These three small islands lying off Lombok's northwest coast have no cars or motorbikes: bare feet, bikes and horse carts do the getting around. Snorkelling with turtles, diving and sunset watching fill the time, and each visitor can choose the island that matches their mood.
The biggest and liveliest of the three islands, with a sandy path running along the shore, beach bars, small restaurants and dive shops. The west coast is the favourite spot for sunset, with Bali's volcano sometimes visible far across the water on clear days.
Best time: Late afternoon, sunset
Tip: Pick a quieter stretch of beach if you want calm; the harbour side is the busiest. Swim where locals and staff say it is safe, as currents and boat traffic vary.
The seagrass and shallow reef around the islands are home to green turtles, and seeing one glide past is the reason many people come. Snorkelling trips by small boat usually stop at several spots around the islands, and some can also be reached by swimming from the beach.
Best time: Morning, calm seas
Tip: Keep your distance, never touch or chase a turtle, and do not stand on coral. Use reef-friendly sunscreen or a rash vest. Where the turtles are changes by the day, so a sighting is not guaranteed.
The smallest and calmest of the three, with long empty-feeling beaches, a handful of small hotels and a salt lake in the middle of the island. A small bird park on the island keeps birds in aviaries for visitors, and the whole island can be walked around at an easy pace.
Best time: Morning or late afternoon
Tip: Gili Meno suits couples and people who want an early night. Choose it for peace, not for nightlife; restaurant choice is smaller and some places close early. Check what is open for your dates.
The island nearest to Lombok mixes local village life with cafes, yoga studios and small beach bars. It is livelier than Meno but calmer than Trawangan, with a relaxed shoreline, easy snorkelling and sunset on the west side.
Best time: Afternoon and evening
Tip: A good pick if the group has mixed tastes: some want quiet, others want a nice dinner. Stay on the east or south side for calmer water and a short walk to the harbour.
An underwater sculpture installation called Nest, a ring of human figures resting on the seabed just off Gili Meno, placed there so that coral can grow on them over time. It can be seen by snorkelling or freediving, and is a favourite photo stop.
Best time: Morning, clear water
Tip: Visibility and current decide how good the view is, so it can look very different from day to day. Go with a boat or guide who knows the site, and do not touch the statues or the coral.
Several dive schools on the islands offer introductory dives, certification courses and fun dives for qualified divers, with turtles, reef fish and gentle slopes that suit beginners. Freediving courses are also taught on the islands for people who prefer to dive on a single breath.
Best time: Morning dives, dry season
Tip: Check that any dive centre uses qualified instructors and well-kept gear, and tell them honestly about your health. Do not fly within the time your dive centre advises after diving.
In the evening, food stalls near the harbour grill fresh fish and seafood, fry noodles and serve Indonesian favourites such as satay at friendly prices, a good break from beach-bar menus. It is an easy place to sit with locals and other travellers.
Best time: Evening
Tip: Choose busy stalls with food cooked in front of you, and ask the price before ordering seafood sold by weight. Opening times and which stalls are there change, so treat it as a typical evening, not a promise.
There are no cars or motorbikes on the three Gilis. People get around by bicycle, on foot or by cidomo, a small horse cart, along the sandy ring road. A slow loop of an island shows beaches, village corners and viewpoints you would miss on the main strip.
Best time: Early morning or late afternoon
Tip: Sand can make cycling hard in places, so go slowly and bring water. Agree the cidomo fare before you climb in, and please be kind to the horses: avoid the hottest hours and overloaded carts.
Bangsal is the main mainland harbour for the Gilis in northwest Lombok, with public boats that sail across to the islands. Fast boats also come from Padang Bai in Bali, and the crossing itself is part of the adventure.
Best time: Morning, calmer seas
Tip: Sailings depend on weather and sea conditions, and the boat type and harbour you use change the plan. Check the details for your dates. Pack your valuables in a dry bag.
Lombok has more 'Gilis' than the famous three. In the southwest, small Gili Nanggu has white sand and clear water for snorkelling, while larger Gili Gede has quiet villages and simple stays. They make a calmer, less crowded day out.
Best time: Morning, dry season
Tip: These islands are on the other side of Lombok, so plan them as a separate day trip by road and a short boat, not from the three main Gilis. Boats run in suitable weather only.
It is about 52 km in a straight line from Gili Islands.
It is about 108 km in a straight line from Gili Islands.
It is about 150 km in a straight line from Gili Islands.
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Indonesia page
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Dec.
Prices here are about 29% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Most visitors fly into Lombok International Airport (LOP) and drive roughly 1.5-2 hours to Bangsal harbour, then take a boat to the Gilis. Fast boats also run from Padang Bai in Bali, and there are routes from other Lombok harbours. Timetables and sea conditions change, so check them for your dates.
The dry season, roughly May to October, usually gives calmer seas and clearer water for snorkelling and diving. The rainy season, roughly November to March, can bring rough crossings and cancelled boats, so keep a spare day. It is warm all year, and the Gilis are busiest in July and August and around holidays.
The islands have local Muslim communities living alongside the tourist side. Swimwear is fine at the beach, but cover up when walking through villages and visiting mosques, and keep quiet during the call to prayer. Look after the reef and turtles: no touching, no standing on coral, and take your rubbish with you.
There are no cars or motorbikes on Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. You walk, rent a bicycle or ride a cidomo horse cart, and you hop between islands by boat. Bring some cash, as card machines and ATMs are not everywhere, and pack light because luggage is carried by hand or cart.
112 - general emergency (free, works from any phone where the service is live). 110 - police. 118 / 119 - ambulance and medical emergency. 113 - fire. 115 - search and rescue (BASARNAS). English is understood in the main tourist areas; elsewhere ask your hotel to call for you.
Report a lost passport to the nearest police station (get the police report), then contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document. Keep a photo of your passport in your e-mail or phone - it speeds everything up. The official embassy list linked here shows where to find your country's embassy or consulate.
Big cities and Bali have international-standard private hospitals (e.g. Siloam, BIMC in Bali, Mayapada, RS Pondok Indah in Jakarta). Public referral hospitals are cheaper but busier. Ask your hotel or travel insurer for the nearest suitable hospital.
local government
Helps with: Indonesia's national tourism ministry. Its contact page lists a call centre, a WhatsApp contact centre, an email address and its office in Jakarta for tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Indonesia or planning a trip there.
Phone: 021-3838000
Email: [email protected]
Address: Gedung Sapta Pesona, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.17, Gambir, Jakarta Pusat, Jakarta 10110
un agency
Helps with: The UN migration agency, operating in Indonesia since 1979. It works with governments and partners on migration management and crisis response.
Who qualifies: Migrants, governments and partners working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +62 21 57951275
Email: [email protected]
Address: Sampoerna Strategic Square North Tower 10th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 45-46, Jakarta 12930
ngo
Helps with: The ICRC says it works with the society on training first responders in pre-hospital care, reuniting separated families and emergency preparedness. No contact details are given, so use the society's website.
Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use it. It names the society as the ICRC's partner in Indonesia.