The tiny Gili Islands on the western side of Lombok are an adventure destination for diving globetrotters. We at Just Wanderlust looked around the backpacker paradise and discovered holiday tips for Lombok and Gili Islands and tried out hotels, diving and snorkeling. We tell you about exciting discovery tours, breathtaking dives, exotic culture and hot party nights. A travel report. 

The large aluminum boat plows across the glassy Java Sea at full speed. I stand at the bow, look ahead and let the wind blow my face and hair around. Anyone who knows me knows that I prefer to have a hand's breadth of water under my keel. And so I enjoy the crossing to the Gilis. In front of us lie the three small islands - Trawangan, Meno and Air - which from a distance look like three green drops in the turquoise sea - or like three Maldives islands.

As the boat opens Gili Trawangan (travel report) lands and I feel the fine, white sand under my feet, a group of relaxed young divers come towards me waving and a few tanned beach girls and boys look over at me curiously. Where have I ended up? I feel like I've arrived from the first moment - like I'm at home.

Book your well-deserved vacation now!

Book your dream vacation now at favorable conditions on the renowned booking portal HolidayCheck – top rated by Stiftung Warentest (01/2024). Click and browse now!

Gili Trawangan – island for young world travelers

All we have to do is walk across the beach and we're right in the middle of the Dream Divers resort. Base manager Kurt Gehrig warmly welcomes me to the diving school with the attached premium hostel: “Feel at home!” says the Swiss native. “Already done,” I answer and we get along excellently from the start.

The small facility is specially tailored to young people and backpackers who want to learn to dive during their usually long trips or who simply want to do a few relaxing dives in between. Both are exactly my world - so let's go! After I've settled into my large, air-conditioned room and enjoyed the benefits of the open rainforest shower, it's high time for the first UW tour - or would you rather have a relaxing cocktail and a homemade hamburger?

On my first morning on Gili T, the blue-green sea is glassy. I'm sitting right on the beach in the Dream Divers restaurant and enjoying my original Lombok coffee in the warm morning sun. There is no trace of real heat - the climate in the dry season is warm and not oppressive - perfect in my opinion. After a nice conversation with Base Manager Kurt, Operations Manager Britta and General Manager Jürgen, the friendly guys from the staff greet me: “Hello Sascha, how are you?” “Very fine, very fine!” I answer.

Open-minded young people, a relaxed, informal way of life - I feel like I'm in paradise here. There is a lot of hustle and bustle all around early in the day: horse-drawn carriages and bicycles cross the small main street without compromise, it's better not to get in their way.

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• TikTok

Follow me too Xing, TripAdvisor and Threads!

Follow me on Instagram now

stick with Travel Blog Just-Wanderlust.com and @strandkind_co always up to date and just follow me on Instagram!

Around the Gili Islands – You can snorkel and dive with turtles everywhere

A dive center is only as good as the team - and that is excellent! During our UW tours, I alternate with Thomas, Vale, Matteo, Tonje and Tati, all of whom are absolutely experienced guides. Grab some gear, brief and get on the aluminum boat, which is probably the fastest of the entire islands with its two outboards and is operated with environmentally friendly four-stroke instead of the otherwise usual here dirty, oiling two-stroke.

Meno Wall, a fringing reef off the neighboring island of Gili Meno, is first on the program. Crystal clear water that is warm like in the bathtub. Meno Wall not only has a really beautifully vegetated reef, but above all one thing: turtles! We meet eight turtles on our UW tour! We encounter them in all variations: sleeping, eating, free-swimming. The large number of curious armored animals is easy to explain: There is a breeding station on Gili T - in fact, a lot is being done on the Gilis to make diving as ecological as possible. Dynamite fishing has finally been banned for several years and the reefs are slowly recovering, although the damage is still visible in many places.

My favorite dive site is Frogfish Point off Gili Air, which I dive twice from different sides with the two Dream Divers Centers. There are some beautiful hard and soft coral blocks and, in addition to the local turtles, moray eels and blue spotted rays, there are also many smaller marine animals to discover. The coral blocks are inhabited by thousands of fish and one or two lionfish hide between the rocks. With a bit of luck you can also see reef sharks at this spot. Unfortunately, only the frogfish cannot be seen today.

