Gili Islands, Three Small Water Paradise at the Corner of Lombok

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Three small dots speck in the northwestern coast of Lombok Island. They may seem insignificant on the map but they are a major tourist destination complex. The three Gili Islands are the most popular attraction in Lombok so far. That says a lot considering Lombok is developing their tourism sector really fast.

Gili Air, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia by from 500 meters up. (c) Shutterstock
Gili Air, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia by from 500 meters up. (c) Shutterstock

The Gili Islands are typical resort islands; they have powdery white sandy beaches, surrounded by shallow waters, and somewhat fertile with many green trees. Life at the islands are also slow and relaxing, making it an ideal holiday destination, especially for young people. Here we’re going to learn about the three islands.

Gili Air, an often overlooked beauty

An aerial view of The Gilis, Indonesia with morning sunrise sunlight. (c) Shutterstock
An aerial view of The Gilis, Indonesia with morning sunrise sunlight. (c) Shutterstock

Gili Air is the closest one to the mainland Lombok. In the past, Gili Air are often overlooked by tourists because it is less developed than the other two island. But the table have turned with the new trend of budget traveling. Being less developed, Gili Air provides cheaper accommodation that cannot be found in the two neighboring gilis. The whole island is explorable on foot so you can choose any part of the island to enjoy. Gili Air is a great swimming and snorkeling area,

Gili Meno, honeymooners’ favorite escape

wedding couple just married near the beach at Gili Meno (c) Shutterstock
wedding couple just married near the beach at Gili Meno (c) Shutterstock

Gili Meno is located in the middle of the cluster, and it is also the smallest one of the three islands here. Though only 2 kilometers long and a kilometer wide, Gili Meno actually has its own lake! This island is very popular to honeymooners as it provide a total escape. For divers and snorkelers, Meno is inviting because of the Gili Meno Wall. In this underwater wall, turtles roam freely during the day, and moray eels swims among giant gorgonian fans during the night.

Gili Trawangan, the most popular destination

Beautifull Gate with girls swing above ocean sunset. View from Gili island, Trawangan, (c) Shutterstock
Beautifull Gate with girls swing above ocean sunset. View from Gili island, Trawangan, (c) Shutterstock

Often called Gili-T, this island has developed a reputation as hippy party paradise destination. Gili Trawangan is the biggest of the three and also the most popular one. There are several luxury hotels and villas that aims to help build this island’s new reputation as a family friendly destination suitable for all ages. Some hotels and villas offer baby-sittings services so that no one gets left behind when the family decide to go on vacation.

Abundant Diving Spots

Gili Air - the island with more turtles than people! (c) Shutterstock
Gili Air – the island with more turtles than people! (c) Shutterstock

While enjoying the beach and snorkeling could be enough enjoyment for some, others opt for a bit more challenging holiday. Gili Islands provide just that by offering many diving packages. There are many diving spots surrounding these islands, each has its own specialties. Depends on your preference, you might dive to meet mantas, sharks, turtles, moray eels, stingray, or generally enjoy the colorful coral reefs. The Gili Islands Diving Association (GIDA) makes sure that there are no unhealthy price war as well as ensure that the service quality is top notch.

Work horse at the island of Gili Tranwagan, Lombok. (c) Shutterstock
Work horse at the island of Gili Tranwagan, Lombok. (c) Shutterstock

These Gilis are most accessible from Lombok, but you can also reach them from Bali. Here, you can enjoy a sunrise over Mount Rinjani of Lombok and Sunset over Mount Agung of Bali. Motorized land vehicles are prohibited in these islands, meaning your options to explore the lands is on foot, by bicycle, or on a cidomo (a pony-drawn cart). Accommodation varies from a budget friendly hostel till luxury rooms.

So, which gili will you be going to first?

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Gili Air Gili Meno Gili Trawangan Lombok wisata lombok
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