The Gili Islands are one of the easiest places in South-East Asia to swim with sea turtles. Green turtles graze on the seagrass and algae around all three islands and hawksbills pick at the reef, and around Gili Air they are so used to snorkellers that a slow, respectful swim often ends with one surfacing beside you for a breath.
You can snorkel straight off the beach — the east and north-east coasts are the classic spots — or join a boat that visits the best sites around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan in a few hours. Water is warm all year (roughly 27–30 °C) and visibility is often 10–20 metres in the dry season.
Top things to do at Gili Air’s Turtle Reefs
Snorkel from the east-coast beach
Rent a mask and fins from any of the shops by the harbour (a few dollars a day) and swim out from the east coast, where the reef edge is close to shore. Go in the morning, when the water is calm and the boats have not yet arrived.
Take a three-island boat trip
Shared glass-bottom and outrigger boats leave Gili Air every morning and visit three or four sites — turtle spots, coral gardens and the statue circle off Gili Meno. It is the cheapest good day out on the island; see our ranked snorkelling trips.
Go private for the early turtles
A private boat is not much more expensive when split between a few people, and lets you be at the turtle spots at 8 am rather than 11 am, before the big groups.
Learn to freedive
If you find yourself wanting to dive down to the turtles rather than watching from the surface, a two- or three-day freediving course will teach you to hold your breath and equalise properly. See diving and freediving on the Gilis.
How to get to Gili Air’s Turtle Reefs
- From the beach: the east and north-east coasts are 5–15 minutes on foot or by bike from most hotels.
- By boat trip: shared and private trips leave from the beach near the harbour; many include pickup from your hotel by cidomo or bike.
Insider tips
- Watch the current. It can run strongly along the coasts and between the islands — swim up-current first, stay close to shore and never try to swim between islands.
- Keep at least a couple of metres from turtles, never touch or chase them, and do not stand on coral.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen, or better a rash vest — the sun on your back while snorkelling is fierce.
- At low tide the reef flat on some coasts becomes very shallow. Reef shoes help when getting in and out.
Best tours & tickets for Gili Air’s Turtle Reefs
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Gili Air’s Turtle Reefs from Gili Air:
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
Snorkelling from $15 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
Snorkelling from $18 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
Snorkelling from $18 Best Snorkeling in Gili Air with Turtles & GoPro Footage
A longer shared snorkelling day from Gili Air with a guide who films you underwater — handy if you do not own an action camera. Expect several stops, plenty of reef time and a lunch break on one of the islands.
- Snorkel sites around all three islands
- Turtles and the Gili Meno statues
- GoPro photos and video of your swim
