Your trip to Gili Air is coming up soon and you're still looking for things you should definitely do on the island? Then you've come to the right place!
I was able to call this little paradise island my home for several months and I am very grateful for that! I had a great time here with great people who have become not just friends but family. The island will always be a kind of home to me and I will return to it many more times. You ask yourself what makes a small island that you can walk around in about an hour so special and, above all, what can you do here? Basically, you probably come here to relax for the most part and then you've chosen the perfect place to do so! However, there are a few things you should definitely not miss out on Gili Air:
Spend time on the beach
Obviously you should definitely spend time on the beach, you are on a small island after all! The beaches are very beautiful and usually quite empty, so you'll always find a spot to yourself. So grab a coconut and a book and relax - but if you want to go swimming, be aware of the tides. The tides are very strong on the island and the water is often very low during the day. So if you want to swim properly in deeper water, you should go early in the morning.
Go snorkeling
The Gili Islands are particularly popular because they are a paradise for snorkeling enthusiasts and you can actually always see turtles here. You have several options here: a public snorkeling tour, a private snorkeling tour or you can simply go snorkeling on the beach. I would recommend the public tour the least, as you will only get the idyllic feeling of floating on the sea to a limited extent, but will rather be hit in the face by other fins. The public tours from all three islands start at around the same time in the morning and always go to the same spots, which is why they can get quite crowded. First you go to the famous underwater statues in front of Gili Meno, then to a turtle spot where you can observe quite large specimens, then to a coral area where you can observe beautiful fish and finally you stop for lunch on one of the islands. The price for the public tour is usually around 150,000 IDR, which is about 9 EUR. The difference to the private tour is that it usually starts later and you can decide everything and might even enjoy the sunset from the boat. The prices here vary depending on how many people you are. If you find some cool people in your hostel to share a boat with, you might only pay 3-5 EUR more. So I definitely recommend this more than the public tour.
If you don't feel like going on a tour, you can also just go snorkeling on the beach. You can easily rent snorkels and fins on the beach. Without fins this costs IDR 25,000 and with fins IDR 50,000 per day. You don't have to swim far out to get to the corals. You can see lots of fish here and I saw at least one turtle every time - although I didn't go snorkeling very often to be honest. But the probability is very high!
Watch the sunrise and sunset
Gili Air has the perfect spots to watch both the sunrise and the sunset. Watching the start and end of the day is always a magical experience. For me, these are the best times of the day and it gets even better when I watch them on the beach.
You can enjoy the sunrise on the eastern side of the island. To get the full experience, you should be on the beach around 5am. Here you can watch the sun rise behind the mountains of Lombok. If you then feel like starting this magical morning with a very good breakfast and a coffee, I recommend the following café: The Rising Sun Gili Air. The café is located directly on the beach and opens daily at 6 am. The food is fabulous and you can enjoy the rest of the sunrise here with a delicious cup of coffee in your hand.
You can watch the sunset on the other side of the island. There are also numerous restaurants right on the beach here, so you can enjoy your sunset dinner on the beach. Here you can watch the sun disappear behind Bali's highest volcano, Mount Agung. If you like playing volleyball, I can recommend PJ's. The restaurant has a volleyball net right on the beach and there is often a fun group of people who come together for a match at sunset.
Try out different restaurants and cafés
Gili Air has a lot to offer when it comes to restaurants and cafés. You'll find something in every price range and for every taste. Here are some of my favorites:
If you are interested in the cafés and restaurants in more detail, I can also create a separate blog post here, just let me know in the comments.
If you know any other insider tips, please let me know as well - I'm always happy to hear about new restaurant tips!
Go to a bar in the evening
Although Gili Air is not known for partying, there is still a bit going on here in the evenings. When parties take place, it's always in one bar only. The bars alternate with the days of the week. The parties often have a more relaxed vibe and usually take place on the beach. Mostly they give you a small fire show and sometimes even a bonfire on the beach. It's best to ask your accommodation where and when a party is taking place.
You will also find live music in many restaurants or bars located directly on the beach until around 11 pm if you don't feel like partying but still want to end the evening with some music.
Feel free to give me feedback on your time on Gili Air and let me know if you have any other tips!
Love, Shirley
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