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Beaches
Being small islands, there are fabulous sandy beaches for sunbathing and swimming on each of the Gilis. The water is calm and clear, and it’s easy to wade in from the shore.
Best of all, there are cafés all along the beachfront with many of them providing sun lounges, tables and bean bags on the beach so it’s easy to spend the day relaxing and sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling, and ordering up drinks and meals right from the shore!
Most of the beaches are quite protected and therefore safe for children.
Please don’t try to swim between the islands though – although they look to be quite close, the depth between the islands drops off sharply and the currents are treacherous. Unfortunately, there have been deaths in the past when people have attempted to swim from one island to another.
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. You can 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 species of fish.
There are PADI certified dive shops on each of the islands offering a large range 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.
Snorkelling
If you are not a diver, discovering the magical underwater world is still easy, with good snorkelling just off-shore on each of the Gilis.
Masks and fins are available to rent at stalls along the beachfront.
Local tour agencies on the islands offer snorkelling tours around the islands, with a guide to help you find the best spots and identify the many wonderful sights, including turtles, underwater statues, artificial reefs, and many different varieties of colourful fish.
Island Hopping
Discover the Gilis with an island-hopping tour on a traditional outrigger boat. Whichever Gili you are staying on, you can organise with the boat owners on the beachfront to take you to the other islands to discover the unique charms of each Gili.
From Gili T you might want to cruise over to Gili Meno in the morning for some snorkelling and lunch, then on to Gili Air to explore the island by bicycle and have a swim, before returning to Gili T.
Tour operators and boat owners are happy to customise trips to suit you and to suggest itineraries depending on the tides and best places to see.
It’s even possible to island-hop using a glass bottomed boat. These outriggers have been fitted with an acrylic base in the bottom of the boat, allowing passengers to see the underwater world beneath them without ever having to get wet!
Glass bottom boats are especially good if you are travelling with young children – allowing them to safely discover the wonders under the sea. Fun for parents too!
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
Horse Riding
Beginners through to experienced riders will enjoy the magical experience of riding a horse along the beach at sunset.
Rides usually take place in the cooler hours of early morning or late afternoon and some even include a swim with the horses.
On Gili T, check out: Stud Horse Riding and Rescue and Horses of Gili.
Gili Meno: Gili Meno Stable Horse Riding Adventures and Kings Stable Horse Riding Tour.
Gili Air: Gili Air Horse Riding and Horse Riding of Gili Air.
Yoga
Surrounded by natural beauty and immersed in the slower pace of island life, holidays are the perfect time to restore body and mind with yoga. Beginner yoga classes are readily available on the islands and many resorts also offer yoga classes for their guests.
H2O Yoga and Meditation Centre on Gili Air offer daily yoga classes, introductory meditation, workshops, massage, and a variety of holistic healing treatments, in addition to hosting retreats throughout the year.
Flowers and Fire Yoga Garden, also on Gili Air, offers daily yoga classes, workshops, retreats and creative events hosted by renowned teachers.
Sunset Beach Yoga on Gili Trawangan is housed in a purpose-built treetop yoga studio with amazing views and, in addition to daily yoga classes, offers Fly High Yoga – aerial yoga using slings to support the body as you move through the air!
Blue Marine Dive on Gili Air offers early morning yoga on the beachfront and in the late afternoons, in addition to diving and Stand Up Paddle (SUP). For something different, they also combine Yoga with SUP, which enhances strength and balance while enjoying the beautiful views from the water!