Gili Islands
From World travel guide
The Gili Islands are located just off the west coast of Lombok, Indonesia.
Contents |
Understand
The three Gili Islands are a small-scale backpacker mecca and Lombok's most popular tourist destination. 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 flip side of the coin is that as they exist solely to cater for travellers, they're also rather anonymous (you might as well be at anywhere) and, aside from snorkeling and diving, there's little if anything to do. From west to east, the islands are:
- Gili Trawangan, by far the most developed with plenty of backpacker options and one swanky resort
- Gili Meno, the smallest and quietest, low-key with some simple places to stay
- Gili Air, closest to the mainland and with the largest local population
Strictly speaking, the name "Gili Islands" is rather redundant as gili simply means "small island" in Sasak, but the name has stuck and is universally used and understood in Lombok.
Get in
There are regular shuttle services from Bangsal on the main island of Lombok, stopping at all islands. The trip takes about 15 minutes to Air, 30 min to Meno and 45 min to Trawangan. Around Rp30-40,000 one-way, or Rp70,000 if including land transfer from Senggigi.
Alternatively, the Gilis can be visited on a day trip from Senggigi, in which case you'll get your own little boat and crew to take you around. The trip across take 1-2 hours each way and is quite scenic, if a little bumpy when the waves are high. Available from any travel agent, figure on Rp400,000 for a tour for two.
Note that the sea is calmest in the morning and all transport stops running in the afternoon, well before dark.
Get around
In a rare display of foresight, all forms of motorized transport are banned from the islands: your only choice is horse-drawn carts, known as cidomo, which are used even to shuttle around diving gear. However, as the islands are only a few km in diameter, it's entirely possible to just walk instead.
See & Do
There are no sights as such on the islands themselves, but the excellent snorkeling and diving all around is a major draw. Sea turtles are also common, especially around Turtle Point just north of Gili Meno. You can rent masks and fins off the beach, or contact any of the numerous dive shops to arrange snorkeling or diving at choice spots nearby.
Eat
- Manta Cafe, Trawangan. Run by the dive shop next door, has a very large menu offering Western, Italian, French, Mexican and Indonesian dishes for around Rp20-30,000 each.
Drink
- Horizontal, Trawangan. Probably the only place in the Gilis that wouldn't look out of place in Seminyak, this stylish outdoor bar offers fancy drinks, funky furniture and DJs spinning the night away.
Sleep
Budget
There are plenty of largely identical backpacker guesthouses on the islands. Figure on Rp.50,000-100,000 for a basic room with fan only.
Splurge
- Hotel Vila Ombak, +62-370-642336, [1]. By far the most upscale choice of accommodation on the islands. Rooms from US$67++.
Stay safe
True to the hippie vibe, magic mushrooms are widely available and openly advertised. Unfortunately, this doesn't make them legal or safe, so caution is advised.
Small but annoying jellyfish are common in the waters around the Gilis, so wearing a full-length wetsuit or surf skin in the water is advisable.
Stay healthy
Tap water is not potable. Bottled water is widely available and some cafes will fill up bottles for a nominal charge, reducing waste.
Contact
Mobile phone towers ensure you're never out of touch, and there are several netcafes on Trawangan for feeding your Internet addiction.
