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DIVING
It goes without saying that the biggest drawcard to the Gilis is diving! Tens of thousands of people come to the Gilis each year, whether to learn to dive in one of the best environments in the world, to update skills and certification, and to find new challenges. It’s a great place to learn how to dive if you have always wanted to try!
The Gili’s drop-offs, plateaus and slopes reflect a good cross-section of what Indonesia has to offer. Dive in and be fascinated by stunning gardens of hard and soft corals, white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, moray eels, barracuda, angelfish, pipefish, mantas and sting rays, different species of turtles and a huge variety of tropical fish species.
There are PADI certified dive shops on each of the islands offering a wide variety of courses – from discover scuba to open-water to more advanced levels of drift diving, rescue diver, nitrox diver, and more.
As the three Gilis are not far apart, all the famous dive sites are easily accessible, no matter on which island you are based.
SUBWING
This thrilling new adventure allows you to hold on to a special Subwing board as you are towed by a boat, creating the feeling of flying underwater!
The boat travels at a gentle pace and you can control the direction of the board, getting as adventurous as you like with turns and spins. The trip allows you to snorkel with a mask and goggles over the reefs, gliding and diving with ease. No experience is needed. subwinggiliislands.com
VISIT A TURTLE SANCTUARY
The Gilis are home to three species of turtles: the Green Sea Turtle, the Hawksbill Turtle, and the Olive Ridley Turtle. These magnificent creatures are a joy to swim with and you’ll often encounter them when you are snorkelling or diving around the islands.
However, as with all developing areas in the world, their existence is threatened by rising sea temperatures, pollution, and the invasion of humans into their natural habitat.
Turtles lay their eggs in nests on the beach and have a highly-sensitive radar, returning year after year to lay their eggs in the same spot. The development of beachfronts – hotels and cafés encroaching on their traditional nesting grounds and noise and bright lights disturbing the night when they come to lay their eggs – all threaten the turtle populations of the Gilis.
On each of the islands there are turtle sanctuaries, where caring locals have rescued eggs from nests in dangerous locations and reared the hatchlings until they are big enough to be released back into the sea.
Visit these sanctuaries to see the endangered turtles up close, while learning about local conservation and protection efforts. Please be generous and give a donation to the carers so they can continue this important work.
If you’d like to learn more about turtles, Oceans 5 Gili Air offers a Turtle Specialty Diving Course, providing insights into turtle behaviour, identification techniques, and conservation practices.
PARTY
You’re on holiday – no need to go to the office tomorrow, plenty of time for sleeping in, now is the time to party!
Parties and Gili T go hand-in-hand, and the island has a weekly party roster with live bands or DJs (and late closing) at a different location every night:
Monday – Blue Marlin
Tuesday – Tequila Sunrise
Wednesday – Tir Na Nog (The Irish Bar)
Thursday – Pesona Resort
Friday – Sand Bar
Saturday – Sama Sama Reggae Bar
Sunday – Evolution Bar
That’s not to say there isn’t plenty happening at the other bars too, and pre-party drinks are popular. Walk along the beachfront to see what the different bars are offering, and choose what type of nightlife appeals to you.
Savindia on the beachfront is always lively, with a great line up of entertainment, delicious and well-priced meals, and lots of drinks specials. There’s a bonfire on the beach every night (and free marshmallows to toast)!
Tir Na Nog (or the Irish Bar, as everyone calls it) is buzzing every night and to top it off, they host a big pub crawl every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday night visiting the best bars on the island. This is a great idea if you’re travelling solo or want to get to know other travellers.
Gili Meno isn’t the place you come to party but you’ll still find a lively bar scene, especially at places like The Irish Bar on the north shore, which hosts live music every Friday nights and has a great vibe at any time.
BASK is the place to hang on, especially on weekends, with top DJs visiting from Bali and a chic beachfront crowd. The newly opened Rosalee lounge in the resort offers a smooth and sophisticated option for something special.
Otherwise, Meno offers a quieter alternative to the other Gilis, with romantic nights dining on the beachfront, and low-key bars offering sunset cocktails and acoustic music.
While Gili Air doesn’t have a party roster, the island still knows how to let loose – especially during its famous full moon parties! Full Moon parties are eagerly anticipated by both locals and tourists alike, offering a unique opportunity to dance the night away under the moonlit sky.
Lucky’s Bar, with its beachfront location and lively vibe, is a popular haunt for those looking to groove to the latest beats and mingle with fellow partygoers, while Zipp Bar’s unique atmosphere and excellent cocktails make it a must-visit during full moon celebrations. Dance to the tunes of talented DJs and let the party spirit take over.
Other popular places include Cheeky Monkey, Legend Bar and Bedagang – who also host weekly pub crawls every Wednesday.
Wander along the beachfront and you’ll find everything from reggae bands to acoustic music to techno – Gili Air has something to suit everyone.
