Gili Islands: tiny and laid-back islands in Indonesia for backpackers

GiLi Islands, one of the best Indonesian Islands for relaxed and laid-back vibe, made me fall so much in love with the destination and myself, that I crave to go back to them over and over again. Gili Islands are exotic, quiet, non-polluted, yet, cheap islands for backpackers as well as honeymooners. Gili means "tiny island" in native language and they completely justify their name as you can actually walk-around the perimeter coastal track of the islands in less than a couple of hours. All automobiles have been banned on Gili islands and the islands breathe pure air. 
​My primary reason to travel to Indonesia was for Scuba Diving certification course. I chose Gili Islands for Scuba Diving and planned my entire trip around it. I’m so glad I did that as I could feel the pleasant vibe of Gili Islands even before I stepped on to it.

Gili Air Island, Lombok, Indonesia

Gili Islands - the three tiny islands:

The group of 3 tiny Gili Islands on the north-west coast of Lombok are radically relaxed and laid back. As all automobiles have been banned on Gili islands, the only ways to get around on the island is by walk, on a bicycle or by horse carriages known as Cidomos. All the three islands are so tiny and close to each other that the other island can be viewed right across the other the beach.
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Gili Trawangan: The biggest of all three Gili Islands, Gili Trawangan is more commercialised, has great nightlife and many dive centres. It has many hostels and is backpackers paradise.
Gili Meno: The most tranquil of all, Gili Meno is covered with luxury resorts and romance. Gili Meno is honeymooners paradise
Gili Air: Perfect balance between Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno, Gili Air is peaceful and not too commercialised. Gili Air offers guest houses, homestays, cafes and bars. It is perfect for the ones seeking serenity with island fever.

Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia - main street

​How to reach Gili Islands from Bali:

There are private speed boats that operate from Padang Bay / Sanur / Serangan in Bali to Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. The speed boats take around 2 hours to reach Gili Islands from Bali. Government ferries are a cheaper option but they around 6 hours to reach Gili Islands. Availability can be an issue in the peak season.
I had a misadventure at Padang Bai. I carelessly missed my speed boat while I was waiting for it at the Bay. Luckily the speed boat company, Marina Srikandi, had another one scheduled after 2 hours. I was hating myself for wasting 2 precious hours for this as I had a lot do to with my 10 days of solo backpacking trip to Indonesia. However, I was pleasantly surprised to be onboard a very special boat. Few of us avoided the AC cabins and took the roof top deck. The moment the boat started, the music started and beer cans opened! We had a sunset party on the boat before we arrived Gili Islands with a bang. I very well understood what to expect from the island, and I don’t regret this misadventure as not all boats have parties!

Fast boat to Gili Trawangan from Bali

Accommodation in Gili Trawangan:

Gili Trawangan has huge range of accommodation from hostels to mid-range guest houses to luxury resorts. The beach-side accommodation is super expensive. Also, all the places get booked in advance in the peak season. 
I was on a complete backpacking trip to Indonesia, I hadn’t booked anything apart from my return flights to Bali. I walked around the island to find some budget accommodation and happened to check a hostel. I loved the vibe of the hostel but it was expensive. I tried to negotiate with the owner, but he said I was lucky that there’s availability here because of some cancellation, otherwise it gets full months in advance. I still tried my luck to look for a cheaper accommodation or a room to myself for the cost of one bed in the hostel. It was difficult to find accommodation as everything was full. I still managed to find a very basic room to myself in the same range, but I returned to the hostel instead. It was a classy hostel with all modern facilities, 2 swimming pools, bar, table-tennis table, bicycles and lively people. I’m glad I spent the next 4 days here. Also, it was my first ever hostel experience. 

Broken Compass Hostel at Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

The room with 6 bunk beds was common for males and females, both. This was the first time that I shared room with stranger guys. But, it was only in my mind. Everything was chilled out, it felt the same as sharing room with females.

Dorm in Broken Compass Hostel at Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

Cafes and Bars in Gili Trawangan:

All the beach side cafes serve wide variety of international cuisines on the island. There are smaller joints in the inner lanes serving Doner kebabs, local Indonesian cuisine - Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng, crepes, desserts and a lot more. 

