Dream Now, Travel to Gili Later

10/7/2020

Many campaigns around the world are reminding us to “dream now and visit later” as travel restrictions remain in force. The truth is, the world pressed pause, but the destinations haven’t gone dark! So, in this time of global-pandemic, I would like to take you on a virtual tour of the Gili Islands and maybe inspire you to dream now and prepare to experience later.

“While the world is standing still, nature is recovering, and the wildlife seems more abundant. The islands are now quiet and at their most pristine”

The Gilis are more pristine than ever

The three Islands, a few kilometres off the northwest coast of Lombok, re-opened to domestic tourists on June 20, 2020 - a step in the right direction! The Gili islands are Corona free, and as such have been earmarked by the Indonesian government to become the pilot project for a "new normal" in tourism, and will hopefully be an example for other destinations in Indonesia. However, it might still be difficult to access the Gilis as Bali and Lombok are still not allowing international arrivals, though the government plans to start allowing this again from September onwards. Until then, all we can do right now is dream. But at the same time, in my opinion, we should not wait too long to visit the Gilis. While the world is standing still, nature is recovering, and the wildlife seems more abundant. The islands are now quiet and at their most pristine. Find out how to make your Gili dreams come true soon at the bottom of this page.

A virtual tour of the Gili Islands

A tour of the Gili Islands can only be done on foot, by bicycle or cidomo (a small horse-drawn carriage) as there are no motorized vehicles on the Islands! Each island has its own charm and local boats will take you from one to another.

Gili Trawangan

Gili T is the largest of the 3 Islands (not by much). You will find a great mix of tropical remoteness with the luxuries of home, as despite its size, the island is pretty well developed.

Gili Trawangan offers some of the best diving spots in Indonesia. If you take a dip in the ocean, you will be rewarded with plenty of astonishing encounters. Sea turtles, reef sharks, manta rays and a lot of colourful coral fishes are waiting for you. On land, Gili T also boasts some of the most breath-taking sunsets. Imagine yourself staring at the bold, vibrant colours of the sky as the sun dips below the horizon, looking across the sea with Bali shimmering in the distance. You could choose to climb the hill to enjoy that view (the island rises up to 30m above the sea), sit on the famous ocean swings or simply enjoy the view from the beach.

When night comes, the southeastern coast of Gili T offers a food fest. The aroma of grilled seafood is rising, you can hear the woks clanking and brush shoulders with locals. The market is perfect to refuel after an adventurous day.

Gili Air

Gili Air is a call for authentic adventures and will give you the feel of being part of a close-knit local community. Imagine spending hours lounging under the hot sun, jumping into turquoise waves, and sipping a cold drink. The Island is a good place to dive and to go snorkelling. Just a few meters off the beach you will discover coral heads, sponges, and an array of colourful fishes. You could also decide to venture from the shore and visit one of the serene coconut groves.

During this stressful pandemic time, something that has been helping me to keep calm is to practice yoga. I often wish I could take a yoga class in one of Gili Air's amazing spots! So, if right now you and I are practicing yoga in our living room, we can dream about practicing it on Gili Air soon!

Gili Meno

Gili Meno is the smallest and the quietest of the three Gili Islands. If you are dreaming of a true getaway experience, this is the place for you. You will find there the most pristine beaches and the feeling of escape from all the worries of your daily life. Picture yourself lazing in a hammock, swimming in the crystal-clear waters, enjoying grilled fish, reading books, or playing chess with the friendly locals. This might be your reality soon! Start planning and think of who you would like to go with.

gili meno beach accommodation

Make your dreams come true

The Gili Islands opening up again! On June 20, 2020 domestic travel restrictions were lifted, and midway through July limited fast boat services are resuming from Bali to the Gili islands. However, international tourism is expected to have to wait until at least September for the chance to enter Bali, Lombok and the Gili islands again.

For now, there are two solutions to access the Gilis domestically (if you are already in Indonesia). You can transfer from Bali or from Lombok. Bali Denpasar airport and Lombok International Airport are still open and some domestic flights are operating. Domestic fast boat services between Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands are offering limited services which you can check by using the search box on this website. From Lombok, you can transfer to the Gili islands using our sister site Gili-islandtransfers.com.

If you, like the the majority of us, are looking to arrive from outside Indonesia, my advice would be to keep yourself updated on your government’s latest travel restrictions. September is being earmarked as a possible reopening date. You can also check our Corona News page for the latest developments in Bali and the surrounding region. Hotels, tours, excursions and other activities will again be available with operators ensuring proper safety and social distancing practices. The Islands will do all that is necessary to ensure that, once international tourists return, they will be ready to welcome them back!

“In these times of uncertainty, more than ever, engaging the assistance of a reliable travel company, with expert knowledge of your destination, will help ease any concerns you may have.”

When you are ready to book your fast boat tickets from Bali to the Gilis, you can simply perform a search here. We would love to help you plan your trip as soon as possible. In these times of uncertainty, more than ever, engaging the assistance of a reliable travel company, with expert knowledge of your destination, will help ease any concerns you may have. Feel free to contact us with your questions or any booking enquiries.

And while a visit to the Gilis might - for now - still be just a dream, you should not leave it too long to experience the destination in it most pristine state in decades, and make your dreams come true!