Things to do in Gili islands

Gili islands located in Lombok is known as “Party Islands” for many years, specially Gili Trawangan, but its not the only thing the island has to offer, and that is not the reason why we in Balinest love this islands. So here is things to do in Gili Islands

Gili Trawangan street view

#1 Diving (scuba diving or freediving) / snorkeling

Gili islands has clear sea water, the visibility is around 20m and warm, most beach around Gili islands is shallow around 5 meter deep, then if you swim out for 20 meter it will drop from 5 to 30 meter deep.  With this condition there is diving spot all around Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, with vary dept and condition, some area may best for scuba diving, some for freediving or snorkeling.

The best time to dive is from May to September, when the wet season ends.

Diving Freediving and Snorkeling in Gili islands, lombok

#2 Relaxing spa

After diving or snorkeling, or after a long bike ride around the island, or just tired because of hot temperature, there many reason to enjoy spa time. There many place you could try, but the one we would recommend is the one in Aston Hotel, the price is affordable, nice place, friendly therapist, good massage, relaxing spa treatment.

#3 Bike ride around the island

You might already know that there is automobile and motorized traffic is prohibited on the islands, the only method of transportation is walking, bicycle or horse cart. There are amazing view of blue sky, and turquoise beach around the island, sunset view and sunrise view everywhere; a real vision of heaven. Rent a bike and ride it along the sandy road around the island and experience all those amazing view, bring also your snorkel and fins just in case you feel like snorkeling in some spot.

If you in Gili Trawangan, start in the morning when the water is still a little cold and fresh, right after breakfast; you could also bring your lunch box, that way you don’t need to bring your wallet, just for safety reason, ride your bike and start pedaling. Riding bike, snorkeling in several spot, lunch at the beach, and back to where you start, all will take around 8 hours. But if you in Gili Meno or Gili Air, bike ride around will take less time, because the island is smaller then Gili Trawangan.

(remember to take lot of water, to prevent dehydration and don’t litter)

Bike around Gili islands, or use cidomo instead

Bike around Gili islands, or use cidomo instead

#4 Meditation / yoga

Yoga is a spiritual, mental and physical discipline, while meditation more focus on the mental and spiritual. Both yoga and meditation could practiced daily, but to get more result and faster progress, yoga and meditation need to be practiced in a long and continues time, that’s why most serious yoga and meditation practitioner would go on a retreat.

You could found many place to learn yoga and meditation in Gili Trawangan, Meno or even Gili Air, the service vary from beginner class to expert, even to serious retreat. Checkout GiliYoga…

(in north Bali, Brahmavihara Arama at Singaraja provide many meditation retreat through the year, in many discipline)

#5 Enjoy beach vibe

Maybe it’s the day you don’t want to do anything, you just want to have a moment with yourself, with someone important, or any reason; walking, reading, sun bath, enjoying peaceful beach vibe. Bring your towel and water, there is quite beach everywhere, some in walking distance, some need extra effort (depend on where you stay), but most nice and quite beach is in north of Gili Trawangan, if you in Gili Meno then its everywhere (this is the least popular island, second largest), if you in Gili Air then most quite beach is at west of the island.

enjoy holiday in Gili island, lombok with balinest

#6 Water activity

Its literally beach everywhere in Gili Island, other then diving, freediving and snorkeling you still can enjoy other water activity such as surfing, SUP boarding, canoeing, kayaking, and have fun with subwing. All of those activity can be easily found specially near the harbor, except for subwing, there is only one place that provide subwing service, here…

The subwing board is build from two separate board wings which are connected with rotatable swivel. By holding on the front edge of each wing with one hand, it can be easily be controlled in all direction. To make subwing fun, you will be towed, start from 2 knots to allow you get familiar with the board, after you give ok signal you will be pulled a bit faster, maximum speed is 4 knots.