No cars, no hurry — just turtles, bikes and sunsets over Bali

From Gili Air: Snorkeling with Turtles & Underwater Statue

The best-reviewed snorkelling trip that actually starts on Gili Air, with more than a thousand reviews. A boat takes you to three or four spots around the islands where green and hawksbill turtles graze on the reef, including the famous circle of statues off Gili Meno.

• Snorkel turtle spots around Gili Air and Gili Meno
• See the underwater statue circle off Gili Meno
• Mask, snorkel and fins included; private option available

Gili Islands: Private or Shared Snorkeling Boat Trip

A classic three-island snorkelling loop that you can join from any of the Gilis. Choose the cheap shared boat or pay a bit more for a private one that runs to your own timetable — useful for families, or if you want to reach the turtle spots before the crowds.

• The most-booked Gili snorkelling trip, with thousands of reviews
• Shared boat or your own private boat
• Turtles, reef fish and the Gili Meno statues

Bali to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, Lombok Fast Boat Transfer

The simplest way from Bali to Gili Air: a speedboat across the Lombok Strait from Padang Bai, with optional minivan pickup from your hotel in Ubud, Sanur, Seminyak or Kuta. The sea is usually calmest in the morning — take an early departure if you can.

• Fast boat from Padang Bai with a Gili Air stop
• Optional hotel pickup in south Bali
• Also serves Gili Trawangan and Lombok

Gili Air: Kaktus Traditional Cooking Class

A small, family-style cooking class on Gili Air with a perfect review score. You grind your own spice pastes and cook a handful of classic dishes — the kind of thing you will actually make again at home. A good plan for a hot afternoon or a rainy day.

• Cook several Indonesian and Sasak dishes yourself
• Learn the spice pastes behind sambal and curries
• Eat everything you make

From Gili Air: Private or Small Group Snorkeling Boat Tour

A quieter alternative to the big shared boats, run from Gili Air itself. Groups are kept small, so there is more time at each site and a guide who points out turtles, octopus and reef fish rather than just ferrying people between stops.

• Small groups or a private boat from Gili Air
• Turtle spots, coral gardens and the Meno statues
• Relaxed pace, with a guide in the water

Mount Rinjani Summit 2-Day Trekking Tour

The fast, hard version of Indonesia’s most famous volcano trek: up to the Sembalun crater rim on day one, a pre-dawn scramble to the summit on day two, then the long descent. Tough but unforgettable — only for fit hikers, and only when the national park is open.

• Summit Rinjani (3,726 m) at sunrise
• Camp on the crater rim above Segara Anak lake
• Guides, porters, camping gear and meals included

Lombok Waterfalls Adventure: Tiu Kelep & Selong Hill Trek

The most popular Lombok day out from the Gilis: a guided walk to Senaru’s two big waterfalls on the forested flank of Rinjani — with a swim in the pool at Tiu Kelep — plus a viewpoint and village stop. A great way to see Lombok’s green interior without a multi-day trek.

• Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls in Senaru
• Walk through forest on Rinjani’s lower slopes
• Hilltop viewpoint and a traditional village

Gili Islands: 4-in-1 Catamaran Snorkeling Experience

The premium way to see the Gilis from the water. Instead of a crowded outrigger you spend the day on a catamaran, snorkelling at several sites and lounging on deck between stops. Top-rated and noticeably more comfortable than the standard boats — check the pickup options for Gili Air when you book.

• Sail around all three Gili Islands on a catamaran
• Several snorkel stops, including turtle spots
• Food and drinks on board

Gili Air’s Turtle Reefs

Green and hawksbill turtles, a few fin-kicks from the beach

The reefs that ring Gili Air are grazing grounds for green and hawksbill sea turtles, and you have a real chance of swimming with one on almost any snorkel. Go from the beach on the east and north-east coasts, or take a boat to the best spots around all three Gilis.

Gili Air Sunset Coast

Beanbags, swings and the sun dropping behind Bali

Gili Air’s west and north-west coast faces Bali across the Lombok Strait. Every evening, low-key bars put out beanbags and swings in the shallows, and on a clear day the sun sets beside the perfect cone of Mount Agung.

Gili Air Village & Coastal Path

Around the whole island on foot or by bike

A sandy path runs right round Gili Air — roughly five kilometres, with no cars or motorbikes. Walk it in about two hours or cycle it in under one, past fishing boats, beach cafés, yoga shalas, coconut groves and the village at the island’s heart.

Gili Meno

The smallest, quietest Gili — and the underwater statues

Gili Meno sits between Gili Air and Gili Trawangan and is the smallest and least developed of the three: long empty beaches, a salt lake in the middle, and the circle of life-size statues off its west coast that most snorkel trips stop at.

Gili Trawangan

The biggest and liveliest of the three Gilis

Gili T is the largest Gili and the one with the party reputation — bars, night markets and dive schools along a busy main strip, but also quiet beaches on its west and north coasts and a small hill with views of Bali and Lombok. An easy day trip from Gili Air.

Mount Rinjani

Lombok’s 3,726-metre volcano and its crater lake

Rinjani, the volcano you see from Gili Air’s east coast, is one of Indonesia’s great treks: a two-to-four-day climb to a crater rim above the turquoise lake of Segara Anak, with an optional pre-dawn push to the summit. The trailheads at Senaru and Sembalun are a few hours’ drive from the Gilis.