Diving off Lombok – the critter’s small animal paradise

The Dream Divers branch on the smaller and much quieter neighboring island of Gili Air is also impressive: the spacious base with training pool and large terrace invites you to relax on bean bags. Air represents the absolute opposite of the lively Gili T: far fewer people and a deeply relaxed calm. And this is also noticeable in the base: chill-out music comes from the sound system and base manager Tati and the team are in an absolutely good mood. This makes this location ideal for divers who like things a little quieter and want to be less distracted by diving. Of course I want to get in the water here too: We're starting at a spot right in front of Lombok.

Don't forget your underwater camera here: A shallow dive site suitable for beginners north of Senggigi is a dream for small animal fans: While there are a few pretty corals in the shallow area, life is blooming on the slightly deeper sandy bottom: prostrate moray eels Changing from black to yellow, crabs and even a rare rockfish appear to us during our tour, on which we mainly move with our faces close to the ground. Visiting a critter spot like this is a different kind of diving: big fish like Hedge you will hardly discover it here. It's a shame, because these waters are actually known for their shark populations. Unfortunately, there aren't that many of them left in this area. Sharks are most likely to be found in Washing Machine, a notorious diving spot off Lombok where there is a lot of current.

So no big fish here. To do this, we calmly go in search of madarin fish and baby seahorses, which unfortunately have the day off. Still a wonderful tour - and after emerging we are greeted by the impressive mountain backdrop of Lombok.

Sights on Lombok – culture and lots of untouched nature

Lombok is also an absolute dream destination over water. In contrast to the popular and hyped Bali, the big sister of the Gilis is a little less developed by tourists and you can therefore experience a lot of local culture and untouched nature up close. Together with my driver Mardien, I go on a tour of the island, whose road traffic is mainly characterized by lots of small scooters and regulated traffic chaos!

On the roadside, melons and much more are sold island-wide, which you get in a well-stocked general store. We drive in the mountains and in the rainforest. Here you can observe free-living monkeys up close and at the same time enjoy the panoramic view of the Gilis. But beware, our next relatives are no cuddles - stubborn and cheeky, so you better with a little safety margin and respect approaching them, otherwise they quickly show the teeth!

I enjoy the exotic impressions of the hot, humid rainforest and the mountains. Further towards the center of the island there are extensive rice fields and in a flat plain in the southwest lies the large city of Mataram. Things get really busy here! You can already notice the economic boom and progress: not only are mobile phones being used everywhere, but also shopping centers, shops and, above all, mobile phones Hotels and resorts sprout like mushrooms from the ground. We visit the imposing Hindu temple of Mayura with its extensive park and gardens, and then the traditional local market, where everything, and everything, is sold in narrow streets, what people need for their daily lives.

Marinated chicken and beef are grilled everywhere, as well as fresh vegetables offered in most huge baskets. A paradise for gourmets! The city's Chinese cemetery with colorfully decorated tombs, just a few miles away, is truly impressive. After a long visit to Mataram, we pass some beautifully landscaped temples right by the sea, and in the evening, exhausted, we return to Gili T by boat shuttle. So many exotic impressions - what a day!

Gili Trawangan – Diving by day, partying in the evening

Back on the fun island of Gili T, the day is definitely not over yet. After diving, there are countless restaurants, bars and open-air clubs. You can do stand-up paddling, the conditions for surfing are quite good and you can easily cycle around the island with a radius of just under seven kilometers, jog or simply go for a walk on the beach. Enough to do to really get into leisure stress!

In the evening we go to the clubs. Every day another bar organizes a big party, so every night from Monday to Sunday there is a disco, which is the central point of contact. Absolute "must go" is among other things the "Sama Sama", a Reggae bar, in which daily live Reggae is played. The discos are always jam-packed and turn into an adventure playground of cocktails and drinks, hot beats and interesting people from all over the world during the night.

Especially at the Full Moon Party, the bars and beach become one big juggernaut of globetrotters, artists and locals who drink, dance and enjoy life together. Almost all the people on the islands are relaxed, open-minded and informal! You walk barefoot throughout and talk to travelers from all kinds of countries.

