The best things to do on Gili Air
Visit GilisGili Air3 min read
Gili Air is a small island, but doing nothing here is an activity in itself, and when you do feel like moving there is more than enough to fill a few slow days. Snorkel from the beach. The reef starts just metres off the sand on the north and west coasts, and green turtles are a near-daily sight. Rent a mask and fins from any dive shop and swim out, or join a snorkelling boat trip that loops all three islands and stops at the best turtle spots. Learn to dive, or just fun-dive. Gili Air has a friendly, low-pressure dive scene with several reputable centres. It is a lovely place to take an Open Water course in warm, forgiving water, and an easy place to log relaxed dives if you are already certified. Cycle the island. A loop of Gili Air by bicycle takes under an hour and is the best way to find your favourite stretch of beach. The paths get sandy in places, so expect to push now and then. Chase the sunset. The west coast is the island's front-row seat for sunset over Bali's Mount Agung on a clear evening. Grab a beanbag at a beach bar, order a drink, and watch the sky change. Do a yoga class or a spa hour. Several places offer drop-in yoga and massage, a natural fit for an island built around slowing down. Eat your way along the coast. Fresh seafood barbecues, smoothie bowls, wood-fired pizza and good coffee are all within a short walk. Make dinner a wander rather than a destination. Take a day trip to Meno or Trawangan. The public shuttle boat makes it easy to spend a quiet day on Meno or a lively night on Trawangan and be back on Air by the next morning. None of it is rushed, and that is the point. Gili Air rewards travellers who let the days find their own shape.
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