The Gili Islands are made up by 3 small islands located just off the western shore of Lombok and south east of Bali making with easy to access transfers running from both islands daily. All three islands have their own characteristics in which draw different types of visitors year in year out, looking for their own unique experience to take away from these beautiful islands.
All three islands are very popular with a common type of traveller and that’s divers, this is down to the whole host of marine life which can be seen in the crystal clear waters surrounding the islands. So carry on reading to discover a real slice of paradise providing a holiday experience that you will never forget!
Gili Air
Described as the most peaceful out of the three islands Gili Air is renown for it’s peaceful beaches, great dive spots and incredible sunsets, combine this with a number of high quality resorts and restaurants and you are on to a winner.
Whether you are looking for a peaceful getaway or an action packed adventure Gili Air can offer both with a selection of water sports unique to this island you can take part in. The island is the perfect combination of a local traditional experience with the friendly local people who have been living on the island for many years embracing the change and welcoming the tourists to their beautiful home.
Hotels
When looking for somewhere to stay on the island you can choose from a number of options from stunning five star bungalows in the ever popular Kempas Villas which boast stunning views and beautiful facilities all in the privacy of your own private bungalow.
The Amelya Hotel is another hugely popular resort with travellers especially those who are travelling as couples thanks to the romantic setting the hotel provides as well as a beautiful dining area.
Another idyllic resort on the island is the Samata Village which again possesses an instagram worthy swimming pool surrounded by lush gardens and greenery setting the scene as you unwind with a cocktail or fruit smoothie.
Now if you have had enough of relaxing on the beach or pool you can take part in one of the many activities the island has to offer. Now to keep the island as peaceful as it is no motors are allowed on Gili Air, meaning the only way to get around is by foot or bicycle.
You can rent bikes at most of the hotels and guest houses and proceed to take a peaceful bike ride around the island. This is the best way to see the island from the hidden beaches to the authentic villages and traditional huts in which you can buy the locally produced goods and crafts.
If you were born to be in the water then there’s endless possibilities on Gili Air. Grab yourself a paddle board and cruise down the coastline on the tranquil waters or for a more extreme experience there’s some great kitesurfing spots. There is also some great scuba diving and snorkelling spots surrounding all three islands which is a must for anyone interested in seeing some beautiful marine life!
When it comes to the evening you can pull up a bean bag on the beach catch the incredible sunset the island encounters. Now for dinner, if seafood takes your fancy then you are at the right place. There’s an abundance of restaurants serving the freshest fish straight from the ocean on to your plate.
Where to Eat?
The Dolcemare Restaurant is set on the southern part of the island overlooking the beach and is the top rated seafood restaurant on the island. Combining authentic Italian food with freshly caught produce with very simple recipes enhancing the taste of the catch of the day making it easy to understand why people love this place.
If it is some traditional Indonesian food your after then head to North Western part of the island to Warung Alam Damaifor some cheap yet delicious eats. Pick a couple of plates as your money goes a lot further, people rave about the chicken satay and mie goreng (friend noodles) as well as a selection of delicious curries on the menu which seem very popular.
If your after a post dinner drink then enjoy some live music accompanied with a Bintang or a cocktail or two at one of the many chilled out bars set along the beach. Scallywags is a popular drinking hole with the divers on the island. Chill out to some reggae music at the aptly named ‘Chill Out Bar’ and listen to waves lap up against the shore.
If Gili Air sounds like your type of holiday destination then don’t hesitate to contact one of our team and start your once in a lifetime adventure with Low Cost Deals today!
Gili Trawangan
Onto the most popular islands out of the three Gili Trawangan. Famous again for its incredible sunsets, white sands, welcoming locals, turquoise clear waters, exotic marine life and not to mention the nightlife!
Now after visiting Gili Trawangan it is easy to see why this island becomes more and more popular with travellers year after year. Scuba Divers flock here for the amazing diving spots teaming with marine life off the coast of the island. Honeymooners can enjoy the various romantic spots throughout Gili (especially at sunset). Party goers will revel in the main strip along the southern part of the island and dance the night away.
Once you have arrived off your boat from either Bali or Lombok you will be welcomed by a number of horse carriages or carts ready to take your bag. This is down to the island not having any sort of motorised vehicles which adds to the relaxing atmosphere you can find here.
Hotels
The big question when it comes to Gili T is where to stay?With an abundance of lovely resorts and bungalows on offer it may be hard to find that perfect place with some hidden gems scattered around the island.
When choosing where to stay there is a lot to consider. The east side of the island is where the majority of your accomodation options close to the main restaurants and bars however if it’s complete relaxation your after then head to the western side of the island which is also where you will catch the best sunsets.
