Gili Islands Travel Guide 2026: Snorkeling, Hotels & Getting There from Bali
Escape Bali's bustle for the tranquil Gili Islands! This 2026 guide covers transport, best hotels, delicious eats, and where to swim with turtles.
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Escape Bali's bustle for the tranquil Gili Islands! This 2026 guide covers transport, best hotels, delicious eats, and where to swim with turtles.
A Trip to Bali's Gili Islands
How to Get There, Accommodation, Best Eats, and Turtle Snorkeling - A Complete Guide!
Ⓒ Text & Photos by Viewmalang
Hello, fellow explorers!
If you're planning a trip to Bali
and looking for somewhere a little different,
I highly recommend a trip to the Gili Islands! ✨🌴
You'll discover a laid-back vibe, totally different from Bali's main island,
and in the emerald waters, you can even snorkel alongside turtles!
It's the perfect spot to enjoy both relaxation and adventure.
Today, based on my own recent journey,
I'll guide you through my Bali Gili itinerary, covering everything from how to get there,
accommodation, snorkeling, and even the best local eateries! Let's dive in!
🔎 Here's what you'll discover in this post!
1 | A Trip to Bali's Gili Islands |
2 | Recommended Accommodation in the Gili Islands |
3 | My Experience Turtle Snorkeling in the Gili Islands |
4 | Recommended Restaurants in the Gili Islands |
1. How to Get to Bali's Gili Islands
The Gili Islands (Gili) are small islands located near Lombok,
and you can reach them from Bali by taking a speedboat.
When departing from Bali, you'll typically head to Padang Bai port,
where you'll catch your boat.
Padang Bai is situated on the eastern side of Bali,
so it took about 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from Ubud,
and about 2 hours from Kuta or Seminyak.
At first, I wondered if I'd have to arrange separate transportation to the port,
but most speedboat companies offer a pickup service.
It's much more convenient to select the car pickup option when you book.
The main route for getting to Bali's Gili Islands is as follows:
Padang Bai → Gili Trawangan →
Gili Air → Gili Meno
(in that order),
and the boat ride takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
There are several boat companies to choose from,
and I personally used Wahana Boat!
⭐️ For detailed booking instructions and pickup application process,
I've put together a separate, detailed post, so please refer to the link below!
Upon arrival, you'll travel around by horse cart or bicycle.
I personally only took a horse cart twice – once upon arrival and once for departure –
and explored the rest of the time on foot or by renting a bicycle!
2. Accommodation in Bali's Gili Islands
Since the Gili Islands aren't very large,
choosing the right accommodation location is key.
For this Bali Gili trip, I actually stayed in
two different places.
Personally, this is the Gili Islands accommodation I'd most recommend from my trip :)
Considering both the ambiance and the location,
the place I'd most recommend is Ponte Villas.
🌴 Gili Accommodation Recommendation ① Ponte Villas
Ponte Villas is located on the south side of Gili Trawangan,
making it quite close to the harbor, so getting around was super convenient.
But most of all, the ambiance of the accommodation was absolutely beautiful.
There's a long, inviting swimming pool within the property,
and with the beach right in front, it truly felt like a perfect resort getaway.
And you can even request a floating breakfast! 🤍
Private beach chairs and beach just about 1 minute from the accommodation
Good value for money among Gili accommodations
Friendly staff and satisfying service
Beautiful, long swimming pool
Floating breakfast available
Convenient travel due to proximity to the harbor
>> Discover Ponte Villas Booking <<
🌊 Gili Accommodation Recommendation ② Kardia (Cardia)
Our second accommodation recommendation is perfect for those who
prioritize great value for money.
Kardia (Cardia) is located on the west side of Gili Trawangan,
and with the beach extending right in front of the resort,
it was fantastic for enjoying the ocean!!
The accommodation also boasts a Sunset Point Restaurant,
so you can enjoy meals, coffee, and drinks at the bar all in one place.
The price is also relatively affordable, with breakfast included, usually in the low ~$69 range!
