This Gili Air travel guide is your go-to for this chill little Indonesian island. Just off Lombok’s northwest coast, between Bali and the open ocean, the three Gili islands (Gili Meno, Gili Trawangan, and Gili Air) are all beautiful. Gili Air just has that perfect mix of laid-back vibes where stress doesn’t exist.
No cars, no motorbikes, just sandy paths and bicycles. You’ll cruise past coconut trees, beach cafés, and dive shops that double as espresso bars. Sunrise shows off Mount Rinjani, while sunset turns Bali’s Mount Agung into a stunning backdrop.
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The island feels both local and lively, with Sasak culture blending into the traveller scene. One minute you’ll hear the call to prayer floating across palm trees, and the next minute, reggae spilling out of a beach bar. Despite its size, there are lots of great things to do on Gili Air.
Snorkel with turtles before breakfast, roll into yoga by lunch, then crash on a beanbag under the stars. Boats from Bali or Bangsal drop you right at the jetty; salt spray is non-optional. Let’s dive into this complete guide to visiting Gili Air island!
5 Things To Do on Gili Air
1. Snorkel With Turtles
Head to the northeastern side of the island (known as Sandy Beach & Turtle Point) in the morning. You can often spot green and hawksbill turtles feeding on seagrass and swim with them – no tour required! Late afternoon is also a good time to spot turtles, but this is the best beach on Gili Air to watch the sunrise.
When snorkelling, maintain a safe distance of 6 to 10 feet (2-3 metres) from the turtles to avoid stressing or harming them. Always wear reef-safe sunscreen, and never touch or (I know you wouldn’t do this) try to ride them.
Tide Tip: At low tide, it’s too shallow to swim and easy to step on coral. Always check tide times before snorkelling and consider wearing swim shoes or robust hiking sandals.
2. Cycle Around the Island
Gili Air is a super small island and very walkable, but I highly recommend renting a bike. There are no fewer than five bike rental places dotted around the island. Daily bicycle rentals cost approximately £2.
One of the best things to do on Gili Air is to ride on the 5 km loop path. There’s a mixture of terrain, including paved, hard sand, and soft sand sections, but it’s an easy ride. Gili Air is far from a hilly place!
3. Dive With 3W Divers
Whether you’ve never dived before or want to dust off your PADI or SSI certificate, booking a dive with 3W Divers is absolutely one of the best things to do on Gili Air!
We had already earned open water dive certifications on a previous trip, and this was the perfect opportunity to refresh our skills. The team at 3W Divers were amazing, and there are some fantastic dive spots across the Gili islands just a short boat ride away. You can spot reefs, turtles, manta rays, and blacktip sharks.
Plus, the water is warm (28–30°C) and clear (15–40m visibility)! They operate several dives every day, so you’re bound to find a time that suits you.
4. Outdoor Cinema
Gili Air isn’t really a party island with lots of nightclubs selling large, colourful drinks. It is much more laid-back. So, if you’re wondering what to do on Gili Air in the evening, the outdoor cinema is a great choice.
It’s hosted every night at 7:00 PM on the south coast just outside Royal Regantris Villa Karang Resort. Usually, the films are classics/crowd-pleasers, and it’s a fun, relaxed way to wile away an evening under the stars.
5. See the Sunset at Mowies
If the best sunrises are visible from the northeast coastline, naturally, the best sunsets are visible from a southwest Gili Air beach! Head down to Mowie’s Beachfront Restaurant & Bar and pull up a bean bag while sipping on cocktails and enjoying the perfect sunset view.
It’s definitely one of the most popular Gili Air things to do and the busiest beach bars during sunset. Check the sunset times and grab a spot early.
Best Places To Eat on Gili Air
This wouldn’t be a good Gili Air travel guide without food recommendations! For a small island, Gili Air has an incredible mix of local and international restaurants. I dined on pizza, sushi, poke, and more over my time there.
Gili cooking classes are a popular activity to learn more about Indonesian dishes and flavours in a fun, hands-on setting. But if you’re just interested in eating(who could blame you), here are my recommendations:
- Yanai: Honestly, some of the best sushi I’ve ever tasted
- Pachamama: This bohemian, dreamy setting serves brunch and wood-fired pizza
- Mama Pizza: Authentic Italian pizza right on the beach near Sunset Point
- Gili Coffee Roasters: Chilled vibes and great flat whites in a tropical locale
- Sedjiwa Gili Coffee: Stylish spot with excellent lattes at Sunrise Point
- zZz Warung: Indonesian restaurant with cheap, generous, and tasty portions
- PokeGiliAir: Colourful bowls, coffees, cakes and smoothies with sea views
- Blue Sail: Sandwiches, salads and more; perfect for lunch by the water
How To Get to Gili Air
While you can take the public ferry (it runs between Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, as well as Bangsal Port on Lombok), it’s not the best option. It’s slow and often leaves when it’s full, not at the scheduled time!
Book a fast boat with Sudin Transport. They typically depart from Teluk Nara Harbour (Pelabuhan Teluk Nare) on Lombok, and the speedboat ride only takes around 10 minutes to reach Gili Air.
It’s also possible to travel from Padang Bai in Bali to Gili Air via a high-speed boat, which takes around 1.5-2 hours.
Best Time of Year to Visit Gili Air
Gili Air stays at a similar temperature year-round. Average temperatures rarely dip below 28°C (82°F) or soar above 30°C (86°F). It’s the wet and dry seasons that will affect your decision of when to travel the most.
Gili Air’s dry season is from April to October, and the rainy season is from November to March. The peak tourist seasons are July to August and December to January.
Honestly, there isn’t really a bad time to visit Gili Air, like there are other countries in Southeast Asia. January is the wettest month (receiving about 10 inches/250 mm), and it’s still peak season, so that should tell you something!
Use This Gili Air Travel Guide to Plan Your Trip
That’s your cheat sheet to the best things to do on Gili Air, from snorkelling with turtles to dives and relaxed evenings. Don’t stress about planning every minute. The island is all about slow island days and little joys. Just enjoy the beaches and sunsets, and Gili Air might just steal your heart!
FAQs
- Can you drink alcohol in Gili Air?
- Yes, alcohol is widely available on all three Gili islands. Indonesia might be a Muslim-majority country, but most tourist hotspots will sell alcohol.
- How long would it take to walk around Gili Air?
- Gili Air has a circumference of just under 5 km, so it would take one hour to circumnavigate the island on foot and 20 minutes to walk across.
- Which side of Gili Air is best to stay on?
- The east side of Gili Air is best to stay on because it is lined with resorts and has the most variety of accommodations.
- Do I need cash for Gili Air?
- Gili Air has ATMs, but they sometimes run out or suffer connectivity issues, so it’s good practice to keep a bit of cash.
- What is the tourist tax in Gili?
- You will need to pay a tourist tax of 10,000 IDR when leaving and arriving at the port, plus an extra 20,000 IDR when you set foot on Gili Air. In total, 40,000 IDR converts to around £2.
