Gili Islands
About the Gili Islands
The Gilis ("small islands") are located just off the coast of Lombok: Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Terawangan. The latter is the largest and it is just 2 km long. From Lombok you can explore the rest of the islands as there are several public ferries which leave from here. Speedboats also come to the beach of Gili Terawangan several times a day and they can be hired to transport you around.
If you have booked a hotel in advance, you can choose to take a leisurely, horse-drawn carriage to explore the island. If you haven’t booked your accommodation then you should take the main road that runs along the coast because this is where most of the hotels are located. The further you move away from the beach, the cheaper the rooms will be.
There are no motorized cars on the island so the only modes of transportation are walking, small horse-drawn carriages, and bicycles. There are a few ATMs but they don’t always work so you may not be able to get cash on the islands; make sure to bring some with you.
The Gili Islands are the perfect place to spend a few days in peace away from crowded tourist spots!
Gili Terawangan
The "main street" of Gili Terawangan is partly paved and partly dirt road, the whole of which is lined with hotels, restaurants and bars. Gili Terawangan is known as the party island among the Gilis, but it’s still much calmer than Kuta or Seminyak in Bali. Otherwise the Gilis have a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Spend your time swimming, laying on a towel, or relaxing on one of the many beanbags found at the beach restaurants. Be careful swimming as the current between Gili Terawangan and Gili Meno can be quite strong.
Gili Meno & Gili Air
Gili Meno and Gili Air are even more tranquil than Gili Terawangan. However, there are still a few very nice hotels and restaurants. Each of these islands is surrounded by spectacular coral reefs which you can explore on a snorkeling or diving trip. If you choose to go on one of these adventures you will surely see many beautiful fish and vibrant corals. Some indigenous species include rare blue coral, sea turtles, clown fish, buffalo heads, barracudas, reef sharks, manta rays and more! Divers can also take a funny picture on a sunken bicycle in the Bounty Wreck.
In the Neighborhood
There are quite a few excursions available in town. You can take a hiking or biking tour, visit one of the nearby rice fields, check out some of the charming temples in the area, or more! We also recommend visiting the Elephant Cave Goa Gajah. The cave itself is quite small and dark but the outside is ornately carved. You may also like to explore the nearby jungle. One particularly nice excursion takes you to one of the coffee plantations where you can plant cocoa, coffee beans, and pineapples! You will also get to try some of the local produce and learn how the strange, somewhat controversial Luwak Coffee (Kopi Luwak) is obtained. This coffee is made from the undigested coffee beans gathered from the excrement of the Asian Palm Civet.
Tours to experience this highlight
