The best snorkeling spaces on the Gili Islands and where they can be found

The best snorkeling spaces on the Gili Islands and where they can be found

full snorkeling guide for the Gili Islands. Offers the best snorkeling places on Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air.

If you plan to visit the Gili Islands, I am sure that a snorkeling trip to the Gili Islands is at the top of your list. Regardless of whether you spend the night on Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno or Gili Air, there are opportunities to explore some epic places for snorkeling under water.

Water clarity is undoubtedly one of the best in the region and you will see many turtles, corals and sea creatures that you can see.

In this guide I will show you the best places for snorkeling around the Gili Islands so that you can dive into the incredible world of Gilis underwater.
Alt = “Stein Corall on Gili Trawangan”> Fantastic view right on the beach of Gili Trawangan!

What is the best Gili island for snorkeling?

The best Gili island for snorkeling is Gili Meno. While Gili Trawangan is undoubtedly the most popular, Gili Meno offers excellent access to snorkeling and houses the popular Gili Island Wrack (Meno Bounty) and probably the most photographed place in Indonesia - the underwater statues.

Snorkeling map of the Gili Islands

Here is a clickable card that shows you the approximate snorkeling spaces on the Gili Islands below.

Gili Meno snorkeling spaces

Some of the best snorkeling options in the Gili Islands are around Gili Meno. To get here, you can book a boat transfer for 35,000 Rupiah or simply take an organized Gili Meno snorkeling trip from Gili Trawangan.

Gili Meno snorkeling excursion

The most popular way of seeing the best snorkeling spaces in the Gili Islands is an organized snorkeling trip.

The boats take off twice a day and the tours last about 4-6 hours. You can book a snorkeling trip to Gili Meno with many tourism providers around Gili Trawangan. However, this will be a common boat with up to 30 people.

Alternatively, you can book a private local snorkeling tour with an included BBQ afternoon or dinner online.

alt = “Gili Trawangan snorkeling excursion”>
The decision for an organized snorkeling tour is quite inexpensive because you would have to pay for a return ticket for the ferry anyway if you stay on Gili Trawangan.

However, the shared boats can become quite crowded, especially around the statues. In order to explore the best snorkeling places on the Gili Islands, we decided on a mixed approach and explored some on our own and some with the tour.

All snorkeling trips on Gili Meno will stop at the most important snorkeling spaces on the Gili Islands. However, remember that bad weather can lead you to miss some of the best.

Do you go to Lombok next? Read: The 24 best activities on Lombok, Indonesia

Meno inclination

The Meno Slope is a large sloping slope on the west side of Gili Meno. It is a good place for free diving and snorkeling because you can dip down the wall quite far.

This snorkeling area on the Gili Islands is very popular due to the nearby underwater statues.
Alt = "The best on Gili Trawangan is snorkeling"> Meno slope snorkeling location on Gili Meno

Connection: Gili t Sunset Hill

Gili underwater statues

The perfect Instagram vacation photo. Unfortunately, this place is extremely overcrowded, and you will probably come to people on the left, right and in the middle who desperately try to make an (not) elegant snorkeling photo.

If you want to experience this place without crowds, I recommend that you come here early in the morning or shortly before sunset. In this way, avoid the dozens of snorkeling boats and probably have the statues for themselves.
Alt = “Statues by Gili Trawangan, snorkeling by Gili Meno”> Statues of the Gili Islands
Alt = “Gili Trawanangan statues”> Look at all of these flowers-and I don't even speak of fishing

Wrack of the island of Gili-Meno Bounty

A little south of the Meno Slope and the underwater statues is the Meno Bounty. It is not exactly a shipwreck, but a large, 30 -meter -long sunken platform that rests in about 10 meters of water. Due to the simple access, it is another most popular snorkeling spaces on the Gili Islands and is open to all levels of experience.

The Meno Bounty wreck on Gili Meno is now covered with hard corals and a paradise for many different types of fish. It is a cool place for snorkeling or diving that enables all levels to experience a wreck.
Alt = “Gili Wrack, Meno Bounty Gili Trawangan”>
Alt = “Gili Wrack, Meno Bounty Gili Trawangan”>
Alt = “Gili Wrack, Meno Bounty Gili Trawangan”> Gili Meno Wrack - Meno Bounty

Gili Meno turtle place

After the Meno Bounty, our snorkeling guide brought us to the northeastern side of Gili Meno to try to find a few turtles. There is not much reef or corals here, just a deep, flat area in which turtles often rest or eat jelly.

