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Gili Islands

The Gili Islands, just off the northwest tip of Lombok, Indonesia, are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes playing reggae and serving up questionable "energy" drinks. At the other end of the scale, elaborate seafood buffets, fresh salads and good quality western and Asian food. Best of all, there are no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace.

Understand
Lombok's most popular tourist destination, the Gili Islands (or just the Gilis) came to the attention of the wider world as a backpacker mecca in the 1980s and 1990s. This is still true to some extent, and the islands are still a fixture on the Banana Pancake Trail. But times are changing, and there are now a range of accommodation options on the islands to suit different levels of comfort and budget, especially so on Gili Trawangan.

There are increasing numbers of westerners living on the Gilis, and operating businesses ranging from dive companies to resorts. There is a strong environmental focus as the reefs have been very damaged in the past. While people used to come to dive, snorkel and party, the islands have become more and more popular among more upmarket tourists, honeymooners and families. It is still all about the beach, but there are now many more options to wine and dine with a range of more comfortable and luxurious places to stay (though thankfully, no high-rise to spoil the small island atmosphere).

The name "Gili Islands" is redundant as gili means "small island" in Sasak, but the name has stuck and is universally used and understood in Lombok.

There are also some other islands near Lombok, prefixed with "Gili", e.g. Gili Nanggu and Gili Gede, but these are located to the southwest near Lembar, quite a distance from the "main" Gilis.

Climate
The Gilis are noticeably drier and hotter than Lombok, but evenings can be relatively cooler and more refreshing. The rainy season is roughly from November to April, but it rains much less than on Bali. The peak tourist seasons are July–August and December–January.

By plane
There are no airports in the Gilis. The nearest airport is on mainland Lombok, with decent connections around Indonesia but only limited international service. Flying to Bali, which has a far larger and better connected airport, and taking a boat to the Gilis is a viable and competitively priced alternative.

If you do choose to fly, Bandara Internasional Lombok is in south central Lombok and a taxi to Bangsal or Teluk Nare will take around 1 hr 40 min-2 hr. Cost by taxi meter will be around Rp 300,000-400,000 depending upon the route used and occasional congestion that may sometimes arising from a wedding or funeral procession on the main road. It is an easy, scenic trip by road, indeed a lot of the route is the same as that travelled on many sightseeing day-trips. Aim to arrive at Teluk Nare or Bangsal no later than 16:00 for an uncomplicated crossing. Night time crossings are possible but not recommended. Gili island transfer services by private car and speed boat are available from the airport to each of the Gili Islands. These can be pre-booked online, see "From Lombok" below.

By ferry

 * Used mainly by locals, freight and diehard backpackers, there is an hourly public ferry service from Padang Bai (East Bali) to Lembar Harbour (Southwest Lombok), running 24 hours a day. The crossing takes 5-6 hours (plus sometimes considerable waiting around for loading and unloading). This is extremely cheap but the on-board conditions are very basic, and the journey is very slow. Tickets are available from the harbours and cost Rp 60,000 adult fare. After arriving in Lombok it will then take another 2-hr transfer to get to the Gili Islands via road and local boat from Teluk Nare or Bangsal harbor. For more info, see the main Lombok page.

Crossing advice
If you are travelling from southern Bali resorts such as Kuta, Legian, or Nusa Dua, the closest departure area is Serangan. From Serangan to Lombok by fast boat takes about 2 hr 30 min, and as of 2020 most services sail via Nusa Lembongan or Padang Bai. The most services with the shortest crossing times depart from Padang Bai, which is 1 hr 30 min from south Bali by road (so total travel time will be approximately the same). Also depart from Padang Bai if you are staying in or around Ubud (Rp 250,000 one-way or Rp 450,000 with an open-ended return, including hotel pickup. Book online or at any hotel or travel agency in town). Amed departures are only suitable if you are staying in or around Amed, Tulamben, Candidasa or North Coast locations such as Lovina or Pemuteran.

No matter what port of departure you use, with the exception of those staying in Padang Bai or Amed, you will need to use a vehicle transfer for one portion of your journey. Take the weather into consideration when planning your voyage, shorter routes could reduce discomfort for those prone to motion sickness. Fast boat services from Amed and Padang Bai take around half as long to reach the Gilis as the routes from southern Bali. A shorter crossing amounts to extra road time on Bali, unless you are staying in Amed or Padang Bai already.

There are often significant differences in prices between operators on all the Gili Fastboat routes. There are also differences in the standard of the vessels, their operation, crew experience and certification. It is advisable to look at more than just price. As competition has increased, so has misinformation about availability of seats and operating schedules. Check the veracity of information directly with your chosen operator if told by a tour desk a vessel is "full" or "bankrupt - not operating" or has "spontaneously combusted." Ensure your ticket states the specific vessel requested. Stated trip times are often misleading and do not reflect the reality of the voyage nor average crossing times. Trusted and established online comparison services such as Gilibookings.com are a good place to check accurate information.

From Bali
Fast boat services offer a direct method of travel from neighbouring Bali across to Lombok's Gili islands. There are numerous direct boat services from Bali to the Gilis, all of which continue onto the main island of Lombok (usually Teluk Nare and/or Bangsal harbour), and a few of which also pass by Nusa Lembongan en route. Daily services depart from Serangan Island in South Bali and from Padang Bai and Amed in East Bali. Serangan is around 30 min by car (dependent upon traffic) from the main South Bali tourist areas. Padang Bai is around an hour further by road but the fast boat crossing is also an hour shorter so the overall journey time is similar. Padang Bai is also the most convenient departure point for those staying in or around Ubud and Candidasa, or for those who prefer less time on the water.

Booking tickets
You can contact the fast boat companies directly by phone or email, book online, or via one of the many local travel agents once you are in Bali.

Some of the eager fast boat ticket vendors on Bali, and even some newer online services practice up-selling of the cheaper operators with higher ticket prices, so sussing out the right carrier for you may not be simply a matter of 'getting what you pay for'. Take a look at the vessel, its crew and visible safety features. Be critical. If the standard looks fishy, simply choose another operator or mode of transport. Some of the websites offering fast boat tickets online sell tickets for a premium fast boat service, then put you on one of the cheaper ones instead. You can avoid false advertising by checking which websites have a good reputation first.

A selection of fast boat companies with a proven track record:

 * BlueWater Express is one of the longer-running operators to the Gilis, starting in 2006. They depart from Serangan and Padang Bai.
 * Gili Getaway Daily crossings from Serangan, consistent track record of high quality service.
 * Freebird Express Services from Amed on the east coast of Bali. This is the shortest route over sea from Bali to the Gilis and Lombok.
 * Gili Gili Operating routes from Serangan and Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan via Teluk Nare (Lombok) and Gili Air.
 * Wahana Gili Ocean Cheap daily services from Padang Bai - Gili T - Gili Meno and Bangsal (Lombok).

From Lombok
Please see the main Lombok article for more information on air and ferry services.

Options to get from Lombok to the Gilis are:

 * A shuttle bus or taxi to Bangsal harbour (1 hr from Mataram), and a public boat from there (15/30/45 min to Air/Meno/Trawangan)
 * A "Koperasi" local fast boat or charter from Bangsal harbour (15-30 min)
 * A chartered speedboat from Teluk Nare (15-30 min)
 * A chartered boat from the beach at Senggigi, or alternatives available 4 km north of the main township at Mangsit beach (1-2 hour travel time to the islands)

The easiest way to get to the Gilis from Lombok's airport or Senggigi is to walk to the nearest travel agent, taxi desk or tout and book a package, or take a taxi northward to the departure points and deal with it yourself. If you wish to book online in advance, Gili island transfers by car and speedboat can be booked from the Airport as well as multiple other popular areas in Lombok such as Senggigi, Mataram, Kuta, Selong Belanak and Lembar.

The cheapest way is to take a bemo/taxi to the Bangsal carpark on the Pemenang-Bangsal access road, then walk or cidomo to the beach at Bangsal, then take the Public boat (ferry) from there. However, this may involve some waiting around and the irksome requirement of dealing with sometimes unpleasant and irritating hawkers and touts, so some people just figure it's not worth the hassle and they take the more expensive speedboats from Teluk Nare to the south of Bangsal, you drive through it on the coastal highway on the way to Pemenang.

See the Bangsal and individual Gili island articles for details of the official Koperasi Angkutan laut Karya Bahari services.

If you want to travel at your own pace, you can charter a boat directly from Senggigi or Mangsit beach to take you across. It may be beneficial to charter it for the day and then use it to look around the 3 islands for the rest of the day, or go snorkelling or turtle watching. Ask any travel agent or simply head to the beach behind the Santosa Hotel in central Senggigi or on the beach at Mangsit at the northern end of Senggigi district. At Mangsit most of the charter boats are located between Qunci Villas and the Holiday Resort Lombok (ex Holiday Inn Resort). On either beach you're guaranteed to be solicited by boat operators and guides. The Senggigi article has more information on this. A charter of a regular outrigger (perahu) to any of the Gili Islands will likely cost Rp 500,000-600,000, but bargain hard. Some of these boats are pretty basic so make sure you check the safety equipment for yourself, especially if you cannot swim. The better guides at Mangsit beach will provide life vests of their own if the chartered boat does not have them. If there are three or less of you, it is much faster to arrange a speed boat pickup from Teluk Nare online or with one of the dive shops or your hotel on Gili Trawangan. A taxi to Teluk Nare from Senggigi will cost about Rp 100,000-150,000.

For organising your trip back to Bangsal, there is a public boat ticket office on each of the Gili islands.

The sea is calmest in the morning and all transport stops running in the late afternoon, and well before dark. During periods of southerly winds and in July and August especially, the swell can be a bit hairy and you are very likely to get wet on the crossing. It is advisable to place laptops, cameras and phones in waterproof bags for the crossing.

Get around

There is no motorised transport on the islands. Your options are horse-drawn carts, known as cidomos, and bicycles, which are available for rent all over the islands. The price for tourists is Rp 20,000-50,000 per head, depending on the length of the journey. To go all the way around the islands could cost up to Rp 150,000. However, as the islands are only a few km in diameter, it's entirely possible to just walk instead.

