Michael Satterfield
We all dream of that ideal vacation on an island with white sand and crystal blue water, tranquil, quiet, and away from the crowds. Only most of the time after you arrive, you discover paradise lost to chain hotels and restaurants. This is not the case with the Gili Islands of Indonesia.
The Gili Islands are three small islands off the coast of Lombok, accessible by ferries from Bali and Lombok, or if you want to spend a little more you can take a helicopter. The bulk of guests will stay on the larger island of Gili Trawangan, there is not a large dock so you may have to disembark into the surf.
There are no cars or motorcycles on the island, if you want to get around you have three choices, walk, rent a bicycle, or hire a horse-drawn taxi. If you have a lot of luggage and are at one of the resorts outside of the main town, hire the horse taxi.
The beaches are amazing, open public beaches surround the island, while a few of the larger resorts have their own beach clubs and semi-private beaches. I booked at the Aston Sunset one of the farthest resorts from town, the resort had an excellent restaurant, beach, pool, and spa.
The nice thing about Gili Trawangan is that there are accommodations for nearly any budget, from backpacker hostels to top-tier resorts like the Aston Sunset and many choices in between. Activities on the island include horseback riding, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, and short hikes to WWII ruins.
If you would like to plan a trip be sure to check out the Indonesian Tourism site HERE.
