Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Freedive Gili
Gili Trawangan 0858 5718 7170,
freedivegili.com
.
Freediving courses
(from $255), with a 25m-long practize pool.
Manta Dive
Gili Trawangan 0370 614 3649,
manta-dive.com
.
Offers both PADI and
SSI courses.
Trawangan Dive
Gili Trawangan
0370 614 9220,
trawangandive.com
.
Works with
the Gili Eco Trust and can offer conservation specialities.
Vila Ombak Diving Academy
0361 270252,
scubali.com
.
Provides all divers with a
dive computer.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: THE GILI ISLANDS
Frequent boats run to the Gili Islands from Bali and Lombok; depending on the operator, you
may need to change on Gili Trawangan for Gili Meno and Gili Air. Public and charter boats
between the Gilis are plentiful. Though the islands have jetties, most boats dock on the beach
so you'll probably get your feet wet. Flying to Lombok and taking a boat across to the islands
costs roughly the same as the fast boats, and is the only option in rough weather; between
December and February all boat traffic from Bali can be suspended for days.
FROM BALI
BY PLANE
The most comfortable and safest option from Bali is to fly to Lombok's international airport
(30min), then take a taxi to Bangsal (2hr; Rp250,000) and charter a boat to the Gilis. With
more money than time, hop on an Air Bali “gilicopter” ( 0361 767466,
airbali.com
) at
Bali's Benoa heliport and fly directly to Gili Trawangan (45min; $365/person).
BY FAST BOAT
The fastest way to get to the Gili Islands from Bali is to take one of the many fast-boat ser-
vices. Keep in mind that the channel between Bali and Lombok is open ocean, and that it
can get very rough in bad weather, so beware of rogue operators that risk the crossing with
substandard equip-ment; only book with trusted companies. Morning departures are usually
calm; in the afternoon choppy seas can make the crossings uncomfortable.
Fast
boats
depart from several harbours around south and east Bali - Benoa, Sanur, Padang
Bai, Nusa Lembongan and Amed - and tickets usually include transfers from hotels all over
south Bali. The sea crossing takes 1hr 30min-2hr in a fast boat, and all-inclusive tickets av-
erage Rp650,000; in low season prices go down to Rp350,000.
Operators
Tickets can be bought online or at any tour agent in any tourist centre; altern-
atively, there's a one-stop booking service for all operators at
gili-fastboat.com
,
though
dealing directy with the operator can be cheaper. Reliable fast-boat companies include:
Blue Water Express ( 0361 895 1111,
bluewater-express.com
); Gili Cat ( 0361 271680,