Travelling between the islands requires either catching the infrequent scheduled Koperasi Island hopping boats, or chartering one to take you across. To Lombok you can take one of the very cheap public boats that go back and forth whenever the boat is full, or again charter a vessel.

Tickets can be bought from the ticket offices on each island from where the boats depart. No need to pre-book. Example Koperasi Rates from Gili Air: by public boat to Lombok Rp 18,000, to Gili Meno Rp 40,000, to Gili Trawangan Rp 45,000, by fast boat Rp 85,000 for any (Jun 2024). A charter (with 30 capacity) will set you back roughly Rp 400,000; still quite affordable, especially for groups.

Booking through a travel agent usually just costs more, and you still need to change the reservation to an actual ticket at the very same counter. Some speedboat charters are available between Lombok and the islands, these do need booking shortly beforehand and usually can be arranged by your hotel locally.

The distances between the islands may seem swimmable, but do not attempt it — the currents are fierce and several visitors have died trying.

See
There are no major sights on the islands, snorkelling and diving being the main draw. However, a few attractions are worth noting:

Scuba diving
There is good diving around the islands, suitable for all levels, the islands being globally known as a proficient teaching center for beginners right up to instructor level. Technical diving courses are also available. An impressive array of marine life is present, such as green and hawksbill turtles, bumphead parrotfish, black-tip and white-tip reef sharks and more. There are also some great muckdiving sites for macro photographers, a Japanese wreck for deep diving and biorock artificial reefs which may interest environmental enthusiasts. Visibility is commonly in the 15-30 m range. Due to the exposed position of the Gilis, currents can be quite strong and drift diving is the norm. Some of the dive sites have unfortunately been damaged over the years due to a combination of human and environmental causes, especially from an increase in water temperatures from El Niño in 1998 and unsustainable local fishing practices. Since 2000, fishing has been regulated around the islands, allowing the reefs and fish population to slowly regenerate.

Most dive shops on the Gili Islands are members of the Gili Eco Trust, a non-profit organisation which originated as a co-operation between influential members of the local community and the dive shops on Gili Trawangan. Set up in 2000 and initiated by the owners of Manta Dive, the Gili Eco Trust aims to protect coral reefs surrounding the islands and provide environmental education. There is a one-time reef tax of Rp 50,000 payable by all divers and dive students. This is collected by the dive operator and helps fund the work of the trust. If you are interested in learning more about the trust, or volunteering to help, ask at Lutwala Dive Shop.

Gili Trawangan has the most dive operators, but PADI and SSI licensed dive operators exist on all three islands. Equipment is kept in top shape, with excellent facilities and (mostly) western dive instructors. Dive guides tend to be a mix of local and western divemasters. Dive and course prices are fixed by agreement between the dive operators on each island, so there is nothing financial to be gained by shopping around between the operators. A good approach is to settle down on your chosen island, get to know the dive shops, and chose to dive with the one with which you feel most comfortable.

For those interested in learning to dive or advancing existing qualifications, several of the operators offer PADI and SSI options. Nitrox and other technical diving options are also offered by operators on Gili Trawangan especially.

Dive prices, PADI & SSI courses
Price guideline:

 * Fun dives Rp490,000
 * Scuba Review Rp900,000
 * Discover Scuba Rp900,000
 * Advanced Open Water Rp4,500,000
 * Open Water Rp5,500,000
 * Rescue Diver Rp5,500,000
 * Emergency First Response Rp2,000,000
 * Divemaster Course Rp14,000,000

All dive shops accept US dollars, Indonesian rupiah and credit cards, except when the telephone lines are down (in this case, pay using internet banking).

Freediving
There is now a dedicated freediving and apnea centre on Gili Trawangan, where you can attend courses and workshops. Owned and run by the British freedive record holder Mike Board. For more information see Gili Trawangan. Gili Air and Gili Meno also host a freediving operator, offering SSI and AIDA certification hosted within Gili Air Divers and Gili Meno Divers. For more information see http://www.giliairdivers.com

Yoga
Yoga classes are available at a variety of locations on the islands. There are dedicated yoga centres on Gili Trawangan (see article for that island).

Party Boat
Party Boat tickets are US$25 and you can buy them through South Sea Nomads located at Manta Dive and Gili Hostel.

Snorkelling
You can rent masks and fins off the beach, or contact any of the numerous dive shops to arrange snorkelling at choice spots nearby. A daily snorkelling programme usually involves a 10:00 departure and 16:00 return, and includes three or four spots around the three islands and a 2-hr lunch break. The cost ranges from Rp 60,000-150,000 depending on the shop and your negotiating skills. The quoted price normally includes the mask and snorkel but Rp 10,000 (or more) may be charged for the fins. Lunch is typically not included.

It's possible to snorkel off some of the beaches, but pay attention to the currents, which can be strong even near the shore. Wear flippers even if you're a strong swimmer, or you'll spend most of your energy fighting the currents.

Subwing
A new water sport where you get pulled slowly behind a boat and are given two wings which allow you to fly underwater or to swim like a dolphin. Trips depart from Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air.

Surfing
Although not renowned for its surfing reputation, the locals regularly surf off the south end of both Gili Trawnagan and Gili Air. Both are reef breaks, and on their day can be an outstanding wave.

Boat trips
It is possible to charter private boats to cruise the 3 Gilis on, prices vary depending on the boat, small local snorkel boats start at around Rp 900,000 for a few hours, South Sea Nomads private charters start from US$250.

Relax
One of the attractions of the islands is the ability to do nothing. With no cars on any of the islands and the lower tempo of Gili Air and Gili Meno, there are several bungalow-style accommodations with verandas that overlook gardens and/or the ocean. The styles of cafes and restaurants involves small open huts (called berugak) perfect for two to four people to claim for a good part of the day. The islands have beaches all the way around, however not all stretches are suitable for sunbathing or entering the water. Gili Meno has the nicest beaches of the three islands. All the islands have their best beaches on the east side with regard to snorkelling and accessibility, however these are also the busiest so you might be better off seeking a quieter location to relax. See individual Gili island pages for specific beach information.

Walk
You can walk around the islands in 90 minutes. Just follow the coastline, take sunscreen and avoid doing so during the middle of the day.

Watch a movie
There are a few places that put on free movies alfresco on the beach, typically at 19:00 and 21:00. Just buy drinks or food. Movies are normally displayed in advanced alongside the venues.

Buy
There are upwards of 10 ATMs on Gili Trawangan. Exchange rates offered by money changers are noticeably poorer than on the mainland. Credit cards are accepted by some of the more upmarket places and all dive shops, but there will usually be a 3% charge. Some will also arrange credit card cash advances, but charge 7-10% fees.

Small change is often in short supply on Gili T so try to stock up on small-denomination notes and coins in Bali. They will prove useful here.

Shopping opportunities are very limited. There are plenty of kiosks offering tourist staples such as drinks, basic cosmetics, suntan lotion etc. Anything that might be required such as specific medication or items for children or babies is best brought with you or alternatively should be purchased on Lombok. All hotels and dive centers make regular trips to Lombok and are usually able to help (even though it will take time).

Eat
All the islands feature a myriad of restaurants and cafes concentrated on the beach fronts. The most activity is found on the east side of each island. There are an abundance of cafes and restaurants, both large and small, with the largest concentration on Gili Trawangan. Gili Air has some restaurants that offer western cuisine. Gili Meno has a range of food options on the main tourist strip.

Be careful with "fee and tax" especially in "luxury" restaurants, most will charge 21% tax and service, however it can be written in very small font at the bottom of the menu and be from 5 to 25% or more.

Drink
Gili Trawangan had a huge reputation in the late 1990s as a backpacker party island. This has now developed into a nightlife for all tastes. There are bars playing live music, bars with DJs, as well as quieter beach front places dotted around the islands.

Do not leave drinks unattended, as spiking incidents have been known to occur. There have been fatal cases (in 2012/13) involving locally distilled spirits when drunk in large quantities, due to non-standardised production methods. If you suspect that what you've been served is not what you ordered, take it back. Sticking to western-owned and managed bars will reduce any risk.

Sleep
Demand often outstrips supply, so prices tend to be noticeably higher than on Bali or Lombok. During the peak seasons (Jul-Aug, Dec-Jan), it pays to make advance reservations, as the best places are often fully booked. Arrive early for better chances of getting accommodation without a reservation. Late arrivals need to be prepared to spend a night on the beach (it's perfectly safe though).

There are plenty of largely identical backpacker guesthouses on the islands. The price ranges depending on the season and island. Figure on at least Rp 100,000 for a basic room with fan only. Air conditioned rooms are more in the Rp 300,000-400,000 range. Gili Trawangan especially, has a rapidly increasing range of high end luxury accommodation with prices up to US$500 per night for a large private villa.

Always try to negotiate and be clear about whether or not the quoted price includes taxes and breakfast. Most of the larger hotels and dive centres on Gili Trawangan feature fresh water for showering, while other smaller homestays may use salt water. On Gili Air it is best to check with the Hotel you plan to stay at, and on Gili Meno its mostly salinated.

If you want to sleep in a hotel/villa in front of the beach, you might want to avoid an area near a port because the sea water there is very oily. You can see approximately locations of ports in the map of the "Islands" section above.

Respect
Many of the local population on the Gili islands are Muslim. While the islands residents are used to Western style tourism please still remember to respect the island, the community and local customs. Never sunbathe nude or topless and cover up when away from the beach. A readily available local sarong is a handy accessory for this. Avoid excessive displays of affection in public, and depending upon your location you may expect to hear early-morning prayer calls from the mosques.

Little changes on the Gili Islands during the fasting month of Ramadan, as food is served during the day and bars stay open at night. However, many dive shops cut down the diving schedule to cater for those locals who may be fasting. Use appropriate sensitivity during this time and refrain from conspicuously eating, drinking or smoking when interacting or nearby to the local population between sunrise and sunset during the Ramadan period.

