Gili Islands

The Gili Islands are located just off the northwest tip of Lombok, Indonesia.

Gili Islands Halal Travel Guide

Lombok was hit by a pair of earthquakes in Jul/Aug 2018 which left significant structural damage; power and potable water was unavailable in many areas and a lot of homes are still in the process of being rebuilt in Northern Lombok. The Gili islands quickly recovered after initial loss of power and water, re-opening for tourism on September 1st 2018. The south of Lombok remained unaffected throughout.

Lombok's most popular tourist destination and the Gili Islands (or just the Gilis) came to the attention of the wider world as a backpacker mecca in the 1980s and 1990s. Thit 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 glamour options on the islands, especially so on Gili Trawangan. The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes still playing reggae and serving up questionable "energy" drinks, but also at the other end of the scale, elaborate seafood buffets, fresh salads and good quality western and Asian food. Best of all and there are no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace.

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 once people came to dive, snorkel and party, a more upmarket tourist is showing up now. It is still all about the beach and there are many more options to and dine or hang out and meet new friends.

Strictly speaking and the name "Gili Islands" is rather redundant as gili simply means "small island" in Sasak phrasebook|Sasak, but the name has stuck and is universally used and understood in Lombok.

There are also some other islands off Lombok called Gili Something, eg. Gili Nanggu and Gili Gede, but these are located to the southwest near Lembar, quite a distance from the "main" Gilis.

How is the Climate in Gili Islands

The Gilis are noticeably drier and hotter than Lombok, but evenings can still be cool and 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.

Islands of Gili Islands

Gili Trawangan (340 hectares) The largest and most visited of the three islands. Known as the party island.

Gili Air (188 hectares) The closest of the three islands to Lombok, and the one with a well developed local community.

Gili Meno (150 hectares) Sandwiched between the other two better known islands, Gili Meno is very laid back indeed.

How to visit and travel to Gili Islands

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Gili Islands

There are no airports in the Gilis. The closest airport is on mainland Lombok. Flying to Bali and taking a boat to the Gilit is a viable and competitively priced option.

Bandara Internasional Lombok (IATA Flight Code: LOP) is in south central Lombok and a taxi to Bangsal or Teluk Nare will take around 1 hours 40 min-2hr. Cost by taxi meter will be around Rp 650,000-270-000 depending upon the route used and occasional congestion that may sometimes arising from a wedding or funeral procession on the primary street. It is an easy, and quite pleasantly scenic trip by road, indeed a lot of the route is the same as that travelled on many sightseeing daytrips. Any taxi carrying passengers from the airport is subject to an Airport Taxi Service charge. To any destination on the island outside the Central Lombok administrative zone the set fee is Rp 27,500, payable at the Airport Taxi Service counter in the centre of the terminal building. Aim to arrive at Teluk Nare or Bangsal no later than 16:00 for an uncomplicated crossing. Night time crossings are feasible but not reccommended. Gili island transfer services by private vehicle and speed boat are available from the Airport to each of the Gili Islands. These can be pre-booked online, see "From Lombok" below.

The Bali-Lombok route is operated by Garuda, Wings (code shared with Lion Air), and TransNusa.

From elsewhere in Indonesia, Lombok International Airport is served by Flights from Jakarta, Surabaya and Makasar. These are provided by CitiLink, Garuda, LionAir, Wings (LionAir regional). Eastward of Lombok Sumbawa is serviced by Trans Nusa, and Bima by Garuda. International flights are available from Singapore with Silk-Air and Scoot Tigerair, from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia with AirAsia, and Jetstar (Australia) from Perth.

By ferry

• Used mainly by local residents, freight and diehard backpackers and 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 4 - 6 Hours (plus sometimes considerable waiting around for loading and unloading). Thit is extremely affordable but the on-board conditions are very basic to say the least, and the journey is very slow. Tickets are available from the harbors and cost just IDR40.000 (<US$4) adult fare. After arriving in Lombok it will then take another 2hr transfer to get to the Gili Islands via road and local boat from Bangsal harbor. For more info, see the main Lombok page.

By fast boat

Crossing advice

If you are travelling from southern Bali resorts such as Kuta, Legian, Nusa Dua etc. and the closest ports are Serangan or Benoa. However, you can depart from Padang Bai if you want a shorter crossing, which is around 1-2h from south Bali by road (so total travel duration will be roughly the same). Also depart from Padang Bai if you are staying in or around Ubud (250k one-way or 450k with an open-ended return, including hotel pickup. Book at any hotel or travel agency in town). Amed is only suitable if you are staying in or around Amed, Tulamben, Candidasa or North Coast locations such as Lovina or Pemuteran.

Fast boat operational safety|If you have legitimate concerns about either the vessel being used and the operator, overloading, or the prevailing weather conditions then do not board the boat, immediately seek a refund of your fare and make alternative arrangements. During periods of extreme weather the boats will not operate, this only happens once or twice a year. Flights across the Lombok Strait provide an alternative at similar cost and travel duration.

The boats currently servicing all routes are smaller high speed craft with light duty hull construction and are driven by petrol fuelled outboard engines. Crew training, operational standards and safety equipment vary and some current services may be below the normal expectations of many foreign visitors.

