Gili Islands
Three small islands off northwest Lombok, Indonesia, where cars and motorbikes are not allowed. Get around on foot, by bicycle or by cidomo, the horse-drawn cart, snorkel with sea turtles and watch the sun go down over the water.
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The Gili Islands are three small islands off the northwest coast of Lombok, in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara province: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. Private cars and motorbikes are not allowed on any of them. Trawangan is the largest and the busiest, with the most bars and dive shops. Air sits between the two in size and atmosphere, and Meno is the smallest and the quietest.
Most visitors come to snorkel the reefs, where sea turtles can be seen, and to dive. Walking, bicycles and cidomo carts cover the islands. Fast boats leave from Bali and from Bangsal on Lombok, and the crossing takes the most planning. The dry season, roughly April to October, usually brings calmer seas and clearer water. Plan a few days on the islands so the boat transfers do not take up most of your trip.
Gili Islands in five
- Choose your island before you bookGili Trawangan is the lively one with dive shops and nightlife, Gili Air mixes village life with quiet beaches, and Gili Meno is the calm one. They are 10 to 25 minutes apart by public boat.Gili Trawangan
- Book the Bali fast boat with a flexible ticketCrossings from Padangbai, Sanur and Serangan take roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours, and rough water can delay or cancel them. Avoid a tight same-day flight home, and read the operator's refund terms.Gili Trawangan guide
- Cross from Lombok at Bangsal for the cheapest ridePublic boats and charters run from Bangsal harbor in the northwest and take 10 to 30 minutes. Lombok airport is about 1.5 to 2 hours away by road, so book a driver for late arrivals.Lombok
- Carry enough cash and refill your bottleATMs exist but can be out of order, especially on Gili Air and Gili Meno, and card use is patchy. Tap water is not drinkable, so use refill stations instead of buying plastic bottles.
- Crossing from Bali? Sort the levy and visa firstIf you start in Bali, pay the one-off tourist levy and arrange your visa or e-VoA before you reach the harbor. Boat staff will not fix entry problems, and you may leave Bali without a chance to retry.Bali levy and e-VoA
Need to know
- Airport
- Lombok International (LOP), about 1.5–2 hours to Bangsal harbor
- Getting there
- Fast boat from Bali; public boat from Bangsal; no bridge
- Getting around
- On foot, bicycle and horse cart (cidomo); no motor vehicles
- Best base
- Trawangan for nightlife, Air for balance, Meno for quiet
- Time needed
- 3–5 nights; a week if you dive
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Wet, rough seaJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 347 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, rough sea
- FebruaryRain26 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Wet, showersFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 312 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, showers
- MarchRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°ShowersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 242 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Drying outAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 179 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry, calmMayRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry, clearJuneRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Dry, windyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, windy
- AugustPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Dry, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Dry, calmSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- OctoberRain18 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Warm, showersOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, showers
- NovemberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rains beginNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 238 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains begin
- DecemberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet, holidaysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 357 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, holidays
Average daily high and low in Gili Trawangan, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Gili Islands
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 15%
Gili Islands
04:41 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today32°24°15%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Wed31°25°5%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Thu32°24°9%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Fri31°25°16%Friday: Rain. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sat32°24°18%Saturday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sun31°24°29%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Mon31°24°37%Monday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 37%.
Updated 12:49 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MarNyepiBali, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Gili Menoabout 15–25 min by public boatThe quiet middle island with a turtle sanctuary and a salt lake.Read the guide
- Senggigiabout 40 min by car from BangsalLombok's west coast beach town with sunset views and restaurants.Read the guide
- Lombok mainlandabout 30 min by boat plus roadWaterfalls, villages and the road to Mount Rinjani.Read the guide
Before you go to Gili Islands
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Gili Islands, checked
- Check Indonesia's visa on arrival and e-VOA rules, including eligibility, on the Directorate General of Immigration site (imigrasi.go.id) before you fly.
- Private cars and motorbikes are not allowed on the three main Gili islands. Move on foot, by bicycle or by cidomo (horse-drawn cart).
- Do not stand on or touch coral, and do not feed fish, when you snorkel or dive on the Gili reefs.
- Bring rupiah in cash for warungs and small shops. Card payment is not accepted everywhere on the islands.
Plan around Gili Islands
The largest island, dive shops and sunsets
Read the guideGili AirThe easy island for slow stays and snorkeling
Read the guideGili MenoThe quiet island with a turtle sanctuary
Read the guideLombokRinjani, surf beaches and the mainland
Read the guideSenggigiWest coast base on the road to Bangsal
Read the guideAll of IndonesiaEntry rules, money and islands
Read the guideGili Islands FAQ
Which Gili island is best?
Gili Trawangan for nightlife and dive shops, Gili Air for a balanced stay with village life, and Gili Meno for quiet. If you are not sure, choose Gili Air, then take a boat to the others for a day.
How do you get to the Gili Islands from Bali?
By fast boat from Padangbai, Sanur or Serangan, in roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on the harbor and sea. Book a flexible ticket and allow a buffer day before a flight home, since rough water can cancel crossings.
Are there cars or scooters on the Gilis?
No. The islands are car-free and scooter-free. People walk, cycle or take a horse cart called a cidomo. Bring light luggage and expect a short beach landing from the boat.
Can you drink the tap water on the Gili Islands?
No. Tap water is brackish and not safe to drink, so use refill stations or bottled water. Bring a refillable bottle, and use reef-safe sunscreen to protect the coral.
Is the sea safe for swimming on the Gilis?
Usually, in calm weather, but currents run between the islands and boats move fast near shore. Snorkel with a buoy or a guide, stay clear of boat lanes and check conditions with your accommodation.