Gili Islands
Three car-free islands off Lombok — Trawangan for parties, Air and Meno for quiet
No motor vehicles at all — the Gilis run on bicycles and horse carts. Gili Trawangan ('Gili T') is the party island with beach bars and a real backpacker scene, Gili Air sits in between, and Gili Meno is the smallest and quietest, popular for honeymoons and diving. All three have excellent, cheap PADI diving and snorkeling with sea turtles right off the beach.
Best time to visit
May–September (dry season, best visibility for diving)
Getting there
Speedboat from Bali (Padang Bai/Sanur/Amed) or from Bangsal harbour, Lombok
Highlights
- —Zero motor vehicles — bikes and cidomo carts only
- —Turtle snorkeling straight off the beach
- —Gili Trawangan nightlife
- —Gili Meno's quiet lagoon
- —Budget-friendly PADI dive courses
The Gili Islands guide, section by section
Pick a topic below — each page covers real prices, current rules and practical logistics.
