12 Top Things To Do on Gili Air [+ Map]

Gili Air is one of three paradise islands just off the coast of Lombok, known collectively as the Gili Islands. From Bali, you can reach them on the public ferry in just a few hours making them a popular addition to most Bali itineraries.

All three islands have a hippy vibe with no vehicles and no law enforcement. However, each has something slightly different to offer.

Whilst Gili T is for partying and Gili Meno is for relaxing, Gili Air occupies the middle ground. It has a laid-back atmosphere while still having a livelier side in the evenings. For this reason, it might just be our favourite.

We've grown to know the island pretty well, so we've created this guide with our favourite things to do on Gili Air.

Gili Air Map

Things To Do on Gili Air

1. Cycle around the island

There are no cars or scooters on Gili Air, so the best way to get around is by bicycle. You can usually hire one from your accommodation or at the many bicycle rental shops across the island.

As of our latest visit, the asking price was around 60,000 IDR per day. But you can negotiate this down if you're renting for several days. Try to find bicycles with thicker tyres as these will be easier on the sandy paths.

When you first arrive, it's a good idea to get your bearings by cycling around the island. A path runs around the coastline of the island which makes a beautiful cycling route with the sea on one side and the bohemian beach bars and cafes on the other.

We found the path along the northern side of the island (between Legends Bar and Pink Coco) to be very sandy and almost impossible to cycle on. So we recommend diverting through the middle of the island to cut out this section.

Being small and with no elevation, you can cycle around Gili Air in just 30 minutes or so without stops. However, it’s best to take it slowly and enjoy some of the bars, restaurants, and beach clubs you come across along the way.

2. Join a Gili Cooking Class

One of our favourite activities we did on Gili Air was learning to cook the local cuisine with Gili Cooking Classes.

There are three classes to choose from ranging between 90 minutes and 2hr30. We took the four-course class which lasted 2hrs. The dishes we made were fried tempeh with peanut sauce, mi goreng (fried noodles), yellow curry, and kelopon (a local dessert).

Classes run three times per day, including a late class at 7pm which makes a great evening activity on Gili Air. We had a group of five and ended up with the entire kitchen to ourselves.

They can cater to any dietary requirements. We had two vegan friends in our group so they substituted some of the ingredients for plant-based alternatives and were able to follow the same recipe.

Our chef and teacher, Ben, ensured the class was easy to follow and cracked plenty of jokes along the way to keep us all laughing. At the end of the class, Ben shared the full recipe sheets with us via Whatsapp so that we could make the dishes again at home.

3. Snorkel with turtles near the shore

The east coast of Gili Air is an excellent place to spot turtles. The best spots tend to be anywhere from Raja Bar down to the southeast tip of the island, but you can spot them all along this coast if you're persistent.

You don’t need to hire a boat. Simply put on your snorkelling gear and swim out from the shore. If you don’t own snorkelling gear, there are dozens of places to hire some along the roadside at a cheap price.

We recommend basing yourself at a beach café or restaurant along the east side of the island. As long as you purchase a drink, you can safely leave your belongings behind while you go snorkelling.

The shallow reefs can make it difficult to enter the water so water shoes are a good idea.

4. Take a snorkelling boat trip

There are many more outstanding snorkelling spots around the Gili Islands. The shallow reefs make it one of the best destinations to see loads of amazing marine life without needing scuba gear.

The best way to experience the different spots around the Gilis is by taking a snorkelling trip with a local guide. You can join one of the shared boat trips or charter a private boat if you are travelling with a group.

To get the best price, you can negotiate with one of the streetside tour agencies. We got a rate of 250,000 IDR per person for a private snorkelling trip. If you’d rather arrange your trip in advance, you can also book group trips online here.

A typical snorkelling trip around the Gilis will last 4 hours and include 3 snorkel spots with some free time on Gili Meno to eat and have a look around.

If you take a private trip, we recommend you arrange with your guide to go out early in the morning (before 8am) so that you can avoid the crowds.

When deciding which company to use, it’s also worth checking if the guide has a GoPro. Our guide, Rooney, captured some amazing footage which he shared with us for free at the end of the tour.

5. Watch a movie at the open-air cinema

A wholesome way to spend your evenings on Gili Air is by watching a movie at one of the open-air beach cinemas across the island. It’s usually free to pull up a bean bag and watch the movie. But some spots might require you to purchase a drink or some popcorn.

Below is a list of the movie nights on Gili Air as of our last visit. The listings of upcoming movies tend to be shown on a sign outside each venue.

6. Break out of Gili Air Escape Room

If you're up for a mental challenge, put your problem-solving skills to the test by trying to escape from the Gili Air Escape Room.

