Gili Islands Travel Blog
Bali Island Hopping Holiday
Island Hopping (Bali - Lembongan - Gili - Lombok) Stopping in Lembongan on your way to or from the Gili Islands and Lombok. On June 1 Scoot Cruises will restart a daily trip from Sanur - Lembongan - Lombok (Bangsal) - Gili Air - Gili T and back. Search for a trip from Bali to Gili or Lombok and select the 'Island Hopping' ticket from the search results at www.gilibookings.com. This ticket allows you to hop off in Lembongan for at least 1 night before continuing the rest of...
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History of the fast boats in the Gilis
Bounty Cruises, established in the late 1990s were the first operators serving the Gili Islands and Lombok, from Bali. They boasted a 550 seater catamaran, which was by far the largest high-speed vessel sailing the Lombok Strait. Unfortunately, they were forced to suspend their Gili island route due to unexpectedly poor tourist numbers in the early 2000s. In 2005, the British owned and operated BlueWater Express decided to specialize in high-speed boat transport and boat private chart...
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Lombok earthquake
At the beginning of August 2018, a magnitude-7 earthquake struck the island of Lombok. Over 400,000 locals lost their homes. Here is the story of how we (Island Bookings BV) - thanks to the help of many incredibly generous contributors - managed to build 8 homes for some of the most impoverished families, as well as provide materials to help another 80 families rebuild their homes. What happened On 5 August 2018, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the island of Lombok, followed by hu...
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Covid-19 effects on Bali Tourism
Millions of tourists fly to Bali each year to enjoy the pristine beaches, admire the terraced fields and visit the Hindu temples. The island is usually full of visitors seeking the perfect holiday experience. However, Indonesia's tourism hotspot has fallen eerily quiet since March, with as yet, little sign of improving. COVID-19 restrictions are ravaging the tourism sector in Bali and its surrounding islands, leaving staggering unemployment the outcome for many Balinese. Locals are strugglin...
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Bali dive guide 2020
COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it. While there is plenty of reason to dispair, we choose to stay positive and look for the bright side! Our oceans have seen several problems resulting from human activity but COVID-19 has forced the world to come to a standstill. Positive impacts to the marine environment have already been clearly witnessed, and many expect the benefit to be visible for years to come. When you return to Indonesia, when all this is behind us, you will find the reef and ...
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Dream Now, Travel to Gili Later
Many campaigns around the world are reminding us to “dream now and visit later” as travel restrictions remain in force. The truth is, the world pressed pause, but the destinations haven’t gone dark! So, in this time of global-pandemic, I would like to take you on a virtual tour of the Gili Islands and maybe inspire you to dream now and prepare to experience later. “While the world is standing still, nature is recovering, and the wildlife seems more abundant. ...
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Top 10 things to do in the Gili Islands
Top 10 things to do in the Gili Islands The Gili Islands are a tiny archipelago in Indonesia, located northwest of Lombok. The Gili’s consist of three islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air and are known for their laid back vibe, amazing underwater world and beautiful white sandy beaches. You can reach the Gili islands by fast boat from Bali or speed boat transfer from Lombok. Here’s our list of Gili top 10 things to see & do: 1. Island hoppi...
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Balinese silent day & Covid-19 lockdown
In these unusual times, where half of the Global population is undergoing a Coronavirus lockdown, we can learn from Balinese culture to slow down, embrace the simple things in life, reconnect with our family, nature, and ourselves. On the 25th of March this year, in Bali, locals celebrated Nyepi Day, the island’s New Year’s Day, or “Silent Day”. On Nyepi Day, Balinese people stay home and reflect on the past and coming year. Every year the Day of Silence is celebrated o...
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My Nusa Penida Day Trip
Viewpoint Atuh Beach Nusa Penida I recently visited Nusa Penida and absolutely loved it. Nusa Penida is an island just South of Bali which is very easy to reach by fast boat. Penida is quiet compared to Lembongan and Bali as it is considerably less developed. However there is plenty to see and do! What can you find in this guide: Nusa Penida general info From Bali to Nusa Penida Getting around Nusa Penida Things to do/see on Nusa Penida Summary Nusa Penida Islan...
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