This place is also used as a diving training area, with several small obstacles and structures on the sea floor.

We managed to discover two turtles in our short 20-minute stop at this snorkeling area. However, because of the small stinging jelly, we didn't want to stay in the water too long. Although they are not dangerous, they can itch and agree.
Alt = “Gili Trawangan snorkeling with a turtle”>
Alt = "Do the best things dip on Gili Trawangan"> Can you discover the turtle?

Gili Trawangan Schnorkelplatzen

If you prefer to snorkel on Gili Trawangan from the beach instead of taking a boat, then you are lucky. There are several snorkeling spaces on Gili Trawangan, which you will certainly surprise.

Gili Trawangan snorkeling from the beach-Trawangan Slope

If you don't try to find the best sights, and Gili Trawangan just want to see snorkeling from the beach, then you are lucky.

Along the eastern main street on Gili t, there are signs everywhere that indicate the snorkeling spaces of the Gili Islands. Funnily enough, they are all called "Turtle Point", probably in the hope of luring people to their beach section.

The simplest place to snorkel on Gili Trawangan is right on the beach opposite Villa Almarik. The official dive site is known as a Trawangan Slope.

You can swim out to this slope and explore the coral and sea creatures underneath. Here you often see several turtles that cross the slope and eat a little for lunch in the shallow water.

just remember not to step on corals.
Alt = “Gili trawanangan snorkeling, turtle on Gili t”>
Alt = “Marineleben on Gili Trawangan”>
Alt = “Gili Trawanangan Turtles”> Turtles by Gili Trawangan - snorkeling on the beach

Read more: 13 Epic things that you can do on Gili Trawangan

Turtle Point Gili Trawangan

As I mentioned above, most beaches on Gili Trawangan with the inscription "Turtle Point". However, the actual Gili Trawangan Turtle Point is located on the northeastern tip of the island.

You can swim out and search for turtles that cross along the sandy levels. There is not much to see at this snorkeling area on Gili Island in terms of corals and fish. However, we saw three turtles in about 20 minutes, so they are definitely here! Alt = “Turtle Point Gili Trawangan snorkeling”>

Shark Point Gili Trawangan

Shark Point Gili Trawangan is not exactly a place for snorkeling, but rather a diving site. However, you can swim out at the flood and explore the reef on this side of the island without a diving bottle. To get to Shark Point,

There is a flat reef plateau that is located at about 10 meters before it falls down to a lower section. Remember that this side of the island is more susceptible to strong winds and waves. If the conditions are not correct, I would recommend staying at the other snorkeling spaces on Gili Trawangan.

I haven't seen any reef sharks, but I think they are spotted more often in the deeper sections. So if you want to see a reef shark, I recommend you to book a diving trip.

This completes the list of the best snorkeling spaces on the Gili Islands. If you find more epic locations, let me know below.
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Alt = “Gili Trawangan snorkeling coral”>
Alt = “Gili trawanangan snorkeling, turtle on Gili t”>
Alt = “Gili Trawangan snorkeling with a turtle”>
Alt = "snorkel on Gili Trawangan">

overnight accommodation on Gili t

Since it is a small island, the best overnight accommodation is usually on the beach or just a few streets further. The accommodation is pretty affordable here.

In the following I gave you my three best tips for the best overnight accommodation on Gili T for various travel styles and budgets.

• Gili Eco Villas - a luxurious, solar -operated beach vacation. The best rated hotel on the Gili Islands!
• Tipsea Turtle Rooftop - the most atmospheric hostel and the best place to meet other travelers on the islands!
• kuno villas - do you prefer a private villa? Kuno Villas has the best villas on the island. Let's just say you are absolutely incredible!

alt = "Activities in Gili Trawangan Beach">

More Indonesia travel savings

I hope this snorkeling guide for the Gili Islands has inspired you to dive into the incredible underwater world of this tiny island chain!

Some other travel guides that you might like are:

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