Beach restaurant at Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

Most of the cafes turn into happening bars in the evenings. The bars are lot of fun with drinking games, live music and DJs, dance floors which can be open till 4 am. Some bars also have open air movie screening on the beach. It is surely a great place for happening nightlife.

Nightlife at Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

Things to do in Gili Islands:

Scuba Diving, Scuba Diving, Scuba Diving!!!! - That is what I did for all the 4 days I spent here.
Known as the Turtle Capital of the World, Gili Islands is one of the most beautiful diving destinations. All three islands are surrounded by a lot of dive sites offering varied diving experiences. The visibility is generally very high that makes Gili Islands an excellent destination to learn Scuba Diving.

Scuba Diving in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

Apart from Scuba Diving, these are the activities you can do in Gili Islands:

• Read a book on the beach - Pull up a bean bag in one of the cafes on the beach and get up only in the evening. All your other needs would be taken care of by the cafe.
• Island hopping​ - there are various boats that take you around to other islands.
• Swimming from one Gili island to another. It is possible!!! The islands are so close to each other that one can really swim across.​

Leisure time at Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

• Snorkeling - If you aren’t diving, don’t miss out the opportunity to snorkel with the turtles. Just pick up your snorkel and start snorkelling on the beautiful reefs from the shore.
• Stand up paddle boarding - Next time I go to Gili Islands, I will surely try this.
• Glass bottom boat kayaking - This is a really interesting way to enjoy the underwater world!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding and snorkelling in Gili Trawangan Island, Indonesia

• Shopping from designer boutiques - The fashion wear here is expensive, but worth a try.
• Massage on the beach - This is another luxury that I die for! There are open air massages with a beautiful view of the sea and Indonesians are brilliant at giving massages. I had one everyday after my diving sessions.​

Massage on the beach - Gili Trawangan Island, Indonesia

Few more activities that can keep you entertained on the Gilis are - Sunset Party Boat, Freediving, yoga and Surfing.

After my scuba diving course, I had to leave for Mount Rinjani active volcano trek in Lombok. After that I had planned to head to Bali, spend a night there and take my return flight to India the next evening.
Towards the end of my scuba diving course, the thought of leaving Gili Islands was killing me! I had already fallen in love with the islands and I wanted to come back. 
After the trek, instead of going to Bali, I returned to Gili islands, this time Gili Air, to spend a night before I leave the country. This was the second best decision I made on the trip (The first one, I’ll reveal on my next post).

​A day in Gili Air:

I reached Gili Air in the evening, walked around the island and found a lovely homestay for the night. My legs were aching a lot after the strenuous trek. I found an excuse to take one more massage at a spa before I leave. I spent the latter part of the evening in a bar, treating myself with a glass of wine and pasta with the view of the full moon glittering up the sea. After some chats with few travellers in the bar, I walked out to go back to my room. It was almost midnight and on my way back, there were a some tattoo artists (few locals and an American lady - Tasha) jamming outside their studio. They invited me to join them for a while. Tasha was very much involved with creating more tattoo designs. Her passion intrigued me. We started conversing and I was so happy to share similar thoughts about life with her. We went into deep conversations while intermittently singing with the others. I was so happy to have found someone with whom I could share my crazy ideas and being understood as well. Tasha had quit her corporate job in New York, given up her apartment and started living in smaller places and doing things which made her happy. Making tattoo designs was her passion and she would freelance with tattoo studios in every new place she lived. For once I found someone practically implementing what I had been dreaming about. After meeting her, I realised that my dreams weren’t impractical, it is actually possible. It took me 2 months after my trip to Indonesia to make a decision to quit my job and do what I love doing, and another 1 month to actually resign!

Jamming on the streets of Gili Air Island, Indonesia

Next morning I woke up early to make the most of the little time I had. I spent tranquil moments at the beach side when I had the entire beach to myself. In the noon, I took a speed boat to Bali and headed straight to airport to take my return flight to India.
​But I had left my heart in Gili Islands and I would want to go back, yet again!

Breakfast on the beach - Gili Air Island, Indonesia

​Best time to dive in Gili Islands

Best time to visit Gili Islands is May-November

​If you are still reading the post, I'll assume that you are as much in love with Gili Islands as me. Live with me, my favourite moments on Gili Islands through my video. I'd made this video on Gili Islands in 2015 that still lists on top on youtube.

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