The best snorkeling spots in the Gili Islands and where to find them

The best snorkeling spots in the Gili Islands and where to find them

Complete snorkeling guide to the Gili Islands. Offers the best snorkeling spots on Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air.

If you are planning to visit the Gili Islands, then I am sure a snorkeling trip to the Gili Islands is high on your list. Whether you stay on Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno or Gili Air, there are opportunities to explore some epic underwater snorkeling locations.

The water clarity is undoubtedly some of the best in the region and you will see plenty of turtles, corals and marine life to check out.

In this guide, I'll show you the best snorkeling spots around the Gili Islands so you can immerse yourself in the incredible underwater world of the Gilis.
alt=“STONE CORAL ON GILI TRAWANGAN”>Fantastic view directly 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 is home to the popular Gili Island Wreck (Meno Bounty) and probably the most photographed spot in Indonesia – the underwater statues.

However, don't be discouraged if you stay on Gili Trawangan. You can still snorkel the Gili Islands from the beach to spot turtles and huge schools of fish.

Gili Islands snorkeling map

Here is a clickable map that will show you the approximate snorkeling spots in the Gili Islands listed below.

Gili Meno snorkeling spots

Some of the best snorkeling in the Gili Islands is located 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 trip

By far the most popular way to see the best snorkeling spots in the Gili Islands is on an organized snorkeling trip.

The boats leave twice a day and the tours last approximately 4-6 hours. You can book a snorkeling trip to Gili Meno from many tourism operators around Gili Trawangan. However, this will be a shared boat with up to 30 people.

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

Book: Best half-day snorkeling trip on Gili Meno

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Opting for an organized snorkeling tour is pretty inexpensive since you would have to pay for a return ferry ticket anyway if you stay on Gili Trawangan.

However, the shared boats can get quite crowded, especially around the statues. To explore the best snorkeling spots in the Gili Islands, we opted for a mixed approach, exploring some on our own and some with the tour.

All Gili Meno snorkeling trips will stop at the main snorkeling spots in the Gili Islands. However, remember that bad weather can cause you to miss some of the best.

ARE YOU GOING TO LOMBOK NEXT? READ: 24 Best Things to Do in Lombok, Indonesia

Meno slope

The Meno Slope is a large sloping slope on the western side of Gili Meno. It is a good place for freediving and snorkeling as you can dive quite far down the wall.

This snorkeling spot in the Gili Islands is very popular due to the underwater statues nearby.
alt=“THE BEST THING IN GILI TRAWANGAN IS SNORKELING”>MENO SLOPE SNORKELING LOCATION ON GILI MENO

RELATED: Gili T Sunset HIll

Gili underwater statues

The perfect Instagram vacation photo. Unfortunately, this place is extremely crowded, and you'll likely come across people left, right and center desperately trying to get a (not so) elegant snorkeling photo.

If you want to experience this place without the crowds, I recommend you come here early in the morning or just before sunset. This way, you'll avoid the dozens of snorkel boats and probably have the statues to yourself.
alt=“GILI TRAWANGAN STATUES, GILI MENO SNORKELING”>GILI ISLANDS STATUES
alt=“GILI TRAWANANGAN STATUES”>LOOK AT ALL THESE FINS – AND I’M NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT FISH

Gili Island Wreck – Meno Bounty

Just south of the Meno Slope and the underwater statues is the Meno Bounty. It's not exactly a shipwreck, but rather a large, 30-meter-long sunken platform resting in about 10 meters of water. Due to its easy access, it is another of the most popular snorkeling spots in the Gili Islands and is open to all experience levels.

The wreck of the Meno Bounty on Gili Meno is now covered in hard corals and is a haven for many different species of fish. It's a cool spot for snorkeling or diving that allows all levels to experience a wreck.
alt=“GILI WRACK, MENO BOUNTY GILI TRAWANGAN”>
alt=“GILI WRACK, MENO BOUNTY GILI TRAWANGAN”>
alt=“GILI WRECK, MENO BOUNTY GILI TRAWANGAN”>Gili Meno Wreck – Meno Bounty

Gili Meno turtle spot

After the Meno Bounty, our snorkeling guide took us to the northeast side of Gili Meno to try and find some turtles. There isn't much reef or coral here, just a deep, shallow area where turtles often rest or eat jellies.

