Gili Islands in 7 days

Three car-free islands off Lombok with turtles, bikes and no engines at all. Best time to visit: May-September. Average daily budget: $35 to $100 USD.

Day 1, Land & wander

Base: Gili Trawangan, The biggest and liveliest, with dive schools, bars and the best range of food.

Morning: Snorkel the turtle points. Swim with green turtles off Gili Meno and see the underwater statues at Nest.

Afternoon: Explore Gili Trawangan, The biggest and liveliest, with dive schools, bars and the best range of food.

Evening: Sunset on the west coast. Watch the sun drop behind Bali's Mount Agung from a beach swing or bar.

Eat: Trawangan's night market for grilled fish sold by the piece

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Gili Air, The balanced middle option: local village life, good reef, low-key beach bars.

Morning: Cycle the island loop. Ride the full sandy loop of whichever island you are staying on in an hour or two.

Afternoon: Explore Gili Air, The balanced middle option: local village life, good reef, low-key beach bars.

Evening: Learn to dive. Dive or take an open-water course at one of Trawangan's many schools.

Eat: Nasi campur and sate at the local warungs behind the main strip

Day 3, Food & markets

Base: Gili Meno, The smallest and quietest, honeymoon territory with a salt lake and turtle sanctuary.

Morning: Gili Meno's salt lake, dry and eerie in the middle of the island. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Gili Meno, The smallest and quietest, honeymoon territory with a salt lake and turtle sanctuary.

Evening: The north end of Gili Air where nobody walks and the reef is intact. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Fresh coconut and pisang goreng from beach carts

Day 4, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Trawangan west coast, Sunset side, swings in the water and the best evening light of the three.

Morning: Early-morning bakery runs on Trawangan before the day-trip boats land. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Trawangan west coast, Sunset side, swings in the water and the best evening light of the three.

Evening: Night snorkelling with plankton on a calm, moonless evening. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Wood-fired pizza on Gili Air, oddly good for a tiny island

Day 5, Day trip

Base: Air east coast, Where the boats land and most of the cafes and snorkel entries sit.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Air east coast, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Air east coast, Where the boats land and most of the cafes and snorkel entries sit.

Evening: Dinner at Trawangan's night market for grilled fish sold by the piece, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Air east coast.

Eat: Trawangan's night market for grilled fish sold by the piece

Day 6, Hidden gems

Base: Gili Trawangan, The biggest and liveliest, with dive schools, bars and the best range of food.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Gili Trawangan, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Gili Trawangan, The biggest and liveliest, with dive schools, bars and the best range of food.

Evening: Dinner at Nasi campur and sate at the local warungs behind the main strip, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Gili Trawangan.

Eat: Nasi campur and sate at the local warungs behind the main strip

Day 7, Slow finish

Base: Gili Air, The balanced middle option: local village life, good reef, low-key beach bars.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Gili Air, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Gili Air, The balanced middle option: local village life, good reef, low-key beach bars.

Evening: Dinner at Fresh coconut and pisang goreng from beach carts, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Gili Air.

Eat: Fresh coconut and pisang goreng from beach carts

Hidden gems

Gili Meno's salt lake, dry and eerie in the middle of the island
The north end of Gili Air where nobody walks and the reef is intact
Early-morning bakery runs on Trawangan before the day-trip boats land
Night snorkelling with plankton on a calm, moonless evening

Getting around

There are no motor vehicles. You walk, rent a bicycle for about $4 a day, or use a cidomo horse cart. Between islands, the public hopper boat runs a few times daily for around $2 to $4, while fast boats connect to Bali (Padangbai or Serangan) in 1.5-2.5 hours for $25 to $45.

Safety

Crime is low but there is no police station on Meno or Air and only a small post on Trawangan, so lock valuables away. Currents between the islands are strong: snorkel with the drift, not against it. Medical care is basic, the nearest hyperbaric chamber is on Lombok or Bali, and mushroom drinks sold openly on Trawangan cause most of the incidents involving travellers.

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