenade are covered in sand. Cycling won’t get you far on the sandy ground and directly on the beach.

Additionally, note that the island is not well-lit at night. Make sure to charge your phone so you can use its light for the journey home.

4. THE BEST TIME TO VISIT GILI AIR

The island can be visited year-round as it has tropical warm temperatures and high humidity.
The best time to visit is from May to September, when the air is pleasantly fresh and it hasn’t yet become too dry. November sees a bit more rain, but it’s still mostly sunny.

In general, the Gilis receive less rain than the neighboring islands of Bali and Lombok. You can often see the cloud-covered Mount Rinjani volcano in Lombok from Gili Air.
However, the clouds usually dissipate before reaching the Gilis.

During our stays in October and November, we also had wonderful weather, allowing us to enjoy our time there under the best conditions.

GOOD TO KNOW

For your trip to Bali, you’ll need a power adapter, as plug types A and B are used. These are different from the plug types commonly used in many countries around the world.
You can find a suitable adapter here: Travel Adapter for the Gilis.

5. HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS

Although the island is very small, you can choose from a variety of accommodations.
From simple hostels with dormitories to luxurious private villas with private pools, everything is available. On our first trip, we stayed at Hotel PinkCoco on the west side of the island.
As the name suggests, there’s a lot of pink here. This hotel left a positive impression on us during our entire journey through Indonesia not only because of its striking color but also due to its beachfront location, focus on sustainability, and the breathtaking sunsets you can watch directly from the beachside restaurant.

On our second visit, we stayed at the Vyaana Resort Gili Air, located right next to PinkCoco. We were equally thrilled with this accommodation.
The beautiful grounds, the exceptionally friendly staff, and the stunning sunsets that can be watched directly from the hotel beach are especially memorable for us.

6. FOOD

Gili Air not only offers a great variety of accommodations but also numerous restaurants and bars to discover. You can eat your way across the island!
We especially loved Musa Cookery, a vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Gili Air. Although we’re not vegetarians, we found the food absolutely delicious.
The restaurant offers a selection of tasty superfoods, whether you’re in the mood for something sweet or savory.

Another culinary highlight was Warung H&R Resto on the island’s west side. We ate here often because everything was perfect: the food quality, affordable prices, and the friendly staff.
We highly recommend the chicken curry with rice and the banana smoothie bowl – simply delicious!

7. THE ISLAND CENTER

Unlike the predominantly Hindu Balinese, the residents of the Gili Islands are mostly Muslim. In the center of Gili Air, there is a mosque from where the muezzin calls to prayer several times a day through loudspeakers. Around the mosque, there’s a lot of activity, as this is where most of the locals live.

A walk through the alleyways in the island center is worth it to get an impression of the traditional life of the residents.
In the front yards of the houses, you’ll often see mango trees and other fruit trees. Sometimes, freshly caught fish are laid out in the sun to dry.

8. WITHDRAWING CASH & CARD PAYMENTS

The good news first: all three Gili Islands now have ATMs where you can withdraw cash with your credit card. Card payment is also possible in some restaurants and cafes.

However, you should always have some cash on hand, as card machines often fail or aren’t available everywhere. It also happens that the ATMs run out of cash temporarily.
Therefore, it’s advisable to plan a financial buffer before your visit to the island, just to be safe!

 9. ACTIVITIES / HIGHLIGHTS IN GILI AIR

1. RELAXING AT THE BEACH, INCLUDING A BEACH BAR

Along Gili Air’s coast, you’ll not only find dive schools but also many laid-back beach bars. They’re the perfect place to unwind during the day or evening.
With a drink in hand, gazing out at the turquoise water, you can fully relax. In between, you can always jump into the sea to cool off – just wonderful!

Good to know: Make sure your beach bar offers enough sun protection, like umbrellas. Gili Air has little natural shade from palm trees.
It would be a shame if you couldn’t fully enjoy your stay due to a severe sunburn.

2. INDULGE YOURSELF

Want to treat yourself? Then the Gili Islands are the right place! Here, you’ll find numerous spas offering a variety of massages and wellness packages.
With meditative sounds playing in the background and the scent of incense in the air, all your tensions are gently massaged out of your body – simply dreamy!

Our recommendation: Coco Brezen Spa & Boutique. Here, you can fully relax and leave everyday stress behind.

3. DO YOGA OUTDOORS

The beaches of Gili Air offer the perfect setting for an outdoor yoga session: white sand, turquoise water, the gentle sound of waves, and Mount Rinjani in the background.
One particularly recommended place to practice yoga is H20 Yoga & Meditation Center, located on the island’s east side.

All over the island, you’ll find signs with inspiring quotes and directions that lead you directly to H20. The center offers a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere, ideal for unwinding and recharging. If you want to dive deeper into the yoga world, you can book a room directly at H20 Hotel and make your stay even more immersive.

4. DIVE INTO THE BEAUTIFUL UNDERWATER WORLD

The underwater world around the Gili Islands is a dream for every diver. This diving area is located in the famous Coral Triangle and offers warm water temperatures and impressive visibility year-round. The variety of marine life is incredible: turtles, rays, bumphead parrotfish, reef sharks, octopuses, and small creatures like shrimp and clams make each dive an experience.

