Gili Islands Place guide

If Indonesia is on your radar for fun and adventure, you cannot skip out on the Gili Islands. While "Gili" means little island, when people talk about "the Gillis," they refer to a group of little islands: Gili Meno, Gili Air, and Gili Trawangan. If you're in the mood for some fun under the sun and snorkeling, Trip Guru recommends you pack your bags and head on over to one of the best party spots in the country.

Despite its size, the Gili Islands is full of clubs, restaurants and you may even see a treehouse bar or two. It's certainly great value and so, you can expect to see hundreds of travelers that stop by every year. Gili Trawangan is the main destination for the ultimate party experience, while couples and honeymooners find the northern side a cozy little getaway. 30 minutes away from Gili Trawangan lies Gili Meno, accessible every morning by public boat. Gili Meno has beautiful cabanas on the beach and is the best island to catch some waves for surfing, and paddle boarding. The beautiful scenery of the islands against a backdrop of blue sky definitely makes this island a must-see.

Gili Air is another beautiful island where you can go reef diving and walk around, basking in the sand, wind and surf. All three islands are the place to be if you’re the type that wants to lounge around before going on reef diving and snorkeling trips to see various marine life. Afterward, you can catch a day boat party and dance to the beat of the music. If you want to try something different in terms of pace, one of the things you need to try out is yoga, with a dedicated place called the Yoga Place where you can practice this. Yoga combines the tough exercise of stretching with the natural beauty of the island, making for a one-of-a-kind experience that will leave you wanting more.

To get to the Gili Islands, you can get a boat from the Serangan Harbor in Bali. If you’d like a more scenic route, there is an hourly ferry service from East Bali (Padang Bai) to Lembar Harbor (Southwest Lombok) running for 24 hours. After arriving in Lombok, there is a two-hour transfer to the Gili Islands.