Gili Islands
Gili Islands
4
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Top ways to experience Gili Islands
The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
341 within 5 kms
Attractions
27 within 10 kms
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4.0
1,055 reviews
Excellent
516
Very good
244
Average
106
Poor
73
Terrible
116
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Katie M
2 contributions
Apr 2020 • Couples
My husband had been wanting to visit the islands for years, we were very dismayed by the lackluster “paradise” of these islands. We visited gili T and gili air. It was very eerie, especially at night because it was a ghost town, which I’m sure had in part to do from the earthquakes a couple of years ago. The beaches are polluted and covered in coral so you will need to bring water shoes to wear at all times. We stayed at a couple of places which were supposed to be higher end, however they were worn done and out dated. Please do not take the horse cidomo carriages on any of these islands. They are actually ponies and are forced to carry a wagon filled with 4+ people and large luggage’s. I have seen first hand the abuse and neglect that these poor horses receive. My stomach would drop whenever I would hear the bells signaling that they were working, which was all day long. You couldn’t get away from seeing or hearing these poor animals wherever you were on this island. Not only did it ruin our vacation seeing that these poor animals are overworked 18+ hours a day in sweltering heat, but 8 months later I am still traumatized for them. They are malnourished, fed salt water, have open wounds from their ill fitting harnesses, forced to pull a heavy wagon down sand paths and are extremely overworked. If everyone refuses to take the horse carriages, they will be forced to use solar powered tuktuk’s.
Written 22 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shafi25
Bengaluru, India93 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Was in Lombok, we took a boat from Bangsa, public boat takes 25 min to Gill islands, and its cheaper. Hotels & Home stays are affordable. Lot of water sports activities available as per our interests.
Written 17 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorenzo V
4 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
In a nutshell:
Breathtaking landscapes, beautiful sea, lovely place, dismayed by daily acrid smell of burnt plastic waste day and night.
In every street and sidewalk is full of garbage, and often they are accumulated and then burned, there is no separate collection and disposal service.
Everything is normal for them so upon arrival you may find yourself smelling of smoke because they are burning next to your hotel.
Every now and then you have to go back inside and turn on the air conditioning or you will struggle to breathe.
NOT RECOMMENDATION
Breathtaking landscapes, beautiful sea, lovely place, dismayed by daily acrid smell of burnt plastic waste day and night.
In every street and sidewalk is full of garbage, and often they are accumulated and then burned, there is no separate collection and disposal service.
Everything is normal for them so upon arrival you may find yourself smelling of smoke because they are burning next to your hotel.
Every now and then you have to go back inside and turn on the air conditioning or you will struggle to breathe.
NOT RECOMMENDATION
Automatically translated
Written 13 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tulipz06
Singapore, Singapore43 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Great snorkeling time at Gili Air and Meno - spotted turtles , beautiful marine fishes - nemo... feeding the fishes underwater while snorkeling indeed it was a great experience! Gili Trawangan is no least beautiful shades of blue sea ... with many shops for shopping ...
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RodPerth35
Perth, Australia82 contributions
Feb 2020
Spent a whole day snorkeling around the Gili Islands, Gili Air is the best but all worth a look. We had several turtles swim under us, one quite large with literally thousands of fish and 1 sea snake, which was more scared of us... definately worth at least one day trip.
Written 4 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eva
3 contributions
June 2024 • Solo
Avoid. Read and say thanks for this advise.
Unsafe
Dirty, smelly, every boy with cigarette all the time.
nothing as a nice island...... unexpected, after see so many islands, as this most not worth anything. And how I was lucky no to go here for years travelling.
Mosque very loud from 4:30am every hour loud half hour.
very stressed, nothing as relax. Poor quality
no fruits, scammed expensive coconuts and of course dirty and not good ones.
accommodation is poor and expensive.
I was travelled around planet at different "fair safe" places and here I really feel not Ok.
I hope I ll safely get airport and fly from here.
Unsafe
Dirty, smelly, every boy with cigarette all the time.
nothing as a nice island...... unexpected, after see so many islands, as this most not worth anything. And how I was lucky no to go here for years travelling.
Mosque very loud from 4:30am every hour loud half hour.
very stressed, nothing as relax. Poor quality
no fruits, scammed expensive coconuts and of course dirty and not good ones.
accommodation is poor and expensive.
I was travelled around planet at different "fair safe" places and here I really feel not Ok.
I hope I ll safely get airport and fly from here.
Written 5 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rene1964Hoofddorp
Hoofddorp, The Netherlands221 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Pros, the roads are very well trafficked and fairly safe. You are not insured anywhere so keep that in mind, also disappoint the cuisine, I think tourism has killed the Indonesian cuisine, only at local warungs you can still eat well. Further, plastic, plastic, plastic, please, you pay tourist tax, is there now no Indonesian who thinks we are going to clean up??? So it's one nasty gang, too bad
Automatically translated
Written 30 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mima
2 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Filthy places, polution evident on the beach. You can see in the water, polution that looks like a white frothy spit, disqusting . All sort of rubbish everywhere and rather unhappy people compared to Bali. We visited all three Gilis and stayed 3-4 nights in each one of them. Will not come back.
