Lombok Beaches / Regions / Gili Islands
BY REGION
Gili Islands
Three small islands off Lombok’s northwest coast, ringed with white sand and reef, and no cars on any of them.
3
Islands
15 to 40mins by boat
From Bangsal
Turtles & Snorkeling
Known for
May - Oct
Best season
OVERVIEW
Three Islands, Three Characters
Just off Lombok’s northwest coast, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air are three of the most visited islands in Indonesia, and each has its own personality. All three are ringed with white sand and coral reef, with turtles feeding close to shore and clear, warm water for most of the year. There are no cars or motorbikes on any of them, so life moves at the pace of a bicycle or a horse cart.
Gili Trawangan is the biggest and liveliest, with the most restaurants, dive shops and nightlife. Gili Meno is the smallest and quietest, with some of the best snorkeling straight off the beach and the Nest statues offshore. Gili Air sits in between, closest to Lombok, with good food, yoga and a relaxed local feel. Boats from Bangsal Harbor reach all three in 15 to 40 minutes.
GILI ISLANDS
The closest Gili to Lombok and the most balanced, with good food, yoga studios and a visible local community, easy reef swims off the north and east sides, and a sunset strip on the west coast.
Around 15mins
Yoga, easy snorkeling
Relaxed, local
Moderate
GILI ISLANDS
Around 30 to 40 min
Snorkeling, nightlife
Lively, social
Moderate to busy
The biggest and liveliest of the three, with a busy east coast strip of cafes, dive shops and beach bars, turtles feeding on the reef close to shore, and sunsets over Bali’s Mount Agung from the west coast.
How to reach the Gilis
Public boats and fast boats leave from Bangsal Harbor on Lombok’s north coast, taking around 15 minutes to Gili Air, 20 to Gili Meno and 30 to 40 to Gili Trawangan.
Speedboats also run from Teluk Nare, just to the south.
From Kuta, allow 2 to 2.5 hours to drive to the harbor. Fast boats from Bali stop at the islands directly, taking around 2 hours.
Compare routes and times on GiliBoatTours.
Before you go
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Choose your island first: Each Gili has a different feel, and switching mid trip costs you half a day.
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Check boat times against your flight: Landing mid afternoon and hoping to catch a boat is tight. A night in Senggigi or a morning crossing is often easier.
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Bring cash from Lombok: ATMs on the islands can run out, especially on Meno and Air.
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Pack light: There are no cars, so bags go by horse cart or on your back from the boat landing.
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Pack water shoes and reef safe sunscreen: They’re hard to find on the islands, and you’ll want both for the coral.
KEEP EXPLORING
Lombok Regions
Twin bays, beginner surf and wild headlands, from Tanjung Aan to Selong Belanak, with Kuta as the hub.
Sunsets over Bali, calm snorkeling coves and the coast road north to Sire.
The Secret Gilis, quiet white sand islands and some of Lombok’s healthiest reefs.
Pink sand, remote islands and the island’s most untouched coastline.
Planning where to stay and eat on the Gilis? Our island guides on Discover Lombok cover the rest.