Are you trying to pick which Gili Island to visit on your Indonesia adventure? Well, I’ve spent lots of time exploring all 3 Islands; in this guide, you’ll find all the details to pick the one that’s right for you.
The Gili Islands are one of Indonesia’s most beautiful natural gems. Nestled just kilometres off the coast of Lombok in the bluest water you’ve ever seen, they’re a non-negotiable stop on any Indonesia or Bali trip.
But with three beautiful islands, choosing where to stay can be difficult. Especially when each one offers an entirely different atmosphere and experience. In this guide, I’ll be going through what to expect on each Gili Island and ultimately helping you decide which island is best for you.
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Gili Trawangan
The most well-known of the three islands is Gili Trawangan, commonly called Gili T. It’s also the largest and busiest of the islands, backed with nightlife, cafes, hostels, and places to shop. Boats from neighbouring islands usually dock on Gili T, meaning the island is always bustling with visitors.
What Is Gili T Known For
Before even setting foot on the island, you’ll probably hear about Gili T; it definitely has a reputation. Gili T has been the ultimate tropical party island for decades, with people coming from all over the Southern hemisphere to experience its electric atmosphere.
If you do visit Gili T, you can expect a party every single night with people from all over the world, It’s an amazing place to meet people and have a fantastic time!
However, it’s also known for its drug culture. With almost zero law enforcement on the island, it’s become a haven for drugs under Indonesia’s very strict laws. This definitely has problems though, with many local drugs being unsafe and laced.
Who Is Gili T Best For?
I would recommend Gili T first to backpackers and young people. The island has a perfect mix of peaceful tropical paradise during the day, and amazing nightlife at night.
On top of that, there’s a huge variety of things to do. You can eat at a local market or a Western cafe, shop for trendy or traditional clothes, stay in hostels or resorts, swim at a beach club pool or in the shimmering ocean.
It’s an amazing place to meet people and make friends, especially if you stay at one of the lively hostels.
Is Gili T Safe?
The Gili islands are generally very safe, with a crime rating of almost zero. However, Gili T is probably the most dangerous of the islands thanks to its drug and alcohol culture.
There are three key problems: drug lacing, methanol poisoning, and drunk foreigners. The first and the last problems can be said for almost anywhere with lively nightlife, so I’d recommend taking all the precautions you would at home.
However, methanol poisoning is something you seriously have to watch out for in Indonesia. There have been multiple deaths on the islands because of it. I talk about it a lot in my ‘Gili Islands Safety Guide’, which I recommend you read before you visit!
Gili Trawangan Pros and Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| 1. Vibrant Nightlife | 1. Busy, more touristy |
| 2. Easy to access | 2. More dangerous than other islands |
| 3. Diverse range of activities and experiences | |
| 4. Easy to meet people and make friends | |
| 5: Peaceful tropical island during the day |
Gili Meno
If you want to be completely relaxed and immersed in peaceful island life, Gili Meno is for you. By far the quietest of the three islands, Gili Meno is the epitome of a retreat. It’s one of the last few places in the Bali/ Lombok region where you’re completely remote and away from mass tourism.
What Is Gili Meno Known For?
Gili Meno is known for being the most peaceful and authentic island experience in the Gili’s. It’s the only island where you’ll probably find more locals than tourists and definitely more local food and culture than Western.
The island is completely laid back, with no motorised vehicles, loud parties, or any parties for that matter, and the main activity there is… relaxing on the beach.
When I think of Gili Meno, I also think of its incredible snorkelling. The island has the bluest, calmest water of the three and its famous underwater statues. And if you want to see sea turtles, you can find them in the water or at the famous turtle sanctuary (you could even help let baby turtles back into the ocean!).
Who Is Gili Meno Best For?
Gili Meno is the best for people who are looking to escape tourists, western influence and the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life in exchange for peace and quiet.
If your goal for your Gili Islands trip is to spend as much time as possible relaxing on the beach and soaking in the sun, Or if you’re not the party type, Gili Meno is perfect for you.
Compared to the other two islands, Gili Meno is almost untouched by the tourism industry. That means staying on the island will look much more like local life. Instead of parties and organised activities, you should expect your time to be spent in nature.
