Discover all that Gili Air has to offer
Gili Air is an island to enjoy at your own pace. You can spend the morning exploring the underwater world, playing a padel match or take a yoga class before breakfast, cycle around the island in the afternoon or simply find a quiet spot by the sea and watch the sunset. Whether you are looking for adventure, relaxation or activities to enjoy together as a family, there is plenty to discover
SHOPS & SOUVENIRS
Take a stroll around the island and you’ll discover a lovely mix of small boutiques, local shops and creative little corners to browse.
Gili Air has something for every kind of shopper, from light island clothing, dresses and swimwear to handmade jewellery, accessories and unique gifts to take home. You’ll also find locally made crafts, coconut products, natural soaps and beauty products, as well as small souvenirs inspired by the island — from wooden turtles and handmade decorations to bags, T-shirts and other little reminders of your time in Gili Air.
Some of the island’s shops focus on locally made and sustainable products, while others offer relaxed beachwear and pieces from Indonesian designers. There are also smaller, more traditional shops where you can find everyday items alongside simple souvenirs.
Shopping here is part of the island experience: take your time, wander along the sandy paths and see what catches your eye. You never quite know what little treasure you might find.
wellness & massage
Gili Air is a wonderful place to slow down, relax and take some time for yourself. From a simple massage after a day in the sun to a longer wellness treatment, there are plenty of ways to unwind while you are on the island.
You’ll find a wide choice of massage and spa treatments, including traditional Indonesian and Balinese-style massages, deep tissue treatments, foot massages, body scrubs and relaxing beauty rituals. Some places also offer facials, hair treatments and other little touches to help you feel refreshed after a few days in the sun and sea.
Wellness on Gili Air is not only about massages. There are also hair salons offering regular haircuts and treatments for both men and women, as well as braiding — perfect if you fancy a new island look. You’ll also find places offering manicures, pedicures and other beauty treatments.
For something a little different, Gili Air has embraced some of the newer wellness trends too. You can find places offering ice baths, saunas and other recovery experiences, including magnesium baths and red light therapy. Some wellness spaces combine these treatments with massage, creating a complete experience for body and mind.
Whether you are looking for a relaxing massage, a fresh haircut, a few braids or a refreshing cold plunge, there is plenty to choose from. Take some time for yourself, slow down and enjoy a little island wellness.
special for families
Gili Air is a wonderfully family-friendly island. Its relaxed atmosphere, small size and car-free streets make it an easy place to explore with children, while the island has developed a surprisingly good range of places and activities especially for families.
For families staying a little longer, there is even an international school on the island, Bumi Kecil, welcoming children from around 2-3 years old. They offer flexible drop-in classes as well as short-term enrolment, making it possible for children to spend anything from a few days to several weeks or more learning, playing and making friends while experiencing island life.
Right next to the school, The Play Cafe has one of the island’s largest play areas, with indoor and outdoor spaces where children can play while parents enjoy a coffee, breakfast or lunch.
You’ll also find several cafés and restaurants where children are very welcome, with little play areas or space for them to move around. Places such as Mowi’s, Flowers & Fire and Captain Goodtimes are popular family-friendly stops, giving parents the chance to enjoy a meal while the little ones stay entertained. At Flowers & Fire, families can also join special yoga sessions together on sundays, making it a lovely place to combine play, movement and time together.
For something different, head to Happy Gilmore’s for a round of mini golf or darts — an easy and fun activity for children, teenagers and adults alike.
The island also has a few lovely shops with families and children in mind. Cotton Clouds is particularly useful if you are travelling with younger children, with children’s clothes, a few toys and some handy baby essentials such as bodysuits, wipes and fruit pouches. Wiggle Art Shop is more focused on decoration, souvenirs, jewellery and creative finds for the whole family, but also has a special little section with toys and unique souvenirs for children.
You’ll also find Little Gili, a lovely children’s shop with toys, games, art supplies, books, clothes and other fun finds for younger travellers. For everyday essentials, nappies, wipes and other basic baby items can also be found in some of the island’s local shops and supermarkets, such us Siti Shop or Gili Bagus Mart.
And there are often small community activities for children too, from creative workshops and beach activities to special family events. Keep an eye on local weekly schedules during your stay — there is usually something happening for little ones.
