Gili Trawangan
The most developed of the three islands, with the main concentration of accommodation, restaurants and dive centres.
Skip it if: you are looking for quiet evenings.
Bali · Gili Islands
Where to Stay on the Gili Islands: Trawangan, Air or Meno
Three small islands off Lombok, reached from Bali by fast boat: which Gili suits you, and how the crossing works.
Quick answer
Gili Trawangan if you want the most choice in restaurants, diving and evenings out. Gili Air for a balance of the two. Gili Meno if quiet is the point. All three are about two to two and a half hours from Bali by fast boat.
01 / Compare
Which area suits you
| Area | Best for | Feel | To the beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gili Trawangan | Choice and nightlife | The busiest of the three | On the beach |
| Gili Air | A balance of both | Relaxed, still lively | On the beach |
| Gili Meno | Quiet and couples | The quietest | On the beach |
See where the places are
An interactive map of available stays, loaded from our booking partner. Nothing reaches them until you open it, and once open their own measurement tools run inside the map.
Star ratings are the ones declared on the booking platform. We do not rate hotels.
Hotel class:
Star ratings are the ones declared on the booking platform. We do not rate hotels.
02 / Areas
The areas, one by one
Gili Air
Often chosen by travellers who want something between the energy of Trawangan and the calm of Meno.
Skip it if: you want the widest choice of bars.
Gili Meno
The quietest of the three, with the fewest places to stay and eat.
Skip it if: you want restaurants and nightlife on your doorstep.
03 / On the ground
Where locals actually go
Places we can point to by name, checked on the date below. No ratings, no sponsored entries: if a listing ever becomes a paid partnership, it will say so on this page.
Arriving and getting around
- Fast boat from Bali · Padang Bai or Serangan — About two to two and a half hours to the Gilis, depending on the operator and the sea. Several operators stop at Gili Trawangan and Gili Air.
- From Lombok · Bangsal harbour — Local boats cross to the islands from Bangsal, on the north-west coast of Lombok, during daylight.
- On the islands · All three Gilis — No cars: people walk, cycle or take a cidomo, the local horse-drawn cart. Bicycles and electric bikes are rented locally.
- Boat safety · Before you book — UK government advice says sea conditions can change quickly and safety standards vary: check for life jackets and avoid crossing after dark.
Independent businesses
- Gili Divers · Gili Trawangan / Gili Air — Dive centre with two locations in the Gili Islands, on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air, open from 8.00 to 21.00 daily.
- Gili Air Divers · Gili Air — Scuba and freediving centre on the west coast of Gili Air since 2011, capping groups at four students per instructor.
- Gili Island Diving Center · Gili Air — PADI dive centre on Gili Air offering PADI diving courses and diving trips around the Gili Islands.
- Gili Hero Freedivers · Gili Air — Freediving school on Gili Air teaching courses and training in a friendly, non-competitive environment.
- Meno Dive Club · Gili Meno — SSI dive centre on Gili Meno offering fun dives, beginner programmes and SSI courses.
- Gili Cooking Classes · Gili Trawangan / Gili Air — Hands-on Indonesian cooking classes on Gili Air and Gili Trawangan, where guests cook traditional dishes with local chefs and eat what they make.
- Papaya Restaurant & Beach Club · Gili Air — Restaurant and beach club on Gili Air serving Mediterranean cuisine, with sunset lunches and dinners on the sand.
- Working on Air (Mojo) · Gili Air — Coffee shop and restaurant on Gili Air serving fresh coffee and Indonesian specialties with European and Asian influences.
- Gili Mo Beauty Spa and Hair Salon · Gili Trawangan — Spa and hair salon on Gili Trawangan offering Balinese and Lombok traditional massage alongside hair, nail and beauty services.
- You Spa Gili Trawangan · Gili Trawangan — Spa on Gili Trawangan offering massages, facials, skin care, nail and hair care; the brand also runs a spa in Umalas, Bali.
- Snorkeling Gili · Gili Trawangan / Gili Meno / Gili Air — Private boat snorkeling trips around the Gili Islands to see turtles and statues, departing from Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, Gili Meno or Lombok.
- Gili View · Gili Trawangan — Gili Trawangan activity agency running private and shared snorkeling boat charters, plus fishing trips and scuba diving.
- Subwing Gili Islands · Gili Air — Three-to-four-hour boat trips around the Gili Islands in which participants are towed underwater on a Subwing, departing from Gili Air daily except Fridays.
- Gili Trawangan Tour & Travel · Gili Trawangan — Tour and travel agency on Jl. Pantai Gili Trawangan, established in 1992, running snorkeling trips around the three Gilis and Rinjani treks.
- Gili On The Wheel (Gili OTW) · Gili Trawangan — Bike and e-bike rental on Gili Trawangan with GPS tracking, free delivery and flexible rental terms.
- Gili Rental Bike and Scooter · Gili Trawangan — Bicycle and electric scooter rental on Gili Trawangan with 24/7 support and roadside assistance.
- Rent Electric Bike Gili Trawangan · Gili Trawangan — Electric bike rental on Gili Trawangan with free island delivery and payment on pick-up.
04 / Getting there
Arriving, and staying connected
Flights, the airport transfer, an eSIM for your phone and car rental, through our partners. Prices and availability are theirs at the moment you click.
05 / Questions
Frequently asked
How do you get to the Gili Islands from Bali?
By fast boat from Padang Bai or Serangan, about two to two and a half hours depending on the operator and the sea. From Lombok, boats leave from Bangsal harbour.
Which Gili island is the quietest?
Gili Meno. Gili Trawangan is the busiest, and Gili Air sits between the two.
Are there cars on the Gili Islands?
No. Getting around is on foot, by bicycle or by cidomo, the horse-drawn cart.
Do I pay the Bali tourist levy for the Gilis?
The IDR 150,000 levy is a Bali levy for foreign visitors arriving in Bali. We found no official source for a separate levy on the Gilis, so check before you travel.
Last verified: 28 September 2026
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Sources: Gili Getaway, routes and crossing time · UK government travel advice, Indonesia · Bali tourist levy, Bali provincial government