Gili Air is a little slice of paradise in the Indian Ocean with endless blue skies, soft white sand beaches, and turquoise waters.
It’s the ideal place for a short break from the mainland and to visit in its own right.
Our guide to Gili Air will help you decide whether to visit and what to do while you’re there.
Where Is Gili Air?
Gili Air is one of the three Gili Islands that sit just off the Northwest Coast of the major island of Lombok.
Unfortunately, the name “Gili” means “island” in Bahasa Indonesia and nearly every island around Lombok has the name “Gili” in the title. These islands are best known locally as “Gili Indah” which means “the beautiful islands.”
How To Get To Gili Air From Bali
You can get a fast boat from Amed, Padang Bai, Serangan or Sanur in Bali though the boats are fastest from Amed and Padang Bai and take a shade under 2 hours.
The travel time from the other two destinations is nearly twice as long and is probably best avoided if you can as the crossing to this lovely tropical island can get a bit choppy in stormy weather and the longer you’re at sea, the more chances you have for things to turn rough.
Bali to Gili Air can be great though, most journeys are calm and trouble-free even in the rainy season.
How To Get To Gili Air From Lombok
If you want to visit Gili Air from Lombok, you will need to fly to Lombok International Airport to begin your journey (the good news is that you can get direct flights from most Indonesian airports including from Bali/Denpasar airport).
Then, you need to get to Bangsal Harbour which is about a 1.5-2 hour drive and you can rent a private car or take a ride-share there. This is going to cost about 300,000 IDR ($20 USD or $30 AUD) in total whichever method you choose.
Once you arrive, assuming it’s before 4.30 p.m. you can get boat tickets from the office on the jetty (don’t use the services of any ticket touts, it will just cost you more money) and jump on a fast boat that will take about 20 minutes to Gili Air.
If you get there after 4.30 p.m. the public boat service has stopped for the day but you can still get to Gili Air by renting a private boat which isn’t expensive or you can stay in one of the guesthouses near the harbour and wait for a public fast boat ride in the morning.
How To Get Around Gili Air
Gili Air is a tiny island and it won’t take you very long to walk all the way around Gili Air but there are other forms of transport available including:
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Horsedrawn Carriage – we have to note that there are some animal welfare concerns about these traditional non-motorized taxis but the horses seemed to be reasonably well cared for when we visited. There’s no real need to use these carriages unless you have a lot of luggage to move, however, Gili Air is simply too much of a small island to need a carriage.
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Bicycle – you can easily rent a bicycle (or your hotel might even provide one for free) for around 50,000 IDR per day (that’s roughly $3 USD or $5 AUD) or 15,000 IDR per hour (that’s $1 USD or $1.50 AUD) but you should be aware that the road conditions are poor and you will spend most of your time cycling in the Gili Islands watching the road surface to avoid being thrown over in a pothole. Overall, we’d recommend that you walk during your time on Gili Air.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Gili Air?
We maintain that there’s no best time of year to visit Bali and that applies to the Gili Islands too, Gili Air, Gili T and Gili Meno are all perfectly lovely all year round.
However, if you’re taking a fast boat from Bali, the sea journey can be quite long and in the rainy season, storms can make this a terrible journey if you suffer from seasickness.
We’d recommend taking sea sickness tablets whenever you set off from Bali if you think your stomach might be vulnerable to bad conditions but the best time to visit is going to be in the dry season between April and October when there’s much less chance of rain.
Things To Do On Gili Air
Gili Air might only be small but there are plenty of things to do on the island including:
Free Gili Cooking Classes
The place to go on Gili Air for cooking classes is Waroeng Alam Damai and it’s completely free – you just pay for the food that you make and consume.
We’d recommend offering a tip afterwards because the owner is a very charming man who works very hard to keep guests happy. It’s a truly wonderful Gili Cooking Class under palm trees.
As you’d expect the classes start before lunch so that you can get some great food for lunch.
Snorkeling Tour Of The Gili Islands
A snorkelling tour is the best way to see all the top snorkelling sites around all the Gili Islands not just Gili Air.
Expect to pay around 150,000 IDR ($10 USD or $15 AUD) to join a group trip which takes about 4 hours and stops regularly including at the Gili Underwater Statues which are quite famous in this area.
You’ll see some amazing marine life on this trip and it’s very good value for money.
Join A Beach Cleanup
Unfortunately, Gili Air is victim to rubbish from the sea washing up on its shores and one of the best ways you can contribute during your time on Gili Air is to join a beach clean up.
There are regular organized clean ups or you could just take a bin liner down to the beach and try and fill it with trash.
Cycle Around The Island
You can rent a bicycle and cycle around Gili Air.
