You are planning your trip to the Gili Islands and you don’t know on which island to stay? Let me help you with that. There are 3 Gili Islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. All 3 are a good choice for different reasons:
- Gili Trawangan – Busiest, cheapest, good for backpackers and young people
- Gili Meno – Smallest of the 3, calm and quiet
- Gili Air – Honeymoon vibe, a little bit of action
Gili Trawangan
The busiest and the cheapest
Gili T is the biggest of the 3 islands with only 3.4 square kilometers. It’s the one that receives the most visitors annually. Since she is bigger, there are more options of hostels, villas and hotels. For that reason, you can find the cheapest accommodations on Gili T. Works with “supply and demand”.
Party island for backpackers and young people
The island stands out for its vibrant nightlife. The bars and clubs are open until dawn. There are so many, all with different vibes. You will 100% have the time of your life if this is what you are looking for.
Drugs on Gili Trawangan?
Warning: I am not encouraging you to take these drugs, I want to inform you of their big presence on the island.
Have you heard that the drugs are legal on the Gili Islands? This is mainly due to the lack of prohibition of them. There is no police on any of the Gili Islands, and let me tell you that the drug is easily accessible. Their famous drug is magic mushrooms. You can find them everywhere. They sell these mushrooms at most of the beach bars. They also sell weed and other drugs, but I’m sorry if I don’t have more information on them since I never asked.
The peaceful aspect of Gili Trawangan
The island is divided on two sides: one where the sunrise is and one where the sunset is. Where you find the sunrise is where you find the most restaurants, the party, the life. It’s busier and louder. On the sunset side, it is a calm and quiet environment where you can relax and enjoy the beach.
Gili Trawangan is the best place to stay.
This is my personal opinion. My hotel was the Royal Regantris Trawangan. I have loved my experience over there! The staff was amazing, there were movie nights, it offered breakfast and it was so calm. Choosing to be on the sunset side was the best decision. I would always have my peace when I wanted to, and I just had to ride my bike for 15 minutes to get to the other side where the party was.
**If you are traveling as a family, I wouldn’t choose this island.
Gili Meno
The smallest
Being very small with a 1.5 square kilometer area, she has way fewer options available. Following the principle of “offer and demand”, she is more expensive.
Is Gili Meno for everyone?
Not at all. If you are looking for the most remote island, Gili Meno is for you. If you are looking to try out different restaurants, an extensive range of tours available and do more than spend all your day relaxing on the beach, you will find the island boring.
There are many tours available on Gili Trawangan that will bring you to Gili Meno for a small visit/day trip. In my personal opinion, this is all you need.
Gili Air
Looking for the honeymoon vibe?
Gili Air is definitely the best one for families and travelers who are not into the craziness of Gili Trawangan. The island has more to offer than Gili Meno with more restaurants and even some small cocktail bars.
You don’t want your stay on the Gili Islands to be too intense, but you also don’t want it to be boring? Gili Air is the one for you.
