Gili Trawangan & Gili Air guide: islands without motor traffic
Swimming with turtles, Gili Meno's underwater statues, sunset swings, the seafood night market and cycling round the island.
The three Gilis — Trawangan, Meno and Air — are small coral islands off Lombok’s north-west coast. There are no cars or motorbikes: people walk, cycle or ride a cidomo horse cart, and the only sounds are the waves and hooves. Gili Trawangan is the liveliest, Gili Air the best balanced, Gili Meno the quietest.
What to do
- Snorkel with turtles — green and hawksbill turtles are regularly seen on the reefs off all three islands.
- Gili Meno’s underwater statues — a ring of human figures on the shallow sea floor, easy to reach snorkelling.
- Gili Trawangan’s sunset swings — swings over the water on the west beach, with the sun setting towards Mount Agung.
- Cycle round the island — Gili Trawangan can be circled by bike in about an hour.
- Dive or take a PADI course — dozens of certified dive centres and sites such as Shark Point and Turtle Heaven.
What to eat
- Gili Trawangan night market — grilled seafood, satay and nasi campur at local prices, busy every night.
- Beach-grilled fish — many restaurants display the day’s catch at the door.
- Smoothies & beach cafés — Gili Air is known for relaxed cafés with beanbags on the sand.
- Sasak cooking — ayam taliwang and plecing kangkung are easy to find on the islands too.
Arts & culture
- Gili Trawangan’s village — behind the cafés is a Sasak and Bugis village with a mosque, family warungs and children playing football on the sand.
- The “Nest” underwater statues — by artist Jason deCaires Taylor off Gili Meno, now home to coral and fish.
- Turtle hatcheries — volunteers on Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan hatch turtle eggs and release the hatchlings to the sea.
- Cidomo — the traditional horse cart, the islands’ only “taxi”.
Best time & tips
Bring enough cash — Gili Trawangan has a few ATMs, Gili Air and Meno fewer. Use reef-safe sunscreen. The dry season (May–October) brings the clearest water, though July–August are the busiest months.
Getting there
From Lombok, public boats and speedboats leave Bangsal Harbour (15–20 minutes to the islands). From Bali, fast boats from Padang Bai or Serangan take about 1.5–2.5 hours. Our team can arrange the whole transfer from Lombok airport to the villa door.
