Snorkeling the Three Gili Islands: A Journey in Paradise

When I first stepped onto the soft white sands of Gili Trawangan, I could hear the sea whispering stories, stories of turtles, coral kingdoms, and the gentle rhythm of life beneath the blue. The sun was kind, the breeze playful, and I knew this would be more than just another snorkeling trip. It would be a conversation with the ocean itself.

The Three Gili Islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, lie off the northwest coast of Lombok, tiny dots surrounded by endless turquoise. No cars, no motorbikes, just bicycles and horse carts, and the sound of waves meeting coral. Time slows here, like the tide waiting for your next breath.

🌴 Gili Trawangan: The Lively Heart of the Sea

They call it Gili T, the largest and most energetic of the three. Here, snorkeling tours leave every morning, boats filled with people chasing turtles and laughter.

I rented a mask and fins from a small bamboo hut near the jetty, about 150,000 to 200,000 IDR for the full gear. The friendly guide pointed toward the east side of the island. “There,” he said, “is Turtle Point. If you’re lucky, you’ll swim beside them.”

And he was right. Within minutes of entering the water, a soft shadow glided past, a green sea turtle, ancient and wise. It moved with effortless grace, its shell shimmering like sunlight through glass. Around it, coral reefs bloomed with colors so vivid they seemed unreal, purples, oranges, and blues intertwined like living art.

The reef here is shallow, perfect for beginners, and full of clownfish hiding among sea anemones. Schools of tiny fish formed silver clouds around me. I felt like part of something infinite, breathing through my snorkel, heartbeat in sync with the sea.

Public snorkeling trips in Gili Trawangan start around 100,000–150,000 IDR per person, joining other travelers on a traditional wooden boat for half a day. But if you want to truly feel the soul of the sea, private snorkeling trips (around 600,000–900,000 IDR for two to three hours) give you freedom, to linger with turtles, to drift without a clock, to listen to the silence between the waves.

🕊️ Gili Meno: The Silent Soul of the Ocean

The next day, I crossed over to Gili Meno, the smallest and quietest of the three. If Gili Trawangan is a song, Gili Meno is a prayer. The water is even clearer here, the sand whiter, the air almost sacred.

Just off the west coast of Gili Meno lies the island’s most famous snorkeling spot, the Gili Meno Underwater Statues.

Descending into the water, I saw them, 48 life-sized human sculptures arranged in a circle, arms intertwined. Created by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, the installation called Nest is both haunting and beautiful. Coral slowly grows on their faces, turning stone into life.

It’s an underwater museum, a sanctuary for coral and fish, and a reminder that even art can breathe beneath the sea. Turtles float by silently, unbothered by human presence, like guardians of the deep.

For snorkelers who prefer solitude, Gili Meno is a dream. You can simply walk from the beach and find vibrant reefs just 20 meters offshore. Here, I spent hours drifting, watching clownfish dart in and out of coral, feeling the water’s gentle pulse carry me from one world to another.

🌺 Gili Air: Where Local Life Meets the Sea

Gili Air is the bridge between the energy of Gili T and the calm of Gili Meno. It’s a place where you can snorkel in the morning, drink fresh coconut by noon, and dance with locals under the stars by night.

The east side of the island is perfect for snorkeling. The coral gardens here are shallow, and the visibility stretches for meters, crystal clear and full of life. I saw reef fish in every color imaginable, playful cuttlefish flashing patterns, and once, a blue-spotted stingray gliding like a dream.

The best way to explore all three islands is to join a Gili Islands snorkeling tour, which includes stops at Turtle Point, Gili Meno statues, and Gili Air reef. Prices for public tours range from 100,000–200,000 IDR, including mask, snorkel, and boat ride. Private charters, often with local guides who know secret coral spots, can cost 700,000–1,000,000 IDR, perfect for couples, families, or underwater photographers.

Whether you go public or private, one thing is sure, the Gili Islands snorkeling experience will leave a mark in your soul as deep as the sea itself.

🌊 From the Gilis to Komodo Sailing with Bose & KomodoExplore.com

As my snorkeling adventure came to an end, I sat by the shore of Gili Air, watching the sun melt into the horizon. The sea shimmered like liquid gold, and I felt a quiet pull, to keep going, to follow where the ocean leads.

That’s when I remembered Bose, the legendary phinisi boat from KomodoExplore.com, sailing from Lombok to Komodo Island.
The idea of continuing the journey, from the calm coral of the Gilis to the wild heart of Komodo Dragon Island in Indonesia, felt like destiny.

With Bose, the adventure doesn’t stop at snorkeling. It stretches across the sea , past Moyo Island, Satonda, Sumbawa’s volcano Tambora, and into the mythical lands of the Komodo National Park.
Imagine sleeping under the stars on deck, the Milky Way above you, and waking to dragons walking the ancient paths of Rinca and Komodo.

KomodoExplore.com offers Lombok Komodo tours, Komodo tour packages from Bali, and 3 days 2 nights sailing trips where you can explore Pink Beach, swim with manta rays, and meet the largest lizards on Earth.

From the coral gardens of the Gili Islands to the dragon islands of the east, it’s a journey through nature’s living masterpiece.

🌅 Best Time to Snorkel the Gili Islands

The best months to snorkel are April to November, during the dry season, when visibility is at its best and the sea is calm. Mornings are perfect for spotting turtles, while afternoons glow with golden sunlight beneath the waves.

Rainy season (December–March) can still be beautiful, though occasional currents might reduce visibility. But even then, the islands never lose their magic, there’s always a hidden cove, a quiet reef, or a turtle waiting to greet you.

🌤️ A Poetic Goodbye

When I finally left the Gilis, I carried more than salt in my hair, I carried stories. Stories of the sea’s laughter, of coral gardens older than time, of turtles that swim like dreams through eternity.

Snorkeling the Three Gili Islands isn’t just about seeing the underwater world, it’s about remembering that we belong to it.
And if the sea ever calls you again, follow it eastward, to the dragons, to the islands where fire meets water, to the sails of Bose that wait to carry your soul farther than you’ve ever gone. Because in Indonesia, adventure doesn’t end, it only changes color