Indonesia DIY: 12 travel tips for an unforgettable trip
June 8, 2024
Indonesia is a country of thousands of islands, each with unique characteristics! Here’s what to know for a travel to Indonesia DIY!
Gili Trawangan, Gili Air or Gili Meno? Here are what are the differences between these 3 beautiful islands in Indonesia!
Crystal-clear waters, beach clubs and no vehicles make the Gili Islands three little paradises in the Indonesian sea.
But which is the best Gili Island to visit? What are the differences between these three islands? Which is the best Gili Island for snorkeling?
In this article, we will try to help you figure out which one is right for you and answer the question “Which is the best Gili Island to visit?”
The Gili Islands are volcanic islands surrounded by coral reefs. They’re located east of Bali, next to Lombok, Indonesia.
There are three islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and finally Gili Air. They’re small islands where the only transportation options are bikes, horse-drawn carts, or…mostly your legs! In these three small islands, you can relax and enjoy some peace and quiet (no more traffic jams like you might have experienced in Bali!).
The Gili Islands are a hit with tourists from all over, as well as locals, because of their beauty, the chill vibe that makes these islands stand out, and the relatively low cost of a vacation there.
If you don’t have enough time to visit them all, which should you choose? Is it just one island, or at least two? And when that happens, which one should you toss? We’ve been in the same boat, and in this article, we’ll share some helpful tips on choosing the right Gili for you.
Need more info on planning a vacation to the Gili Islands? Then we suggest you check out our 👉 article where you’ll find lots of useful info!
Gili Trawangan (referred to as Gili-T) is the largest of the three islands, while Gili Meno is the smallest. However, the difference in surface area is not significant: a walking tour of Trawangan takes about an hour and a half, while Gili Meno takes about an hour.
Renting bicycles can drastically reduce travel time, allowing you to reach any part of the island in no more than ten minutes.
In conclusion, all three islands are relatively small, so it doesn’t matter which Gili you choose in terms of size.
The sea in the Gili Islands is beautiful everywhere, the beaches are white or golden sand and the water is crystal clear.
However, if you’re looking to snorkel in a beautiful coral reef, there is only one answer to the question ‘Which is the best Gili Island for snorkeling?’ : Gili Meno. This small island boasts several locations with stunning coral gardens teeming with colourful fish.
However, the main attraction is the majestic bask nest located off the west coast. Tourists from neighbouring islands flock to this breathtaking spot daily before continuing their snorkelling adventures at various other points around the island. Being able to stay on the island will enable you to enjoy the peaceful moments when the daily tourists have not yet arrived, allowing you to appreciate the stunning coral reefs.
If you are interested in diving, there are several diving centres on the other two islands that offer more services.
In conclusion, if you wish to snorkel in the Gili Islands the best Gili Island for snorkeling is Gili Meno.
However, if you are a diving enthusiast, Gili Air or Gili Trawangan may be more suitable due to the additional facilities available.
🤿 BUY HERE the snorkeling tour at the Nest
🪸🔎 BUY HERE your dives
Clown fishes in the sea of Gili Islands
If fun and nightlife are a must-have for you, surely the answer to the question “Which is the best Gili Island for having fun?” is very simple: Gili Trawangan is the island for you.
In Gili Trawangan there are night parties almost everywhere, from beach clubs to clubs on the beach or even on boats that leave in the afternoon and return at sunset. To give you an idea, in the evenings you can hear the sounds of Gili Trawangan even in Gili Meno.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is Gili Meno, where you will not find beach parties, DJ nights etc., so if you are looking for absolute tranquillity and silence, Gili Meno is perfect. This is not to say that there is nothing going on: a typical Gili Meno evening includes an aperitif while watching the sunset, dinner in a beach club and a cocktail at the end of the evening with some live reggae music. It was on this island that we met a local band, famous throughout Gili, called Brotherhood(HERE is their instagram page and their top track for you to listen to while you finish reading the article).