With over 20 breathtaking dive sites, all reachable by boat within 10 to 20 minutes, the area is a paradise for divers of all experience levels.
Our personal favorite is Shark Point, where you can see turtles and blacktip and whitetip reef sharks.
Don’t worry, the sharks are harmless and calmly swim around the diving groups. Particularly exciting are the bumphead parrotfish that appear at this site around the time of the full moon.

Another highlight dive site is Marlin Hill, known as a turtle hotspot. We’ve never seen so many turtles at once! They can be observed peacefully feeding while divers look on.

Throughout the island, you’ll find numerous dive schools. We chose Manta Dive and were thrilled with the professionalism, good equipment, friendly crew, and variety of dives offered.
No one goes into the water here without a check dive and buddy check. Particularly impressive is Manta Dive’s commitment to coral reef and ocean protection.
For us, Manta Dive is a clear recommendation for unforgettable diving adventures on the Gilis!

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Between dives, you’ll usually return to land, where you can spend your surface interval relaxing at a restaurant.
  Use this time to grab a bite to eat, share your experiences with your dive master, or simply relax and prepare for your next dive.
• During the rainy season, the current can become a bit stronger. But don’t worry, it’s usually harmless.
  Just let yourself drift with your dive jacket (BCD) and enjoy the moment – the underwater world always has something fascinating to offer.
• Usually, the full diving equipment and transportation to the dive sites are included in the price. A 3-mm shorty, which you can rent from most dive schools, is completely sufficient.
• Most dive sites are accessible for divers with an Open Water certification. The best way to determine which dive site suits you is to discuss it with your dive master.
  They are familiar with the current weather and water conditions in the area.

5. PREFER SNORKELING TO DIVING?

If you love being in the water but prefer staying close to the surface, snorkeling is the perfect activity for you! The Gilis offer an impressive underwater world that also delights snorkelers. You almost always have the chance to see turtles right in front of your snorkel mask, and there are countless colorful fish and a wide variety of corals to discover.

If you don’t have your own snorkeling equipment, no problem! You can rent it at your hotel or a dive school for a small daily fee. So you’re all set for your snorkeling adventure!

6. OTHER WATER ACTIVITIES  

Besides diving and snorkeling, Gili Air offers many other water activities. You can try stand-up paddleboarding,kitesurfing, surfing, and wakeboarding – the necessary equipment is available at the small stands along the beach promenade or at some dive schools.

If you want a unique experience, be sure to try Subwing. With it, you glide weightlessly through the water and can get up close to colorful fish, corals, and turtles.
You’ll be slowly towed through the water behind a boat with special Subwing wings.

7. EXPERIENCE THE MAGICAL SUNSETS

In the evening, almost all tourists gather on the island's west side to witness the most spectacular sunsets.
You can either sit in one of the many beach bars or restaurants, buy a drink at a minimarket, and settle on a quiet stretch of beach.
A particularly recommended option is booking a stay at PinkCoco Hotel or Vyaana Resort Gili Air like we did.
From there, you can comfortably enjoy the sunset from a lounge chair on the hotel’s beach. What a perfect way to end each day!

As the sun dips below the horizon and night falls, you have the chance to watch a film at an open-air cinema on the beach. Yes, exactly!
You sit back with your feet in the sand in front of a huge screen, listening to the waves while enjoying a drink and popcorn. Every evening from 8 pm, you can choose between two films.
It’s recommended to take a stroll to Ombak Paradise on the southwest coast or Bel Air on the east coast beforehand to see which movie is playing that night and buy your tickets if needed.

10. THE DARK SIDE OF THE ISLAND

As beautiful as Gili Air is, it unfortunately also has its dark side. Like in Bali or Lombok, you’ll find litter on the streets and beaches everywhere, mainly due to tourism.
To keep Gili Air a paradise, locals, hotels, and bars have come together in a community to support sustainable projects that keep the island clean and contribute to environmental protection.

Many hotels, cafes, and bars therefore avoid plastic bottles, straws, and bags. In addition, weekly beach clean-ups and reef clean-ups in the water are held.
As a small thank you for their efforts, the diligent helpers often receive a free beer.

Are you planning a round trip across Bali and its famous neighboring islands? Then you might find the following posts interesting:

• Bali: Tips & Essentials for Your Dream Trip
• Amed – A Diver's Paradise in Eastern Bali
• Traveling Bali with a Baby - Tips, Essentials & Our Experiences
• Ubud - 6 Tips & Highlights
• Ubud & Surroundings in 4 Days: Highlights and Tips
• Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan – Highlights & Tips for the Indonesian Islands

Enjoy browsing and planning!

‍
USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• Find affordable Transfers with 12Go.com
• Find affordable rental cars at rentalcars.com
• Find affordable flights at skyscanner.com
• Discover the best accommodations
• The best Travel Guides for Bali
• Unique Excursions to Experience in Bali
• Experience Wonderful Dives around Gili Air
• Rent a Scooter at Bikago

‍

Note: This blog post contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or purchase something through these links, we earn a small commission. There is absolutely no change to the price for you.