The Gili Islands, Indonesia

From Bali, I went to the Gili Islands — about a 2-hour speedboat ride. There are three islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. I chose Gili Trawangan because it’s the most touristy of the three, with the most options for hotels and bars, and you can easily visit the other two by boat from there.

Time of Year I Visited

I went in August, during Indonesia’s dry season — great weather, sunny days.

Did I Feel Safe?

Very safe. The Gili Islands are small, relaxed, and very tourist-friendly — nothing that made me feel uncomfortable at any point. Something that makes this place unique is that there are no cars at all. Getting around is on foot, by bike, or by horse-drawn cart. Without traffic, you actually slow down and relax in a way that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to disconnect.

Where I Stayed

Pesona Beach Resort and Spa (adults only): Loved this one, really well located. I think they offer PADI scuba diving certification in their pool — worth checking if you’re into diving. Super comfortable, I loved it there.

What’s Worth Doing

The water is beautiful, the beach is stunning, and you can watch the sunset from the bars. It’s also a great place to travel solo and meet people — the island is small enough that you keep crossing paths with the same crowd. Gili Trawangan is about 3km in total — I walked everywhere. Some people rent bikes, but the sand makes it a struggle unless you’re genuinely good on a bike.

From Gili Trawangan you can also do a boat tour to visit Gili Air and Gili Meno — a great way to see all three islands without having to choose just one.

Ombak Sunset: One of the most iconic photo spots on the island — there’s a swing right on the beach with Mount Agung as the backdrop. Go for sunset. While I was there, a guy proposed to his girlfriend right in that spot. It’s that kind of place — so beautiful and romantic that apparently it inspires big decisions. So if your partner takes you there, just saying… maybe pay attention.

Getting There

Keep the weather in mind when planning your crossing — boats can get cancelled, so build in some extra days just in case. When I went, the weather turned bad and all departures got cancelled. I was travelling alone and wasn’t sure what to do — I ended up finding a slower boat that was still running, an 8-hour crossing instead of 2. Not ideal, but at least I made it. On the way back, the weather had cleared and I was able to take the speedboat.

How Long Did I Stay?

2 days. I could have stayed longer.

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