This location is also used as a diving training area, with several small obstacles and structures on the seabed.

We managed to spot two turtles during our quick 20 minute stop at this snorkeling spot. However, we didn't want to stay in the water for too long because of the little pungent jellies. Although they are not dangerous, they can be itchy and irritating.
alt=“GILI TRAWANGAN SNORKELING WITH A TURTLE”>
alt=“THE BEST THINGS TO DIVE IN GILI TRAWANGAN”>Can you spot the turtle?

Gili Trawangan snorkeling spots

If you prefer snorkeling on Gili Trawangan from the beach rather than taking a boat, then you're in luck. There are several snorkeling spots in Gili Trawangan that are sure to surprise you.

Gili Trawangan Snorkeling from the beach – Trawangan Slope

If you're not trying to find the best sights and just want to see Gili Trawangan snorkeling from the beach, then you're in luck.

There are signs everywhere along the main eastern road on Gili T indicating the snorkeling spots of the Gili Islands. Funnily enough, they’re all called “Turtle Point,” presumably in hopes of attracting people to their stretch of beach.

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

You can swim out to this slope and explore the coral and marine life below. Here you will often see several turtles cruising along the slope and having some lunch in the shallow water.

Just remember not to step on coral.
alt=“GILI TRAWANANGAN SNORKELING, TURTLE ON GILI T“>
alt=“MARINE LIFE ON GILI TRAWANGAN”>
alt=“GILI TRAWANANGAN TURTLES”>Turtles of Gili Trawangan – snorkeling on the beach

READ MORE: 13 epic things to do in Gili Trawangan

Turtle Point Gili Trawangan

As I mentioned above, most beaches on Gili Trawangan have signs saying “Turtle Point”. However, the actual Gili Trawangan Turtle Point is located on the northeast tip of the island.

You can swim out and look for turtles cruising along the sandy flats. There isn't much to see in terms of corals and fish at this snorkeling spot on Gili Island. 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 snorkeling spot, but more of a diving spot. However, you can swim out at high tide and explore the reef on this side of the island without a scuba tank. To get to Shark Point,

There is a shallow reef plateau that sits at around 10 meters before sloping down to a deeper section. Keep in mind that this side of the island is more prone to strong winds and waves. If the conditions aren't right, I would recommend sticking to the other snorkeling spots on Gili Trawangan.

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

This concludes the list of the best snorkeling spots in the Gili Islands. If you find any more epic locations, let me know below.
alt=“SNORKELING IN GILI TRAWANGAN”>
alt=“GILI TRAWANGAN SNORKELING CORAL”>
alt=“GILI TRAWANANGAN SNORKELING, TURTLE ON GILI T“>
alt=“GILI TRAWANGAN SNORKELING WITH A TURTLE”>
alt=“SNORKELING TURTLES IN GILI TRAWANGAN”>

Accommodation options on Gili T

Since it's a small island, the best places to stay are usually on the beach or just a few streets away. Accommodation is quite affordable here.

Below I have given you my top three tips for the best places to stay on Gili T for different travel styles and budgets.

• Gili Eco Villas – Ein luxuriöser, solarbetriebener Strandurlaub. Das am besten bewertete Hotel auf den Gili-Inseln!
• Tipsea Turtle Rooftop – Das stimmungsvollste Hostel und der beste Ort, um andere Reisende auf den Inseln zu treffen!
• Kuno Villas – Bevorzugen Sie eine private Villa? Kuno Villas hat die besten Villen auf der Insel. Sagen wir einfach, sie sind absolut unglaublich!

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More Indonesia travel inspiration

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

Some other travel guides you might like include:

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