Tag Archives: Gili Islands

Exploring Gili Meno Lombok

Gili Meno Lombok is in the middle and the smallest of the three of Gili Islands. It is the quietest with fewer tourists. A great escape for honeymooners or someone who wants to get away from it all. A special feature of the island is the salt lake and spectacular dive sites such as, Meno Wall, Sea Turtle Point, and Blue Coral Point. The beach on eastern part of the island is very nice and there’s snorkeling just offshore and further north. In the past Meno was known to have lots of mosquitoes but steps have been taken to control it. Still the best time to visit the island is during dry season.

Gili Meno is the middle of Gili Islands Lombok. It has population of about 300 people, mainly concentrated on the center of the island. The main income of the population comes from tourism, coconut plantation and fishing. On the west side of the island there is a small shallow lake that produces salt in the dry season. Until a few years ago there was also a small production of seaweed on the reef at the north end of the island. It has swimming beaches all around the island, as well as an impressive bird sanctuary.

Gili Meno Island Exploring Gili Meno Lombok

There are regular shuttle services from Bangsal on the main island of Lombok, stopping at all islands. The trip takes about 15 minutes to Air, 30 min to Meno and 45 min to Trawangan. Around 30,000 to 40,000 Rp one-way, or 70,000 Rp if including land transfer from Senggigi Beach. Avoid traveling to Bangsal as captains will wait until the boat is full of passengers before setting off. Book a trip with Parama instead, which will travel to and from the islands no matter how many people they have.

Alternatively, the Gili Islands can be visited on a day trip from Senggigi, in which case you’ll get your own little boat and crew to take you around. The trip across take 1-2 hours each way and is quite scenic, if a little bumpy when the waves are high. Available from any travel agent, figure on 400,000 Rp for a tour for two.

Note that the sea is calmest in the morning and all transport stops running in the afternoon, well before dark.

Get Around Gili Meno
In a rare display of foresight, all forms of motorized transport are banned from the islands: your only choice is horse-drawn carts, known as cidomo, which are used even to shuttle around diving gear. However, as the islands are only a few km in diameter, it’s entirely possible to just walk instead.

Sea and Do
There are no sights as such on the islands themselves, but the excellent snorkeling and diving all around is a major draw. Sea turtles are also common, especially around Turtle Point just north of Gili Meno Island. You can rent masks and fins off the beach, or contact any of the numerous dive shops to arrange snorkeling or diving.

Map of Gili Meno

Thank you for visiting Indonesia Vacations ..

More about Lombok Island:

Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

Gili Trawangan Lombok is the most popular island of the Gili Islands. Just kick back and enjoy the sun, nightly beach parties and sea. The main stripe is full of accommodations, restaurants, and dive shops. If you are seeking a quieter place to stay, there are bungalows in the north. This Island is also known as “Party Island”, where mostly young European found them “Lost In Paradise”. With spectacular sunrises over Lombok’s Mount Rinjani volcano and breathtaking sunsets that illuminate Bali’s towering Mount Agung volcano, together with warm hospitality of Gili Trawangan residents, it’s not surprising that most visitors end up staying longer than originally plan.

Snorkeling off the shore, sunbathing, swimming, or join any dive trips with any dive operators, which colored the lines. There are quality dive schools available to cater the needs of tourists, offering complete range of PADI courses, as well as Fun Dives for those already certified. By night, the waterfront comes to life as various foreign and locally restaurants and bars start to fire up, with fresh snapper, grouper and tuna, cooked over charcoal flames, readily available.

gili trawangan lombok 2 Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

It is said that if you want to know what Bali was like 20 years ago then you should go to Lombok. Much more laid back than its larger sister 45 km to the west, Lombok is a great antidote to the commercial excesses of Bali, where on some beaches at least, there now seem to be more hawkers than tourists and a moment’s peace is as rare as a reasonably priced can of coke.