Stay safe
As you would at home, lock doors at night and don't leave valuables out in the open.

Be very careful with locally produced alcohol, especially Arak. It can contain methanol and has caused cases of serious injury and even death (including at new year 2012/13) among tourists and locals alike. If you suspect that what you've been served is not what you ordered, take it back. Sticking to western owned and managed bars and to beer will reduce the risk.

When out in the bars, use discretion: do not leave your drinks unattended, as drink spiking has been reported on occasion. This goes for both sexes.

Magic mushrooms are widely available and openly advertised, particularly on Gili Trawangan. Their psychotropic and hallucinogenic effects may be overbearing and distressing for many individuals. Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocybin and psilocin. The outcomes of ingestion of these mushrooms or their compounds may be quite dangerous for some users. For others it may cause distress, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea. Mixing Psilocybin mushrooms with alcohol is just looking for extra trouble and may well provide some..

Various other drugs and intoxicants are readily available and sometimes flaunted (as is the case of mushrooms and 'power drinks' at parties), and you can expect to be offered everything from marijuana to methamphetamine. Keep in mind you are still in Indonesia, where drug usage and distribution penalties are extraordinarily harsh ranging from 20 years in a dilapidated prison to the death penalty for importation and trafficking. On Gili Trawangan, there have been a number of busts of high-profile local characters resulting in serious prison sentences. On Gili Air, village leaders have been known to banish tourists from the island for drug usage and several signs posted around the island will remind you of their local laws.

Small but annoying jellyfish/stingers are common in the waters around the Gilis during certain moon cycles, with July and August getting the brunt, so wearing a full-length wetsuit or surf skin in the water is advisable. The stings can be quite painful, but they're harmless and usually go away within an hour. The welt from bad multiple stings may last a day. Not so harmless are the less common bluebottle jellyfish that can be recognised by their long bright blue tentacles and surface floating clear bubble. These stings are extremely painful and can cause respiratory problems.

If stung by a blue bottle, tentacles must immediately be removed using covered hands and the area rinsed in sea water; this is one of the few moments one of the discarded plastic bags around the place may actually be useful. The affected area should then be immersed in hot water (as hot as can be tolerated) for at least 20 minutes.

If stung by another kind of jellyfish, vinegar (acetic acid) Asam cuka should be used to rinse the affected area and any tentacles removed, with care to protect the hands when doing that. Again, soaking in hot water should always be the following step to take. Be aware that using vinegar on blue bottle stings is not advised as it may increase the level of pain.

 * avoid any further contact as best you can, but carefully remove any remnants of the organism from the skin (taking care not to touch them directly with fingers or any other part of the skin to avoid secondary stinging)
 * apply salt water to the affected area (not fresh water, which tends to make the affected area worse)
 * follow up with the application of hot water (as hot as you can stand) to the affected area from anywhere between 15-20 minutes which eases the pain of a sting by denaturing the toxins.
 * If eyes have been affected, irrigate with copious amounts of room-temperature tap water for at least 15 minutes and - especially if vision blurs or the eyes continue to tear, hurt, swell, or show light sensitivity after irrigating, or there is any other concern - see a doctor as soon as possible.

Vinegar (acetic acid) Asam cuka is not recommended for treating "blue bottle" stings. Vinegar dousing increases toxin delivery and worsens the symptoms of stings from the nematocysts of this species. Vinegar has also been confirmed to provoke haemorrhaging when used on the less severe stings of the nematocysts of smaller species. The "blue bottle" is often confused with jellyfish by its victims, which may lead to improper treatment of stings, as the venom differs from that of true jellyfish.

There are large spiders roughly the size of a grown man's hand scattered about the islands; while not venomous, their bites can result in a painful wound. Thankfully, avoiding them is relatively easy, don't tread through brush and avoid climbing random trees.

There are normally no visible police on any of the islands, however there are often undercover police on the islands, especially on Gili T. So please do not assume the islands are some sort of free-for-all zone. If someone announces themselves as one then do ensure you are provided with appropriate identification. There are also local security guards that patrol the islands (mainly Gili Trawangan). Crime is largely limited to opportunistic petty theft, and all problems are usually settled by the local island councils; if you face larger problems or need to make a police report for insurance purposes, you will need to head over the mainland to do it. Pemenang has a police post; turn left coming from Bangsal, it is a short distance northward and on the left hand side of the coastal highway. The others nearby are located northward at Tanjung, and to the south at Senggigi. The one in Tanjung has regional jurisdiction to the Gili islands. The police headquarters for the island and the entire Nusa Tenggara Barat province are at Ampenan.

Stay healthy
All three islands have a small, simple clinic. For serious problems, visitors should get back to Lombok (or preferably Bali) as quickly as possible. The nearest hospital is in Mataram, Lombok.

Tap water is very salty and not potable. Bottled water is widely available and many cafes, dive shops, and stores will fill up bottles for Rp 3,000, reducing waste and saving you money. The refill supplies can be a little erratic in availability at times; however, do not be concerned as drinking water is always available for sale on the Gili Islands.

There are many self-styled gigolos anxious to swoon foreign girls on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. If you're female and on your own (even temporarily), you will be approached often. If you find yourself swept off your feet, condoms are available at most shops.

Mosquito numbers vary throughout the year. There is no malaria on the Gilis, however there is in Lombok. There have been cases of dengue reported, mostly during the rainy season. Mosquito repellent, mosquito nets and long sleeves at dusk are wise precautions.

Please see main Lombok article for notes on malaria, dengue fever (DHF), methyl alcohol adulteration of traditional local drinks such as arak, and other tips for your health and safety whilst on the Gili Islands.

Cope
Supplies of fresh water vary from resort to resort and island to island.

Electricity supply comes from generators on each of the islands; therefore it's not uncommon for power to be off for hours at a time on a daily basis, and the same goes for water as most is directly fed by electric pumps. Many upmarket hotels, restaurants and dive shops have backup generators, and there are tentative plans for solar and wind power generation. It is worth checking with your chosen accommodation whether they have a backup generator. In a lot of cases, backup generators are saved for use at night.

Laundry can be arranged through most guesthouses, expect to pay by piece rather than by load. The cost can add up quick, you may want to consider hand-washing smaller items yourself, clothes dry very quickly in the equatorial sun, but very slowly during the humid rainy season.

Hospitals
Several hospitals are located on the nearby mainland in city of Mataram including the islands principal public hospital Rumah Sakit Umun and also the Risa Hospital in Cakranegara near Mataram mall.

 * Please see the Lombok main article for a list of medical facilities available in Mataram.

Emergency service

 * Ambulance +62 370 622 254, +62 370 623 489 In emergency dial - 118
 * The reality is that unless within the confines of the main city of Mataram/Ampenan/Cakranegara an ambulance is normally too far away to provide prompt transport in the case of a true emergency. Most often a taxi, police vehicle or a private car is used to get someone requiring urgent medical attention to a hospital. The ambulances in Lombok are more often used in the role of assisted patient transport rather than for first responder/paramedic supported emergency assistance and transport. Obviously for the Gili islands a boat transfer to the mainland is required.

Phone
Mobile phone towers ensure you're never out of touch. Telekomsel's Simpati SIM card has the strongest and most reliable coverage on the Gili islands.

Internet
Internet cafes are quite widespread but connections are often very slow, prices can be Rp 300-400/minute). Free, slow Wi-Fi is often available to customers in restaurants and bars lining the beach on Gili Trawangan. Gili Divers and The Deck has got free Wi-Fi and this connection is very fast. Skype, book tickets or use internet banking without problems.

Many visitors chose to use a USB modem stick with a Telkomsel Flash SIM card fitted to it. Reception is reasonable on all three Gili islands but 3G connections should not be anticipated. More likely a connection will fall back to the slower GRPS system. USB modems and SIMs suitable for use the Telkomsel GSM/3G network are available from outlets on the Lombok mainland.

Post
There is no post office on the Gilis, but William's Bookshop, right behind the Art Market on Gili Trawangan, sells stamps and can mail out your postcards.

Go next

 * Bali — the Magical Island
 * Lombok — to the mainland and the attractions of the west coast; north to Tanjung and Mount Rinjani, south to Senggigi, the provincial capital of Mataram and further to Kuta on the south coast. If travelling to somewhere on mainland Lombok, then you could get the early morning local ferry to the mainland, Rp 20,000. Then walk about 800 m inland to Bunga Bunga Cafe on the right hand side of the road. This is where the shuttle buses and cars pick up from. Here you can buy tickets or bargain for a seat in a taxi car. You can have breakfast here too. Anyone with a ticket already will be expected to walk here or pay for a ride on a horse and cart.
 * Sumbawa — one more island down the chain
 * Nusa Lembongan — a stop for some boat services between Bali and Gili Islands

title: Gili Islands


text:
Gilimanuk

Gilimanuk is a port town in West Bali. It sits on a small peninsula at the far western tip of Bali, less than 3 km from East Java, from which it is separated by the Bali Strait. The town is usually seen as a stopover to Java and few visitors linger here for long.

By boat
For most people, there is only one reason to come to Gilimanuk: it is the port for ferries to and from Banyuwangi (Ketapang) in Java. Ferries run every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day and take about half an hour to make the crossing, although loading and unloading can take much longer. Since the onset of terrorist problems in Bali, security is much, much tighter at Gilimanuk than it used to be and you should be prepared for some long queues. The fares are Rp 6,000 per person, Rp 95,000 per car and Rp 31,000 per motorbike, and can be purchased online through Ferizy or on the spot.

By bus
Buses and bemos run to Gilimanuk from Ubung terminal in Denpasar, taking about 3 hours and costing Rp 30,000-50,000 depending on the quality of the vehicle. If late in the day, buses will be irregular. Locals may offer to take tourists from the ferry to Denpasar in their private car for around Rp 100,000 per passenger. The bus terminal is opposite the ferry terminal.

Get around
Gilimanuk is very small, and you would never have a reason to do anything other than walk.

See
There is little of interest here, but Gilimanuk is only 15 to 20 minutes from West Bali National Park, and there are pleasing views across the Bali Strait to the mountains of East Java.

