GILI ISLAND (GILI TRAWANGAN - GILI AIR - GILI MENO)

Off the northwest coast of Lombok are three small, coral-fringed islands – Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan – each with superb, white sandy beaches, clear water, brilliantly coloured fish and accessible snorkeling and diving. The islands are the place to be for young travelers in Lombok, who come for the simple pleasures of sun, snorkeling and socialising. The absence of cars, motorbikes and hawkers adds greatly to the pleasure of staying on the Gilis. Although knowen to travelers as the ‘Gili Islands’, gili actually means ‘island’ so this is not a local name.

Dangers & Annoyances

There are no police on any of the Gilis, so report any theft to the island kepala desa (village head), or, if you are on Gili Trawangan, notify Satgas, the community organisation that’s runs island affairs. Satgas uses its community contacts to resolve  problems or track down stolen property with a minimum of fuss.

Several foreign women have experienced sexual harassment or event assault by Indonesian and foreign men while on Gili Trawangan. Be careful and try to stay in pairs if walking back to quieter parts of island.

Jellyfish are common when strong winds blow from the mainland, and they can leave a painful rash. See Cuts, Bites & stings in the Health section of facts for the Visitor chapter.

Accommodation

The Gilis suffer from the worst case of you pricing in Indonesia. When it is busy in july, August and around Christmas, owners increase prices by two, three, even or times, as rooms can be hard to find. The problem is less acute among mid-range pleaes. Prices quoted in this section are low season.

The Gilis standard accommodation is a plain little bamboo bungalow on stilts, with a thatched roof, a small veranda out the front and a bathroom at the back. Inside, there will be one or two beds with mosquito nets. However, there are now some smarter options with air-con and swimming pools, particularly on Gili Trawangan.

Tourist often meet the boats as they land. Once they take your luggage, you’re normally committed to wherever they take you. They will probably claim your favoured place is closed or full – check for yourself to be sure.

Getting There and Away It is possible to reach the Gilis using a combination of Bus and Boat from Mataram and Senggigi, but many travelers coming from Bali end up using the Perama service for the sake of convenience. There is also a luxury catamaran linking Benoa, Bali and Gili Meno. Coming by public transport, catch a bus or bemo to Pemenang, from where it's about 1km by Cidomo or walking to the harbor at Bangsal. Bangsal is a headache, the armpit of Indonesia - every country has one. See the 'Dealing with the Bangsal mafia' boxed taxes and survival tips.

The Koperasi Angkutan Laut (Sea Transport Co-Operative) is the boat owners' cartel, which monopolies public transport between Bangsal and the Island. Boat ticket are sold at the harbor office with schedules and price displayed on the wall.