Many travelers visiting Lombok for the first time head for the wonderful Gili Islands Lombok three coral ringed islands off the northwest coast of Lombok. Here you will find dazzling white sand beaches that kick the pants of those in Bali, with crystal clear aquamarine waters to boot.

The furthest of the islands from the mainland, Gili Trawangan Lombok is also the largest of the three. Even so, it still takes less than three hours to walk around the whole island.

gili trawangan lombok 3 Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

In a wise move, the authorities have taken the decision to ban cars and motorcycles from the islands, thus making for a much more relaxing stay. Instead there are cidomo – a sort of horse and carriage. Although quite inexpensive to get around in, make sure you bargain before you accept the ride else you may be overcharged. Bicycles are also available for rent at around Rp30,000 per day, but the going can get tough as the tracks around the island are very sandy in parts.

While Gili Trawangan Lombok has picked up the reputation of being something of a party island, you will be sorely disappointed if you come here expecting Goya style beach raves. In fact, despite a few low-key “parties” which are occasionally held by divers congregating at the Blue Marlin dive center, Gili Trawangan is so laid back it is virtually horizontal. And long may it remain that way.

gili trawangan lombok 4 Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

There are plenty of inexpensive accommodations and eateries on Gili Trawangan Lombok, especially in the main strip toward the south of the island. Here you can find cozy bars and romantic candlelit restaurants, some of which have slightly raised dining areas where you can eat your meal at leisure as you stretch out your legs and rest on soft cushions. Besides the usual western fare, Indonesian dishes such as gado gado (vegetables covered in peanut sauce) and nasi goring (fried rice) are also on the menu. And for those who are unable to shut themselves off from the outside world, access to the World Wide Web is possible at the ubiquitous internet cafés that have now set up shop.

gili trawangan lombok 5 Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

Most of the accommodations on the island are of the simple bamboo hut variety, but better quality places to stay are springing up all the time, complete with hot water, air conditioning and satellite TV. But be warned: if you have sensitive skin and do not relish the prospect of seawater showers (fresh water is a rare commodity here and has to be brought in from mainland Lombok), your only option may be to stay at the island’s upmarket resort hotel, Hotel Vila Ombak.

If it is solitude you are looking for, then head to the north of the island, where you are unlikely to be troubled by anyone. Days can pass by very quickly here as you relax in your hammock strung between two palm trees swaying in the gentle sea breeze…

gili trawangan Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

The three Gili islands are still excellent for snorkeling despite the devastation wreaked by the El Nino weather phenomenon in 1998. Some 90% of the hard corals around the islands down to 20 meters suffered badly at the time from bleaching and are still recovering. While you can snorkel directly from the beach, a good deal is to join the daily snorkeling tour at the very reasonable rate of Rp35,000 per person. As the boat has a glass bottom, those unable to snorkel, such as young kids, can also have the opportunity to see a wide array of beautiful multicolored tropical fish and, if lucky, even the odd turtle. A tip here: bring your own snorkeling gear as the quality of the stuff available for hire leaves much to be desired.

gili trawangan 2 Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

When you need a break from the snorkeling, the sugary white beaches are a perfect place for relaxation and sunbathing. The few hawkers that ply their trade here are much less aggressive than in Bali, and when they realize you don’t want what they are selling they quickly get the message. If the blazing tropical sun becomes too much to bear, shelter can be found under the palm trees that conveniently line the beaches.

If the weather is good – which it usually is – beautiful red sunsets can be seen, with the sun setting in the west over Mount Agung, Bali. Either head for Gili Trawangan’s northern coast else climb the island’s 100-meter hill (going up here is the only time you are likely to venture into the island’s interior during your stay).