Written 26 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
patrick f
31 contributions
July 2023 • Couples
The Gili islands are beautiful. Lots of amazing things to do. But all of it gets completely ruined by the inept and remarkably stupid non existent system at both ports. I’ve been all over the world and this is by far the worst experience. All the while the ports charge fees to leave and enter. Why? None of the funds are used to improve a single thing. For years it’s remained a terrible and idiotic experience with crowds and no system whatsoever. It makes me angry that you pay taxes for nothing. An entire scam. There are no excuses for it. Just greed. Anyone who has been will know. I’m now totally turned off especially when there are more amazing places to go in SE Asia without this level of garbage to deal with. Never again
Written 11 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
priscillabc
Balneario Camboriu, SC2 contributions
Mar 2014 • Solo
I' m from Brazil and I was trevelling by myself ...just had dinner and no drinks at all at the Irish Bar ... so after I went to bed at the hotel Jacarta ....in the middle of the night (around 3 am) there was a man touching me ( he was probably there for a while ) ... I woke up and saw this man hiding by the side of the bed ...I scremed and he ran .... IT WAS A NIGHTMARE I'll EVER FORGET !!! It's a beautiful place Ibut not safe at all ... He also stole all my money !!!
Written 5 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ciao.
Ne ho sentite di tutti i colori, come sono realmente i viaggi in traghetto da Bali a gili? Chiedo consigli per una persona che soffre molto il mal di mare
Written 12 August 2024
Ciao, io sono appena rientrata. Ho preso Speed boat dal porto di Padang Bai. Viaggio assolutamente tranquillo. Certo dipende sempre dalle condizioni del mare che nel mio caso era ottimale. Per precauzione avevo comunque preso una pillola per il mal di mare. Isola bellissima. Io
Written 30 September 2024
Bonjour,
Nous sommes un couple de jeune mariés et nous avons opté pour Bali pour effectuer notre lune de miel du 15 Oct au 28-29 Oct de cette année.
Conseillez vous les iles Gili en comparasion à Nusa Lembongan? Pour quelles raisons?
Je vous remercie d'avance pour votre réponse
Written 17 August 2017
Cambiar a español
Nous ne savons pas Nusa Lembongan, nous avons parlé très de cette île pour les promenades et la plongée en apnée. Nous avons décidé de le faire pour deux raisons Gili; Je suis parti de l'environnement de Bali et Gili attrayant pour nager avec les tortues.
Pardonnez mon france
Written 18 August 2017
Has anybody used Rocksteady speedboat company for Lombok airport transfers to Gili islands?
Written 22 June 2017
Which is the safest and best boat company from Amed to the Gili Islands pls
Thx Mell
Written 13 March 2017
Rekommenderar bara att dricka Bintang eftersom alkohol är väldigt dyrt så kan man inte vara säker OM det är någon leverantör till barerna som fejkat med spriten. Är man på ett finare ställe så bör det ju inte vara några problem (med vin ex, men de vinerna jag provade på Bali var sådär), men vi vågade inte dricka några drinkar i vilket fall.
Written 11 February 2017
GILI meno is rustig en relaxed hoorde ik is dat juist ? kan niet heel ver lopen heup operatie maar is dit om te relaxen voor mij ook goed ?
bedankt alvast
Written 10 January 2017
Bonjour, de Bali comment allez à aux Iles Gili? Quel compagnie me conseillez vous pour le bateaux?
Dans l'attente de vos futur réponses
Cordialement
Written 2 January 2017
Hello!!! There are lots of different companies that you can hire. Recommended? Not sure... We took two different companies, the first one: Marina Srikandi Fast Boat was a disaster. They are not serious and really desorganized. The second one: Gili Gili fast boat ran aground between Gili air and Bali. We had to wait for another boat to go to Gili Trwangan and once then, they took as to Lombok, wait for a ferry and spend 6 hours in a ferry from Lombok to Bali...At list, the last company had resources and "solved" the problem. Nevertheless, we lost one day of our trip... So, to sum up, I think that there is not a really good company there, just, hire one and be carried along by it.
Written 3 January 2017
Hey Trish! We just got back from Gili Meno. VERY different experience to yours. It might be that way on Gili T (the party island), but the cart horses were beautiful, healthy animals on Gili Meno. Taken for cartless runs on the beach at night, Spirited, alert, adequately fed and watered, hooves and limbs attended to, and drivers careful to rotate horses during the day and never overload or allow for off balance.The breed is small and light build, but shiny coats, and good eyes do not lie. Never saw the kind of abuse you mentioned...could be just the difference in attitude from one island to the next. Gili Meno islanders clearly value and are very attached to their animals. Sounds like the Gili T guys could take a lesson from "the quiet Gili island".
Written 17 November 2016
denignbyleonie
Ubud, Indonesia
Wij zitten nu in Ubud en willen over een paar dagen naar gili meno.
Van waar en met welke boottocht kunnen wij dit het beste doen?
B.v.d. Fred
Written 25 August 2016
Beste Fred,
Ik heb diverse 'tour operators' gecontacteerd, prijzen zijn zeer uiteenlopend maar uiteindelijk toch een goed bedrijf gevonden via Cheapest Bali Travel. Zijn naam is Amanth en via whatsapp te bereiken op +62 81 999 668 686.
Via hem heb ik een overtocht maar Gili T. met Sindex geregeld voor 350k IDR per persoon inclusief pickup naar de haven van Padang bay.
Groet,
Remco
Written 26 August 2016
Hi, has anyone rented a boat from Gili T for a day to do the Gili islands tour? How much does it cost? We are a couple with a 1 year baby visiting Bali in October. Thanks
Written 23 August 2016
I have rented a private boat from Gili M. We stayed at Rust Mimpi Manis Bungalows and I just made a deal with the owner there. The boat owner was very nice and took care of us. We just wanted to travel around and snorkel and go wherever we wanted to go and the man obliged. I also rented him just to take us to Lomboc as we were going to meet up with Perama travel service to head out to Komodo Island. Whatever you do and whereevr you decide, just haggle the price down from their quote about 33%. Begin at 50% and work your way up to a compromise. That's what we always do and it usually works. Just make sure they have a life vest for a one year old. Happy travels. On a side note, espeically with a one year old, you should stay on Gili M because it is so much quieter and family frienly. Gili T is known as the party island.
Written 24 August 2016
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