The Secrets of Gili

If you are looking for an escape to refresh yourself, or a romantic getaway, then Gili island is definitely the place for you! From the calmness, to the warmth of the island, you can not help but fall in love with this magically balanced island. This island is a breath of fresh air and certainly a dream come true!

Things to do in Gili

The islands

The islands are relatively small which could take you roughly 1-2 hours to walk around them, but of course you would need to rent a boat to get to each of them individually. You have Gili Mano, Gili Trawangan and Gili Air; the one with most activities would be Gili Trawangan.

I stayed at the Gili Trawangan for 4 nights at the Pearl of Trawangan hotel. The hotel really stands out with its lovely pool, beach area and amazing accommodation. The hotel looks like mini duplex cottages along the beach with wooden finishing’s. To commute around the island, I would say first take a walk around and then perhaps rent a bicycle to explore further. Most hotels have bicycles to rent or you can rent one from one of the small local shops; which are slightly cheaper, (remember to lock your bike wherever you go)!

Island hopping

The public boat tours travel twice daily to the other islands, which start from around 9:30 a.m. Depending on your selected journey, the prices range from 20,000 – 23,000 rupiah (one way) - you can buy tickets from the boat harbor or from travel agencies, which you will see plenty of along the way (these might be a little more expensive due to commission).

Diving and snorkeling

There are numerous diving schools available if your interested in getting a diving license or else you could experience the amazing array of marine species by renting snorkels and goggles to swim around the islands. There are boat trips that take you to each of the islands (Gili Air and Gili mano) where you can explore and jump off the boats to snorkel. You may even be fortunate enough to see sea turtles on the way.

Horseback riding

It is such a lovely experience to jump on a horse and ride along the beach at sunset. You can rent a horse from Stud Horse Riding Adventures or Sunset Stables which is about a 5-minute bike ride from Pearl of Trawangan hotel. A tour guide will lead the way, but if you are a more of an experienced rider, then you can ride alone.

Water sports

There are an endless number of water sports on offer; such as snorkeling, stand up paddling, kayaking, wakeboarding, surfing and parasailing.

Of course I snorkeled loads and also experienced kayaking from one island to another (very tiring but be careful if the currents are strong) as well as parasailing. Gili is all about the beach and sunsets, so I would say try as many watersports as possible and get some vitamin SEA! Parasailing was definitely an interesting experience for me. I have parasailed before but this was different because you would have to run from the beach while the boat pulls you, the sail catches the wind and lifts you off the ground. Now I think that this is a completely different experience compared to the manual kind. Once you are up in the air, you wouldn’t want to come back down because the views are just breathtaking. You thought you would have already seen the beauty of the island, but it’s a whole different experience from a different perspective.

Another recommendation would be to bring your water sandals because the shores are quite rocky, not just in Gili but in Bali as a whole.

Party time!

If you feel like having a fun night out; then you can go to Blue Marlin on Mondays, Tir Na Nog on Wednesdays and Rudy’s on Fridays – these are usually the more up beat places. They are quite easy to find, located along the strip of restaurants and bars; you can simply follow the music and crowds. You should also check out Sama Sama, it’s a very nice chilled bar with great vibes.

Restaurants

I have to say that my favourite restaurant on Trawanagan is the Ko Ko Mo restaurant. It is an

elegant restaurant set directly on the beach with stunning views. It serves a mix of Asian, French and Italian inspired fusion dishes. The food is so good! I would definitely recommend you try it, especially if your going on a romantic date, or if you simply just want to try good food.

Do nothing!

Gili has one of the most breathtaking views and most remarkable sunsets. Get on your bike and ride down to Ombak sunset hotel. This hotel has a lovely beach bar together with swings brushing into the sea; a perfect place to photographically capture divine romantic moments with your loved one or solo. Aside from this, you can cycle along the strip and stop wherever you like to watch the sunset - You will notice the lovely backdrop of Lombok and the island volcano. You can also find stop offs along the way where there are bonfires and hammocks in the sea to just kick back, enjoy the music and watch the sunset. In the evening you can make your way to Villa Ombak where you can grab your popcorn, sit on the beach front beanbags and watch a movie.

Taking a ride with a “Cidomo”

In addition to commuting by a bicycle, you may also enjoy the Cidomo (horse-drawn carriages) -

You would probably have to use a Cidomo once you arrive on the island, to take your luggage to the hotel.

Massages and fish pedicures

There is an abundance of options for massage parlors and spas which are located at the beach front. After your adventures around the island, a relaxing traditional massage is a perfect ending to a perfect day.; try out the fish pedicure, where hundreds of small fish nibble at your feet. It is such a funny feeling, but seriously your feet feel super smooth after this experience.