Exploring the Gili Islands: A Tropical Paradise off Lombok’s Coast
Gili Islands with its picturesque nature was seen on October the 10th 2024, the experience was amazing. Ms. Farahaya and Ms. Galdis read my poems from the “Romantic Whispers of the Archipelago” poetry collection.
The Gili Islands – especially Gili Trawangan – provide white sandy beaches, tropical coral reef, and warm, welcoming water for beach lovers. These islands are in the NW Lombokshor, seven islands are uninhabited surrounded tropical paradise, no cars, no motorbikes and no disturbances.
The popular three islands of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air boast, no motorized vehicles, quiet and natural beauty. There are no signs of motorized transport hence making the environment very serene and peaceful, something that western tourists will find interesting for when they want to interact with nature. The islands have some of the wonderful coral reefs and dive locations including the Shark Reef where the divers can discover an interesting under water world.
But for snorkelers as well as the divers, Gili Islands are truly the heaven. Among the numerous forecasts of the marine life that await travelers are Cgreen turtle (Chelonia mydas) seen gracefully swimming at a depth of between 10 and 20 meters deep. Seeing those giant animals swim is truly unforgettable and swimming with them is a dream that should come true.
The name “Gili” has a Sasak origin and it translates to “island,” and this archipelago is composed of three islands. Gili Trawangan is the most developed and crowded one, where one can experience powerful night life, crowded restaurants, bars and entertainment events that make this island active during the night as well.
For the people who are looking for a quiet place to stay Gili Meno and Gili Air Islands are the best options to visit. Gili Air is the closest to the mainland and, therefore, it rather crowded in comparison with other islands, but at the same time it is also rather quiet. Gili Meno is the smallest of all three islands; thus, it is the choice for those who want to feel the distance from civilization, as there are only several hundred inhabitants, and the majority of the hotels are adapted to be a part of the village atmosphere.
Transportation within the islands’ is in itself rather joyful. Cars and motorbikes are banned, but cycling is allowed or a visitors can even go for a ‘cidomo,’ a traditional horse-drawn carriage. Sightseeing in Gili Trawangan using cidomo requires approximately 30 minutes giving the rider ample time to enjoy the island’s natural beauty. To display inter-islands transportation motorized boats for hire are availed for use.
To get to Gili Islands is very fast as well as simple. Boats which start from Senggigi will take only 20 minutes to reach the island while the ferry service from Bali will directly gets you to Gili Trawangan. Bicycles and cidomos remain the major means of transport since there are no cars and other small bicycles that enhance the tranquillity of the islands.
All together, it can be noted that the visiting where I ventured to was the Gili Islands. The stunning beauty of own seascape, abundance of marine life and calm unspoilt ambiance of the Gili Islands seem to be designed to provide a tropical vacation of a lifetime to anyone who is seeking serenity and the best of Lombok has to provide.