Gili Air may be a small island, but families quickly discover that it is surprisingly easy to settle into. Children can enjoy a little more freedom, parents can slow down, and everyday island life becomes part of the adventure.
culture & customs
One of the things that makes Gili Air so special is the way local island life and an international community come together. Although the island welcomes visitors from all over the world, Gili Air remains very much part of the local Sasak and Muslim culture of Lombok.
As you explore the island, you will hear the call to prayer from the local mosque. Muslims pray 5 times a day, and the call to prayer can be heard across the island at different times from early morning until the evening. This is a natural and important part of everyday life on Gili Air. Rather than being something unusual, it is simply part of the island’s daily rhythm, just as the sound of the sea, bicycles and boats are.
You may also see traditional ceremonies or celebrations as you explore the island. These are all part of local life, and being aware of them can make your stay feel more connected to the place you are visiting. During religious ceremonies, give people space and avoid taking photographs unless you have permission.
Although Gili Air is a tropical island and beachwear is perfectly natural at the beach, it is important to remember that the rest of the island is also a local community. When walking around the island or visiting restaurants, shops and other public places, please avoid wearing only swimwear or going shirtless. Putting on a T-shirt or a light cover-up before leaving the beach is a simple way to show respect for local customs and the people who live here.
Gili Air has a very relaxed atmosphere, but it is still important to remember that this is a local community, not simply a holiday destination. A friendly greeting, a smile and a respectful attitude are always appreciated.
You may also notice that life on the island follows a slower rhythm than you are used to. People take their time, neighbours know each other and community is an important part of everyday life. During religious holidays and special celebrations, the pace of the island can change too, with shops, restaurants and services sometimes operating differently.
The best way to experience Gili Air is to embrace this slower pace and be curious about the culture around you. Respect the local customs, take the time to observe island life and you will discover a side of Gili Air that goes far beyond its beaches.
practical information
Gili Air is a small island, and part of its charm is that life here is a little different from what you may be used to at home. A few things are useful to know before you arrive, so you can relax, enjoy your stay and be prepared for island life.
Getting to Gili Air
If this is your first time visiting the island, we have put together a simple guide explaining the different ways to get here and how to reach the villas once you arrive.
[How to get to our villas →]
Money & Payments
The currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). You will find ATMs on Gili Air, and there are also places where you can exchange foreign currency.
However, we recommend arriving with some Indonesian Rupiah already in your wallet. ATMs can occasionally run out of cash or be unavailable, especially during busy periods, and smaller local shops, warungs, bicycle rentals and some other services may only accept cash. Cards are accepted in many hotels, restaurants and larger businesses, but it is always useful to have cash with you.
It is also a good idea to keep some smaller notes for small purchases, local shops and other everyday expenses.
Shops, Supermarkets & Everyday Essentials
Although Gili Air is a small island, you can find most of the basics you may need during your stay. There are several small supermarkets and local shops selling drinks, snacks, toiletries, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, basic medicines and everyday essentials.
You can also find fresh fruit and vegetables, baby products and other household necessities. However, the choice is naturally more limited than on the mainland, and some imported products can be more expensive.
If you need something specific, especially for a baby or young child, it is worth bringing it with you or buying it before arriving on the island.
Health, Clinics & Pharmacies
Gili Air has several small medical clinics and pharmacies where you can get help with minor illnesses, injuries and everyday medical needs. There are also clinics able to deal with more urgent situations and provide medical evacuation if necessary.
For anything serious requiring hospital-level care, you will need to travel to Lombok. The nearest larger hospitals are in and around Mataram, so we strongly recommend travelling with appropriate travel insurance that includes medical care and, ideally, medical evacuation.
If you take regular medication, bring enough for your entire stay rather than relying on finding exactly the same medicine on the island.
Water
Tap water on Gili Air is not suitable for drinking. Bottled and purified water is readily available around the island, and you will also find refill stations where you can fill a reusable bottle.
We recommend bringing a reusable water bottle with you. It is convenient, saves money and helps reduce the amount of single-use plastic on the island.
