The Gili Islands: Are They Worth The Hype?
The answer is YESSS! 😍 Now here are the top reasons why:
You will find calmness compared to Bali
There are sea turtles everywhere
Many sunset swings are installed in the water
Cars & motorbikes aren’t allowed on the islands
It has some of the best smoothie bowls I’ve ever had
There’s an underwater park used to repopulate coral reefs
It has white sand beaches all around
Each island has a different atmosphere
When trying to decide on which island we should go, we did a lot of online research and ended up choosing Gili Air, which is the closest to the main island of Lombok. Indeed, we really wanted a chill atmosphere with not too many people around. Gili Trawangan, which is the most famous Gili island, is also the most touristy and has lots of beach bars. On the other hand, Gili Meno is very quiet and recommended for honeymooners. Gili Air seemed like the perfect in between, and it did not disappoint.
How to get there?
You can get to any of the Gili islands from Bali, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, or Lombok. The price varies depending on your departure location, but it is pretty affordable, and it takes approximately 1.5 hours to get there by fast boat from Bali.
How long to visit?
If you like adventure and discovering new places everyday, then two days will be enough, but feel free to stay there as long as you want depending on the vibe you’re looking for. The islands are also really family friendly, so if you’re just looking to have a nice and relaxed vacation, you can easily stay there for a week. If you’re more on the party side, I believe 3 days in Gili Trawangan would do it!
Where to stay?
I cannot recommend the PinkCoco Gili Air Hotel enough. We stayed there two nights and had the most amazing experience. The hotel itself is absolutely stunning, and looks like everything was created for Instagram. It has a big swimming pool where you can enjoy the sun all day, and they also have lounge chairs by the beach as well as a sea swing. Their restaurant serves delicious food, and we liked it so much that we ate there everyday.
What to do?
To be honest, there isn’t much to do when visiting the Gilis. In fact, the whole point of going there is to relax, and enjoy some sun. Other people like to go there to party though! The one thing I would say is a must is taking a boat tour around all islands. This island hopping tour will include some snorkeling at 3 different locations: Gili Trawangan beach, the underwater statues park, and Gili Meno’s abandoned shipwreck. There are daily group tours, but you can also hire a private boat directly at your hotel, which will ensure you are alone on the boat, and choose your preferred itinerary. Another must-do is renting a bicycle and exploring the island. The Gilis are also a good place to do some scuba diving if that’s something you like. Other sea sports are also available such as surfing, SUP, subwing… There’s even an opportunity to do some horseback riding on the beach.
Where to eat?
Well, I am very biased because we liked the food so much at PinkCoco that we almost had all of our meals there. However, there is a place I definitely recommend checking out, and it’s called Gili Bliss. They serve delicious breakfasts and smoothie bowls, you won’t be disappointed.