Lombok’s most popular tourist destination, the Gili Islands (or just the Gilis) came to the attention of the wider world as a backpacker mecca in the 1980s and 1990s. This is still true to some extent, and the islands are still a fixture on the Banana Pancake Trail. But the times they are a changing, and there is now a rash of glamour options on the islands, especially so on Gili Trawangan. The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes still playing reggae and serving up questionable “energy” drinks, but also at the other end of the scale, elaborate seafood buffets, fresh salads and good quality western and Asian food. Best of all, there are no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace.
Gili islands are the most popular tourist destination of Lombok. There you can really relax on the beach, no car or motorbike on the islands, and have a sunset drink with your family and friends. Going to the Gili is only a quick speedboat trip from Bali, leave from your hotel in Bali in the morning, you will arrive in the Gili at mid morning, and still have plenty of time to dive the Gili or enjoy the beach. You will have plenty of choice of hotel on each of the 3 islands, from budget to luxury.
Go to the Gilis: Sea Express offers speedboat transfers to Gili islands from Bali and Nusa Lembongan.
Leaving the Gilis: The Gilis are linked to Bali, Lombok and Nusa Lembongan.
From | To | Departure Time | Duration | Rate | (x) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amed | Gili Trawangan | 9:30 | 1h15 min | 39 USD | |
Amed | Gili Meno | 9:30 | 1h | 49 USD | (a) |
Amed | Gili Air | 9:30 | 45 min | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Trawangan | 9:00 | 1h30 min | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Trawangan | 10:30 | 1h30 min | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Trawangan | 13:30 | 1h30 min | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Meno | 9:00 | 1h45 min | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Meno | 10:30 | 1h45 min | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Meno | 13:30 | 1h45 min | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Air | 9:00 | 2h | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Air | 10:30 | 2h | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Air | 13:30 | 2h | 39 USD | |
Padangbai | Gili Trawangan | 9:30 | 2h15 min | 49 USD | (b) |
Padangbai | Gili Meno | 9:30 | 2h30 min | 49 USD | (b) |
Sanur | Gili Air | 9:30 | 2h45 min | 49 USD | (b) |
Nusa Lembongan | Gili Trawangan | 10:45 | 2h | 49 USD | |
Nusa Lembongan | Gili Meno | 10:45 | 2h15 min | 49 USD | |
Nusa Lembongan | Gili Air | 10:45 | 2h30 min | 49 USD | |
Nusa Penida | Gili Trawangan | 9:35 | 2h | 49 USD | |
Nusa Penida | Gili Meno | 9:35 | 2h15 min | 49 USD | |
Nusa Penida | Gili Air | 9:35 | 2h30 min | 49 USD | |
Senggigi (Lombok) | Gili Trawangan | 12:30 | 30 min | 19 USD | |
Senggigi (Lombok) | Gili Meno | 12:30 | 45 min | 19 USD | |
Senggigi (Lombok) | Gili Air | 12:30 | 1h | 19 USD | |
(a) Via Gili Trawangan/Air and then local charter | |||||
(b) Via Nusa Lembongan |
From | To | Departure Time | Duration | Rate | (x) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gili Trawangan | Amed | 11:00 | 1h15 min | 39 USD | |
Gili Trawangan | Padangbai | 10:30 | 1h30 min | 39 USD | |
Gili Trawangan
|
Padangbai | 11:30
|
1h30 min | 39 USD | |
Gili Trawangan | Padangbai | 13:00 | 1h30 min | 39 USD | |
Gili Trawangan | Padangbai | 16:00 | 1h30 min | 39 USD | |
Gili Trawangan | Sanur | 13:45 | 2h15 min | 49 USD | (a) |
Gili Trawangan | Nusa Penida | 8:30 | 2h | 49 USD | |
Gili Trawangan | Nusa Penida | 12:00 | 2h | 49 USD | (b) |
Gili Trawangan | Nusa Lembongan | 13:45 | 2h | 49 USD | |
Gili Trawangan | Senggigi (Lombok) | 13:45 | 30 min | 19 USD | |
Gili Meno | Amed | 10:15 | 1h | 49 USD | (c) |
Gili Meno | Padangbai | 11:45 | 1h45 min | 39 USD | |
Gili Meno | Padangbai | 13:15 | 1h45 min | 39 USD | |
Gili Meno | Sanur | 13:00 | 2h30 min | 49 USD | (a) |
Gili Meno | Nusa Penida | 8:45 | 2h15 min | 49 USD | |
Gili Meno | Nusa Penida | 12:15 | 2h15 min | 49 USD | (b) |
Gili Meno | Nusa Lembongan | 12:15 | 2h15 min | 49 USD | |
Gili Meno | Senggigi (Lombok) | 14:00 | 45 min | 19 USD | |
Gili Air | Amed | 11:30 | 45 min | 39 USD | |
Gili Air | Padangbai | 10:30 | 2h | 39 USD | |
Gili Air | Padangbai | 12:00 | 2h | 39 USD | |
Gili Air | Padangbai | 13:30 | 2h | 39 USD | |
Gili Air | Padangbai | 16:30 | 2h | 39 USD | |
Gili Air | Sanur | 12:45 | 2h45 min | 49 USD | (a) |
Gili Air | Nusa Penida | 9:15 | 2h30 min | 49 USD | |
Gili Air | Nusa Penida | 12:30 | 2h30 min | 49 USD | (b) |
Gili Air | Nusa Lembongan | 12:45 | 2h30 min | 49 USD | |
Gili Air | Senggigi (Lombok) | 14:15 | 1h | 19 USD | |
(a) Via Nusa Lembongan | |||||
(b) Via Padangbai | |||||
(c) Via Gili Trawangan/Air and then local charter |
Rates for one way or the other | |||
---|---|---|---|
From / To | >< | To/From | Rate |
Amed | >< | Gili Trawangan/Air | 39 USD
|
Amed
|
>< | Gili Meno
|
49 USD |
Padangbai | >< | The Gilis
|
39 USD |
Padangbai | >< | The Gilis | 39 USD |
Sanur | >< | The Gilis | 49 USD |
The Gilis | >< | Nusa Penida/Lembongan | 49 USD |
Senggigi (Lombok) | >< | The Gilis | 19 USD |
You want to go to another Gili island on a day trip or move there for a couple of days, no problem; you can use the cheap public transportation. You can buy those tickets locally the transportation time is less than 20 minutes.
There are increasing numbers of westerners living on the Gilis, and operating businesses ranging from dive companies to resorts. There is a strong environmental focus here as the reefs have been very damaged in the past. While once people came to dive, snorkel and party, a more upmarket tourist is showing up now. It is still all about the beach, there are many more options to wine and dine or hang out and meet new friends. 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. These islands are small enough to go all around the island by walk or bicycle.
There are increasing numbers of westerners living on the Gilis, and operating businesses ranging from dive companies to resorts. There is a strong environmental focus here as the reefs have been very damaged in the past. While once people came to dive, snorkel and party, a more upmarket tourist is showing up now. It is still all about the beach, there are many more options to wine and dine or hang out and meet new friends. 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.