Do
Catch the ferry to Java.

Organise a boat trip around Gilimanuk Bay with a guide from the West Bali National Park office.

Eat
A key pleasure (many would say the only pleasure) when staying in Gilimanuk is the unique local dish of Ayam Betutu (hot and spicy chicken). Chicken is boiled in a broth of local spices for up to 3 hours and wood-smoked (Betutu means smoked). It is normally served with steamed rice and plecing kangkung (hot and spicy water spinach). The recipe was apparently invented by the late Mrs. Tempeh and the warung bearing her name is the most popular venue for this dish: Warung Men Tempeh in the old bus terminal.

Drink
Bintang

Sleep
There are only basic guesthouses here, mostly used by truck drivers. Stay elsewhere if you can.

 * Hotel Sari (+62 365 61264) offers cheap fan cooled rooms. About 10 minutes south of the ferry terminal.
 * Pondok Wisata Lestari (+62 365 61504) is basic but probably the best of the options available. About 2 km south of the ferry terminal. This guest house is sometimes used by budget travellers who are visiting West Bali National Park as well as those making the crossing to Java.

Go next

 * Catch the ferry to Banyuwangi in East Java and move onward to stunning volcanic scenery at Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Gilimanuk


text:
Gili Meno

Gili Meno is the meat in the sandwich of the three Gili Islands off Lombok.

Understand
With a population of just 400, Gili Meno is the mellowest of the three islands, and certainly the most in-tune with a desert island ethic. The beaches are much nicer than you will find on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air.

Orientation
A coastal path leads all the way around the island, and can be covered at a very leisurely pace in 90 minutes. Most of the tourist facilities, including the boat arrival and departure point, are on the southern part of the east coast.

There is a lake on the western side of the middle of the island. This is sometimes quite full, and at others very dry. It is though always very saline.

By boat
The sea is calmest in the morning and all transport stops running in the late-afternoon, well before dark. During periods of southerly winds and in July and August especially, the swell can be a bit hairy and you are very likely to get wet on the crossing. It is advisable to place laptops, cameras and handphones in waterproof bags for the crossing. You will need to wade through shallow sea when disembarking, so wear either appropriate footwear, or none at all.

From Bali

 * Eka Jaya service Gili Meno daily from Bali Serangan and Padang Bai with their large and modern fast ferry. The boat anchors offshore and a small floating pontoon service shuttles passengers to and from the shore at Gili Meno harbour. Online immediate e-tickets available on Gilitickets.com.
 * Eka Jaya service Gili Meno daily from Bali Serangan and Padang Bai with their large and modern fast ferry. The boat anchors offshore and a small floating pontoon service shuttles passengers to and from the shore at Gili Meno harbour. Online immediate e-tickets available on Gilitickets.com.

From Lombok
Public boats depart from Bangsal between 08:00 and 14:00 and are fewer in number than go to Gili Trawangan. The voyage takes about 30 min and the official price is Rp 14,000. Sometimes these services only depart when there are enough people, normally a minimum of 15 is enough. If numbers are insufficient you may have to endure a wait at Bangsal. The boat office at Bangsal should make sure you get dropped off by a Gili Trawangan bound boat if necessary. The official maximum is 20 people but sometimes the boat is overloaded by the time it is ready to depart. The best time to be sure of a crossing to Gili Meno is prior to 14:00 in the afternoon however this can vary, especially with weather or passenger loads.

Buy your tickets direct from the official Koperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari office. In Bangsal this is located inside the main building near the door at the eastern corner. The Koperasi operate the Public Boat, the Shuttle boat, the Island Hopping boat and also offer (official) Charter boats.

There is a ticket office on Gili Meno to buy your ticket back to Bangsal, it is located adjacent to the arrival and departure point.

Public boat (ferry)
 * This is the standard method to reach Gili Air and is used by both local residents and tourists. The afternoon boat departs at 14:00, arrive with plenty of time prior to departure to avoid overbooking problems or last moment confusions. The maximum number of passengers is fixed at 20 persons but it is often overloaded with goods and or passengers. If it seems clearly unsafe due to either overloading or prevailing weather conditions then it is most likely best not to board it.

 * Bangsal to Gili Meno 1 way is Rp 14,000
 * Gili Meno to Bangsal 1 way is Rp 14,000

Shuttle boat/Tourist boat
 * This service supplements the Public boat (ferry) service. The main difference is that this boat is guaranteed to leave even if not full (although, usually its overloaded anyways).

 * Bangsal to Meno Air departs at 17:00, the official price is Rp 20,000. (This is more expensive than the standard Public boat cost officially fixed at Rp 12,000).
 * Gili Meno to Bangsal is not listed.

Charter boat
 * The official charter boat service provided by Koperasi Angkutan laut Karya Bahari is permitted to carry a maximum of 12 persons.

 * Bangsal to Gili Meno 1 way is Rp 170,000, return Rp 320,000
 * Gili Meno to Bangsal 1 way is Rp 170,000, return Rp 320,000

 * Gili Meno to Senggigi 1 way is Rp 490,000, return Rp 690,000

 * Informal and unofficial charters are also available from private operators to travel from Bangsal to Gili Meno. If requiring one try to deal only with the boat operator, ignore the touts and 'facilitators' and use your time over a negotiation, any hint of haste or urgency is sure to raise the price.

Departing from Bangsal to either of the three Gili islands is rarely pleasant due to the very persistent touts who infest the place, just try to ignore them and do not listen to their generally fanciful tales that involve you paying them money to solve an imaginary transportation problem. They often provide a chorus of gloomy predictions regarding the alleged unavailability of services, then if successful they just place unknowing passengers upon the normal scheduled service or a private charter at an often seriously inflated prices.

The situation arising from the activities of pestering touts combined with confusing and inadequate formal services at Bangsal is the source of many disappointments and complaints.

From Gili Trawangan and Gili Air
To move from one island to another the formal procedure is to take the Public boat (ferry) to Bangsal and then a further similar ferry to the required island departing from Bangsal. To return the reverse is required. This can be confusing and coordinating the timing with the connecting boat departing from Bangsal may be either difficult or elusive. There is also a limited official inter-island Island Hopping service provided.

Ferry operators may sometimes enter into informal arrangements with passengers to journey inter-island. In this situation a passenger boards a boat that is meant to go directly to Bangsal from one of the three Gili islands but instead it detours and sets down on the beach at another island whilst en route. The prices are a movable feast but people will normally pay a price of around Rp 25,000. Inter-island access on the public boats in this manner is dependent upon timing, weather, loading, payment and the inclination of the crew to facilitate an inter-island journey and such arrangements are not officially sanctioned. The standard procedure is to travel to Bangsal and make a separate trip to the different island or to use the very limited official service. The price for a single journey Public Boat ferry journey from Gili Trawangan is Rp 10,000 and Gili Air to Bangsal is Rp 8,000. The price for the subsequent Public boat to Gili Meno from Bangsal is Rp 9,000, this assuming the required connection was made at Bangsal.

Island Hopping boat
 * A limited formal Island hopping boat service is provided by Koperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari, this is the same local koperasi (maritime transport co-operative) that provides the Public Boat ferry service.

 * Gili Air to Gili Meno departs at 08:30 and the official price is Rp 20,000
 * Gili Meno to Gili Air departs at 16:20 and the official price is Rp 20,000

 * Gili Trawangan to Gilli Meno departs at 09:30 and the official price is Rp 20,000
 * Gili Meno to Gilli Trawangan departs at 08:50 and the official price is Rp 23,000

Charter boat
 * The official charter boat service provided by Koperasi Angkutan laut Karya Bahari is permitted to carry a maximum of 12 persons.

 * Gili Air to Gili Meno 1 way is Rp 170,000, return Rp 290,000
 * Gili Meno to Gili Air 1 way is Rp 170,000, return Rp 320,000

 * Gili Trawangan to Gili Meno 1 way is Rp 190,000, return Rp 350,000
 * Gili Meno to Gili Trawangan 1 way is Rp 195,000, return Rp 350,000

 * Gili Meno to Senggigi to 1 way is Rp 490,000, return Rp 690,000

Informal private charters are also available. Prices are subject to negotiation, take your time over the process as any perception of urgency or haste will no doubt increase the price.

Get around
It is hard to imagine why anyone on Gili Meno would want to do anything other than walk. Do just that, slowly. Horse carts (cidomos) are available though, and are useful for getting you and your bags to and from the boat landing. Official price lists can be found at the boat landing - a single trip is from Rp 80,000 for local transport to Rp 175,000 for a trip from one side of the island to the other.

Snorkeling
There are several good spots for snorkeling, and gear can hired at almost any cafe or hotel for about Rp 50,000 (2015) which includes mask, snorkel and fins. Equipment quality may vary slightly, but prices seem to be standard across shops. The beach in front of Good Heart Cafe on the north western shore is as good as any, and you have a reasonable chance of seeing turtles in shallow water here. Also on the west coast, try the area close to the disused, derelict jetty (formerly the landing point for the equally derelict Bounty Resort). The former pontoon here was sunk and has become an important dive site with a healthy reef life. Another good spot for turtles sighting is right in front of the Karma Beach bungalows on the east coast. In the late afternoon turtles can be seen feeding off the area where the sea floor starts to get deeper. If you snorkel off the east coast, be careful of boat traffic.

Walking
A gentle stroll around the coast path of Gili Meno is not to be missed, and it is probably the nicest walk anywhere on the three islands. If you do this in the morning, there is no real preferred starting point. It is a nice idea to walk in the late afternoon, starting in the northwest at about 16:30, taking it easy to walk all the way around the island in either direction, returning to your start point at about 17:45. Then get yourself set for sunset behind Gili Trawangan (18:15-18:45).

Buy
There is one ATM a few meters north of the boat landing, but sometimes it's not working. Blue Marlin is another option to get a credit card cash advance, but they charge a 7% commission. Alternatively, head to Gili Trawangan or Gili Air where there are multiple ATMs. Hint: As the boat from Meno waits around 25-30 min on Trawangan before going back to Meno and Air, you have a chance to return on the same boat (the ATMs on Trawangan are around 10 min walk north of the harbor). Not so wise to try this with afternoon boat, however, if you do want to come back same day.

