Three Gilis and Lombok Island

The Gili Islands (Indonesian: Tiga Gili [Three Gilis]) are an archipelago of three small islands — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia.

The islands are a popular destination for Western tourists looking for a remote island experience. Each island has several very small resorts, usually consisting of a small collection of huts for tourists, and a restaurant. Most local inhabitants live on Trawangan in a township stretching along its east side just inland (which is also where most recent development is taking place). Automobiles and motorized traffic are prohibited on the islands by local ordinance, so the preferred method of transportation is bicycle or the horse-drawn carriage called a cidomo. Diving in and around the Gilis is also popular due to the abundance of fish life and attractive coral formations.

The name “Gili Islands” is a misnomer, because Gili simply means “small island” in Sasak. As a result most of the islands around the coast of Lombok have Gili in their names.

The islands provide ample opportunities for visitor to swim, sunbathe, snorkel or scuba dive with many internationally accredited dive operators based on Lombok. Popular dive companies are owned and operated by westerners with PADI qualifications, and professional standard of safety and environmental awareness.

Snorkeling is easy in the calm waters directly off the beaches and although much of the coral in the shallow water has been destroyed, it is still enjoyable with plenty of the fish to see. At greater depths and at dive locations around the three islands, the pristine water is home to an abundant variety of corals, aquatic life and thousands comparable to the top dive location in Thailand.

The Easy Way To Reach Gili Island

The best way to reach Gili Island is by fast boats. About 10 fast boats operated between Bali, Lombok and Gili island everyday. Gili Island reached from Bali only in one and half hour by fast boat. The fast boats depart from three ports; Serangan, Nusa Dua and Padangbai on Bali. The price of fast boat relative cheap if we compare with the others because you will get Gili Island directly.

Reach Gili Island by flight, the domestic flights fly from Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali to the main Island “Lombok”. From the Lombok airport you must be transferred to the harbor near from the Gili Island, it is around 45 minutes. From the Lombok harbor (Teluk Nare, Teluk Kodek and Bangsal) you will go by charter or public boat, we recommend by charter boat via Teluk Nare or Teluk Kodek for your safety. If you take the boat from the Bangsal harbor you must be carefully with the ticket brokers there.

Getting Gili Island by Sea, this is recommended for the backpackers. Most of the tours operator in Bali organizes shuttle bus between Bali, Lombok and Gili Island includes ferry and public boat. Detail Transfer; you will be picked up from your hotel and than transfer to Bali port (Padangbai harbor), Padangbai to Lombok by ferry around 5 hours. You will be picked up from the Lombok harbor”Lembar” and than transfer to Senggigi to find transit hotel or direct to the Bangsal harbor if your arrival on Lombok in the afternoon because the last public boat is at 16.00pm.