Flowing to new places always gets us excited! Gili Air Island, which is part of Lombok, is only an hour and a half away from Bali by fastboat and we are loving it’s tropical island vibe. Calm, clear waters, swaying palms and white sand beaches you can definitely frolick at and turquoise seas you can swim into.
One thing we just love about this island is that you won’t see motorbikes or cars around, instead you can rent a bike or a horsedrawn carriage to go places.
So what’s there to do in a small, laid back isle?
The Flow Team attended a Candlelit Yoga session with Tibetan Singing Bowls at H20 Meditation Center. It was a great way to end a day of travelling to the island. You can also paint Buddha statue heads in this yoga studio and have a bite of something healthy from their cafe.
The Gili group of islands is the turtle capital of the world and in hopes of possibly swimming with these friendly sea creatures, we spent our second day snorkeling turquoise waters. Although we didn’t get to see those elusive turtles, the abundant and colorful marine life made up for it.
Gili Air is such a small island that you can go around it in two hours. We explored the whole island by foot and found uncrowded beaches, cute, rustic cafes and lots of tidepools. The west side of the island is also the best place to have a cocktail and watch the sun go down.
Want to experience Gili Air on your own? Here are some tips for your adventure!
Travel via Fastboat
Taking a fastboat is the best way to get to the island! We took the Gili Gili fastboat fastboat from Padang Bai Harbor in Bali to Gili Air Island which only took an hour and a half. The company offers free hotel pick up and drop off around Bali and they also offer water and snack during travel. The journey felt safe all the way and the price was just right! We recommend for you to book your tickets at the Gili Gili office in Padang Bai Harbor to get better deals instead of online.
Accommodation
We stayed at Omah Gili Resort which is located inland. Bungalows were set in a nice and quiet garden with clean, basic accommodations and an outdoor shower with hot water. Breakfast of assorted tropical fruits, bread, jam, pancakes and sandwiches came with the room. From Omah Gili, you can get to the center where all the beachfront cafes are located in just 3 minutes. Book this resort via Agoda to get discounted rates.
There are a lot more hotels and resorts scattered around the island. The east side is the central part of Gili Air, lined up with cafes, shops and resorts. This is the best area for swimming and snorkeling. The west side is more laid back and less touristy, more chill and quiet compared to the east side. The beaches on this part of the island are more rocky and not as turquoise in color but the sunsets on this side are just a sight to behold!
Getting Around
As mentioned above, motorbikes or cars are not allowed in the island. You can easily rent a bike from a rental shops which are aplenty around the island.
What To Do
Snorkel Gili Air’s clear seas and maybe spot a turtle! You can rent snorkeling
gear from dive shops around the island.
Diving with Oceans 5
Bike around the island, explore secluded beaches and tidepools.
Practice yoga or paint Buddha heads at H20 Yoga and Meditation Center
Get a massage from a local spa.
Watch the sunset over happy hour at a beach bar on the west side of the island.
Where To Eat
Caballito de Mar
Seafood, cocktails and a beach club.
Gili Gelato
Island ice cream, ’nuff said!
Coffee & Thyme
Coffee, tea, juices, pastries.
The Mexican Kitchen
Tacos, burritos, margaritas. Spotted some superfoods on the menu as well.
Scallywags
Salad buffet and seafood. Organic eats.
For more information on our surf, yoga and wellness retreats, check out www.flowretreats.com