Eat
Unsurprisingly, fish is the go here and many cafes set up a seafood barbecues every evening. Just choose what you want and wait while it is cooked over an open wood grill. There have been reports of people getting sick from eating fish in a bad state, so try to choose the fresh ones. If you look at the fish on display closely everyday, you will see some of the uneaten fish showing up repeatedly. Fresh fish have clear eyes, with no cloudiness in them. Baby tuna is very popular and more expensive than other options. Black tilapia may come from fresh water farms, and it's best avoided. Good fish options are parrot fish, grouper, red snapper and sea bream. Most of the fish is brought from Lombok, so you'll have to ask for the local fish if that's what you want. The other widespread option is wood-fired pizza which has become something of a Gili Meno specialty.

There are also a few warungs inland, to be found mostly in the northern half of the island. They offer a variety of local and Indonesian dishes at budget prices. The views are not great, but this is where the locals eat, if that's your thing. Official warungs have a large blue and white sign with the name of the place and the dishes they specialize on.

Most of the cafes are clustered in the southern half of the east coast and many are attached to hotels. After you have ordered, be patient as nothing happens very fast here. That is all part of the charm of the place.

Drink
Nightlife is very laid back here, and somedays you might not notice any at all. This is very much the anti-Trawangan.

Sleep
There is a range of accommodation on Gili Meno ranging from simple beach huts to villas and a new luxury Boutique resort. The prices here start from beach huts from around Rp 100,000 (less if away from the beach in the village and not during the peak season) per night up to prices in dollars for the hotels. Some places offer fresh water and A/C others just offer a fan. You can find something to suit all requirements on the island and generally most places are quiet and relaxing.

Stay healthy
There is small, simple clinic with an attendant nurse in the middle of the island next to Taman Burung. While this is fine for dealing with a minor ailment or injury, any visitor with a more serious problem needs to get back to Lombok, or better Bali, as quickly as possible.

Connect
There are several cafes, restaurants and hotels offering Wi-Fi on the island, as well as some internet cafes. However for complete and probably more consistent coverage the best option is still to get a local SIM card.

Indonesian GSM operators (at least XL, Telkomsel, and 3; Indosat has a signal too) have their towers standing at Meno, obviously to cover Air and Trawangan on either sides. As such, signal strength is excellent here, much better than on Gili Air, as well as internet (3G) connection speed. So, if you have you own laptop/smartphone - bring an Indonesian SIM card (easy to get at any phone shop. As of 2015, a SIM with 2.5 GB of data for a month can be bought for Rp 70,000. Many different packages are usually available). This is better done in Bali before heading to the Gilis. The nearest place selling top-up cards seems to be Gili Trawangan, and sellers there tend to charge huge (up to 50%) commission.

Go next

 * Hop on a boat for 15 minutes to Gili Trawangan for a night on the tiles.
 * Back to the rural delights of North Lombok and mighty Mount Rinjani.
 * Continue the relaxation at Gili Air.

title: Gili Meno


text:
Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan (Terawangan, or Gili T) is the largest and most visited of the three Gili Islands off Lombok. It has evolved from a backpackers' haven to a more developed tourist island with a thriving dive industry. Despite these developments, Gili T has retained its small scale charm and has no high rises and remains free of motorized traffic.

Understand
This is the largest of the three Gili Islands with an estimated permanent population of about 1500.

Trawangan was the first of the three islands to attract visitors in any numbers, and it was backpackers who led the way. In the 1990s the island developed a reputation as a wild party destination with cheap accommodation, no police and heavy recreational drug use. While a strong party atmosphere can still be found, Trawangan has since matured into a destination that has a far wider appeal.

Any visitor to Trawangan should be prepared for a real mix of fellow travellers; some will be ensconced in US$400 per night, unashamedly Bali-style villas, while others would be quite happy to crash in a dorm after a tough evening of partying.

The thriving dive industry of the Gili Islands is centred here (although some operators have outposts on the other two islands), and since about 2005, the island has gone through a considerable development boom, and a number of upscale sleeping, eating and drinking establishments have opened. In 2018, by order of local authorities, much of the increasingly chaotic beachfront was cleared of clutter and small businesses, returning it to a more accessible and clean state. Later that year, Lombok was hit by an earthquake that also caused considerable damage to the island. Following a clean up and restoration effort, Gili Trawangan has improved in terms of built environment and is in a significantly better state than before. With the hiatus on travel caused by Covid-19, locals have also witnessed a marked improvement to the natural environment and state of the coral too. Conversely, the tourism economy has been hit hard.

Orientation
Most of the accommodation and other facilities on the island are on the eastern side, sheltered from the winds and rough seas of the Lombok Strait which very occasionally affect the opposite side of the island. Fast boat services from Bali and Lombok dock here as well, on the beach just north of the market. This generally means a walk in the shallow water to disembark. There is also a private concrete and wood jetty used by a few local companies for inter Gili island transfers.

A footpath goes around the whole island and various tracks criss-cross, nearly always leading back to this coastal path. The area set back behind the east coast beachfront establishments is where most of the locals live (and where a lot of budget accommodation can be found), and is known as "the village". There is a low lying hill in the southern centre of the island, which is easily reached from the tracks heading southwest from the back of the village.

In the late 2010s, the north and western shores of the island have begun to be further developed that tend to cater to travellers seeking a bit more peace and quiet away from the nightlife that typifies the main settlement.

Get in
The sea is calmest in the morning and all services from Bali stop running in the late afternoon, well before dark. During periods of southerly winds and in July and August especially, the swell can be a bit hairy and you are very likely to get wet on the crossing. Put laptops, cameras and phones in waterproof bags for the crossing. In most cases, you will have to wade through shallow sea when disembarking, so wear either appropriate footwear, or none at all.

From Lombok
BlueWater Express departs daily from Teluk Kode at 11:30, arriving in Gili Trawangan in around 15-20 minutes. From June-October, there is a second departure time at 14:30.

The daily Perama service will take you directly from Senggigi departing 09:00 to Gili Trawangan in under 2 hours for a flat Rp 100,000, plus optional Rp 10,000 for pickup at your lodging in Senggigi. Other operators can provide transfers for Rp 75,000, but these often involve going through Bangsal.

Another option is to arrange a speedboat charter or pickup with your hotel, or a dive shop on Trawangan. These speedboat services run in and out of the lovely Teluk Nare bay in Lombok, south of Bangsal and thus avoiding the thoroughly unpleasant experience of combating the touts there. A speedboat charter normally takes up to three passengers, crosses in 20-30 min, and will cost about Rp 450,000-500,000.

The drive north from Senggigi follows the coast and the road offers panoramic views and glimpses of roadside village life. It is not a lengthy trip, and the road has been upgraded throughout almost the entire length to either Teluk Nare and Bangsal a little further to the north. It is a quite scenic trip and glimpses of the Gilis can be seen as the road rises over the headlands whilst travelling up the coastline.

Public boats
The cheapest way to reach Gili Trawangan is on a public boat which departs from Bangsal from 08:00-17:00 (but rarely later than 16:00). The official price is Rp 22,500. Sometimes these depart only when there are enough people, normally a minimum of 15 is enough. If numbers are insufficient you might be in for a long wait. The official maximum is 20 people but sometimes the boat is overloaded by the time it is ready to depart. The experience of departing from Bangsal is rarely pleasant due to the very persistent touts who infest the place. Try to ignore them and do not listen to their generally fanciful tales that involve you paying them money to solve an imaginary transportation problem. They often provide a chorus of gloomy predictions regarding the alleged unavailability of services, then if successful they put unknowing passengers upon the normal scheduled service or a private charter at an often seriously inflated prices.

Buy your tickets directly from the official Koperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari office. In Bangsal this is inside the main building on the waterfront, find the ticket desk in the northeastern corner of that building. The Koperasi operate the public boat, the shuttle boat, the island-hopping boat and also offer (official) charter boats.

The public boat office on Trawangan is right on the beach north of the unused concrete jetty, near where you are dropped off. It is somewhat hard to see from the street. If you have trouble finding it, ask some locals, who will kindly give you directions. The office counter faces to the beach. You may need to wait until 15-20 others show up, so it's best to be there early in the morning (07:00-08:00) if you want to get moving quickly. The last boat leaves Trawangan around 15:00.

Public boat (ferry)
 * This is the standard method to reach Gili Trawangan and is used by local residents and tourists. The maximum number of passengers is fixed at 20 persons but it is often overloaded with goods and or passengers. If it seems clearly unsafe due to either overloading or prevailing weather conditions then it is most likely best not to board it.

 * Bangsal to Gili Trawangan 1 way is Rp 22,500
 * Gili Trawangan to Bangsal 1 way is Rp 22,500

Shuttle boat
 * This service supplements the public boat (ferry) service and departs Gili Trawangan to Bangsal (on the main island of Lombok).

 * Bangsal to Gili Trawangan departs at 17:00; the official price is Rp 28,000.
 * Gili Trawangan to Bangsal departs at 08:15; the official price is Rp 28,000. (This is more expensive than the standard public boat cost which is fixed at Rp 10,000).

Charter boat
 * The official charter boat service provided by Koperasi Angkutan laut Karya Bahari is permitted to carry a maximum of 12 persons.

 * Bangsal to Gili Trawangan one way is Rp 185,000, return Rp 350,000
 * Gili Trawangan to Bangsal one way is Rp 185,000, return Rp 350,000

 * Informal and unofficial charters are also available from private operators to travel from Bangsal to Gili Trawangan. If you decide to hire one, try to deal only with the boat operator, ignore the touts and 'facilitators' and use your time over a negotiation, any hint of haste or urgency is sure to raise the price.

The situation arising from the activities of pestering touts combined with confusing and inadequate formal services at Bangsal is the source of many disappointments and complaints.