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 and their operation, crew experience and certfication. 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 previously achieved average crossing times.

If you want only to visit Gili Islands and Senggigi, a fastboat is more convenient than a plane, and you can then use taxis and boats for the Gili Islands. Most fast boats depart in the morning from Bali, while many Flights to Lombok depart afternoon.

From Bali

Fast boat services offer a direct method of travel from neighbouring Bali across to Lombok's Gili islands. There are now 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. Some also stop at Lombok Senggigi. Daily services depart from Benoa and Serangan Island in South Bali and from Padang Bai and Amed in East Bali are also from Sanur. Benoa harbour and Serangan are around 25-45 min by car, (dependent upon traffic) from the South Bali tourist areas. Padang Bai is a lot further by road and that road is often subject to delays and congestion. It is however convenient for 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, or book via one of the many local travel agents once you are in Bali. The most reliable way to compare live seat availability, up to date schedules and book e-tickets online is with Gilibookings for the most reputable fast boat services, or its sister site Gilitickets.com for some of the cheaper tickets on 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 USD80-70 one way, USD98-136 return depending upon departure point and the route and the carrier. Higher prices are somewhat offset by discount vouchers on food, drink and activities on the Islands. Fast boats are generally around 30% cheaper on Gilitickets. Most fast boat operators do complementary hotel transfers to/from most areas in Bali. Certain operators allow for island hopping on their tickets.

Cheaper tickets can also be found locally with other companies (cheapest one way $25, return $50 excluding pickup), but don't expect safety or service to be a priority with the lowest budget operators. Some of the eager Fastboat ticket vendors on Bali training 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.

A small 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. Thit 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 Daily services from Padang Bai - Gili T - Gili Meno and Bangsal ( Lombok ).
• Bali Eka Jaya provide fast boat transfers among Bali (Serangan and Padangbai ports), Nusa Lembongan, Lombok (Teluk Nara port), Gili Air, and Gili Trawangan.

Avoid at all cost companies like Meranti Express.

From Lombok

Please see the main Lombok Halal Travel Guide 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 hours from Mataram), and a public boat from there (15/30/45 min to Air/Meno/Trawangan)
• A chartered boat from Bangsal harbour
• A chartered boat from the beach at Senggigi, or alternatives available 4 kilometers north of the main township at Mangsit beach (1-2 hour travel duration to the islands)
• A chartered speedboat from Teluk Nare (15-30 min).

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 vehicle 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. Make sure to use a reputable website such as Gili-islandtransfers.com.

The cheapest way is to take a bemo/taxi to the Bangsal carpark on the Pemenang-Bangsal access road and then walk or cidomo to the beach at Bangsal and then take the Public boat (ferry) from there. However, this may involve some waiting around and the sometimes irksome requirement of dealing with sometimes unpleasant and irritating hawkers and agents, 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 eHalal Guide's 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 neighborhood. 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 Halal Travel Guide has more information on this. A charter of a regular outrigger (perahu) to any of the Gili Islands will likely cost Rp 700,000-600,000, 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 with one of the dive shops or your hotel on Gili Trawangan. A taxi to Teluk Nare from Senggigi will cost about Rp 80,000-65,000.

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

Note that 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 and 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.

How to get around in Gili Islands

There is no motorised transport on the islands. Your options are horse-drawn carts, known as cidomo's, or bicycles, which are available for rent all over the islands. The price for tourists is Rp 60,000-50,000 per head, depending on the length of the journey. To go all the way around the islands could cost up to Rp 250,000. However, as the islands are only a few kilometers in diameter, it's entirely feasible 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 affordable public boats that go back and forth at pretty random intervals (basically leaving whenever the boat is full), or again charter a vessel.

Tickets can be purchased from the ticket offices on each island from where the boats depart. No need to pre-book and the approximate rates in Indonesian rupiah as of mid 2014 are as follows: Gili Trawangan to Lombok by Public boat is a mere IDR13,000 (not much more than a dollar). A charter (with 30 capacity) will set you back roughly IDR400,000; still quite affordable, especially if you split the bill with a group of other travellers. Island hopping between the Gili's costs roughly IDR25,000.

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 and 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.

What to see in Gili Islands

• Gili Meno Bird Park | A bird sanctuary located in the centre of Gili Meno boasting exotic species in a beautifully landscaped environment. Macaws, flamingos, cockatoos, pelicans, eagles, parrots and more. Also home to a crocodile, some deer and a kangaroo.

• Turtle sanctuary | Green and loggerhead turtles are now common to the waters around the Gilis. To ensure the on-going survival of these creatures, sanctuaries have been set-up on both Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno. You can visit the sanctuaries, see the baby turtles in their pools and learn more about these fascinating creatures.

• Sunset on the hill | Great sunset spot with panoramic views of the 3 Gilis and of Lombok and Bali beyond. A good place to take photographs.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Gili Islands

Scuba diving

There is good diving around the islands, suitable for all levels and 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 15-30m 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 trainings. 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 and the Gili Eco Trust aims to protect coral reefs surrounding the islands and provide environmental education. There is a one time only reef tax of Rp 70,000 payable by all divers and dive students. Thit 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 for Delphine at the Big Bubble]dive shop on Gili Trawangan, and Lutwala Dive also organizes Gili Eco Trust activities.