Electricity
As with many small islands, the electricity supply can occasionally be interrupted. Power cuts do happen from time to time, as the island’s electricity network can be affected by maintenance, technical issues or other circumstances.
Our villas have a backup generator, so you don’t need to worry about being left without electricity if there is a power cut on the island.
It is still a good idea to keep your phone, camera and other essential devices charged whenever you can. A small power bank can also be useful when travelling around the island.
Island life sometimes comes with a few little surprises, but we do our best to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Internet & Mobile Connection
Wi-Fi is available in our villas and in most of the restaurants and cafés on Gili Air, although the quality can vary from place to place. Mobile data is also available, with Telkomsel generally considered one of the most reliable networks on the islands.
If you need a local SIM or eSIM, it is often easier to arrange this before leaving Bali or Lombok. And if you need reliable internet for work, we recommend having mobile data as a backup.
Getting Around the Island
Gili Air is a small island and there are no private cars on the island. Most people get around on foot or by bicycle, which is one of the things that makes Gili Air so peaceful and enjoyable to explore.
Bicycles can be rented in several places around the island, including options with baby seats, child seats and bicycles suitable for older children. If you need one during your stay, we are happy to help arrange a bicycle rental through local providers we know and work with.
When you arrive on Gili Air, we can also meet you at the harbour and walk with you to the villas, as long as you let us know your arrival time in advance. The walk takes around 11 minutes without luggage, but with young children, a stroller or suitcases, it can take considerably longer — especially during the hotter parts of the day. Allow around 20–30 minutes or more, depending on your pace, the weather and how much you are carrying.
If you are travelling with a lot of luggage, arriving with young children or simply prefer not to walk, we can also help arrange a cidomo for you from the harbour to the villas. These traditional horse-drawn carriages are commonly used on the island to transport people and luggage.
You may also see electric scooters around the island. The island is small enough to explore on foot, although having a bicycle makes it much easier to discover the quieter northern and western parts of Gili Air.
If you are travelling with children, just let us know what you need before you arrive. We can help with bicycle rentals, baby or child seats and transport from the harbour, making your arrival as easy and comfortable as possible.
Mosquitoes & Sun Protection
Mosquitoes are part of tropical island life, and it is a good idea to bring or buy insect repellent during your stay.
Using repellent, particularly when spending time outdoors, is a simple precaution. Long, light clothing can also help, especially around dawn and dusk.
And don’t forget the sun! The tropical sun can be much stronger than you expect, even on cloudy days. Bring high-SPF sunscreen, stay hydrated and take breaks from the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Mosquitoes & Sun Protection
Mosquitoes are part of tropical island life, and it is a good idea to bring or buy insect repellent during your stay. Protecting yourself from mosquito bites is especially important when spending time outdoors.
And don’t forget the sun! The tropical sun can be much stronger than you expect, even on cloudy days. Stay hydrated and take breaks from the sun during the hottest part of the day.
If you are planning to swim, snorkel or spend time in the sea and if you are going to use sunscreen, we also recommend choosing a reef-friendly sunscreen. Gili Air is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and marine life, so using a sunscreen designed to be gentler on the marine environment is a simple way to help protect the underwater world you have come to enjoy.
Weather & Rainy Season
Gili Air has a tropical climate throughout the year. The rainy season generally falls between November and March, although rain does not necessarily mean that you will have rain all day. Weather can change quickly, and short tropical showers are part of island life.
The dry season is generally sunnier and busier, while the quieter months can be a wonderful time to experience a more peaceful side of the island.
Public Holidays & Special Days
Gili Air follows the Indonesian national holiday calendar, as well as important Islamic celebrations. During religious holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Ramadan, the rhythm of island life can change, and some businesses may have different opening hours.
Boat schedules and services can also be affected during particularly busy national holidays, so if you are travelling around these dates, it is worth planning ahead.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Life on Gili Air is relaxed, but it is also island life. Things may sometimes take a little longer than you are used to, weather can affect boats, electricity can occasionally go off and some services have more limited opening hours than on the mainland.
The best approach is simply to slow down and go with the island rhythm.
Bring a little patience, keep some cash with you, stay hydrated, protect yourself from the sun and mosquitoes, and enjoy the fact that you are somewhere a little different.
That is all part of the Gili Air experience.