Gili T is home to a number of luxury hotels all possessing their own characteristics. Ombak Sunset Villas is a beautiful five star resort set on right on the beach of the western side of the island, it has a huge landscaped pool offering loads of space and privacy.
It provides unrivalled sunsets away from the main spots which can get a bit crowded by other tourists as the resort has it’s own private beach. Along with this the rooms are what you imagine 5 star luxury to be, and there is also the option to upgrade to a private villa which has your own private pool as well as beach access.
Next up is The Gili One Resorta peaceful hotel in which you can get your own bungalow with a private jacuzzi from around 25 pound per person. The hotel has its own private pool with free wifi throughout and your own adorable little bungalow overlooking the pool. They also provide a free bike with the room to get around the island.
North of the island sits another popular resort called Oceano Jambuluwuk Resortset in its own space which makes you feel like your the only ones on the island. With loads of garden space and a huge pool it is easy to never leave the resort. The hotels restaurant is very highly rated also as you can sit and watch the sunset in luscious gardens over a delicious dinner.
After all that sitting around on the beach you will have worked up quite the appetite so the question iswhere is best to eaton the island. With the demand coming from tourists from all over the world brings a wide cuisines to the island.
Starting with for me the best food on the island and that’s the local Indonesian food. The highly rated Pituq Warungwhich serves up Asian fusion food at it’s finest and all in a beautiful location on the beach, try some of the seafood dishes as you can guarantee that it will be fresh from the sea as is the norm living on the island. Oh Warung Gili serves up fresh and quick local food, with a whole selection of dishes to choose from as well as the option to personalise your meal with a number of different dishes.
Looking for some more home comforts then head to the best pizza place on the island, Francesco’s Pizza is located right on the strip and serves up tasty traditional Italian pizzas which would make it hard to believe your on a island in the middle of Indonesia. Speaking to the Italian owner on my last visit you can tell he is very passionate about what he does and brings a taste of authentic Italy to the island of Gili all at a very affordable price.
Mexican food is very popular around the island however the best for me was Tiki Grove,this restaurant brings a lot to the table as it combines a number of cuisines to create the perfect mix of tastes. There is a big Hawaiian influence which works perfectly with the Mexican vibe with a lot of seafood and fresh fish on the menu. Along with your favourite Mexican dishes the owner has made a unique taste and all of this in a beautiful location on the beach.
If you are looking for a bit of a boogie then you have found the right island. There is a main strip which runs along the east side of the island. This strip is home to a number of bars from Reggae to Irish bars all with their own characteristics and vibe. Sama Sama bar has some of the best live music the island has to offer with a huge range of artists giving their own twist on some of the most iconic reggae songs you can imagine.
While watching sunset keep an eye out for Exile bar again where you will catch some pretty special live music with a special shout out to the traditional Indonesian drum band whom tend to play around sunset time every second day.
Our travel experts are on hand to help you start your Gili Trawangan holiday today. Whether it be a honeymoon, family holiday or solo traveller we can help you start to finish with flights transfers and accomodation all at the best price possible so contact us by clicking here today!
Gili Meno
Last but not least is Gili Meno, again like the other islands it has a very chilled out vibe which allows you to make an escape from the rest of the world. This is down to it’s friendly locals who live such a peaceful life on this little piece of paradise.
Hotels
When looking at where to stay on the island the first resort that comes to mind is The Seri Resorta beautiful plantation style resort which has a beautiful pool, a restaurant and the best bar on the island. With rooms starting at around 70 pounds a night it’s the closest you will get to luxury on the island without breaking the bank.
Avia Villa is another option with lovely wooden huts all kitted out with luxurious facilities. Your stay includes free wifi throughout the resort, a swimming pool, included breakfast and not to mention the attentive staff. Prices start at around 23 pounds per night so you can snag a great bargain by staying at this ultimate chill spot.
Restaurants
Restaurants on the island tend to all follow the local theme with some amazing home cooked food giving your experience of Gili Meno a very authentic Indonesian feel. Mahamaya Restaurant is a favourite with visitors serving up the finest seafood with a slight European twist. Looking beyond this though there are loads of delicious Warungs serving up the best Indonesian food you can get, Jizzys Warung especially seems very popular.
This is also the perfect place to explore Indonesian food even more on a cooking class which can be arranged before your arrival and at the cost of around fifteen pounds you get a 3 hour lesson as well as a three course meal cooked by yours truly! Contact our team for more details or ask at the hotel you are staying at and they should be able to book you on in no time.
Similar to the other islands the main theme of activities are heavily involved in the sea, with some amazing snorkelling spots around the island. Gili Meno is also the best island to spot turtles off the shore as it is the most peaceful of the three islands therefore they come closer to the beach.