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. Hadi-dsmlombok - Dive Instructor

For those interested in learning to dive or advancing existing qualifications, several of the operators now offer both 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 Rp 690,000
• Scuba Review Rp 900,000
• Discover Scuba Rp 900,000
• Advanced Open Water Rp 6,500,000
• Open Water Rp 7,500,000
• Rescue Diver Rp 7,500,000
• Emergency First Response Rp 6,000,000
• Divemaster Course Rp 24,000,000

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).

Dive sites

Dive Site Map - Dive sites

Dive sites surrounding the 3 Gili islands

Basket Coral	Sponge Coral
Deep Sponge Coral	Coral Fan Garden
Shark Point	Sunset
Manta Point	Biorock
Meno Wall	Meno Slope
Turtle Point	Biorock
Bounty Wreck	Air Wall
Mikro Reef	Boomies
Takat Malang	Frogfish Point
Air Slope

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.

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).

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 10AM departure and 4PM return, and includes three or four spots around the three islands and a 2 hours lunch break. The cost ranges from Rp 80,000-150,000 depending on the shop and your negotiating skills. The quoted price normally includes the mask and snorkel but Rp 20,000 (or more) may be charged for the fins. Lunch is typically not included.

It's feasible 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 and the local residents 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 feasible to charter private boats to cruise the 3 Gilis on, prices vary depending on the boat, small local snorkel boats start at around 900,000rp for a few hours, South Sea Nomads private charters start from $250usd.

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 and there are several bungalow-style lodgings 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 7PM and 9PM. Just buy drinks or food. Movies are normally displayed in advanced along side the venues.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Gili Islands

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 with hefty fees in the order of 7-10%.

Small money is often in short supply on Gili T so its not a bad idea to stock up on Rp40k, 10k and 5k notes 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/baby's 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).

Halal Restaurants

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. As of late 2012, Gili Air has some new restaurants opening that offer western cuisine. Gili Meno remains limited to more basic food options like barbecued fish or Pizzas from a wood-fired oven.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Gili Islands

Gili Islands - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Gili Islands, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Gili Islands. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Gili Islands and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Gili Islands. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Gili Islands. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Gili Islands: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Gili Islands.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Gili Islands: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Gili Islands, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Gili Islands.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Gili Islands, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Gili Islands, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Gili Islands and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Gili Islands, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Gili Islands, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Gili Islands without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Gili Islands is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Gili Islands.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Gili Islands is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Gili Islands, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Gili Islands Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Gili Islands

eHalal Group Gili Islands is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Gili Islands. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Gili Islands.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Gili Islands ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Gili Islands. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Gili Islands, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Gili Islands are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Demand often outstrips supply, so prices tend to be noticeably higher than on Bali or Lombok. During the peak seasons (July - Aug, December - Jan), it pays to make advance reservations, as the best places are often fully booked. Arrive early for better chances of getting lodging 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 Rp 200,000+ for a basic room with fan only. Air conditioned rooms are more in the Rp 700,000-400,000+ range. Gili Trawangan especially, has a rapidly increasing range of high end luxury lodging with prices up to US$500 per day for a large private villa.

Always try to negotiate for the best price, 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 roughly locations of ports in the map of the "Islands" section above.

Visit https://hotels.ehalal.io for a full list

Stay Safe

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

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

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); then
• 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 (45°C/113°F) 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 feasible.

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 and their bites can result in a painful wound. Thankfully, avoiding them is relatively easy, don't tread through brush and avoid climbing random trees.

Medical Issues in Gili Islands

All three islands have a small, simple clinic. For serious problems, visitors should get back to Lombok (or preferably Bali) as quickly as feasible. 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 7,000, reducing waste and costing less than a new bottle. 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.

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 Halal Travel Guide 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 in Gili Islands

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 lodging 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 hotels, 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.

Muslim Friendly 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 Halal Travel Guide for a list of medical facilities available in Mataram.

Medical clinics

• Klinik Risa - Risa Centra Medika Hospital | Full hospital facilities available on site, specialist consulting rooms and Dentist.

• Puskesmas Tanjung - Local health Clinic Tanjung township | Thit is a local municipal health clinic rather than an emergency centre.

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 vehicle 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.

Telecommunications in Gili Islands

Telephone

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 Cafe's in Gili Islands

Internet cafes are quite widespread but connections are often very slow, prices can be Rp 700-400/minute). Free, slow Wi-Fi is often available to clients in restaurants 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.

Postal Services in Gili Islands

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.

Travel 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 and the provincial capital of Mataram and further to Kuta on the south coast. If travelling to somewhere on mainland Lombok and then you could get the early morning local ferry to the mainland, Rp40,000. Then walk about 800m inland to Bunga Bunga Cafe on the right hand side of the road. Thit 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 obtain 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.
• Sumbawa — one more island down the chain
• Nusa Lembongan — a stop for some boat services between Bali and Gili Islands

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