Where to stay in the Gili islands
So, you’re heading to Indonesia and wondering where to stay in the Gili Islands?
In this post, I’m going to take you across the three Gili islands hotels, from the beaches of Gili Trawangan to the resorts of Gili Air and Gili Meno.
We’ll look at what each island has to offer and a variety of places for you to stay to make the most of your trip to this ultimate island paradise.
Let’s jump in!
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Where to stay in the Gili Islands
Here are the three islands of Gili, and what each of them has to offer:
Gili Trawangan
Why stay in Gili T:
- The biggest of the three islands
- Has the most bars and restaurants
- Activities include: horseback riding, diving, and golf
Gili Meno
Why stay in Gili Meno:
- The quiet island, ideal for honeymooners
- The smallest of the three islands
- A place to return to nature and relax
Gili Air
Why stay in Gili Air:
- The closest island to the mainland
- Has its own beautiful coral reef
- The best water activities: boating, snorkelling, and Scuba diving
Best time to visit Gili Islands
The best time to visit the Gili Islands is during the dry season from May to October. Early May or late October are ideal times to visit as they tend to be less crowded than June and July and the weather conditions are still favourable.
How to get from Bali to Gili Islands
The best way to get from Bali to the Gili Islands is taking a fast boat. It takes around two hours from Padang Bai and IDR 450,000 (around $30 USD) one way.
You can also get there from include Amed or Searangan, but Padang Bai is faster and therefore more popular.
I highly recommend taking the fast boat as it’s much faster and more comfortable than the slow ferries.
Make sure to book a week in advance to ensure a seat. Gili Gili Fast Boat, Eka Jaya, and Blue Water Express are the best operators. You can also pre-book your tickets here for swift transportation that includes pickup service at your hotel in Bali.
Things to do in the Gili Islands
The best thing about the Gili Islands is that there are no cars or scooters whatsoever. Here, you walk or you bike. That’s it. That means peace, quiet, clean air, and a slower way of life.
Gili Trawangan is the smallest island on Earth with an Irish pub. This pub, named Tir Na Nog after the Celtic realm of the gods, is a go-to place for drinking and relaxing as the sun sets.
Speaking of, watching the sun rise and set is one of the best things to do in the Gili islands It’s so beautiful. Everything an island paradise offers is right here: swimming, snorkelling, sailing, hiking, and long walks on the beach.
Find the Best Gili islands hotels
This is an easy one!
Where to stay in Gili Trawangan
The biggest and busiest of the islands
A two-hour stroll will take you all the way around this island paradise. It’s the largest of the three, and ideal for every kind of traveler. If you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or with a family, Gili T has something for you.
Golfing, horseback riding, hiking, beachside drinking, and diving are all popular things to enjoy while you’re here, and you’ll have time enough to do it all!
Read next: 14 dreamy things to do in Gili Trawangan
Amazing hotels in Gili Trawangan
Luxury – Tamoa Boutique Hotel
With a pool that’s accessible from every room, with just a slide of the French doors, you can’t do better than this. These private rooms are beautifully decorated to keep the island theme. But they’re also crisp and modern in their décor. The hotel is surrounded by the best restaurants on the island, and prices for all of this start at $50.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Luxury – Amora Villa
These villas are absolutely stunning. Each room is its own private villa made from local materials, which opens out onto the pool. The wood design makes for a very relaxed stay which brings you back to nature. Your own private villa comes with a bathroom and is surrounded by luscious greenery. Prices start at $50.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Mid-range – Villa Pine Tree
This lovely mid-range villa sits right next to the amazing Turtle Conservation on Gili Trawangan. If you want breakfast, there are options! You can go for a continental or a traditional local option. Rooms have their own balconies and there’s a private pool for you to share. The restaurant also has lunch and dinner choices, with an emphasis on European cuisine. Prices start at $30.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Mid-range – Gili Turtle Beach Resort
The bungalows and villas on offer here are incredibly cosy. The beds are luxuriously comfortable. From your room, you get a view of the lush greenery that surrounds you. You also get a restaurant that serves a mix of local and European options. You can also wander down to the harbour for a walk, a boat ride, or a swim! Prices go from $30.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Mid-range – D’wahana Resort
Just down the way from Sunset Point, this resort provides peaceful bungalows in the heart of a vibrant green garden. Here you’ve got your own swimming pool and restaurant. You can enjoy local foods through the day! Despite the close ties to nature, your room does also have WIFI and its own TV, if you want to feel a little more at home. Prices start at $30 for a deluxe double room.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Budget – Mengong Bungalows
The best thing about these bungalows is the selection of free bikes they offer. Since the only way to get around the island is by foot or bike, having free bikes to use is a real luxury! You can also easily reach the Turtle Conservation and Sunset Point on foot, if you’d prefer. You’ve then got a private pool to cool off in after a day of walking and biking. Prices start at $16. Great for couples on a budget!
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Budget – James Bungalow
These bungalows offer a continental breakfast every single morning, to start your day right. From there, you can wander down to the harbour and get stuck into all the island’s best activities. The Gili Trawangan Art Market is also just down the street from this lovely Trawangan Hotel. Prices start at $17 for a twin or a double room.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Pros and cons of staying in Gili Trawangan
Pros:
- All the best paradise activities are right here, including horseback-riding, diving, and yoga
- It’s the best place if you like a bit of liveliness. Bars and adventure aplenty!
Cons:
- Not suitable for those who want a quieter island of solitude – it can get busy here
- The diving is good, but not as good as what you can do in Gili Air
Where to Stay on Gili Meno
The most chill of the islands, popular with honeymooners
Meno is the smallest island of the three, and also the middle island. Its population is lower; it’s quieter; it’s more like a desert island than the other two.
