🐢 Gili Diary - Snorkeling, Tangas & One DJ Boat Ride

The Gili Islands are a group of three tiny tropical islands off the coast of Lombok - often added as a peaceful break during Bali trips. Each island has its own rhythm:

• Gili Trawangan (Gili T) - The most famous and social one, with beach cafés, live music, and snorkelling tours. It’s where we stayed.

• Gili Meno - Quiet, romantic, and ideal for couples or honeymooners. Fewer cafés, more nature.

• Gili Air - Somewhere in between - not too quiet, not too loud. A relaxed mix of both worlds.

But what makes the Gilis truly special is this:
There are no motor vehicles.
No bikes. No scooters. No honking taxis. Just bicycles, horse carts (tangas), and your own two feet.

You hear the sea, not engines. You walk without traffic. You slow down without even trying.

We booked our fast boat via Klook - around ₹1,600 per person (≈300K IDR) with Wijaya Cruises. The check-in was smooth: show your printout, get your ID tags, and you’re set. Since Gili has three stops (Trawangan, Meno, Air), they made sure our tag clearly said "Trawangan" - so we wouldn’t end up two islands too far 😄

Now the boat ride itself? Unexpected party mode! 🎶

There were so few people on board that we got the upper deck almost to ourselves. A little chat with the crew, and next thing you know - Punjabi songs blasting, sea wind in our faces, and a full-on desi DJ cruise in the middle of Indonesia. All they asked for? “One beer in return.” Fair deal, we say!

🚤 The Journey - Boat Rides, Beats & a View to Remember

Our Gili adventure began from Nusa Penida, as part of a triangle route - Bali → Nusa → Gili → Bali. Most people go from Bali’s Padang Bai port, but we chose to take the less common, more scenic path.

🐢 First Impressions - Tangas, No Traffic & Beachfront Hotels

We reached Gili T and were immediately greeted with something you don’t hear often in Bali - silence. No honking. No bikes. No traffic. Just the clip-clop of tangas (horse carts) and the soft sound of ocean waves.

Our tanga dropped us at the hotel, which had a direct sea view - literally 4 steps from our door to the beach. Since check-in wasn’t open yet, we dropped our luggage and stepped right out to explore.

🤿 The Snorkelling Search - Cycles, Negotiation & Turtles

After dropping our bags, we rented bicycles for 50K IDR each (yes, they quoted 70K, but we did our Indian thing 😄). Gili’s charm is that everything is just a short ride away - even snorkelling.

We stopped at a few vendors, asked for prices, and quickly realised:

• Public tours are cheaper (~150K IDR) but run only at fixed times (9 AM & 1 PM)

• Private tours are more flexible and peaceful, but cost more

Since we missed the public slot, we negotiated a 3-hour private snorkelling tour for 750K IDR (~₹4,100) - including gear + GoPro photos.

And here’s the best part:

You don’t need to know how to swim.
Neither of us could - not even float. But with life jackets, a helpful guide, and the calm sea, we snorkelled like pros (well… almost 😅).

Our guide was even singing Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham as we left the shore. Bollywood, goggles, and ocean — what a combo.

Snorkelling Highlights:

• 🐢 3 sea turtles, so close we could’ve high-fived them

• 🧜‍♀️ The famous underwater Nest statues

• 🚗 A sunken car and scooter reef

• 🏝️ A peaceful lunch break at Gili Meno, the honeymoon island

The experience? Unbelievable. Peaceful. Playful. And totally possible - even if you can’t swim a stroke.

🏊 Pool, Sunset & Full Chill Mode

After snorkelling, we finally checked into our hotel - and it was everything we needed. A pool-facing room, peaceful vibe, and the best part? We were watching the sunset right from the swimming pool 🌅

Two hours just slipped by in the water. No photos, no agenda - just the kind of peace you don’t even realise you’ve missed.

🚲 Morning Loop - Sand Patches, Sea Breeze & Slow Travel

The next morning, we finally completed the Gili Trawangan island loop - about 7.5 km in total. We started just after breakfast and expected a smooth ride all around. Well… almost.

Turns out, there’s a 1 km stretch that’s just deep sand, with no road at all. We tried cycling through it, but eventually gave in and walked our bikes across. It wasn’t easy, but the views of the ocean, palm trees, and boats floating nearbymade it totally worth it.

The full loop took us around 45 minutes, including photo breaks, a few walk-push moments, and just soaking in the island stillness. No traffic. No rush. Just the sound of your wheels and the waves.

It was the kind of ride that doesn’t get you anywhere fast - but that’s exactly the point.

🚤 Departing Gili - Amed and Air-Conditioned Boats

Our next destination was Amed in East Bali - and this time again, we skipped the usual Padang Bai route. There’s only one boat per day from Gili to Amed, and we booked it directly at the Gili port.

• Operator: Freebird

• Cost: 400K IDR (~₹2,200) per person (after bargaining from 500K)

• Duration: 1.5 hours

• Bonus: Air-conditioned seating & smooth journey 😌

It dropped us near the black sand beaches of Amed, which gave a whole new feel to our Bali trip. The ride was calm, almost sleepy - and before we knew it, Gili was behind us.

Gili wasn’t wild like Nusa Penida, or cultural like Ubud. It didn’t ask us to see more or do more.
Instead, it invited us to slow down - to bike instead of rush, float instead of swim, and just… be.

In one short stay, we saw sea turtles, cycled along the beach, had our anniversary lunch on a honeymoon island, and watched a golden sunset from the swimming pool.

Even a 24-hour stop here leaves a mark. And if you’re planning a Bali trip, trust us - Gili deserves that detour.

💭 Final Thoughts - Why Gili Was So Different

Gili doesn’t shout for your attention.
It just gives you space to breathe - and that’s its magic.