Gili Meno Pros And Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| 1. Peaceful and quiet | 1. Not many organised activities |
| 2. Very non-touristy | 2. Difficult to meet people |
| 3. Authentic experience | 3. Not many accomodation options |
| 4. Stunning water and snorkelling | |
| 5. Incredible island atmosphere |
Gili Air
This was my favourite island I visited on my trip to the Gili’s because it’s the in-between. It’s a fantastic combination of nightlife (though nothing as wild as Gili T) and peace and quiet (but with more to do than Gili Meno).
I spent my days here snorkelling, eating delicious food and exploring the island barefoot with my friends from Gili T. With fewer visitors; the island flows with a peaceful tropical ambience. However, with fewer visitors, meeting people as a backpacker is also harder. I went to Gili T first and met my friends, then travelled to Gili Air together, which I really recommend.
What Is Gili Air Known For?
More so than the other two Gili’s, Gili Air is known as a honeymoon destination. The island has many beautiful romantic villas, resorts, and activities for couples. The bright blue ocean, white sand beaches, beautiful marine life, and sun make for the perfect tropical romantic getaway.
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When I think of the three islands, Gili Air stands out as the in-between. While Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno are both perfect for different groups of people, Gili Air is perfect if you’re looking for a balance of it all.
Who Is Gili Air Best For?
Two groups of people will definitely find their dream destination in Gili Air. The first are honeymooners; the island’s romantic, peaceful ambience is perfect for couples while still boasting plenty of things to do during the day.
The second is the travellers who want an in-between. My group of friends and I, all 18-28-year-old solo backpackers, found Gili Air was our favourite island, even above all the fun we had on Gili T. This was because the island is quiet and laid back during the day. The parties were still amazing even though nobody was partying as hard.
Here, with 1/3 as many visitors, you can soak up being on a tiny, magical island much more than you can on the famous Gili Trawangan!
Gili Air Pros And Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| 1. Peaceful island ambience | 1. Less hostel & backpacker options |
| 2. Best spot to swim with sea turtles solo | 2. Less backpackers to meet |
| 3. Less tourists | |
| 4. Good laid back nightlife | |
| 5. Balance between the other 2 islands |
The Best Things To Do On Gili Air
After my time on the beautiful island, here were my favourite things I did! From secret tips on how to spot sea turtles to the best spots on the island to relax or have fun, these are the best things to do on Gili Air.
Swim With Sea Turtles… For Free!
While on the Gili Islands, most people will pay to go out on a snorkelling expedition to see turtles. And while I still recommend going on a snorkelling tour (which I’ll talk all about in a minute), what if I said you could find them all on your own?
The north side of Gili Air is one of the best places to see turtles by yourself. Rent snorkelling gear from one of the many rental shops around the island for as little as 20,000 IDR (1.20 USD), and you only have to swim out 10-20 metres to find the incredible animals.
Take A Private Snorkelling Tour
One of the best things we did on Gili Air and Gili Trawangan (it was so great we did it twice!) was renting a private boat. Boats usually fit up to 8 people and cost around 800,000 IDR (77 USD) for 6+ hours of exploring.
Packed public tours have fixed timetables, up to 50 passengers, and are hilariously the same price per person. Whereas if you get a group together and rent a private boat, you have your local guide, can play music, stop at islands to eat and explore and go wherever you want for as long as you want!
It’s a complete game changer and was undoubtably one of the best things I did in the Gili Islands.
Party In Paradise
Though the parties here are nothing as crazy as Gili Trawangan, you’re still guaranteed to have a good time. My favourite spots on Gili Air were Cheeky Monkey, which has karaoke nights, and Legend Bar, which is usually the spot for parties.
If you’re staying at a hostel, the parties are usually spread by word of mouth each night. Sometimes, they’ll be at Legend Bar, or sometimes, they’ll be out on the beach, and sometimes, somewhere completely different. So, make sure to keep your ear to the ground to find the best spots each evening.
Conclusion: Which Is The Best Gili Island for You?
As you can see, each Gili island caters to one type of traveller or another.
If you’re looking to party the night away, fill your days with constant activities (or relax at the beach if you want), and make many friends in lively hostels? Gili Trawangan is probably for you.
Do you want to completely escape normal life and immerse yourself in the steady flow of the magical island? If soaking up the sun alone on a white sand beach sounds like the perfect day for you, Gili Meno is the place to be.
Or are you looking for a balance between quiet island relaxation and fun nightlife, access to organised activities, combined Western and local influence and plenty of variety? Gili Air sounds like your vibe.
It’s also completely possible to experience it all. With easy 10-15 minute boat rides between islands, you don’t even have to choose one. So what are you waiting for? Get exploring!
