Gili Island

Information

The Gili Islands are three small, beautiful, tropical paradise islands with no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace. All islands are surrounded by picture perfect beaches, shimmering clear waters teeming with marine life, offer spectacular view of majestic volcanoes in Bali and Lombok and host lively beach parties well into the early hours. Each Gili island is only 2-3km across, small enough to walk all the way round in a couple of hours. No wonder everyone is talking about the Gilis as the hottest new destination from Bali!

Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, Gili Air
Back in the 1990’s there were only a few bamboo bungalows and cafes serving fried rice and noodles on Gili Trawangan, but recently the island has developed rapidly and now caters to a broad spectrum of more discerning travellers. Gili Air and Gili Meno have developed at a far slower pace, so each has its own unique charms: Gili Trawangan is the place to go for a sizzling beach nightlife and great food, Gili Meno and Gili Air to experience a quieter slice of paradise and chill out in true desert-island style.

Located just off the northwest coast of Lombok, the Gili Islands are approximately 35km (20 nautical miles) from the eastern tip of Bali. The main tourist resorts in bali such as Kuta, Legian, Sanur and Nusa Dua are in the south of the island. It is therefore quickest and easiest to get to the Gilis by boat from the southern port of Benoa than by travelling up to Padang Bai by road or flying to Lombok.

Hotels and other accommodation ranges from simple fan-only back-packer homestays for 10 – 20 dollars a night, to chic boutique bungalows, luxury hotels and private villas with private swimming pools and all the luxuries you could wish for. Natural materials are the theme of many of the rooms, with local thatched rooves, natural wood furniture giving a simple elegance. Buildings are not allowed to be higher than a palm tree, so the scenery remains un-cluttered.
See our hotel pages for more details.

SCUBA DIVING IN LOMBOK

Three small islands, surrounded by coral, The Gilis, off Lombok's west coast, are fast becoming one of her main draw cards. Dive centers with all the high tech equipment and professional instructors ensure that visiting divers at all levels of experience and ability can dive in waters that have more varieties of fish than anywhere in the world - and that includes The Great Barrier Reef and Red Sea.

The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes playing reggae and serving up banana pancakes, and no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace. The white sand beaches are without a doubt better than anywhere on Bali or Lombok.
 
The Gili islands have excellent diving, with an impressive array of sea creatures and plant life to be seen, such as green and hawksbill turtles, manta rays, bumphead parrotfish and more. Visibility is commonly in the 15-20m range. However, due to the exposed position of the Gilis, currents can be quite strong and drift diving is the norm.

Gili Trawangan

Now appears to head the list as the most popular island - it has long had a reputation as the 'party' island mainly through a concentrated and central foreshore area of restaurants, dive operations and hotels including some luxury boutique choices.

High standards, great instructors, new gear, good boats, saltwater pool for training.

Gili Meno

Still the quietest island is a place to escape to and although it has a smaller list of accommodation options those that it has are tending towards a more up-market clientele. Snorkeling off beaches of pure white sand the coral is superb.

Gili Air

Has the largest local population and while it has more of a lived-in feeling than the other two islands for some that is quite possibly its attraction. On Gili Air it's possible to likewise enjoy the marine possibilities but also one can absorb some of the local culture missing on the other islands.

In addition to the Gilis there are many other dive and snorkel possibilities such as an area now being promoted on the rugged south coast where the experienced can now dive among hammerheads and rays.

Hotels & Villas

For Further information and reservation please contact:
A&T Holidays:
Jl. Gelatik 7D, Cakranegara 83231
Lombok - Indonesia
Phone: +62 370 640107 – 108 / (0370) 646888  (hunting) | Fax: +62 370 634533
Email : reservation@lombokandbeyond.com