Gili Meno is a small island off Lombok, Indonesia and is the island between Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. There are three islands that make up the Gili Islands and each of them has a totally different vibe. Gili Islands are known for 3 things: Partying, diving, and snorkeling. But there is plenty of other things to do in Gili Meno, and in this Gili Meno travel guide, I will share what we did while on the small Gili Island.
How to get to the Gili Islands
The Gili Islands can easily be reached from Bali or Lombok. If you are coming from Bali taking the speedboat is recommended. It’s best to book this online and it takes around 2 hours to get from Bali to the Gili Islands. You can also book from a local vendor.
How to get from Gili Trawangan to Gili Meno: The ferry from Gili Meno to Gili Trawangan leaves daily and you can go to the port and purchase the tickets directly. It takes 15 minutes and only costs $3.50 USD.
THE GILI MENO TRAVEL GUIDE
THE THREE GILI ISLANDS
Chill-out island: Gili Meno
Party island: Gili Trawangan
Romantic, Couples island: Gili Air
We stayed two nights on Gili Meno and it has a relaxing vibe, you will feel detached from the rest of the world. It’s slow-paced and not much is going on around the island. If you are looking for a quiet island this is the one for you, if you like more action and nightlife you would be better off going to Gili Trawangan.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN GILI MENO
Gili Meno Underwater Statues
The Gili Meno statues have quickly become a snorkeling and diving hotspot of the Gili Islands. The 48 life-sized statues that are situated in a circle lay just off the shore of Gili Meno and can be accessed from the shore. The unique sculptures were made from the casts of real people which makes them even more intriguing.
Gili Meno Statue location: The Gili Meno statues are located on the west side of the island out front of the BASK resort. From the Gili Meno port, it’s a 15-minute walk to the other side of the island. Look for the big BASK sign and you can swim out from there, it’s only about 100 meters from shore. You can pretty much walk the whole way and then it drops off just before you reach the statues. The water is only around 3-4 meters deep so it’s perfect for both divers and snorkeling.
Visit The Turtle Sanctuary on Gili Meno
At Bolong’s turtle sanctuary the turtle eggs are collected and incubated. The turtles are raised in the pools they have set up before they are released back into the wild. You can leave a donation to support their work, so the turtles don’t become extinct. You can even release a turtle onto the beach yourself for a donation of 100,000 Rupiah.
GILI MENO LAKE
Inside Gili Island is a mangrove forest and saltwater lake that should be on your itinerary to visit. There is a collection of flora and fauna which is remarkable for such a tiny island. The salt lake is also home to enormous monitor lizards.
TRANSPORT ON GILI MENO ISLAND
There aren’t any cars or scooters on the island. The only transport is a horse and carriage and riding a bicycle. We rented a bike while in Gili Trawangan but decided not to do this while here and chose to walk everywhere. The roads are not the best in Gili Meno so if you do rent a bike you will find yourself pushing it along a lot of the time. You can rent bikes all over the island and you will find your hotel should offer that service for around $4USD per day.
WHERE TO STAY IN GILI MENO
Meno Colanta: We stayed in this small private cabin that is 5 minutes walk from the beach. Meno Colanto only costs $9USD per night and comes with breakfast.
We spend a lot of time out of the room filming our videos so we don’t spend much on accommodation unless we are wanting to do hotel reviews, or we are having some time off filming and want to book a place with all the luxuries. If you are on a budget this place is perfect, and is the cheapest accommodation in Gili Meno.
Check Rates and Availability: Meno Colanta
Avia Villa Resort – Avia Villa is a beautiful luxury hotel on Gili Meno. It’s located right on the beach complete with a swimming pool and cute wooden style rooms. The place is only around $60USD per night which is a really good value for this place.
Check Rates and Availability: Avia Villa Resort
BEST GILI MENO RESTAURANTS
Pak Man Warung Gili Meno: Located in the middle of the island this local restaurant makes a perfect place to grab a cheap lunch. You can get pre-made food that has already been cooked, or you can order from the menu and have the meal cooked fresh. The owner Pak Man is such a nice guy and makes some great local food.
Semasa Cafe, Gili Meno When searching for the best restaurants to eat at we found this gem of a place, rated 5 stars on Google. It’s away from the main strip and will take a bit of a walk to get there but that’s all part of the fun. Located right on the beach they have small platforms you can sit on and relax while you take in the beautiful views.
You can choose what fish you would like and they will BBQ it on the coals. The flavors are amazing and this was the best meal we had on the island, and only set us back $20USD.