As for Gili Air Lombok and Gili Meno Lombok, they are even quieter than Gili Trawangan. Accommodations and restaurants are basic, but then that’s part of the charm. If you need more facilities, it’s more convenient to stay on Gili Trawangan and make day trips to these two islands

How to get to Gili Trawangan

gili trawangan 3 Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

Although the Gili islands are wonderful themselves, many travelers have, unfortunately, had bad experiences in getting there. Going by ferry from Bali (which leaves from the sleepy town of Padangbai) is not recommended unless you have a perverse penchant for pain and suffering. The rust-bucket ferry takes about four and a half hours to reach Lombok’s Lembar Harbour, and with the seas between the two islands often choppy, you’d better have your sick-bag close at hand if you are susceptible to seasickness. And knowing that one of the ferries plying this route sank in September last year doesn’t exactly put one at ease. From Lembar, it is still about an hour and a half drive to Bangsal, the small harbour from where you can take a small motorized boat (prahu) to the Gili islands.

gili trawangan 4 Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

Far better is to fly directly to Lombok’s Mataram Selaparang Airport, and then take a taxi to Bangsal. From where you are dropped off at Bangsal, you will either have to walk the last 200 meters or take a ride on a cidomo to reach the harbor. Although various lowlifes will approach you and try to persuade you that the only way to reach the Gili islands is to charter a boat at great expense, tickets for the public boats to the islands can actually be bought at the official ticket office which is right by the sea. It’s also best to wear shorts and sandals/slippers, because your feet are likely to get wet as you climb on to the small boat. And make sure you retain your wits about you before boarding: many tourists have been caught off guard by undesirable characters who have forcibly taken their luggage onto the boat and then demanded a ridiculously large sum of money. But despite these problems, the journey to the Gili islands is definitely worth it: once there you won’t want to go back!

As there are no banks on the Gili islands, make sure you take enough cash for your intended period of stay. Although there are a few moneychangers, they are unreliable and the rates very poor. But if you get into any difficulties, it is good to know that there are now some ATM machines at nearby Senggigi on the Lombok mainland.

Map of Gili Trawangan

Thank you for visiting Indonesia Vacations ..

More about Lombok Island:

Exploring Gili Islands Lombok

The three Gili Islands Lombok are a small-scale backpacker mecca and Lombok’s most popular tourist destination. The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes playing reggae and serving up banana pancakes, and no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace. The beaches are without a doubt better than anywhere on Bali or Lombok.

gili islands lombok Exploring Gili Islands Lombok

The flip side of the coin is that as they exist solely to cater for travellers, they’re also rather anonymous (you might as well be at anywhere) and, aside from snorkeling and diving, there’s little if anything to do. Note that there are no ATMs on the islands, so bring plenty of cash with you. From west to east, the islands are:

Gili Trawangan Lombok, or “Gili T” is by far the most developed with plenty of backpacker options and one swanky resort. There are no dogs on the island but according to one local, there are more cats here than people. The local population is around 800. There is no police on the island and all problems are usually settled by the local “council”
Gili Meno Lombok, the smallest and quietest, low-key with some simple places to stay.
Gili Air Lombok, closest to the mainland and with the largest local population. Strictly speaking, the name Gili Islands Lombok is rather redundant as gili simply means “small island” in Sasak, but the name has stuck and is universally used and understood in Lombok.

How to Get to Gili Islands?

get to gili islands Exploring Gili Islands Lombok There is now a new Fast Boat service running direct to the Gili Islands Lombok from Benoa Harbour in South Bali. This takes just two hours on the water, and the ticket price of around US$100 includes air-con transfers to and from the Kuta area in Bali (about 20 minutes from the harbour). This is by far the easiest way of getting to and from the islands – as an added bonus there are frequent sightings of dolphins on the way. This service is operated by BlueWater Safaris.