From Gili Air and Gili Meno
To move from one island to another the formal procedure is to take the public boat (ferry) to Bangsal and then a further similar ferry to the required island departing from Bangsal. To return the reverse is required. This can be confusing and co-ordinating the timing with the connecting boat departing from Bangsal may be either difficult or elusive. There is also a limited official inter-island "island-hopping" service provided that departs once in the morning and once in the evening.

Ferry operators may sometimes enter into informal arrangements with passengers to journey inter-island. In this situation a passenger boards a boat that is meant to go directly to Bangsal from one of the three Gili islands but instead it detours and sets down on the beach at another island whilst en route. The prices are variable but people will normally pay a price of around Rp 25,000. Inter-island access on the public boats in this manner is dependent upon timing, weather, loading, payment and the inclination of the crew to facilitate an inter-island journey and such arrangements are not sanctioned. The standard procedure is to travel to Bangsal and make a separate trip to the different island or to use the very limited official service. The price for a single journey public boat ferry journey from Gili Air to Bangsal is Rp 8,000. The price for a public boat from Gili Meno is Rp 9,000. The price for the subsequent public boat to Gili Trawangan from Bangsal is Rp 10,000, this assuming the required connection was made at Bangsal.

Island-hopping boat
 * A limited formal island-hopping boat service is provided by Koperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari. This is the same local koperasi (maritime transport co-operative) that provides the public boat ferry service.

 * Gili Meno to Gili Trawangan departs at 08:50 and the official price is Rp 35,000

 * Gili Air to Gili Trawangan in the morning is an indirect service. Take the Island Hopping boat leaving Gili Air for Gili Meno at 08:30. The same boat then departs Gili Meno for Gili Trawangan at 08:50. The official Gili A to Gili T island-hopping boat price is Rp 40,000. Hopefully you will only pay once.
 * Gili Air to Gili Trawangan departs at 15:00 and the official price is Rp 40,000

 * Gili Trawangan to Gilli Meno departs at 09:30 and the official price is Rp 20,000
 * Gili Trawangan to Gilli Air departs at 16:00 and the official price is Rp 23,000

Charter boat
 * The official charter boat service provided by Koperasi Angkutan laut Karya Bahari is permitted to carry a maximum of 12 persons.

 * Gili Trawangan to Gilli Meno one way is Rp 190,000, return Rp 350,000
 * Gilli Meno to Gili Trawangan one way is Rp 195,000, return Rp 350,000

 * Gilli Trawangan to Gili Air one way is Rp 195,000, return Rp 350,000
 * Gilli Air to Gili Trawangan one way is Rp 195,000, return Rp 350,000

 * Gili Trawangan to Senggigi one way is Rp 490,000, return Rp 690,000

Informal private charters are also available. Prices are subject to negotiation, take your time over the process.

From Bali
For more detailed information on fast boat companies, routes and travel advice see Gili islands main page.

All fast boat services are subject to weather conditions and the trip across the Lombok Strait can get quite bumpy especially in July–August. Turbulent seas may sometimes arise for a while during the monsoonal influenced months of January–February. Most operators offer pickups and drop offs but all cover slightly different regions. Prices usually include land transport from/to your destination in Bali. Double-check with operators for seasonal discounts, schedules and current operational status.

You may get a better price by booking from a travel agent in Bali rather than booking directly with the boat company as the agents get discounts and some may pass them on to their customers. There are also many online services where it is possible to pre book boat tickets, the longest established being Gilibookings for the most reputable fast boat services, or its sister site Gilitickets for some of the better budget operators. You can view all routes, timetables and pricing for many of the most popular regional fast boat operators. Prices on Gilibookings range from US$50-70 one way, US$98-136 return. Higher prices are offset by discount vouchers. Fast boats are around 30% cheaper on Gilitickets. Many similar sites have popped up in the late 2010s, though a number seem to be less reliable and it's advisable to double check the trustworthiness of the service you use.

Prevailing weather conditions in the Lombok Strait can lead to rough crossings and occasional cancellation of services especially during the peak of the monsoon season around January–February. The vessels serving the fast boat routes are generally of a light-duty hull construction and are powered by petrol fuelled outboard engines. Crew training, operational standards and safety equipment are of a mixed standard and may be below the normal expectations of many foreign visitors.

If you have legitimate concerns about either the vessel, the operator or the prevailing weather conditions do not board the boat, immediately seek a refund of your fare and make alternative arrangements for your trip. Consider your options and choice of provider very carefully. During rough weather flights across the Lombok Strait may provide a more comfortable and safer journey.

Get around
Bicycles are available for rent and the main tracks are good enough for riding. Expect to pay between Rp 30,000 to Rp 50,000 per day, often the cheapest places to rent are inland from the waterfront. A ride around the island is less than an hour, but you need to walk your bike at a few points due to the sandy nature of the track. A bike is also great for exploring the inland areas, where you can see a lot of cows, goats and chickens as well as local homes.

Unsurprisingly though on a tiny island, walking is the preferred and most appropriate way of getting around.

If you have heavy bags and are staying well away from the departure area, you will need a cidomo (horse cart) to get to and from the boat. A short trip should cost about Rp 40,000.

See and do
Gili Trawangan is the centre of a thriving dive industry for the Gili Islands. All of the operators have their main dive shops located here. There are about a dozen active dive sites, and all of the shops run a regularly rotating program of daily fun dives to one of more of these.

Fun dives, muckdiving, technical diving and wreck dives are a staple and Gili Trawangan is well known as a world-class teaching centre. The operators are very professional, the warm waters offering a wide range of easy to challenging dive sites (including some with fairly strong currents), and the visibility usually good. Gili T makes for an ideal teaching environment, whether you are a first timer, or a diver looking to extend your qualifications.

Freedive Gili is close to the harbour on Gili Trawangan, and offers freedive and apnea (breath holding) courses for beginners to advanced. It is the only freedive centre in the region and is owned and operated by British freedive record holder Mike Board.

Gili Cooking Classes, in the Art Market on Gili T, offers a unique opportunity to learn the secret of six tasty Indonesian dishes as well as Lombok specialities during a 3-hour course. Experienced teachers guide a hands-on, enjoyable session in English. All the necessary equipment is provided.

Dive shops
The dive shops have some variation in the level of facilities, services, experience in the local dive sites, and varying levels of staff accreditation and experience, so do ensure that you are choosing the right provider for your own individual needs and expectations. Most dive shops are located on the main road, close to the main harbour. Try walking up and down the street to browse around. The price is fixed at Rp 490,000 with an extra Rp 50,000 for the first dive. This is an eco conservation fee and is only paid once. Below is an incomplete listing of dive shops in alphabetical order.

Snorkelling
The easiest spot to find some productive snorkelling is off the main beach, north of the boat landing. Enter the water approximately in front of the Almarik hotel. If you start north of the beach (about where you can see seaweeds growing at low tide roughly level with Gili Meno's northern extent), and go with the current back towards to the most crowded sunbathing area, you will likely need to kick only when you want to stop to look at something. The healthy corals are around the area where the wall drops off and the deeper water begins. Nearer the shore you will find only dead coral. Turtles can be seen often, and also the occasional trigger fish amongst the more common reef inhabitants. At low tide it is difficult to get in without reef shoes. Always watch out for potential waves that can push you into the coral that are just below water level.

A better coral reef is off the northwest coast, but you have to be very keen to go through the hardship of getting out there. The only access to the reef involves walking over a substantial area of dead, sharp coral, and back again when you have finished. If you are a keen snorkeller the effort is worth it, and you are very likely to have the waters to yourself.

Small, purple jellyfish are sometimes plentiful around the island, and they seem to love stinging snorkellers. The reaction is one of considerable irritation, but the stings cause no serious harm.

Surfing
Gili Trawangan has a fast right hander which can really pump with the right conditions. The best waves are at high tide, and the underlying reef can be sharp so booties can come in handy. The surf break is off the south coast - just follow the locals who will be out and jogging with their boards whenever the surf is decent. You will find no shortage of locals ready, willing and able to rent you board. There are a few breaks off Gili Air and Gili Meno, but they are more difficult to reach and smaller. The best season is the January–June wet season, with swells from 1-2 m. Daily conditions can be checked out at Magic Seaweed.

Walking
There are some lovely walks to be had on the island, although the perimeter coastal track (about 7 km) is perhaps not as scenic as those on Gili Meno and Gili Air. A leisurely stroll all the way around will take 90-120 minutes, depending on just how leisurely you are.

The hill in the south can be easily reached by taking one of the tracks that lead west or southwest from the back of the village. Dawn and dusk are the best times to climb up here. The sunset views back towards Bali are quite lovely, and in the mornings the sun rises over majestic Mount Rinjani on Lombok. On the top of the hill lie the remains of a World War II Japanese gun bunker.

Yoga
Gili Yoga center shares an office with Freedive Gili and boasts its own yoga pavilion. Daily yoga classes are given in the open air, surrounded by a tropical garden and the sounds of nature. Offers services including daily meditation and pranayama, twice-daily yoga practice, accommodation, group activities (snorkeling, sunset boat ride) and vegetarian food.

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Soraya Yoga Wellness Center Drop-in yoga classes, retreats, meditation, dance, reiki, CranioSacral energy healing, fresh salads, healthy food, and a variety of accommodations. Enjoy the hillside view from a beautiful two story yoga shala.

Buy
There are over 12 ATMs on the island, with most located on the eastern side on the island close to the jetty. Most ATMs have a maximum withdrawal of Rp 1,500,000 and will either provide Rp 50,000 or Rp 100,000 notes. The exchange rates offered on the islands are not as good as from the better ones on Lombok or Bali. Do not believe the touts at Bangsal that there are no ATMs or money changers. They will try to convince you to change money with them and charge you up to 10% commission for it.

The Art Market (Pasar Seni) next to the pier has a few scruffy stalls hawking souvenirs, but it's all brought in from elsewhere, and the selection is far more limited than what you'd find on Bali or even Lombok.

