Here you’ll find all the key information you need for planning your stay in Gili Air: the best time of year to visit, how to get there, where to stay, and the entry requirements for Indonesia.
Best time to visit Gili Air
Gili Air is part of the West Nusa Tenggara province, which also includes Lombok Island. As it’s only a 15-minute boat ride away from Lombok, the climate is very similar.
Read my full post on Lombok’s seasons to find out what to expect depending on the time of year:
Our most recent stay in Gili Air was in August 2025, and we had perfect weather: sunny days with no rain during the day.
Entry requirements for Indonesia
Take a look at the post I mentioned above – Before travelling to Lombok – where I explain how to obtain an Indonesian visa: either an electronic visa on arrival (e-VOA) or a regular visa on arrival (VOA).
I’ve always used the VOA, which can be purchases upon arrival in Indonesia, whether in Bali or Lombok.
As well as the visa, you’ll also need to complete an electronic arrival card, which is available via the All Indonesia app or the official website. You can read all the details about this in the post Arrival in Lombok.
The entry requirements are the same whether you travel to Gili Air from Bali or Lombok except for the tourist tax, which only applies if you enter Indonesia via Bali. (See the upcoming post Before Travelling to Bali for all the details.) In short, if you fly directly to Lombok and go straight on to Gili Air, you won’t need to pay the Bali tourist tax.
How to get to Gili Air
I’ve created a dedicated post for this topic, as this one was already getting too long. Take a look here:
Photo 1: Gili Air Harbour
Getting to your accommodation
As there are no cars in Gili Air, the easiest way to get to your accommodation with luggage is by horse cart. Some people choose to rent electric scooters, managing to carry rolling suitcases along the roads, quite a balancing act!
We opted for the horse cart, even though it’s a controversial choice. I’m sure animal welfare advocates wouldn’t recommend it, but the horses in Gili Air looked much better cared for (and well-fed) than those in Gili Trawangan, the largest of the three Gilis.
Nevertheless, I’d recommend using the cart only when necessary. For instance, use it on arrival or departure when you have bags. Otherwise, walk or cycle around the island.
Photo 2 and 3: Horse cars in Gili Air
Where to stay in Gili Air
When we decided to spend a few days in Gili Air, I didn’t look anywhere else because Villa Nangka had already been recommended to us by a family we met in Lombok in one of our previous trips.
We were lucky enough to stay the brand-new rooms by the pool at Villa Nangka. They’re beautifully designed, with thoughtful touches that show how much care goes into making guests feel at home during their stay in Gili Air. For instance, there was this lavender spray for the pillows which I loved it so much that I ended up buying one to take home!
Another highlight was the open-air bathroom, showering under the moonlight, surrounded by bougainvillea, was just magical.
Breakfast was delicious and freshly made on site, with drinks like lemonade and kombucha available.
Photo 4: Entrance to Villa Nangka
Photo 5: Poolside bungalow (family)
Photo 6: Villa Nangka kitchen
Villa Nangka feels like a home away from home, and I loved everything about it. I’d happily stay there again, even though I rarely return to the same hotel twice. I doubt we could have found a better place to stay in Gili Air.
As an added bonus, Nathalie from the Villa Nangka team, helped us organise all the transfers from the airport to the hotel. When our plans unexpectedly changed, she went above and beyond to find alternatives and make all the arrangements for us.
This might not be your pick if you’re looking for a beachfront hotel, but I didn’t mind at all. The beach is only a few minutes away on foot or by bike, which you can rent directly from Villa Nangka.
You can check prices and availability on their website here.
Photo 7: Villa Nangka swimming pool
Where to eat in Gili Air
I absolutely LOVE Indonesian food, and we ate so well in Gili Air! Check out my favourite restaurant recommendations in the post:
Photo 8: Lunch at Optimiz Prime
Photo 9: Lunch at Optimiz Prime, fried aubergine with colonial rice
What to do in Gili Air
As this post is quite long already, I’ve created another one dedicated entirely to things to do in Gili Air. You can read it here:
Photo 10: Beach in front of Chill Bar
Photo 11: You’ll find plenty of cats on the streets of Gili Air
Most of Indonesia’s population is Muslim (read more in Indonesia). As such, there are loudspeakers across the island that broadcast the call to prayer, and sometimes the prayers themselves, at set times throughout the day.
The first one happens before sunrise, so if you’re a light sleeper, this may not be the most pleasant part of your stay in Gili Air.
I hope this post helps you to plan your stay in Gili Air, or inspires you to visit this little paradise in Indonesia. 🌺