Gili Air is exactly in the middle: there are beach parties (not every night and not in every club, but still every week) and there are also romantic dinners on the beach and tranquillity.
Gili Trawangan:
👉🏼 Low budget 💰: Little Elephant Cottage
⭐ Trip To Try Choice – Medium budget 💰💰: Pearl Sunset Resort
Gili Air:
👉🏼 Low budget 💰: Ananda B&B
⭐ Trip To Try Choice – Medium budget 💰💰: Kaien Villa
Gili Meno:
⭐ Trip To Try Choice – Low budget 💰: The This-Kon
👉🏼 Medium budget 💰💰: Mahamaya
All three islands offer a variety of restaurants and clubs along the beaches, with mainly warungs inland.
Traditional Indonesian dishes are always available, as well as freshly grilled fish of the day. Additionally, there are a few places that serve international cuisine, such as popular hamburger spots on all three islands. Overall, the islands are fairly equivalent in terms of food options.
However, if you are interested in dining at non-traditional restaurants such as Italian, Mexican or Indian, you will not find any options in Gili Meno. In contrast, Gili Air and Trawangan offer plenty of choices.
Regarding shopping, there are very few stores in Gili Meno. Therefore, if you are looking for souvenirs like a magnet for your fridge, you may struggle to find one. In Gili Air, there are several shops along the road from the harbour and some areas along the beach. However, Gili Trawangan offers the most variety in terms of shopping and establishments.
Therefore, from a shopping perspective, Gili Trawangan is the best Gili Island, although Gili Air still has a lot to offer!
Local restaurant in Gili
Sunset aperitif in Gili
The evening at Gili...looking at another Gili!
Gili Trawangan is the most crowded island, and Gili Meno is the one with fewer people.
Gili Trawangan is a bit too crowded, especially in the evening, when things can get a bit crazy. Most of the people who visit this island are young people who come for the nightlife.
Gili Air is definitely less crowded, with a mix of people ranging from young people to families and couples. You’ll never find yourself in a crowd, but there’s always something going on, especially during high season!
Gili Meno is the perfect spot for couples and those looking for some peace and quiet. At sunset, you’ll have no problem snapping pics without anyone in the way of your perfect shot of the horizon. During the day, it’s a breeze to find long stretches of beach that are pretty much all yours.
So, when it comes to deciding between the Gili islands, it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re into the nightlife scene, Gili Trawangan is the spot. But if you’re more into peace and quiet, Gili Meno is the place to be.
For us, Gili Air was the best option because it had a nice balance of things to do. If we wanted to dance, we’d head to the bar and club area, and if we wanted some quiet, we’d go to a cute little restaurant on the beach.
As you may have guessed, these three islands are similar but also different in some respects. In general, there is no absolute best or most beautiful one, so the choice has to be made based on what you like and what you are looking for from your holiday.
We visited Gili Air and Gili Meno and our answer is that we generally liked the former better, but little Meno won out in terms of the sea and the reef.
We avoided Gili Trawangan, because the main reason for preferring this island to the others is precisely the nightlife and we were less interested in it, but if you like the nightlife and being around people this is the island for you.
Gili Air is better served than Gili Meno, the accommodation is of a slightly higher standard (unless you go to the luxury hotels) and there is a fair amount of people.
Gili Meno is the island of tranquillity and relaxation, snorkelling and romantic dinners on the beach.
All in all, considering all the aspects we have mentioned, our answer to the question “Which is the best Gili Island to visit?” is Gili Air!
Our final advice is to see at least a couple of islands and not stop at just one, considering that 3 or 4 days on one island is more than enough!
We hope you enjoyed this article and that it clarified your thoughts on the pros and cons of each island in the Gili archipelago. If you would like more information on Indonesia and Bali, we suggest you to stay connected with us, we’ll publish soon more articles about Indonesia, enjoy the read and as always… trip to try!
Indonesia is a country of thousands of islands, each with unique characteristics! Here’s what to know for a travel to Indonesia DIY!
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