Eat
Trawangan has a huge range of eating options from simple local warungs up to fairly grand places serving inventive modern cuisine. Many of these are attached to hotels or dive shops, and are not independent restaurants as such.

Budget places are thinner on the ground that they used to be, but still not hard to find. If you really want to watch the pennies, do as the locals do and eat at the push carts along the beachfront which set up every evening. These serve the usual range of Indonesian staples: fried rice, fried noodles and bakso (meatball soup).

Barbecued fish is excellent here and every evening many of the better restaurants fire up the charcoal. The deal is that you chose your fish - red and white snapper and trevally are especially good - and it is grilled on the spot.

Drink

There are regular party nights on Gili Trawangan - the various bars take it in turn to host the late night gig (up to 04:00), to ensure that everyone gets together in one place rather than being spread around. The island is small and it is easy to find everything; just ask around for where the party is going to be on any given night.

Be very careful with locally produced spirits, especially arak. It may contain methanol and has caused cases of serious injury and death (including new year 2012/13). If you suspect that what you've been served is not what you ordered, take it back. Sticking to western owned and managed bars may reduce the risk but not entirely exclude it.

Sleep
Power is normally available 24 hours a day and many of the hotels now have A/C. However there may be frequent disruptions to the supply. This problem arises from regional power generation insufficiencies. To address this issue many mid-range and upmarket hotels and restaurants on the Gili islands have their own back up generators. The closer you sleep to a mosque, the more likely you will be disturbed by loud night time prayer calls. There are two mosques on Gili Trawangan. One is right behind the market/main harbour, look for a green tower. This mosque not only broadcasts the call to prayer but also the sermon and sometimes even music until late. The other mosque is north of the main harbor, close to the main road. It is partly under construction but will broadcast the call to prayer.

You will find most budget options behind the east coast frontage in the village, or by walking north from the boat landing.

Travellers who remember Gili Trawangan from the 1980s and 1990s may be surprised to learn that there are now more than 100 official places to stay on the island, and still more are being built.

Splurge
Balinese-style luxury villas have started to pop up on Gili Trawangan. They have not yet quite got standards of service right, so although you will be paying up serious dollars to stay at some of these places, be aware that the service might disappoint a little. High end private accommodation is still a relatively new thing on Trawangan, so it is only to be expected that it will take some time to get things right.

Stay healthy
See Main Gili Islands article for more information.

There is a small clinic adjacent to Vila Ombak. They are quite used to treating travellers with minor ailments, including some stomach problems, but any visitor with a serious medical issue should make their way to Mataram hospital on Lombok.

Connect
There are several internet cafes on Trawangan for feeding your Internet addiction, although connection speeds can often be slow. Printing is possible in a few internet cafés and you can even hook up your laptop in some. Lightning Fast, just north of the jetty, costs Rp 500 per minute but the supposedly fast service rarely is. Of the restaurants providing wifi, Scallywags is the best bet with a fast, dedicated ADSL service from mainland Lombok.

William's Bookshop, right behind the Art Market on Gili Trawangan, acts as a de facto post office, sells stamps and can mail out your postcards.

Cope
See Gili Islands main article for further information.

There is a cheap and cheerful public laundry service at the back of the Art Market. Laundry is normally returned the next day, and when compared to the prices charged by hotels, this can save you a fair bit of money if you are on the island for anything more than a day or two.

Go next
If travelling to somewhere on mainland Lombok, then you could get the early morning local ferry to nearby Bangsal for Rp 20,000. Then walk about 800 m inland to Bunga Bunga Cafe on the right hand side of the road. This is where the shuttle buses and cars pick up from. Here you can buy tickets or bargain for a seat in a taxi car. You can have breakfast here too. Note that anyone with a ticket already will be expected to walk here or pay for a ride on a horse and cart. If you get a car for yourself, the driver might pick up extra passengers on the way. As a contingency plan, negotiate with the driver that if he picks up anyone else then you pay less. Agree what that lower amount is.

 * Lombok — if you are on one of the Gili islands you are already in Lombok, go to the main island to see the rest of it including nearby Tanjung and Senggigi a little further down the coast.
 * Gili Air — put your feet up after all that partying
 * Gili Meno — also a quieter Gili
 * Nusa Lembongan — last stop before Bali

title: Gili Trawangan


text:
Gillette

Gillette is a city in Northeast Wyoming halfway between Sundance and Sheridan on I-90. Gillette is a coal mining town with a population of about 33,000 (2020). Because of the coal, oil, and natural gas production, the city calls itself the energy capital of the nation.

History
Gillette started as a tent city called Donkey Town in the 1890s, when a railroad line was built. For Edward Gillette's surveying work, the company who owned the line named the town after him. The early days of Gillette were rough, with over a dozen saloons and no church. There are stories of cowboys burning down the jail they were in to flee, a shootout downtown that killed a man, and outlaws in a showdown with officers. Despite all that, it never reached "Wild West" levels of violence and outlaws.

After law and order took hold in Gillette, it became a quiet and small ranching town. Sometimes weeks happen in decades and decades happen in weeks. The sleepy cow town may had little in the way of happenings until the first hints of booms started with uranium in the 1950s. The nuclear programs of the United States made its influence felt slightly, then oil caused more growth in the 1960s.

Coal mining was always present around Gillette, but it was the opening of major coal mines by huge corporations that caused the rough days and rowdiness to return. Fast money, trailers, drinking, drugs, fights, and all sorts of problems happened as the town swelled in size. The city was overwhelmed in every way possible. Jobs paying insanely high wages poured like manna from heaven requiring little more than a pulse until the late 1970s to early 1980s, when job requirements settled in. The energy industries influence was so prevalent the city stopped calling it self nicknames such as Razor City and called itself The Energy Capital of the Nation instead.

During the 1970s, Gillette became known as a rough riding hell hole. A place where drugs were left as tips to waitresses. A place where wives refused to get out of the car upon arrival. A place so bad the media picked up on a term called Gillette Syndrome in a little known psychology paper and turned it into a lightning rod of every ill imaginable a boomtown could experience giving it unwanted attention against the wishes of its author.

Some of it was true, some of it was exaggerated, and some was a media invention. Though like the early days, the boom didn't go on forever. At that time nearly half the housing during was mobile homes until the city stepped in. The city focused on turning Gillette a place based around families, and succeeded in restoring order.

As the money rolled in from the mines, so did the amenities. It seems the city lacks for nothing. Some cities become a company town, others don't. Gillette has some perks found in company towns while remaining a little more true to its origins. Though the city changed, the perceptions did not. No one remembers the sleepy cow town as it passes from memory, but the place no one visited for the hell of it remains burned in, for now.

As for the traveler, throughout its history, Gillette has been a launching point or a place to rest along a journey. Photographer William H. Jackson and painter Thomas Moran went to Devil's Tower in 1892 by horse-drawn wagon, using Gillette for their round trip. Today the city still promotes itself as a good place to stay when traveling between the Black Hills and Yellowstone National Park.

When Custer Battlefield Hiway was built, Gillette became a stopping point. Many motels were built from around the 1930s to about the 1960s on what is now U.S. Highways 14 and 16. Those places lost their significance as the town shifted direction when Interstate 90 was built in the early 1970s.

Culture

Gillette is a blue-collar city where you will find tradesmen, coal miners, and a few large sunburned men sporting bushy beards. Mixed in with them are the occasional ranchers, clean shaven with their cowboy hats and shiny belt buckles. Women also dress casually, many still in their work hoodies and nurse scrubs. Suits are so rare that most of the lawyers and politicians don't wear them. Ethnic clothes are almost only worn by foreign tourists.

Politically, Gillette is one of the most Republican places in the country. Bumper stickers read "if you don't like coal don't use electricity" and signs with coal trucks tell residents to stay strong. People openly discuss their dislike of Democrats while also being cautious of some Republicans. A small streak of libertarianism runs through the region due to the culture of independence much of it from those who live out in the county such as the ranchers that want the government to leave them alone. The Green Party has no official presence in the state and Democrats will find themselves massively outnumbered.

In the early 1980s a writer for Playboy famously said "No one comes to Gillette for the hell of it." He wrote of drug abuse, hard work and even harder drinking, and transplants vs natives. Times have changed, but in some ways what he wrote still lingers on. Even the visitor center promotes the city as a stop rather than a destination. If you ask someone where they are from it most likely wont be Gillette. Drugs are a problem visitors will never encounter apart from the rare gaunt-faced creature licking their lips through missing teeth with serious skin problems. They remind everyone the billboards against meth are there for a reason.

With the mining related jobs, ranch history, and western ideas, come the trucks, and not of the small Japanese kind. A car feels small, sandwiched between all the pickups, SUVs, haul trucks, and semi-trucks on the road and in the parking lots.

Climate
Windy, cold, and dry. These are the words visitors use to describe Gillette. Keep water handy if you are from a humid climate and always have winter clothes for any season besides summer.

Tourist information

 * Visit Gillette website

By car
i Between the Black Hills of South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park, Gillette is an excellent place to stop if you are traveling I-90 East or West. Highway 59 connects the town with Montana to the north and Douglas, Wyoming, to the south.

Watch out for deer on the road, especially at night and early in the morning. Sometimes there are carcasses on the side of the road from previous collisions. The saying about a deer in the headlights is real. They will stare at the lights and not move. The pronghorn, seen everywhere, usually don't stop and get out of the way.

By plane
Flying directly to Gillette is expensive. If you plan to rent a car or have a ride, a cheaper option is to fly to Casper, Wyoming or Rapid City, South Dakota. Casper and Rapid City are about 2 hr away by car.

Get around
The main roads are 59 (South Douglas Highway or Highway 59) and 14/16 (US Routes 14 and 16 or 2nd Street). All the major business areas and half the interstate exits and on-ramps are located on or right off those two roads. Lakeway, Boxelder, and 4-J are the major arteries inside the city with Skyline (Highway 50) and Southern Drive on the outside.

The oldest parts of the city downtown are laid out in a grid. Roads are called East or West depending on where they are in relation to Gillette Avenue - the middle of the city. Roads going East and West are often named streets. Those going North and South are often named avenues.

