A trio of tiny Indonesian islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air all share comparable traits. They’re every fringed by dreamy white sand seashores, are mercifully freed from motorized transport and have wonderful diving and snorkeling. Nonetheless, every has developed at a really totally different tempo and has a distinctly totally different environment.
Gili Trawangan is the cosmopolitan jewel within the crown of North Lombok tourism. Anticipate a buzzing seaside strip of brilliant lights, music and feverish late-night bar hopping. It additionally has by far the widest vary of locations to stick with varied eating choices for each price range.
The distinction to sleepy Gili Meno, simply minutes away by outrigger boat, couldn't be any better. Gili Meno revels in a tropical backwater vibe with nearly no nightlife, however it does have fashionable boutique resorts favored by {couples} searching for an idyllic escape on pristine seashores. It's no shock it has grow to be the de facto haven for honeymooners.
Nearest to Lombok, Gili Air sits completely in the midst of these two extremes. The bar scene is laid-back and unpretentious and it has among the greatest worth lodging. Gili Air additionally has the most important Sasak inhabitants exuding a extra genuine native environment.
Greatest for {couples}: Gili Meno
Gili Meno isn't dubbed “Honeymoon Island” for nothing. The smallest of the Gili Islands is by far the best choice for rest with an unspoiled castaway island vibe. There’s nearly no nightlife to talk of. Evenings include barefoot seaside eating and sipping cocktails by the water's edge.
It's the Gili island greatest for {couples} with lengthy stretches of high quality white sand all to your self. The higher seaside resorts are all geared to {couples} with in-house wellness choices, non-public snorkeling journeys and extra. A lot of Gili Meno's prime beachfront eating places supply non-public eating on the seaside or in a shoreside cabana.
Able to plan your go to to the Gilis? Listed below are the highest locations to go
Greatest for native environment: Gili Air
Let's face it – the Gili Islands should not cultural scorching spots nor have they got a lot historical past. There have been no everlasting residents till the late Nineteen Seventies and the primary trickle of vacationers solely started arriving within the mid-Eighties. Gili Air provides probably the most regionally genuine environment of the three islands. It has proportionally extra native family-run companies and the laid-back tempo of life provides extra alternatives to work together in a significant means. It's a vibrant group with numerous small scale annual happenings just like the gradual meals and yoga pageant that additionally showcases sustainable handicrafts, artwork and conventional Sasak music and dance.
Greatest for snorkeling: Gili Meno
All three islands have the important thing substances for a memorable snorkeling expertise – plentiful reef fish, colourful corals and countless encounters with inquisitive turtles. That stated, tranquil Gili Meno tops its neighbors, just because the reefs are extra pristine and there are far fewer individuals within the water. Moreover, it has its very personal secret weapon – nest – an underwater sculpture by artist Jason deCaires Taylor. This photogenic circle of statues sits simply 2m (6ft) beneath the floor, so simply accessible to all snorkelers. It's a novel expertise that has unsurprisingly blown up throughout Instagram. These statues additionally appeal to enormous numbers of reef fish.
It's the Gili island greatest for turtles too. Gili Meno's Turtle Level reef space within the northeast of the island is among the many most accessible spots to work together with turtles, typically simply yards from the seaside.
Transferring across the islands? Listed below are our tips about native transportation
Greatest for nightlife: Gili Trawangan
When pondering which Gili island is greatest for a celebration, there’s a runaway winner. Gili Trawangan is by far probably the most cosmopolitan Gili island. The bar scene is nonetheless targeted on a comparatively small part of the primary seaside strip. Bar crawls on foot – each organized and impromptu – are an early night ceremony of passage. Regardless of the hype, the Gili Trawangan bar scene is neither pretentious or sleazy. Anticipate tiki-style open-air dance bars and bigger indoor old-school rave venues reminiscent of Blue Marlin, a nightlife mainstay for over twenty years. Notable night hangouts embrace the Sama Sama stay reggae bar and Tir Na Nog Irish Bar. There’s a weekly rotating schedule of “occasion nights” the place only one venue will keep open later till 3am on a set day of the week.
Planning tip: Gili Trawangan Full Moon Get together is a month-to-month all-night seaside rave, a riot of heavy basslines, glow sticks, lasers and hearth dancers. It goes on till dawn and has a buzzy vibe, attracting an everyday crowd of locals from each mainland Lombok and Bali.
Greatest for seashores: Gili Air
All three Gili islands share a standard attribute – delicate, sugary white sand seashores lapped by clear as crystal azure waters. Gili Air makes for the proper seaside bum vacation spot, with out the crowded sands of Gili Trawangan and extra beachside facilities than castaway island Gili Meno.
Gili Air's southern tip has a reasonably vigorous seaside vibe however head spherical to the west coast for beautiful, whiter than white sands fringed by glowing clear waters. Due to this being the go-to spot for ocean sunsets, there’s a sprinkling of cool beachfront bars and cafes simply steps away. For surfers, there’s a quick, hole reef break simply offshore.
Greatest for actions: Gili Trawangan
Cosmopolitan Gili Trawangan has probably the most various vary of cool issues to do past the acquainted underwater pleasures of snorkeling and scuba diving. Above the water there’s leisurely kayaking or paddle boarding, or put the adrenaline to overdrive with parasailing and wakeboarding at Fly Gili Watersports. Climb within the saddle to discover the island by horseback at Stud Horse Driving stables. General, it's the most effective Gili island for households due to resort exercise choices. Children will take pleasure in Gili Golf, a surprisingly difficult loopy golf course with trampolining and indoor video games within the connected sports activities themed cafe.
Selecting which Gili island is greatest for diving is absolutely down to private choice as all dive resorts on all three islands go to the identical dive websites and dive bundle costs are mounted.