There are regular shuttle services from Bangsal on the main island of Lombok, stopping at all islands. The trip takes about 15 minutes to Air, 30 minutes to Gili Meno and 45 minutes to Gili Trawangan. Around 30,000 to 40,000 Rp one-way, or 70,000 Rp if including land transfer from Senggigi. Avoid traveling to Bangsal as captains will wait until the boat is full of passengers before setting off. If you do go via Bangsal, you driver may warn you about the Bangsal Mafia: a bunch of guys hanging around the port who will seriously hassle you to buy boat tickets to the Gili’s from them, with various excuses like claiming that your ticket is no longer valid. Do not give in! Book a trip with Perama instead, which will travel to and from the islands no matter how many people they have.

Alternatively, the Gilis can be visited on a day trip from Senggigi, in which case you’ll get your own little boat and crew to take you around. The trip across take 1-2 hours each way and is quite scenic, if a little bumpy when the waves are high. Available from any travel agent, figure on 400,000 Rp for a tour for two.

Private transport from Senggigi without the tour is 250,000 Rp, after negotiation in the low season, and leaves from the beach by the Santosha Hotel and Resort. If you go through the hotel property to the beach there are several boats on the beach and guaranteed solicitations to go to the Gilis. This part of the beach can also be accessed near the Senggigi Beach Hotel. You can book directly with these guys the day before you want to go or though any tour operator.

Note that the sea is calmest in the morning and all transport stops running in the afternoon, well before dark.

Get Around Gili Islands Lombok
In a rare display of foresight, all forms of motorized transport are banned from the islands: your only choice is horse-drawn carts, known as cidomo, which are used even to shuttle around diving gear. However, as the islands are only a few km in diameter, it’s entirely possible to just walk instead.

Traveling between the islands requires either catching the infrequent shuttle boats or chartering one to take you across. The distances between the islands may seem swimmable, but do not attempt it — the currents can be fierce and several backpackers have died trying.

What to see and do in Gili Islands
There are no sights as such on the islands themselves, but the snorkeling and diving all around is a major draw. Sea turtles are also common, especially around Turtle Point just north of Gili Meno. You can rent masks and fins off the beach, or contact any of the numerous dive shops to arrange snorkeling or diving at choice spots nearby. A daily snorkeling programme usually involves a 10:00 departure and 16:00 return that includes three or four spots around the three islands and a two-hour lunch break. The cost ranges from RP 60,000 to 150,000 depending on the shop and your negotiating skills and includes the fins, mask and snorkel, but not the cost of lunch.

One of the attractions of the islands is the ability to do nothing. With no cars on any of the islands and the lower tempo of Gili Air and Gili Meno, there are several bungalow-style accommodations with verandas that overlook gardens of the ocean. The styles of cafes and restaurants involves small open huts perfect for two to four people to claim for a good part of the day. With a good book and your swimsuit, the day passes quickly is you leave your watch in your bag. The beaches are not exceptional. Gili Trawangan has the nicest physical beaches of the three islands, but even these are not great and can be over-crowded in some seasons. Gili Meno and Air have their best beaches on the West side of the islands. The South side tends to be windy and rough and the North and East sides have a lot of coral on the beaches, making the sand rough. On Gili Air, the only pleasant beach for swimming is really in front of the Chill-out cafe and Sunrise Hotel on the main strip.

It is also nice to walk around the islands. The perimeters of the islands are conducive to a two or three hour leisurely walk with no strenuous hills. Just follow the coastline and put on your sunscreen and it makes a nice morning.

Gili Trawangan is known as more of a party island and activities tend to revolve around the bar scene.

Gili Meno has a “bird sanctuary”, which is more like a bird zoo owing to the fact that birds are caged and not free to fly around. There are a range of birds and tourists used to go to see the komodo dragon which died in 2007. Access to the site is a short walk in island from the North end of the main strip on the West of the island.

Map of Gili Islands

Thank you for visiting Indonesia Vacations ..

More about Lombok Island:

Page 2 of 212

Places

Topics

Site Info

Tag Archives: Gili Islands

Exploring Gili Meno Lombok

Exploring Gili Trawangan Lombok

Exploring Gili Islands Lombok