A few of the numbered roads are split. It's not possible to travel all the way down a numbered road straight through. This applies to South Gillette Avenue. The downtown portion is north of I90 (Interstate 90). The part south of I90 is a residential area.

By car

Gillette is best navigated by car. Parking in the city is free and street parking outside the downtown area is usually plentiful. All the major business areas have parking lots. One-way streets are rare. Rentals are available at the airport and near the downtown area.

By bike
While some bike lanes and paths do exist they are better used for recreation in the summer than as a main form of transportation. People often park RVs, trailers, cars, and trucks in some of the unused bike lanes. Sometimes snow plows push snow to the side blocking both bike lanes and sidewalks. The bike paths separate from the road are not always cleared during winter. Even when the paths are cleared the snow can melt during the day and freeze in the evening creating sheets of ice.

By taxi
Taxi service in Gillette is slow because of the distances they take passengers. Some services don't give an exact time you will be waiting outside in the heat or snow for a while. Many of the vehicles operating as taxis are dirty and run down as well.

Art
Gillette has over 110 sculptures across the city picked by the Mayor's Art Council and even more at Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Several buildings have large murals including one downtown and another on one of the L&H buildings. On the outskirts of town two water towers in Sleepy Hollow have been painted based on the story Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

History

Overlooks

Do
A common complaint by some locals and many transplants is there is nothing to do. That depends on what you enjoy and are willing to try especially those from big cities.

Generally speaking, Gillette only seems to have two seasons - summer and winter. Most of the events and tours occur in the summer because of bad weather during the winter.

Buy
The old advice of locals has always been to travel to Rapid City, South Dakota, or Casper, Wyoming, to shop. The biggest reason people say to go out of town is because Gillette doesn't have a classic indoor shopping mall. The only attempt at one failed in the 1990s and was turned into a school learning center. While the old advice is still true, it isn't anywhere near as strong as it used to be as more places to shop have opened up over the decades it has been repeated.

Besides some lack of shopping options one of the major problems Gillette has is overall bad customer service. Every city has places with good and bad service, but Gillette on the whole has a much lower bar for what is acceptable. Even worse, service is random. It can be great or terrible so every shopping experience can be an adventure. Another problem is high prices. Being further out of the way and all the money flowing through the hands of coal miners drives the cost of living up. This leads to some places charging even more than the sticker price (MSRP) for products.

Despite the problems, Gillette is still a hub for shopping to the surrounding area. People travel an hour away to come to Gillette to get what they need.

The major shopping areas are along East and West Lakeway Rd, South Douglas Hwy (Hwy 59), E 2nd St, and S Gillette Ave in the downtown area. Most of the local shops with unique or locally made goods are going to be found downtown. These local shops tend to have much better service as well.

Groceries
Gillette is a hub for groceries in the area because of the distance to nearby cities.

Sleep
Gillette has over 2,000 hotel rooms, many motels, and a few campgrounds one of which is in the middle of the city. There are usually plenty of rooms even during summer events. Prices go up and down in the same cycle as the boom and busts come and go.

Stay safe

There is little to worry about in Gillette. Violent crime is rare and visitors are not targets. It is safe to go around the city without fear day or night. The only threat to visitors is the occasional theft. The best deterrent is to lock your car because thieves do handle checks to find things to steal. The police make their presence known at night, especially when the bars let out. During the day, the newly created traffic unit is cracking down on bad drivers. They won't hesitate to stop you. Out–of–state plates will find an extra set of eyes on them, because of previous drug runners caught passing through.

Ignore the occasional beggars along Hwy 59 especially near Walmart. They aren't locals, but drifters passing through. They purposely stick to open private property such as shopping centers. Don't let them sucker you with their cute dogs. Though not perfect, Gillette has many social services including a food pantry, thrift store vouchers, food and rental assistance, job training and placement, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, and so on. If after seeing them you still feel compelled to give to charity, give to the local Council of Community Services or shop at the charity thrift store Seconds on the Avenue which uses it's revenue to fund those programs.

The police in Gillette are extremely quick. Expect them to show up within a few minutes; they are never far. Often the police will render medical assistance first since they are faster than an ambulance. The sheriff's department is as helpful as the police are fast. Both the police and sheriff's office record all interactions with headcams.

Stay healthy

Gillette has always had a shortage of doctors. Most of the established family doctors won't see new patients, much less visitors. Call around first anyways because they charge less than the walk-in clinics do.

Dentists are especially hard to get into. They almost always refer problems such as chipped and broken teeth to the emergency room at the hospital. The ER can patch you up, for a price, both in time and money. Those coming to the ER with serious problems are seen immediately with no issue, while the rest must wait and wait and wait. Expect to spend at least 3-4 hours if not much longer at the ER for any reason other than a true emergency.

While there are several pharmacies in Gillette, Walmart is usually the cheapest for prescriptions.

Religious services
While Gillette isn't an extremely religious place it does offer a diverse range of religious services for a rural community in rural state.

Connect

Go next
If you are headed east be sure to visit Devils Tower National Monument on your way into the Black Hills National Forest. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is over-rated, but Custer State Park, the Needles Highway, and the various caves of the Black Hills National Forest are all worth checking out.

If you are headed west take Hwy 16 on into Yellowstone National Park. Watch out for bison!

title: Gillette


text:
Gillingham

There is more than one place called Gillingham.

United Kingdom

 * Gillingham (Kent) - Part of the Medway Towns in Kent.
 * Gillingham (Dorset) - A town in Dorset.
 * Gillingham (Norfolk) - A village in Norfolk, near Beccles and Bungay

title: Gillingham


text:
Gillingham (Dorset)

Gillingham (with a hard G, as in "get") is the most northerly town in Dorset on the edge of the Blackmore Vale.

By car
Five minutes from the A303, main route to the West Country from London.

By train
South West trains run to from London Waterloo in 2 hours. The station is on the London Waterloo to Exeter main line.

By bicycle
National Cycle route 25 or alternatively the Stour Valley Way long distance path

By plane
Compton Abbas Airfield

Get around

 * Infrequent local buses with very few routes.

Do

 * Walk the Stour Valley Way which follows the river Stour from its source at Stourhead to the sea at Christchurch.
 * Walk the Stour Valley Way which follows the river Stour from its source at Stourhead to the sea at Christchurch.
 * Walk the Stour Valley Way which follows the river Stour from its source at Stourhead to the sea at Christchurch.

Events

 * Carnival processions in October.

title: Gillingham (Dorset)


text:
Gillingham (Kent)

Gillingham (with a soft G, as in "gel") is a town on the River Medway in the north of the English county of Kent. Together with its neighbouring towns of Rochester and Chatham it forms a large urban area known as the Medway Towns.

By car

 * From London, take the A2 arterial road (32 mi, 51 km).
 * From Canterbury, take the A2 and the M2 to Junction 3 for the Rochester exit (32 mi, 51 km, about 40 min).

By train
Trains are operated to by SouthEastern from London Charing Cross (via Dartford) (typical journey time 60 - 65 minutes) and London Victoria (typical journey time 45 - 60 minutes). Trains from Ramsgate and Dover also serve Chatham. The Javelin high speed service operates every 30 minutes from London St Pancras with a journey time of 45 minutes. There is a supplement for using this service unless travelling from outside of the London region.

When buying a rail ticket, make clear that it is Gillingham in Kent that you want (not the one in Dorset).

Get around
Local buses are operated by Arriva Medway Towns and Nu-Venture

Do

 * Football:

Buy
The main shopping area is the pedestrianised part of the High Street between the railway station and the library. This has a mixture of independent and lower end chain shops. There is an Aldi supermarket on Duncan Road, near the station.

On Saturdays and Mondays an open air market is held on the High Street. This has various food, clothes and hardware stalls.

Eat
Gillingham has a range of places to eat.

Connect
As of May 2022, Gillingham has 5G from EE, O2 and Three, and 4G from Vodafone.

Go next

 * Chatham
 * Rochester
 * Strood

title: Gillingham (Kent)


text:
Gilroy (California)

Gilroy is in the southern part of Santa Clara County south of San Jose in California. It is in the South Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Almost halfway between San Jose and Monterey, Gilroy can make a less-expensive central home base for travelers who need to go up to Silicon Valley and also want to explore the Pacific Ocean or visit Pinnacles National Park.

Understand
It is also known as the "Garlic Capital of the World."

By plane
Gilroy is located about south of San Jose International Airport  via US Hwy 101.

By car

 * US 101.svg is the primary route through Gilroy and the region, linking it with San Jose in the north and Salinas to the south. Driving from San Jose it is or 35 min and  (1hr 20 min) from San Francisco through the Silicon Valley. Driving from Salinas it is  or 28 min while it's  or 41 min from Monterey through Castroville and Prunedale via CA Hwy-1 to US Hwy 101 without going through Salinas.
 * US 101.svg & California 25.svg: Hollister is  (22 min) southeast of Gilroy on US Hwy 101 and CA-Hwy 25.
 * California 152.svg from I-5.svg: Hwy 152 connects Watsonville (, 35 min west) with Exit 403A of Interstate 5 west of Los Banos (, 46 min east) through Gilroy. Hwy 152 goes through town as Leavesley Rd and 1st St, west of US Hwy 101 and Pacheco Pass Hwy east of US Hwy 101. It runs concurrent on US Hwy 101 between Leavesley Rd & Pacheco Pass Hwy.

By train
The at 7150 Monterey Rd in downtown Gilroy serves as a central station for CalTrain, Amtrak Thruway bus, Greyhound, San Benito County Express and the Gilroy Transit Center (south of the building) for VTA buses.

By bus
The following have a bus stop at another location:

Get around
Driving a car is the primary form of transportation, but Gilroy is the southernmost stop on Caltrain, which reaches north to San Francisco. Five local or regional VTA bus lines connect at the train station, plus the Greyhound bus to other cities.

Drink
The Gilroy area is home to several wineries.

Go next

 * Henry Coe State Park
 * Morgan Hill
 * Watsonville
 * Hollister

title: Gilroy (California)