In this post, you’ll find several suggestions for things to do in Gili Air, including activities beyond the beach, and even some that are perfect for rainy days.
Snorkelling trip
A snorkelling trip around the Gili Islands is an absolute must thing to do in Gili Air! You’ll see plenty of turtles without having to go far from the shore. 🐢
Photo 1: One of the stops on the snorkelling trip in Gili Trawangan
As I mentioned in my post Things to do in Lombok, the stop at the underwater statues in Gili Meno was quite crowded when we first did the three-island tour in April 2023. Two years later, it was a total disappointment. Talk to your guides and, if possible, skip this stop, it’s just too crowded to see anything!
This time, we went with Lucky’s Snorkeling, which was arranged by Nathalie from Villa Nangka, and everything went smoothly. After the chaos at Gili Meno, they took us to much quieter spots where we could enjoy proper snorkelling, it was well worth it!
Photo 2: One of the stops on the snorkelling trip in Gili Meno
Photo 3: Lunch stop in Gili Meno
Other highly rated snorkelling tour companies in Gili Air include Aritrip Boat and Alfi Mougly.
You’ll also find several good options on Get Your Guide .🤿🐢🐠🪸
Photo 4: Snorkelling trip – can you spot the camouflaged fish?
Photo 5: Snorkelling trip
Photo 6: One of the many turtles we saw during the snorkelling trip
Snorkelling from the beach
In Gili Air, you can go snorkelling directly from many of the beaches, and you may even see turtles swimming past! 🤿🐢🪸
If you don’t want to bring your own equipment, you can easily rent it in Gili Air, where there is plenty available at an inexpensive daily rate. However, I would recommend bringing water shoes. The sand here has lots of coral and rocks, and wearing shoes makes a huge difference.
I suggest heading to the area around Chill Bar. At low tide, you can walk quite far out and then let the current carry you further down the beach. The best part? You might see turtles here too! Just be careful when exiting the water though, as there are lots of coral rocks. It’s best to follow where other people are coming out. We clearly didn’t choose the best exit point and ended up with a few scratches 😅.
Photo 7: Beach in front of the Chill Bar
Photo 8: Beach in front of the Chill Bar
Yoga Class
Gili Air has plenty of places offering yoga and meditation classes. Our stay was short, so I didn’t have the chance to join one, but it’s definitely an experience worth considering to do in Gili Air if you have the time.
If you’re interested, check out Flowers & Fire, which comes highly recommended. 🧘♀️
Massages
During our stay in Gili Air, I had a Balinese massage at the Villa Nangka Spa, where we were staying, and I highly recommend it! Many people who weren’t staying at the hotel came in just for treatments, so it clearly has a great reputation. 💆♀️
Popular spas in Gili Air include:
Foto 9: Rua da Villa Nangka Hotel and Spa
Shopping
I was really surprised by the number of lovely clothing and accessory boutiques in Gili Air. There are so many cute items, they’re not exactly cheap, but they’re definitely worth a look! Read my post for more details:
Photos 10, 11, 12: The best boutiques in Gili Air
Jewellery-Making class
Bali has a long-standing tradition of silversmithing. While originally inspired by Hindu symbolism, the craft now often incorporates international influences
This tradition has spread to the Gili Islands, particularly Gili Air, where several studios offer classes in making your own silver jewellery. One such class is the Kaktus Silver Jewellery Making Class, which you can book on Get Your Guide.
It’s a great activity for a rainy day or if you have some extra downtime and are wondering what to do in Gili Air.💍
Cooking class
Another fun activity to try anywhere in Southeast Asia is a cooking class! It’s a great way to learn about the local culture through traditional dishes and ingredients.
If you’d like to take a class, get in touch with unclehero_cookingclass on Instagram, or check out this option on Get Your Guide. 🥗
As you can see, there’s certainly no shortage of things to do in Gili Air.
We only stayed for two full days (not counting travel days), and it definitely felt too short. If you can, stay for at least three days.
Hope this list helps you to plan your visit and inspires you to discover this little gem in Indonesia! 🌴
*This post contains affiliated links, and if you make a reservation/purchase through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost you.