We’d strongly recommend some caution on this because the road surfaces aren’t good and it’s all too easy to fall off but it’s a pleasant way to see the island and it won’t take very long to cycle the entire perimeter of the island.
Swing On One Of The Many Swings
There are swings all over the island where you can get some awesome Instagram snaps.
Mostly, they’re free if you are using the services of the hotel, bar or restaurant that they’re attached to but it’s worth asking before you get on the swings as at that point, you’re committed no matter what the cost is.
Get Pampered At A Spa
We’re big fans of spa treatments in Indonesia as they’re great value and there are spas all around the island usually associated with the villas and hotels.
They’re cheaper than on the mainland you will feel great after a day’s massage and treatments.
Free Diving
Gili Air is a great place to get free diving lessons and then try out this challenging sport. It’s cheaper than scuba but far more difficult to master.
Try Subwing
Subwing is an underwater craft that you can rent and then go through the underwater environment rather like a manta ray.
It’s a unique experience on Gili Air and a lot of fun if you enjoy doing something thrilling and different
Go Shopping
It’s not Seminyak or Canggu but Gili Air has plenty of pleasant boutique stores where you can buy water sports gear, beach wear and more.
Enjoy A Sunset On The West Coast
The West side of Gili Air is the best place to watch the sunset and it’s quite spectacular. (To be fair we have a lot of spectacular sunsets in the tropics).
However, you will want to move from the West side to the East Coast of Gili Air if you want to enjoy the sunrise in the mornings. We recommend that you try it, at least, once as the vibe is very different.
Get Into The Live Music Scene
Gili Air has an amazing live music scene and if you head down to the beach bars in the evening, you’re bound to find somewhere that’s playing music that you love.
Enjoy Movies On The Beach At An Outdoor Cinema
There are two outdoor cinemas in Gili Air and they both start their showings at 8 p.m. each night.
You’ll find one at Ombak Paradise in the Southwest and the other at Bel Air which is on the East Coast.
Experience Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga Or Aqua Yoga
There are plenty of standard yoga classes on Gili Air but we’d recommend that you start you day with a more unusual yoga class..
You can try Aqua Yoga from 10.45 a.m. on the beach and at 8 a.m. there’s a stand-up paddleboard yoga class which is a real challenge and loads of fun!
Go Scuba Diving
Gili Air is excellent for scuba diving and there are plenty of PADI-qualified schools where you can learn scuba diving and the schools will take you out around the best dive sites on the island too.
It’s cheaper to learn to dive on the Gili Islands than on the mainland and many people come to Gili Air just to spend a few days learning to dive.
However, it’s worth noting that the dive spots aren’t as good as they are around Bali and you may want to consider the cost savings versus the opportunity cost of seeing more interesting dive sites.
Sunbathe On The Beach
One of the nicest things about Gili Air is that it’s very relaxed and you can get a great tan on a sunlounger on the beach.
Just make sure to take some suncream as you can burn easily in the blazing sun.
Please don’t do any topless sunbathing though, Gili Air is a majority Muslim area and it won’t go down well.
Places To Stay On Gili Air
There are some fantastic places to stay on Gili Air to suit all budgets including:
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PinkCoco Gili Air – this adults-only resort has an amazing pool area and some of the best staff on the island. You’re guaranteed to have a good time on Gili Air if you stay here.
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The KOHO Hotel – with bungalow-style suites and a beautiful pool you can’t go wrong if you choose to stay on Gili Air in the KOHO Hotel.
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Rimba Villas – these gorgeous wooden-style villas are bright and airy inside and the beds are big and luxurious. They each have a private pool too. As luxury villas go, they’re amazing value.
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Manta Dive Gili Air Resort – if you’re coming to Gili Air with the intention of getting your PADI certification, this is a great place to stay as they have a dive school as part of the setup.
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Gili Air Escape – this wonderful boutique set up on Gili Air offers stylish bungalows that look awesome in your Instagram snaps and a super pool area.
Places To Eat On Gili Air
There are some great places to eat on Gili Air including:
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Gili Bliss – Gili Bliss is one of the most popular cafes on Gili Air and it’s right in the centre of the island. We really like their breakfast options and excellent local coffee.
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Warung Sunny – Warung Sunny offers delicious local dishes at a very reasonable price and it’s one of our favourite spots on Gili Air.
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Italy Pizzeria & Restaurant – Gili Air is home to one of the best Italian restaurants in Indonesia surprisingly and the pizzas here are world-class.
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Good Earth Cafe – this is a very popular place with the healthy living crowd and has an extensive vegan and vegetarian menu and even gluten-free options.
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I Am Bagus – if you love BBQ chicken and cold beers, this is one of the finest places to eat on the island.
