Giddy in Gili - My Favorite Part of Bali

Apr 23, 2017
5 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Sadly, it was time for the final leg of the trip, but it ended up being my personal favorite. The Gili Islands are an archipelago made up of three small islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, located just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia.

The islands are a popular destination for travelers looking for beautiful beaches, crystal-clear water, and a laid-back atmosphere. One of the most unique things about the Gilis is that automobiles and motorized vehicles are prohibited. Instead, people get around by walking, biking, or using horse-drawn carriages known as cidomos.

Because of the abundance of marine life and healthy coral reefs, scuba diving and snorkeling are among the most popular activities on the islands.

During my time in the Gili Islands, I got to visit the famous sunset swings, have dinner on the beach at sunset, go island hopping to all three islands, snorkel with sea turtles, enjoy lunch on the beachfront of Gili Air, go scuba diving for the first time, and explore Gili Trawangan by bike.

Day 7: On Island Time

It was finally time to head to the Gili Islands, the part of the trip I had been looking forward to the most.

After checking out of the Ubud View Hotel, our group headed to the docks to catch a two-hour ferry to Gili Trawangan. During the ferry ride, I spent most of my time on the roof of the boat enjoying the view, the sunshine, and the ocean breeze.

When we arrived, cidomos met us at the dock and transported our luggage to the hotel. We stayed at Trawangan Nirvana, which ended up being my favorite hotel of the entire trip.

The hotel was incredibly peaceful and relaxing. Since there are no motorized vehicles on the islands and the hotel wasn't located on the busy main strip, it was quiet and serene. I especially appreciated the bug nets around the beds, which made sleeping much more comfortable.

After checking in, we spent some time relaxing, getting food, and settling into our rooms. Later that afternoon, we walked to The Exile Bar, home of the famous Instagram-worthy sunset swings. Watching the sunset and taking photos on the swings was the perfect way to spend our first evening on the island.

To finish the day, we enjoyed dinner on the beach while watching the sun disappear over the ocean.

Day 8: Island Hopping

The next morning, I spent some time exploring the local shops along the beachfront. I bought a few bracelets for my family and myself as souvenirs.

The Gili Islands are slightly more expensive than Bali, and many of the stores operate on fixed pricing, so bargaining isn't as common. However, prices were still very reasonable and only slightly higher than what I had experienced elsewhere during the trip.

After shopping, I met back up with my group for an afternoon of island hopping and snorkeling.

Snorkeling around the Gili Islands was incredible. I saw colorful coral reefs, countless tropical fish, and several sea turtles swimming right alongside us.

I did have one minor mishap when I was stung by what was likely a small jellyfish. It was my first jellyfish sting ever. Thankfully, it only felt like a brief burning sensation on my arm. While it hurt at first, the pain disappeared quickly and didn't stop me from getting back into the water and enjoying the rest of the excursion.

After snorkeling, we stopped at Gili Air for lunch along the beachfront, which provided some beautiful views and a chance to relax before heading back to Gili Trawangan.

Day 9: Scuba Stef!

My final full day on Gili Trawangan was dedicated to one thing: scuba diving.

This was my very first scuba diving experience, and it ended up being one of the most amazing things I have ever done.

I completed my introductory dive with Manta Dive, and the staff were fantastic. The day began with paperwork, a safety briefing, and a training session in the pool. Before this experience, I wasn't fully aware of all the safety procedures involved in scuba diving. However, I quickly learned that as long as you stay calm, listen to your instructor, and follow the proper techniques, diving is very safe.

During our pool training, we practiced essential skills that would prepare us for the open-water dive.

When it was finally time to head out to the dive site, we boarded a boat and made our way offshore. Entering the water was probably the most intimidating part for me. Divers sit on the edge of the boat with their backs facing the water, hold their masks securely, and simply lean backward into the ocean.

Once I was underwater, all of my nervousness disappeared.

The experience was peaceful, quiet, and absolutely breathtaking. I descended to about 12 to 15 meters below the surface and got to see colorful coral reefs, schools of fish, sea turtles, dolphins, and even a shark.

Scuba diving was completely different from snorkeling. Instead of looking down from the surface, I was immersed in the underwater world. It felt like visiting an entirely different planet.

The dive lasted around 41 minutes, but it felt like only a few minutes had passed. Time moves differently when you're surrounded by such incredible scenery.

After returning to shore, we headed back to the hotel to prepare for one final adventure: a bike tour around Gili Trawangan.

We rode around the island at sunset and eventually made our way back to The Exile Bar to watch one final sunset with the group.

As darkness fell, we continued riding to Trawangan Oasis. Biking at night was an adventure in itself. There were no streetlights, the roads were mostly dirt paths, and we had to navigate around cows, goats, bicycles, and horse-drawn carriages.

Somehow, everyone survived the ride without falling off their bikes or colliding with anything.

That evening, we shared one final dinner together before eventually saying goodbye and going our separate ways.

Day 10: Chilled Check-Out

My final day started early as I packed my bags and prepared for the long journey back to Australia.

After one last breakfast at Trawangan Nirvana, I climbed into a cidomo that took me to the harbor, where I boarded a three-hour ferry back to the mainland.

From there, I took a taxi to the airport and spent most of the day traveling and waiting for my flight back to Brisbane.

Saying goodbye to Bali was difficult. Over the course of ten days, I made incredible memories, met amazing people, stepped outside of my comfort zone, and experienced things I never imagined I would.

Bali exceeded every expectation I had. Whether it was temple hopping, surfing, cooking with locals, snorkeling with sea turtles, or scuba diving for the first time, every day brought a new adventure.

If there's one thing I learned from this trip, it's that life begins outside your comfort zone. Take risks, embrace new experiences, be open to meeting new people, and don't be afraid to try something that scares you.

You never know what incredible memories are waiting on the other side.