Three Personalities, one litte Piece of Paradise
And why Gili Air may just steal your heart
Just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia, floating in the sparkling waters between Bali and Lombok, are three tiny islands that seem almost too beautiful to be real.
The Gili Islands — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — each have their own personality.
They may look similar on a map, but spend a little time on each one and you quickly realise that they are very different experiences.
There is the lively one.
There is the romantic, peaceful one.
And then there is Gili Air — the one that somehow seems to have found the perfect balance between the two.
And perhaps that is why Gili Air is the island that keeps calling you back.
First, let’s meet the three Gilis
The word Gili simply means “small island” in the local Sasak language, and these three little islands sit just off Lombok’s northwest coast.
There are no cars on the Gilis. Instead, you get around by bicycle, on foot or by the traditional horse-drawn cidomo carts.
And that is the first thing you notice.
Life slows down.
There are no traffic jams, no busy intersections and no rushing from one attraction to the next.
Just bicycles, sandy paths, palm trees, little restaurants, colourful boats and the sound of the sea.
Gili Trawangan – the lively one
Gili Trawangan is the largest and most developed of the three.
It is known as the party island, with a lively beachfront, restaurants, bars, sunset spots and a younger backpacker atmosphere.
During the day, the island is beautiful, with crystal-clear water and excellent snorkelling and diving.
But when the sun goes down, Trawangan comes alive.
Music spills out from beachfront bars, people gather for sunset drinks and the atmosphere becomes distinctly more energetic.
If you are looking for nightlife and lots of action, Gili Trawangan is probably your Gili.
Gili Meno – the romantic one
Then there is Gili Meno.
Quieter, smaller and considerably more peaceful, Meno is often described as the romantic Gili.
It is the place for long walks along almost deserted beaches, lazy afternoons under a palm tree and watching the world go by.
Meno is also famous for its underwater sculptures, including the remarkable Nest underwater installation, making it a wonderful destination for snorkellers and divers.
If Trawangan is the party and Gili Air is the social butterfly, Meno is the quiet dreamer.
And then there is Gili Air…
This is the island that deserves a little extra attention.
Because Gili Air is not trying too hard.
And perhaps that is exactly what makes it so special.
Gili Air has enough restaurants, cafés, boutique accommodation, beach bars and things to do to keep you entertained — but it still feels like an island.
A real island.
One where you can walk barefoot along the beach in the morning, stop for a fresh juice, cycle around the island in the afternoon, snorkel with turtles and then find yourself sitting on a beach beanbag watching the sun disappear into the ocean.
There is something wonderfully uncomplicated about Gili Air.
Life moves differently here
One of the loveliest things about Gili Air is that there isn’t really a need for a schedule.
You wake up.
You have breakfast.
You wander.
You swim.
You snorkel.
You stop for coffee.
You browse a little shop.
You have lunch somewhere with your feet in the sand.
And somehow an entire afternoon has disappeared.
But you don’t feel as though you have wasted it.
Quite the opposite.
You feel as though you have finally spent time properly.
The underwater world
Of course, one of the biggest attractions of the Gili Islands is beneath the surface.
The waters surrounding the islands are beautifully clear, making them wonderful places for snorkelling and diving.
And then there are the turtles.
Swimming alongside a sea turtle in its natural environment is one of those travel moments that stays with you.
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