- Introduction
Arcing away from the northwest corner of Lombok, the Gili Islands are three idyllic atolls where the sand is still powdery white, the water a clear sparkling turquoise, and the sunsets over Bali’s Agung in the west simply spectacular.
Lombok’s Gili Islands of Trawangan, Meno and Air, make a surprisingly ideal tropical paradise getaway destination for all.
Home to the largest Irish bar on the smallest island in the world, an authentic Japanese sushi restaurant, 2 turtle hatcheries, ominous sounding dive sites like ‘Shark Point’ and miles and miles of white sandy beaches.
Getting there is now very easy with many options to suit all visitors and and whichever way you choose, you will be guaranteed to see some of Bali and Lombok’s breathtaking scenery.
- No motorised transport
Fortunately all three Gili Islands will not permit any type of motorised transport on them and therefore rely on bicycles or horse and carts, locally known as ‘Cidomos’.
Bicycles can be rented from any of the kiosks and cost from around Rp10,000 an hour, or better value, ask for the daily rate.
Cidomos or horse carts are easily located all over the islands but tend to hang around the harbour and busy spots, arrangements can be made if you are staying in a more remote place on the island, for instance a late ride home…. Haggling is the norm, and always agree a price before your journey.
- Families
Although originally discovered by backpackers in the mid eighties, and a reputation as a party destination, The Gili Islands now boast themselves as a great destination suitable for families of all ages.
Various new hotels and boutique bungalows now cater for children and offer good discounts, some have baby sitting services, and with lots of activities on the islands families are sure to enjoy their holidays to the full.
- Swimming and Snorkeling
Masks, fins and snorkels can be rented by the hour or day, from any of the dive shops or the kiosks in the street.
The best place for snorkelling and swimming is along the main beach areas in front of the hotels.
On Gili Trawangan the best place is a few hundred meters to the right from where the boats pull in, this area is known as Goodheart.
On Gili Meno to the south east of the island to the left of the harbour area is good, there is even an artificial biorock in front of Malias Child Bungalows in the shape of an aeroplane.
On Gili Air any where on the east and southern parts are good from The Gili Air Hotel on the north down to the harbour area, this is called 'Hann's reef.
Glass bottom boat snorkelling trips around the three islands are available and cost around 50,000rp per person. You can see all types of marine life just by snorkeling including the turtles, but please be careful not to touch the coral.
Note; Please do not try to swim between the islands as the currents in the channel can be unpredictable and very strong.
- Money matters
There is now an ATM machine on Gili Trawangan located at Hotel Vila Ombak but still no plans for a machine on the other 2 islands of Gili Meno or Gili Air.
All the dive shops and bigger hotels accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards at a set 3% bank charge, cash advances at 10% are available in many places most of the time but all relies on a rather shaky phone connection.
Money changers will cash traveler’s checks and currency but at a lower reduced rate than on the mainland.
- Electricity
All three Gilis islands now have their own PLN electric generating stations, however due to the increased number of visitors the service is occassionally interrupted and when the power goes out - IT GOES OUT...when the island is very busy sometimes the island's generator cannot cope with the spike of usage... in the peak seasons this can be put under strain particularly late afternoon and early evening.
A number of businesses have their own generators such as the larger hotels and restaurants, dive centres and mid range hotels so as to avoid the problem, and usually power cuts or ‘mati lampu’ only last a few hours, but occasionally can last a few days.
- Communication
There are a number of internet cafes on all three islands, but Gili Trawangan has the most situated all along the main strip, Gili Meno in the harbour area and at the Ozzy shop on Gili Air. All charge approximately the same, (around Rp400 per minute) although all operate at different speeds.
For telephone calls the best place to use is the Wartels, all islands have one, on Trawangan it is located next to the art market, on Gili Meno in the village and on Gili Air near the harbour behind Villa Karang.
- Crime, safety and health
Generally there is very little crime on the islands, however no where is 100% free. As with any where in the world you travel its best to leave your valuables in your room, and ideally in your hotel safe. If you do have any problems on the island report them to the Head of the Island (Kepala Desa) at the Satgas office.
There are small basic clinics on all the islands that can deal with minor problems, there is now a Doctor on call 24 hours at Villa Ombak on Trawangan, where they have a small pharmacy also.
For any serious injuries or illness there is the main hospital in Mataram, Lombok or Bali has some very well equipped international hospitals.
- The Wallace line
Alfred Russel Wallace, the so-called father of animal geography, formulated his ideas on evolution by natural selection while observing and collecting wildlife in the islands of Southeast Asia. He was particularly impressed by the sudden difference in bird families he encountered when he sailed some twenty miles east of the island of Bali and landed on Lombok.
On Bali the birds were clearly related to those of the larger islands of Java and Sumatra and mainland Malaysia. On Lombok the birds were clearly related to those of New Guinea and Australia.
He marked the channel between Bali and Lombok as the divide between two great zoogeographic regions, the Oriental and Australian.
In his honor this dividing line, which extends northward between Borneo and Sulawesi, is still referred to today as Wallace's Line. The very first island of the Australian region is Gili Trawangan.
