There are no cars or motorbikes on Gili Air. People and goods move on foot, by bicycle or by cidomo, the little horse-drawn carts that meet the boats — which is exactly what makes the island so peaceful. A sandy track runs round the whole coast, roughly five kilometres, with a web of paths through the village and coconut groves in the middle.
Doing the loop is the best way to understand the island: the harbour and dive schools in the south-east, the east coast facing Rinjani, the quieter north with its villas and yoga shalas, the sunset bars of the west, and fishing boats pulled up in the south. Allow about two hours on foot or under an hour by bike, plus stops.
Top things to do at Gili Air Village & Coastal Path
Rent a bike for the day
Bike rental shops line the path near the harbour. Prices are low — a few dollars a day — and many hotels lend them free. Some stretches on the north and west are soft sand, so expect to push for a few metres.
Stop for breakfast with a view of Rinjani
The east coast is lined with cafés on stilts and bale-bale platforms facing Lombok. On a clear morning Rinjani’s summit hangs over the strait.
Detour through the village
Cut inland and you are in the real Gili Air: a Sasak village with a mosque, small shops, goats, chickens and children playing football. Dress modestly away from the beach.
Take a yoga or cooking class
Gili Air has a strong wellness streak, with several yoga shalas offering drop-in classes, and a well-loved Indonesian cooking class.
How to get to Gili Air Village & Coastal Path
- Start anywhere: most people begin at the harbour in the south-east. Go clockwise for sunrise views first, anticlockwise to finish on the sunset side.
- By cidomo: cart drivers wait by the harbour and will do a round-the-island tour for an agreed price.
Insider tips
- Walk or cycle early or late — the midday heat on the exposed stretches is intense.
- Carry water, sunscreen and a little cash; the north has fewer places to stop.
- If you use a cidomo, choose drivers whose horses look healthy and well treated, and do not overload the cart. Walking and cycling are the kindest ways to get around.
- Look out for the island’s famous short-tailed cats — there are no dogs on Gili Air.
Best tours & tickets for Gili Air Village & Coastal Path
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Gili Air Village & Coastal Path from Gili Air:
Cooking class from $26 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
Snorkelling from $17 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
Boat trip from $116 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
