A little slice of paradise near the bustling areas of Bali and Ubud will transport you to the island relaxation vibes you've only heard about in movies. The Gili Islands are worth the extra leg of Indonesia travel.
The Three Main Islands of Gili Indonesia
There are three main islands within the cluster of Gili: Gili Meno, Gili Air and Gili Trawangan.
Gili Meno is the smallest of the three with barely any restaurants or bars. It's nicknamed the "honeymoon island" and those looking to really get away from it all with their spouse can come here to get a remote experience. Also it's the least expensive of the three, perfect for budget travelers.
The next size up is Gili Air. This island is known as the in-between of the two, giving a quiet and nightlife atmosphere, a perfect mix. Plus it's the closest to Lombok, Indonesia, making it the easiest to get to of the three. This would be a great option for families with members of different ages.
The largest island of the three is Gili Trawangan, nicknamed "Gili T". This island has been known as the "party" and "youngster" island. However, my husband and I have been to a lot of nightlife focused islands and based on our experience this was nothing like the extreme party places we've encountered, and that's not an insult, it's a compliment!
Party Islands Around the World
In Phuket, Thailand, you have to be careful with whom you speak to because you may get someone's hopes up that they might be hired for the night (if you know what I mean).
In Koh Rong, Cambodia, the island is so small that there's literally nothing else to do besides party and most of their tourism is focused on their pub crawls. Here's a picture of us with another couple at a pub crawl with our names and sad faces written on our arms to indicate that we are taken and not single or ready to mingle!
In Phi Phi, Thailand, they frequently host huge "Full Moon Parties" with fire dancers, club beats and alcoholic buckets on sale for cheap! It's very fun, but if you want to sleep forget it. The whole island is booming with chaos and music! Here's some pictures of us enjoying the revelry.
The Gili Trawangan Atmosphere
Then there's Gili T, and yes, we did party a few times while we were here, BUT most of our memories from this island include all the exciting activities we did in the day. As you'll see in this vlog, we started our morning well rested in an adorable hostel with free breakfast made for you as soon as you wake up (my favorite part) called Malino Homestay. Then we spent the day paddleboarding, petting goats and, in the evening, listening to live music followed by a sunset ride on a horse in the water. Does that seem like a "party island" to you?
Overall, people may read about Gili T online and get scared away because they think it will consist of a bunch of 20-year-old Australians vomiting in the bushes. However, that's not the case. It may have been this way in the past to attract tourists, but now it's an eclectic mix of families, couples, twenty-something's and super nice hostel, bar and restaurant owners who will make your stay the best! We would highly recommend this island over the other two because there's so much to do in the day and the night.
Staying for two weeks at Gili T was the most relaxing time we had on our whole two-year trip throughout Southeast Asia. I would love to go back there one day for that sense of calm and fun.
So if you're Goldilocks, which bed would you sleep in? Comment on the video or this blog post!
Follow me on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for more about Gili T which I'll be reporting on throughout 2024!
