Quick facts
Budget breakdown
| Category | Budget | Midrange |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $8–15 | $20–45 |
| Food | $5–10 | $10–25 |
| Diving (2 dives) | $55–75 | $75–95 |
| Transport | $0–5 | $5–10 |
| Snorkelling | $2–5 | $10–20 |
| Daily Total | $30–60 | $60–120 |
Daily per-person estimates. Costs vary by season and travel style.
Practical info
Entry & Visas
- Visa on Arrival 30 days — Rp 500,000 at immigration, extendable once for 30 more days
- Keep your passport, visa, and dive certification accessible — dive shops need to see your cert
- The Gili Islands are in Lombok province — fly into Lombok International Airport or take a fast boat from Bali
Health & Safety
- There is no decompression chamber on the Gili Islands — the nearest is in Lombok (1 hour by fast boat)
- Travel insurance with diving cover is essential — standard policies exclude scuba. Check your depth limit matches your certification
- Drink bottled or filtered water only — tap water is not safe. Reusable bottles with filters are ideal
Getting Around
- No motorised vehicles on the Gili Islands — transport is by bicycle, horse cart (cidomo), or walking
- Gili Trawangan takes 1.5 hours to walk around; Gili Air about 1 hour; Gili Meno about 45 minutes
- Island-hopping boats run between all three Gilis for Rp 25,000–35,000 per trip
Connectivity
- Buy a Telkomsel SIM card in Lombok or Bali before arriving — data coverage on the Gilis is patchy but usable
- WiFi is available at most accommodation and restaurants but speeds are slow — do not rely on it for video calls
- Download offline maps of the Gili Islands and Lombok before arrival
Money
- Currency: IDR (Rupiah). 1 USD ≈ Rp 15,800. ATMs on Gili T and Gili Air charge Rp 25,000–50,000 fees
- Bring sufficient cash from Bali or Lombok — ATMs on the Gilis sometimes run out, especially in peak season
- Dive shops accept cash and cards, but warungs and small shops are cash only
Packing Tips
- Reef-safe sunscreen is mandatory — the coral reefs are fragile and chemical sunscreens cause bleaching
- A rash vest provides sun protection and prevents BCD chafing during multiple dive days
- Dry bags for electronics, a headtorch for power cuts, and reef shoes for rocky entries
Cultural tips
Protect the Turtles
Do not touch, ride, or chase sea turtles — they are endangered and protected by Indonesian law. Maintain a 2m distance and let them approach you. Report any dive shop that allows turtle harassment.
Reef Conservation
Never touch, stand on, or break coral — even dead-looking coral is alive. Maintain good buoyancy to avoid fin kicks on the reef. Choose dive shops that participate in reef conservation programmes like Gili Eco Trust.
Respect Local Culture
The Gili Islands are part of Muslim Lombok — dress modestly when visiting local areas away from the tourist strip. Remove shoes before entering mosques or homes. During Ramadan, eat and drink discreetly during daylight hours.
Language
Learn basic Indonesian — Terima kasih (thank you), Berapa harga? (how much?), and Selamat pagi (good morning) are appreciated. Dive briefings are in English but local interactions benefit from a few words of Bahasa.
Support Local Operators
Choose locally-owned dive shops and warungs over international chains. Many dive instructors are Indonesian — supporting local operators keeps tourism revenue in the community.
Reduce Plastic Waste
The Gili Islands have a serious waste problem. Bring a reusable water bottle, refuse plastic straws, and take your rubbish with you. The Gili Eco Trust runs regular beach clean-ups — join one if you have time.
