White
sandy beaches. Tropical coral reefs. Warm inviting waters. All this
awaits you on the Gili islands. And with no cars, no motorbikes and no
distractions other than beautiful tropical island scenery, the Gili
islands off the northwest coast of Lombok are truly an ideal destination
for a tropical getaway.
Offering
spectacular reefs and ominous dive sites like Shark reef, the Gili
islands are the perfect escape for anyone wanting to get away to
beautiful, natural and relaxing surrounds. This is why these islands
have become a popular destination for Western tourists looking for a
remote island experience.
For
divers and snorkelers, there are few places better than the Gili’s
where you can get up close to all kinds of marine life including a green
turtle (Chelonia mydas) in all its glory. Swim up and watch this
graceful creature glide through the ocean. You should be able to spot
these turtles at depths of 10-20 meter below sea level.
The Gilis consist of three islands: Gili Trawangan,
,
and Gili Air. In local Sasak language, "Gili" means "island". In the
Indonesian language, plural is denoted by repeating a noun. So "Gili
Gili" literally means "islands”.
Renowned
for friendly locals and superb natural beauty, each of the island’s are
well prepared for tourists. Gili Trawangan is the largest and most
popular of the three islands. It has a vibrant nightlife to keep you
entertained once the sun goes down. With a wide collection of
restaurants and bars, you’ll never be short of entertainment here.
If
you're after a quiet getaway, try Gili Meno or Gili Air. Gili Air is
closest to the mainland and is the most populated of the Gili’s. Gili
Meno is the smallest island and, with only a few hundred permanent
residents, it has the most remote feel to it. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants built in keeping with the islands’ homely village atmosphere.
Get Around
Cars and motorbikes are prohibited on the Gili’s giving each island a very peaceful atmosphere. The
best way to get around and explore the islands is by bike. You can rent
a bike and take a ride and look at the spectacular views of the
tropical landscape.
A
horse-drawn carriage or cidomo is another popular way to get around for
both locals and visitors. A tour around Gili Terawangan in a cidomo
taking around half an hour. When you want to stretch your legs there’s nothing quite like taking a leisurely stroll around the island. If you want to travel between the Gili’s you can also hire a motorized boat.
Get There
The Gili islands are easily reached by speedboat from
, taking only some 20 minutes boat ride. Many tourists also travel direct to Gili Trawangan by ferry that leaves Bali daily from Serangan or Padang Bai. Travel on the islands are only by bike or “cidomo” the small horse-drawn carts taking 3 persons per ride.
No motorized vehicles are allowed here. There are also regular passenger boats from Senggigi harbour. There
are also regular fast ferries from Bali direct to Gili Trawangan,
departing Serangan at 08:00 am and 10:00 am, and daily from Padang Bai,
leaving at 11:15 am.
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