If you like the idea of being washed up on a peaceful desert island for a little while, perhaps with your partner, then this is the island for you! It has fewer activities, bars, and restaurants, but it’s the best place to enjoy your space and your calm. You can see why these Gili islands hotels are so popular amongst honeymooners!
Amazing hotels in Gili Meno
Luxury – AVIA Villa Resort
The incredible sea view and private pool are enough to sell this stunning villa. Aside from that, you have a completely wooden décor that’s in-keeping with the island’s atmosphere. It really feels like a getaway from everything. Prices start at $95 for a room with your own personal private pool!
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Luxury – Gili Meno Escape
Every room in this luxury villa comes with a garden view and a pool view. The pool is available all year round in this perfect tropical climate. You have complete privacy and easy access to everything on this little island paradise. Prices start at $90 for a deluxe bungalow.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Luxury – Kura Kura Resort
The harbour is a 5-minute walk away, and the resort’s rooms are the height of comfort. There’s nothing here you would need to ask for – snorkelling, diving, and cycling are all right on your doorstep. This is a great place if you’re a young couple here to relax. Prices start at $90 for a queen room.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Mid-range – Seri Resort
These bungalows sit on the white sandy beach and are massive, spacious rooms. You’ll be in absolute comfort at this resort! You can access all of the water activities right from your bungalow, and all the best restaurants are just down the street. Prices start at $45 for a king room.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Mid-range – Adeng Adeng Bungalows
Nestled in a quiet, off-the-beaten-path part of the island, these Gili Meno bungalows are surrounded by lush greenery. There’s a fantastic restaurant and bar, which is most welcome! Prices for a bungalow start at $40.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Budget – Diana Bungalows
These little bungalows are cosy and remove you completely from the stresses of everyday life. They feel like a return to nature. There’s an outdoor seating area and easy access to all of the island’s activities, including water-skiing. Prices start at $20 for a double room.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Budget – Fantastic Cottages
These Gili Meno cottages are spacious and a perfect mix of modern and traditional décor. The bathroom facilities are top-notch and the rooms still have a wooden aesthetic. All the island’s beaches and activities are within walking distance. Prices go from $25.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Pros and cons of staying in Gili Meno
Pros:
- You’ll feel like the only people around for miles
- Ideal for couples of all ages – especially honeymooners
Cons:
- Less to do means you could get bored
- Not the best island for families with children
Where to stay in Gili Air
Closest to the mainland, with its own coral reef
Gili Air is the second largest of the islands, and also the one closest to the mainland. That means if you like to have easy access to the mainland during your stay, Gili Air is your island.
The coral reef is absolutely the best thing about this particular island. You can swim, snorkel, and Scuba dive to enjoy it in all its beauty and splendour! Here are the best Gili islands hotels in Air.
Amazing hotels in Gili Air
Luxury – Sunrise Resort
This resort has absolutely everything. Hammocks, sun beds on the beach, a pool lined with palm trees, comfortable beds, spacious rooms. There’s nothing you could want more from this idyllic Gili islands beachside resort. Prices start at $90.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Luxury – Dolcemare Resort
These rooms are decorated with deep, dark wood furnishings. The pool is glistening and huge. The beds are warm and heavenly. This Gili Air resort is the peak of comfort, and ideal for you and your partner if you want a peaceful getaway. Prices go up from $95.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Mid-range – Zipp Bar Restaurant and Bungalows
As the name suggests, these Gili Air bungalows also come with a fantastic restaurant serving a wonderful, fresh local cuisine. The rooms themselves also have four-poster beds and are the most comfortable you’ll ever sleep on. Prices start at $50.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Mid-range – Samata Village Gili Air
This is a fantastic hotel if you love to socialise, and equally if you don’t! Your room is private and peaceful, and the outdoor seating areas are great for getting to know your fellow travellers. Prices start at $50.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Mid-range – Manta Dive Gili Air Resort
Huge and spacious rooms make for a very exciting and relaxing stay at this beautiful resort. You’re on the beach, with a pool and a bar. There’s little else you could want! The pool is huge and the décor is all natural and stunning. Prices start at $55.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Budget – Tangga Bungalows
These bungalow rooms are all about that wood décor. They’re natural and totally relaxing. Here you’re deep in the heart of traditional Indonesian island atmosphere. But you still get your own private bathroom. Prices go from $20.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Budget – Colour Cottage
These Gili Air cottages are nestled in a luscious garden and come with a private pool for you to enjoy. Your room is calm and quiet, and you can enjoy a continental breakfast every single morning. Prices start at $20.
Check the latest prices at Booking.com
Pros and cons of staying in Gili Air
Pros:
- The Scuba diving opportunities and the coral reef are incredible!
- Its proximity to the mainland means easy transport opportunities
Cons:
- It’s a little louder and busier than Gili Meno
- It doesn’t have the variety of on-land activities that Gili Trawangan has
Did you find out where to stay in the Gili islands? Ask me anything in the comment.
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Thank you for the great list of places to stay – we are off to Bali in September and super tempted to get the boat across to Gili T
Go, go, go! You would love Gili 🙂
Actually! Good blogs written by you and it’s very useful content for many people so keep sharing these types of articles. Thanks for sharing this blog!
Thanks for your kind comment, Terry! 😀
All of the information which publish you in your post is very helpful for me for choosing the best hotels-and-accommodation. Thank you so much for the Valuable information, keep it up.
Glad to hear that. Thanks!