Gili Air is the second-largest island from the three Gili Islands and closest to mainland Lombok. The island’s atmosphere lies in between the serenity of Gili Meno and the liveliness/bustle of Gili Trawangan. Although tourist development is fast catching up with this location, the unspoiled natural beauty of Gili Air is what draws most travelers into the fold. Gili Air’s flourishing marine life, beautiful crystal clear water scenery and captivating beaches rival its neighboring Gili Islands. Gili Air marries the best of Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, offering these features in balanced doses. It is the ideal location for people who want a switch between serene and highlife, depending on their state of mind.
Gili Air day trip
- Dive at Frogfish point and swim with ribbon eel morays, blue-spotted stingrays, gentle turtles, and fascinating frogfishes
- Go Mantadiving with the gentle manta rays
- Dive at Gili Air Wall and swim along with reef sharks, giant eagle rays, and wild Xeno Crab
- Take macrophotography at Gili Air’s dive site painted with colorful corals and rare marine life
- Paddleboarding along the coastline of the island
- Horse ride along powder-soft beaches
- Sunbathe at Gili Air’s powder-soft beaches
- Surf during Gili Air high tide
- Take a photo by the iconic Gili swing (hanging above the turquoise water)
- Fish your seafood dinner, go spearfishing.
Gili Air beaches
The best beaches on Gili Air are in the southwestern part of the island, but you will also get great dime picks at the north-western side. Water clarity is superb, with reefs great for snorkeling and diving. Other highlights include extreme water sports such as kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and even subwing. Make sure to visit the beaches on neighboring Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, easily accessible by boat. If you are staying in Gili Air, we recommend exploring the beaches of Lombok, Bali, and Nusa islands.
Gili Air keeps a strong identity, even though it is easily accessible for tourists trooping in from Lombok. Yet still, Gili Air offers the perfect retreat to anyone who wants a quiet and romantic vacation. With a population of about 1800 people, Gili Air is the place to be for a close-knit community. Circumnavigate the island by bicycle, ride through its interior coconut farm forests, and enjoy a simple beach life – Gili Air has all the alabaster sands you could wish for.
Gili Air snorkeling
Home to world-class snorkeling spots and dive sites; some of the best Gili Air snorkeling spots are Han’s reef, Air Wall, Frogfish point, and others. These snorkeling spots promise the perfect opportunity for macro photography, as rare and fascinating marine life thrives at Gili Air. Rare and exotic creatures you can encounter are exotic frogfish, giant black-spotted morays, lovely seahorses, wild pufferfish, and other fishes. When making the list of where to go snorkeling near Gili Air, few of the South Gilis are particularly suitable, such as Gili Nanggu and Gili Asahan.
While highly regarded for its crystal clear water and abundance of marine life, Gili Air’s scenery is even just as beautiful. From the eastern shore of Gili Air, you can watch the captivating sunrise over Mount Rinjani volcano (on neighboring Lombok). It is most definitely a romantic getaway! With Islander’s private boat tour, you can explore the untouched nature of Gili Air (recommended 1-2 days trip). Otherwise, you can reach Gili Air from Lombok in less than 10 minutes by boat.
Gili Air or Gili Meno
If you get to Gili Air first, you think it is the ideal location for a romantic escape. Well, until you see what Gili Meno has on offer. Being the smallest of all three islands in the Gili setup, it is also the quietest. However, that does not stop it from having the best beaches of the bunch where snorkeling from the beach is so tempting due to vibrant coral reefs within easy reach. While Gili Air features a blend of the other two Gili islands, Gili Meno is just in a class of its own.
