Things to Do in the Gili Islands

The three Gili Islands off Lombok's northwest coast — Trawangan, Meno and Air — ban motorised vehicles entirely, so getting around means walking, cycling or riding a horse-drawn cidomo cart, which sets a noticeably slower pace than almost anywhere on the Bali mainland. Trawangan is the largest and liveliest, with a genuine nightlife scene built around beach bars; Meno, the smallest, is the quiet option with the fewest facilities; and Air sits somewhere between the two. Snorkelling straight off the beach is a real draw across all three, with sea turtles a common sight in the shallows without needing a boat trip. Getting here involves a boat crossing from Bali or Lombok, and conditions can turn choppy outside the calmer months, so build in some flexibility around departure times. Picking the right island matters more here than almost anywhere else on this site, since the three have genuinely different characters. Below are the top-rated boat transfers and tours to the Gili Islands.