The Other Gili Islands
Gili Meno
Gili Meno is the smallest island of the Gili Islands and it’s much quieter than the other two. It’s ideal for getting away from everything or a romantic break but don’t expect to find a party, that’s not what Gili Meno is about.
The inland saltwater lake on Gili Meno is a lovely place to spend a day just chilling out and watching the world go by. Gili Meno really helps you to understand what island life is about.
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan is the most popular of the Gili Islands and it has a reputation as a party island. You don’t have to party but most of the beach bars are geared to backpackers looking for a good time.
It’s home to some of the most epic beach parties in Indonesia.
The good news is that it’s easy to get to Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno from Gili Air and you can get a speed boat from the other islands at any time of day for a very low fare. They are all small islands and it won’t take long to travel to or around any of them.
FAQs
Is Gili Air Worth Visiting?
Yes! We think so. Gili Air is a charming place and while it’s much quieter than neighbouring Gili Trawangan, for a lot of people that’s what they’d prefer.
If you want quiet days on the beach, water sports, cold beer and amazing sunsets, you’re going to find Gili Air is a great place to spend some time. However, if you want to party all night long, you might prefer being on Gili Trawangan.
Is Gili Air A Party Island?
No. Of the three Gili islands, the one with the big party scene is Gili T.
However, there are plenty of beach bars in Gili Air and a decent live music scene, which means you can have many memorable nights out when visiting Gili Air, they’re just not likely to be on quite such an epic scale as on the bigger island.
Is Gili Air Cheaper Than Bali?
This beautiful island is both cheaper and more expensive than Bali. You’ll find that water sports, activities and accommodation are a bit cheaper but conversely, the food and drink (except for fresh fish caught locally) tend to be a bit more expensive.
We don’t think you’re going to save a fortune but you probably won’t spend much more on this island than you would in Bali, either.
How Long Is The Ride From Gili Air To Bali?
It depends on where you depart from. The journey from Padang Bai to Gili Air is around 2 hours. It’s around 3 hours from Serangan or Sanur and just an hour and a half from Amed.
However, if you’re coming from the beach towns of Bali, it’s probably easiest to get to Padang Bai and do the crossing from there, any time you save by catching the ferry in Amed will be lost in travel time to Amed.
You should always check in advance whether a particular boat is running for Gili Air and buy your boat tickets online. This is because some of the journeys are seasonal or cancelled at short notice.
Is Gili Air Part Of Bali Or Lombok?
Gili Air and the other Gili Islands are part of Lombok. They are, in fact, in an arc running from a small peninsula on the Northwest Coast of mainland Lombok through the three islands.
However, many people visit the Gili Islands from Bali as they’re not far off the coast of the Bali Mainland either.
How Many Days Do You Need On Gili Air?
It very much depends on the kind of holiday that you want to have. You can easily see everything on Gili Air in a single day and if you’re in a hurry, that might be more than enough with a day spent on each of the other Gili Islands, perhaps.
However, we think most people visit Gili Air to slow down rather than to race around the island as fast as possible. In that instance, it’s easy to spend 5 days or even a week just chilling out and appreciating the snorkelling, sunbathing, etc.
You don’t need a lot of time to visit Gili Air but there’s no doubt that you may want to spend a lot of time here.
Is It Safe To Swim In Gili Air?
Gili Air is not the best destination for swimming and it’s important to realize that nearly the whole island is surrounded by dead coral reefs.
That means unless you swim at high tide, there’s a good chance of lacerating your feet and you’ll need to swim quite a way out to avoid this.
The beaches on the island are very pleasant though and if you’re in the mood for sunbathing, you will find plenty of soft white sandy beaches to accommodate you.
The water around the entire island is crystal clear and makes for some lovely photographs and you can often see sea turtles swimming around in it, which is absolutely charming.
How Do You Book A Holiday To Gili Air?
We always recommend that you book your holidays in Bali and the Gili Islands through the lovely people at Bali Res Centre.
That’s a locally owned and operated travel agent that specializes in Balinese travel. They will ensure you get the best deals on flights, hotels, tours and transport and they can use their local knowledge to ensure you see everything you want to see while you’re here.
The best thing about using the Bali Res Centre is that you can be certain that your holiday money will stay in and help benefit the local economy rather than being sent overseas to enrich a multinational corporation.
Final Thoughts On Whether To Visit Gili Air Island
Gili Air Island is a wonderful place for a short break from the mainland or a quick romantic getaway with someone special.
There’s not a lot to do, but that’s part of the charm of Gili Air, you get away from motorized transport and experience island life at the authentic slow pace that it’s meant to be experienced at.
And when you get back from Gili Air, we’ll be waiting with cold drinks at FINNS, the world’s best beach club, to hear your tales and share a sunset with you.
