Gili Air may be a speck on the map, but this laid‑back coral ring packs more surprises than a suitcase stuffed the night before a red‑eye. From sunrise mosques to sunset margaritas and every coral‑crunching snorkel stop in between, the island has its own playful rhythm—and it’s easy to miss a beat on your first visit. So before you hop the ferry, swap your shoes for flip‑flops and start day‑dreaming about turquoise water, let me hand you ten nuggets of hard‑earned wisdom that’ll save you time, rupiah and (yes) a few hours of sleep.
- It’s local population is predominantly Muslim. So whilst island vibes, bikinis and the like are perfectly ok, try to ensure you have some coverings for whilst you’re walking around in town.
- Pack foam earplugs.
The single mosque on the island does morning call to prayer at early as 4:40 am and can be heard pretty much anywhere on the island. To get far away from it, I recommend booking somewhere to stay in the North (or north-west) side of the island. However we did our research and did book a place in the north and whilst my partner slept just fine (partially because she always wears earplugs due to my occasional snoring)on the nights I forgot to put my earplugs in I definitely woke up to the ”sultry sounds” of “AaaallAH!” at a time I would’ve preferred to be asleep. - Just take Eka Jaya Ferries to get there and back.
There are a number of local ferries available for transit from Bali to the Gilis, it can be hard to figure out which one to go with online. Some of the smaller boats will claim to be faster (We took Ganggiri based on their slightly faster time) and whilst I’m sure some manage to pull of the faster time, the reality is that it took nearly double the time to get there than was advertised. This may just be bad luck but I met a local boat Captain on Gili Air who told me that it’s common that they start the trip with 8 outboard motors but will burn out 3-4 of them on the way, slowing the boat. When you add to that a story he told me about a wave crashing through the window of a smaller ferry he took many years back (which is definitely just a bit of bad luck and bad weather… but you never know) it just makes sense too get on Eka Jaya as they’re the most reliable and on time, and the only service with big-ass boats that have jet engines rather than outboard motors. - Bring some sort of “water shoe”, to help you get in the water.
Because of the reefs, the shore is littered with coral and if you have a mind to go snorkelling then there’s definitely some schlepping through rocks and coral to get anywhere good, so whether it’s Crocs, Vibram’s or Skinners, or some other sort of Barefoot Shoe that you’re happy to get in the water with, just make sure you pack it. - Most Massages are traditional Balinese style, don’t expect much more.
That’s not to say they weren’t good. I had some really lovely massages (Zone Spa), but I love my deep tissue massage and whilst I could find some really good massage therapists in Bali, I couldn’t find anywhere that really did what I wanted (not for lack of trying). It might just be my bad luck, but I suspect it’s more that that the traditional massage is just the one they know best. - Lots of places take card, but some cash is nice.
I found that pretty much all the beach bars and restaurants take card. The Massage places were more often cash, and then there’s the little things like renting a horse and cart to get to your place, or bikes to get around, money for tips, etc. - The majority of the staff come from Lombok.
So, if you’re like me and are enthusiastic about snorkeling or diving and want to ask about where to go find turtles or the like, don’t expect them to know anything… also try to remember that they’re also not Balinese! - The best diving and snorkeling is most reliably had in the morning.
If you want calmer waters and a better chance of seeing stuff, get up early and head out into the water around between 8-10am. - The Ritzy-er side of the island is the east side, but the North has the sunset.
The East side, has a really nice bank of bars and restaurants that have just got it together really well. Some of best food is found here, including the best food on the island at an incredible BBQ beach restaurant called Papaya, it’s definitely on the pricier side for The Gilis, but 100% worth every cent… get the Lobster, you wont regret it. On the flip side (of this island, quite literally), is where the best drinks are at though. The best drinks, without question, are at Pachama… I would throw money at that bartender hand over fist. I only wished I could’ve had his drinks at the beach, but their location is a lovely little inland hidden gem that is very peaceful.
The best Music/party vibes was at Pelangi, also in the north west side. as they put on a great live cover band all they way to 10pm. They also came in a close 2nd for both Food AND Drinks with their dragon fruit caipirinha particularly excellent and their shrimp cocktails and platters to die for! Whilst Papaya still did beach BBQ better I was paying 120,000rp/100g of jumbo shrimp there, where as at papaya I was paying just 60K for the shrimp cocktail or platter and insanely, despite being the same price, the cocktail came with 2 jumbo shrimp, whilst the platter came with 4-5?! For $6 Australian, you can’t go wrong. I spent the whole evening there with Gabi chowing down on shrimp, and drinking cocktails non-stop and spent less than $80AUD. - Tip like Crazy.
The Islanders are just the loveliest people and they work really hard, usually 6 to 7 days a week to make sure us rich tourists have the best time. Whilst there is a law that all businesses must be Indonesian owned, there are many ways around this and the real owners of the places that are really serving up the great stuff are most commonly Europeans. Honestly, I am behind much of what they do because they certainly bring a Je ne Se Quoix and level of refinement and sophistication, that I feel like the locals would struggle to achieve without their help (and money, sad though that is).
That being said, we had a lovely conversation with our waiter Bula, who makes only around ~2.5Mrp a month. When you consider that that amounts to around $250AUD (~$175USD) your tips really make a real difference and you have the capacity to change someone’s whole month by tipping them $100… I certainly did with my mate Mike at our Villa, who brought us free fresh coconuts everyday and attended to our every whim. with my mate Mike at our Villa, who brought us free fresh coconuts everyday and attended to our every whim.
That’s the cheat‑sheet! Armed with earplugs, reef‑proof footwear and a healthy respect for both local customs and jumbo‑shrimp cocktails, you’re ready to glide around Gili Air like a seasoned islander—minus the six‑day workweek. Tip generously, explore early, toast the sunset often, and you’ll discover why people who land on this tiny atoll keep circling back. Until your footprints meet mine in that soft white sand, selamat jalan and happy island‑hopping!