Gili Islands, Indonesia
The powdery white sands of the Gili Islands – Trawangan, Meno, and Air – frame what is perhaps Indonesia’s most attractive beach destination. The Gilis, after all, are where beach bums go to avoid the crowds of nearby Bali. If it’s even better than Bali, you know it’s good.
And it is—visitors to Gili Trawangan take advantage of the beachfront’s inviting waters and the no-motorized-vehicles rule that help keep the island tempo down. Formerly a backpacker destination, Trawangan’s vibe has seen more and more luxury resorts and bars take center stage, pushing the homestays and hostels inland.
Advertisement
From the beach, however, you can take boats to the nearby islands of Gili Air and Gili Meno, which retain the backpacker vibe that brought tourists to Trawangan in the first place!
To get to the Gilis, take a speedboat from either Lombok or Bali.