Many backpackers from Germany and England appreciate the informality. Many people are traveling around the world after graduating from high school or studying or want to discover Southeast Asia. If you like, you can philosophize about God and the world with your new friends day and night. A small disadvantage, especially for a long-term stay: If you're not too steadfast, you'll be tempted to go out and drink here every evening.

Most of the young divers discovered diving on the Gilis and did their OWD here. The conditions are also more than perfect: a pool right outside the door and relaxed, beginner-friendly diving spots around the island. Some of the high school graduates and students go straight on to become diving instructors and begin working at the base for three to twelve months. Really enviable, because once you've discovered the rhythm of the fun island, you'll want to stay - as long as possible.

Related Articles

Gili Islands and Lombok – addictive

So my conclusion of this trip is: The most beautiful is where you feel at home - and that's how I feel on the Gili Islands since the first day! Alone on Lombok you can spend several weeks with culture and pure nature - the island is still absolutely exotic and an experience in itself. But where exactly is it most beautiful, it is hard to say:

Go diving, jog around and across the islands, stand up paddling or try Indonesian specialties in the traditional markets - if you want, you can have fun on all islands all day long from morning to night. The combination of diving, partying on Trawangan and adventure and culture on Lombok creates an explosive mix - so unique and awesome that I definitely want to go back to this paradise. But then for longer – or, ideally, completely.

All information at a glance on Lombok and the Gili Islands – holiday tips, hotels and diving

Living in the Gili Islands

Our hotel tip for the Gilis: The Dream Divers Resort on Gili Trawangan is a brand new premium hostel in a prime location with 28 rooms. Located directly at the Dream Divers diving center, the facility is the ideal place for backpackers and travelers if they don't want to miss out on a certain level of comfort during their stay: air conditioning, open rain shower and balcony or terrace ensure a relaxed retreat on the lively Gili Trawangan .

Breakfast can be booked as an option and is offered in the Dream Divers restaurant. For dinner, the Burger Restaurant is ideal, as there is a large selection of burgers with beef and chicken, as well as vegetarian options and local specialties like Mie Goreng. The quality in the restaurant has high standards. In addition, there are fish, meat and various types of vegetables on every corner of the island, such as the night market, popular with locals and travelers.

Diving in the Gili Islands and Lombok

The Dream Divers on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air are Extra Divers and therefore offer the usual high standard. We have already visited Extra Divers diving centers around the world and have always been very satisfied with the service. As a rule, the dive centers start with the spacious aluminum boats for two dives a day in the morning and at noon. A total of 23 spots are targeted, which can be reached within five to 25 minutes.

Prices for dives

Boat dive incl. Lead, tank and own equipment: 28 Euro; ten dives + 2 Fun Dives 255 Euro; Introductory diving: 55 Euro. Night Dive, Long Dive and Early Morning Dives. Complete loan equipment: 12,50. Nitrox per tank: 4,50 Euro.

Best travel time for the Gili Islands and Lombok

The best time to travel to the Gilis and Lombok is in the German summer and autumn. The “dry season” from July to October. The rainy season runs from November to June - this usually means that it rains for one to two hours a day and clears up for the rest of the day.

Getting to the Gili Islands and Lombok

The flight to the Gili Islands can take a while: from all major European airports, including via Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta or Singapore to Bali-Denpasar or Praya on Lombok. Depending on the departure airport and route, the journey takes between 18 and 40 hours and includes two or three stops - including back pain when flying. Getting to the Gilis takes about 1,5 hours by car and boat from Praya, and about 3 hours from Denpasar.

Money

The resort can be paid in euros, dollars or Indonesian rupiah. Changing money is possible in many places on Gili T.

WIFI / Mobile data

The resort has free Wi-Fi. Recommended is the purchase of a local SIM card, for example, with 8 Gigabyte fast "3G" data volume for about 11 Euro.

Medicine

Check vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis in good time before traveling with the doctor. The next pressure chambers are located on Lombok and in Bali.

Price example for a stay in the Gili Islands and Lombok

14 days stay per person in a double room without board: 311 Euro; including flight from 1.311 Euro per person. Transfer from Lombok Airport to Gili Trawangan: 162 Euro including minivan and boat.

Have you already been to the Gili Islands, Bali and Lombok or are you planning a trip? Share your experiences in the comments.