What’s the best Gili island?
Before moving to the differences between the Gili Islands — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — let’s cover what they have in common.
Firstly, fittingly enough gili means “small island” in Sasak, and they all retain an appealing unspoiled, small island vibe. In fact, they’ve only seen any real kind of settlement since the 1970s.
Secondly, none of the islands allow motorised vehicles. On the Gilis, getting around is done by more sedate means — push bikes, carts, and your own feet.
Thirdly, be aware that prices on all three islands are generally higher than on Bali and mainland Lombok. This is due to the costs of having to import pretty much everything.
Lastly, they all offer stunning scenery, seas that are ripe for exceptional snorkelling and diving experiences, and plenty of opportunities to bliss out in beautiful style.
As for their differences, Gili Trawangan is the most developed of the three, with a range of accommodation to suit everyone from honeymooners and families, to backpackers on a budget.
Meanwhile, Gili Meno is the smallest island, and also the quietest, with no nightlife to speak of, and limited places to stay.
Offering an experience between Gili Trawangan’s pretty developed infrastructure and Gili Meno’s away-from-absolutely-everything vibe, Gili Air offers a reasonable range of accommodation and places to eat, drink and make merry.
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Travelling between the Gili Islands
The island-hopping boat service between all three Gili Islands does one circuit (Air–Meno–Trawangan–Meno–Air) in the morning 8.30–10.15am, and another in the afternoon 3–4.15pm. This makes day-trips straightforward — the islands are 10–20min apart.
Tickets are sold at each harbour, but if you don’t want to wait for a boat, charters are available in all the islands. Simply ask around at each harbour.
Read on for more detail on what each Gili Island has to offer, along with how to get to them, and our top recommendations for things to do and places to stay.
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