7 Best Things to Do in Gili Air
Are you looking for the best things to do in Gili Air, Lombok? Gili Air is a popular destination in Indonesia, so you can’t miss it on your Lombok Itinerary.
The Gili Islands are the perfect escape from Bali and are ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts.
Wondering what to do in Gili Air, Lombok?
Snorkel with turtles, bike around the island, join a local cooking class, relax on the beaches, and take a day trip to the underwater sculptures of Gili Meno.
This ultimate guide to visiting Gili Air includes how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in Gili Air, Indonesia.
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- 7 Best Things to Do in Gili Air
- Where is Gili Air
- Best Time to Visit Gili Air
- How to Get to Gili Air, Indonesia
- How to Get Around Gili Air
- Is it Safe to Travel to Gili Air?
- Best things to do in Gili Air, Lombok
- 1. Bike Around the Island
- 2. Snorkel with the Turtles
- 3. Beach Swing at Sunset
- 4. Snorkel at the Underwater Statues of Gili Meno
- 5. Join an Indonesian Cooking Class
- 6. Take a Scuba Diving Course
- 7. Enjoy your Stay
- Where to Eat in Gili Air
- Where to Stay in Gili Air, Lombok
- How many Days do you Need in Gili Air?
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Where is Gili Air
The Gili Islands consist of three small islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air) located off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia.
Best Time to Visit Gili Air
Gili Air has two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season.
The Gili Islands are a popular destination all year round! But the best time to visit is during the dry season, from April to October.
The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for boat tours, swimming, snorkeling, and visiting the islands.
It’s good to know that during the rainy season (from November to March) or when the sea conditions are bad, the boat schedules can change and be delayed a lot, so plan your trip to Lombok!
Gili Air has a warm tropical monsoon climate with high humidity.
January is the wettest month, and August is the driest.
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In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation, ferry tickets, and tours in advance!
Read our → Lombok and Gili Islands Itinerary
How to Get to Gili Air, Indonesia
You can get to the Gili Islands from Bali by public ferry, speed boat, and helicopter, or fly into Lombok and travel by boat from there.
The fast boat is the most comfortable and quickest way to get from Bali to Gili Air!
The cost of a fast ferry ticket from Bali to the Gili Islands can vary depending on the company, the type of boat, the port of departure, and whether you are traveling in high or low season.
Fast boat tickets usually cost between 330,000 IDR and 750,000 IDR (about 22 USD and 50 USD) per person.
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You can easily buy boat tickets at any port, but we recommend booking online with 12Go!
From Bali, ferries depart to Gili Air from Sanur, Padang Bai, Serangan, and Amed harbors. The fast ferry ride from Bali to the Gili Islands usually takes around 2-6 hours, depending on the port, stops, waiting times, and sea conditions.
Recommended post → From Bali to the Gili Islands Guide
How to Get Around Gili Air
The Gili Islands are car-free, and as there are no cars, you can only get around on foot or by bicycle or electric scooter.
In fact, it’s a small island, and we cycled around it twice.
The best paved roads are in the middle of the island! The paths on the edge of the island are through the sand, so be careful on these parts.
There is another alternative to getting around in Gili Air, these are horse-drawn carriages, but we don’t recommend this option!
Is it Safe to Travel to Gili Air?
Yes, it is generally safe. However, always keep an eye on your valuables and beware of pickpockets!
Always stay hydrated, use sunscreen, and have travel insurance.
Currents around the Gili Islands can be strong and unpredictable, so be careful when swimming or snorkeling!
Looking for affordable travel insurance for your upcoming holiday or for digital nomads? We always choose SafetyWing for our travels, which covers people all over the world while they are away from home.
Best things to do in Gili Air, Lombok
1. Bike Around the Island
One of the best things to do in Gili Air is to rent a bike and discover the island on your own.
This is the best way to find hidden gems, the best restaurants, and bars, or meet the locals.
We recommend renting a bright color (pink, yellow, or green) bike that will look great in your Instagram photos.
You can rent a bike almost anywhere on the island. For one day, the rental fee is 40,000 IDR (3 USD).
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Although there are ATMs on Gili Air and many places accept credit cards, we recommend you bring enough cash when visiting the Gili Islands.
Keep reading → Things to Do in Lombok
2. Snorkel with the Turtles
The Gili Islands are the perfect place to watch turtles! You can easily join a group tour or book a private snorkeling tour online or in the harbor.
Another option is to rent snorkeling equipment and explore the turtle spots on your own.
Gili Air is a paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers, so this will be the best experience on the Gili Islands.
