Top 10 Things to Do in Gili Islands: A Complete Activity Guide

The three Gili Islands off the coast of Lombok — Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno — pack an incredible variety of things to do into a tiny stretch of turquoise sea. No cars, no motorbikes, just bicycles, horse carts, and clear water. Here is our list of the best activities to plan around.

1. Snorkel the house reef. All three islands have shallow reefs right off the beach — no boat needed to see reef fish and coral.
2. Swim with sea turtles. Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno both have well-known turtle spots along their east coasts.
3. Circle the island by bicycle. Gili Air and Gili Meno are small enough to ride around in under two hours.
4. Watch the sunset from the west coast. All three islands face Bali's Mount Agung across the water — a classic Gili sunset view.
5. Take a day trip between islands. Fast boats connect all three Gilis in 10-20 minutes, so island-hopping in a single day is easy.
6. Dive one of the local dive sites. The Gilis sit on a well-regarded dive circuit with sites for both beginners and experienced divers.
7. Visit the underwater sculpture park. Gili Meno is home to an artificial reef installation that doubles as a snorkeling and diving attraction.
8. Try a horse cart (cidomo) ride. The traditional way to get around before bicycles took over — still available on all three islands.
9. Relax at a beach warung. Beachfront cafes serving fresh seafood and fruit are a big part of the slow pace of Gili life.
10. Catch the night market on Gili Trawangan. The busiest of the three islands has the most nightlife and food stalls after dark.

Whichever combination you choose, getting between the islands and from Lombok or Bali is the easiest part — book your fast boat ticket in advance to lock in your schedule.