If you're unfamiliar with the idea of an escape room, it’s when you are locked in a room and must find clues or solve puzzles to escape before the timer runs out.

This one has a unique theme around Indonesian culture and the history of the Gili Islands. The concept is that your uncle died while exploring the great tribes of Indonesia, but if you can solve the puzzle he left behind, you can win his inheritance.

Unfortunately, there is no cash prize waiting for you on the outside. But escape in time and you'll leave with a sense of fulfillment, which is equally as thrilling, right?

The game is challenging but still manageable, especially given that you get 75 minutes to escape. Don’t worry, the friendly owner is on hand to provide clues if you get stuck or if it gets too much and you want to leave.

The game is suitable for 2-6 players with prices starting at 250,000 IDR per person. It’s open from 9am until 9pm every day. Reception isn’t manned unless a game is happening, so it’s best to reserve your time slot in advance. Contact details can be found on their website.

7. Go scuba diving

Thanks to healthy coral reefs around the Gili Islands, underwater life flourishes. This is why it’s one of the most popular diving destinations around Bali. An array of dive centres are dotted across Gili Air and there's a big community of divers, from newbies to seasoned pros.

If you're looking for a good dive centre, we recommend Blue Marlin. Whilst we haven’t dived with them ourselves, several of our friends have had an excellent experience with them.

Blue Marlin runs three trips per day, returning to the dive centre in between each trip. This means you can do one or two dives without waiting for everyone on the boat to finish all three.

There are over 20 different dive sites to choose from across the Gilis where you can expect to encounter reef sharks, turtles, rays, octopuses, cuttlefish, and loads more.

8. Go shopping at Gili Air's boutique stores

Unlike the shops on Gili T which tend to be full of the same old tacky souvenirs sold all across Bali, Gili Air has several independent boutique shops selling beautiful clothing, gifts, and jewellery.

A shopping concept we love can be found just off the main street, opposite Kopi Susu. Here, you’ll find five unnamed shops, each painted a different colour; pink, blue, turquoise, black, and white.

The five shops all sell identical items, except they are in the same colour as the shop. So everything in the blue shop is blue, everything in the pink shop is pink... you get the jist. We couldn't see a name for the shops, but we've pinned them on our map as 'colourful shops'.

Some other great places to shop on Gili Air are:

9. Go stand-up paddleboarding

Another way to explore the pristine coastlines of Gili Air is by renting a stand-up paddleboard.

You can hire equipment from Blue Marine Dive for 150,000 IDR per person for one hour. This is a little more than the price we paid on Gili T so you might be able to get a better rate if you negotiate or ask around.

We especially love paddleboarding around the Gilis just after sunrise or before sunset when the hues of the sky make the experience even more magical.

Just remember to mentally note some landmarks to help you navigate back to Blue Marine Dive again afterwards.

10. Enjoy Gili Air's nightlife

Although Gili Air isn’t a party hotspot like Gili T, the island does have some nightlife. A selection of beachfront bars and restaurants are dotted around the island where you can enjoy a Bintang for sunset, often accompanied by live music of fire shows.

Many venues start to close around 10pm. But those who want to keep the party going usually descend on one particular bar which stays open until the early hours. This changes each night so we recommend looking out for signs across the island or asking at your accommodation for the daily party spot.

Gili Air has a small tight-knit community. If you spend several nights here, you’ll start to encounter familiar faces each night and make friendships in a way that you wouldn’t get on Gili T.

Here are a few bars worth checking out:

11. Island hop around the Gilis

Gili Air is just one of three Gili Islands off the northwest coast of Lombok. The other two are Gili T and Gili Meno, both of which are very close and easy to visit from Gili Air. If you’re not planning to stay on the other islands, you could consider visiting them on a day trip.

Getting between the three islands is possible using either public or private boats. Public boat tickets are available to purchase near the main pier on Gili Air.

The public slow boat, also known as the Island Hopper, runs twice per day. It leaves Gili Air at 8.15am and 3pm, first stopping at Gili Meno and then on to Gili T. Our full guide to getting between the Gili Islands has the full timetables.

If this doesn’t suit you, there is also a public shuttle boat that has no fixed schedule and only leaves when it's full. You could end up waiting a long time to leave.

The final option is to charter a private boat. You’ll find plenty of drivers waiting near the port or you can ask at any travel office. We were travelling as a group of five and managed to negotiate a price of 100,000 IDR per person from Air to Meno.

12. Practice yoga

The tranquillity of Gili Air along with the slightly hippy atmosphere is why many yogis call it home. Similar to places like Ubud in Bali, there’s a strong yoga community here which means there are plenty of classes and workshops across the island each day.

Here are the top-rated yoga studios on Gili Air:

Where To Stay on Gili Air