You can ask your accommodation for information on where to find the best turtle spots, which can be reached without a boat tour. But usually, the eastern part of the island is the best for this activity.
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If your time in Indonesia is limited, take a snorkeling tour to the Gili Islands from Lombok. We recommend booking through Viator.
Read our → Nusa Penida Guide
3. Beach Swing at Sunset
One of the most favorite activities on Gili Air is watching the sunset.
The best sunset spots are Pelangi Beach and Gili Lumbung, where the swings make the experience even more fun.
There are many restaurants and beach bars around Pelangi Beach, so we recommend arriving a few hours early and relaxing on the beach.
Good to know
As this is a popular attraction, you may have to wait a few minutes to take photos, but it’s worth it.
See also → Best Beaches in Lombok
4. Snorkel at the Underwater Statues of Gili Meno
One of the best things to do in Gili Air is to take a day trip to Gili Meno and snorkel at the underwater sculptures. Book your snorkeling tour with GetYourGuide.
Gili Meno is just a 15-20 minute boat ride away.
The public boat ticket from Gili Air to Gili Meno is around 40,000 IDR (2.5 USD) per person per way.
Alternatively, you can join a private boat trip or stay in Gili Meno and swim for about 5 minutes to the underwater statues.
Good to know
Currents around the Gili Islands can be strong and unpredictable, so be careful when swimming or snorkeling!
More about Lombok → Benang Kelambu Waterfall
5. Join an Indonesian Cooking Class
Are you looking for more things to do in Gili Air? A fun activity is to join a cooking class at the Gili Cooking Classes, located close to the harbor.
Since Indonesian food is heavenly, don’t miss the opportunity to know the ingredients, learn how to prepare these traditional local dishes, and make your own meals.
There are 3 cooking classes available daily at 11:30 AM, 4 PM, and 8 PM.
The first is an intro course where you can prepare a three-course meal (Kelopon, Peanut sauce & Fried tempeh, Fried noodles).
It takes 1.5 hours and costs 290,000 IDR (19 USD) per person.
At Gili Cooking Classes, vegetarian and vegan options are available upon request!
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If you are not taking this cooking class, we recommend you try typical Indonesian flavors at local restaurants.
Our favorite local dishes you must try are Nasi Goreng, Satay, Mie Goreng, Nasi Campur, and Gado-Gado.
6. Take a Scuba Diving Course
Are you looking for a unique activity in Gili Air? As the island is perfect for scuba diving, don’t miss this opportunity at Oceans 5 Dive Resort close to the harbor.
This activity is perfect for those who have never dived before but want to try it or for those who want to get their diving certification.
7. Enjoy your Stay
Although there are a few things to do in Gili Air, the most important thing is to relax, chill out on the best beaches with a cold beer or coconut, or take a yoga class.
For a more exciting activity on the island, go SUP (stand-up paddleboard) or Subwing.
Good to know
We’re disappointed that PinkCoco no longer has pink swings, but the bench offers a good photo spot.
Keep reading → What to Do in Senggigi
Where to Eat in Gili Air
In Gili Islands, you can find many local restaurants (warungs), vegan options, national foods, and the best places to eat with all budgets.
These are our recommendations.
Best restaurants in Gili Air
- Mama Pizza (Delicious pizza)
- Aura Bowls (Perfect place for breakfast)
- Warung Parida (Cheap, local dishes)
- Pachamama Organic Cafe (Healthy breakfast, vegan options)
- Gili Bliss (Best smoothie bowls)
- Ruby’s Cafe (Perfect place for dinner)
- Warung Mexicana (Cheap Mexican food)
- JUJU Zero Waste Store & Vegan Cafe (The best vegan restaurant with heavenly food)
- Warung Sunny (Fantastic local dishes)
- Captain Coconuts (Our favorite place to eat)
Where to Stay in Gili Air, Lombok
Although it’s a small island, accommodation options are available for all budgets. You can choose from cheap hostels to mid-range hotels and luxury villas.
Best hotels in Gili Air, Lombok
- Luxury: Villa Tokay Luxury Private Villas
- Mid-Range: PinkCoco Hotel
- Budget: Captain Coconuts
How many Days do you Need in Gili Air?
As the journey from Bali is long, we recommend you spend your first day relaxing. Then, stay at least 2 full days to get the most out of your trip.
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Add an extra day to your Gili Air Itinerary and take a day trip to Gili Trawangan or stay longer.
We hope our list of the best things to do in Gili Air will help you plan your next trip to Indonesia. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Ferry/Transfer – 12Go
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