Great value-for-money price, averaging in the low ~$69 range with breakfast included
Resort leads directly to the beach
Ocean view infinity pool
Sunset Point Restaurant within the accommodation
Restaurant + Cafe + Bar all available in one place
>> Check out Kardia's best prices <<
3. Bali Gili Snorkeling
Snorkeling is an absolute must-do activity in Gili‼️
There are three islands: Trawangan, Meno, and Air,
and each has slightly different snorkeling spots.
🐢 Gili Trawangan
→ Turtle Point, where you can spot turtles
🗿 Gili Meno
→ Statue Point (Bask Nest), where you can see underwater statues
🐠 Gili Air
→ A spot to see a variety of tropical fish
One day, I booked a private snorkeling tour through a local company to visit all three Gili islands.
The price was a bit higher, but considering it was private
and we had a safe and amazing trip, it was definitely worth every penny!!
If you truly want to make the most of your snorkeling experience,
I highly recommend the course that takes you around all three islands' famous spots.
For details on the company I booked with, check the link below!
🔻🔻🔻
And on another day, instead of booking a tour,
we visited Turtle Point on our own.
The result was a huge success!! Woohoo! 👏🏻
It's located north of Trawangan,
and you can find its location by searching "Turtle Point" on Google Maps.
It's convenient to get around Gili by renting a bicycle,
so we also cycled there ourselves 🚲
And if you want to see turtles, I recommend visiting in the morning if possible!!
That's when the turtles come out to feed, so you have a higher chance of spotting them~
4. Gili Islands Bali Foodie Spots
Gili is a small island, but it had more delicious places than I expected.
I'll introduce only the places I personally visited and really enjoyed.
🌅 Sunset Spot｜PinkCoco
If you want to experience a truly spectacular sunset, PinkCoco is the place!
Just sitting back and leisurely watching the sunset
was unexpectedly wonderful!
🔥 BBQ Hotspot｜La Cala Beach Club Gili Trawangan
If you're craving some BBQ, I also recommend La Cala Beach Club Gili Trawangan.
You can enjoy the beach vibe along with your meal,
making it a great spot for an evening visit.
🥣 Acai Bowl Haven｜Coffee & Thyme Gili Trawangan
If you're looking for a light bite,
Coffee & Thyme Gili Trawangan is a great choice!
They have acai bowls on the menu, and the AC is blasting, which is a major plus!
🇰🇷 Korean Food Fix｜Sunshine Cafe & Pine Tree
Sometimes, after a few days, you just crave Korean food, right? 😂
In those moments, I recommend Sunshine Cafe and Pine Tree.
Especially at Pine Tree, the soft tofu stew (Sundubu-jjigae) was absolutely delicious!
These are fantastic places to visit when you're missing Korean flavors, so definitely one to save!~
Trawangan, where I stayed for 3 nights and 4 days during my 2-week trip!
It was a different kind of travel experience compared to bustling around the main island's attractions.
I loved the relaxed pace of cycling around the island, snorkeling in the ocean,
and unwinding while watching the sunset.
I've got to go back again someday!!! 🐢💙
📍 Gili Trawangan
Gili Indah, Pemenang, North Lombok Regency, Nusa Tenggara Barat 83352, Indonesia
It takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from Ubud, Bali, and about 2 hours from Kuta or Seminyak. Most speedboat companies operate a pick-up service, so it's convenient to select the car pick-up option when booking.
Ponte Villas is located on the south side of Gili Trawangan, close to the harbor, making it convenient for travel. The accommodation features a long swimming pool, a beach right in front, and guests can also request a floating breakfast.
You can see turtles at 'Turtle Point', located on the north side of Gili Trawangan. It is recommended to visit in the morning when turtles come out to feed.
Kardia (Kaldia) is located on the west side of Gili Trawangan and offers great value, averaging around ~$69 per night including breakfast. The resort is directly connected to the beach, and guests can also enjoy the sunset point restaurant within the accommodation.
When you're craving Korean food, Sunshine Cafe and Pine Tree are recommended. Pine Tree, in particular, is noted for its delicious Sundubu Jjigae (soft tofu stew).
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