Hey, this is my first article on Local Guides Connect!
I want to share one of my favorite places for some peaceful me time during my healing phase, Gili Air in Lombok.
In April 2026, I took my first solo trip and chose Gili Air in Lombok. I had almost no plan, I only booked my room a few days before and decided to figure out the rest once I arrived. I stayed for 5 nights and 6 days.
Why Gili Air?
I wanted somewhere small, quiet, and easy to explore. Gili Air is only around 1.73 km², so I did not feel pressured to do too many things. I also loved that I could snorkel almost anywhere nearby.
I chose Gili Air because it feels like the middle ground between lively Gili Trawangan and very quiet Gili Meno.
How to get there?
- You can book a flight to either Bali or Lombok.
- Find transportation from the airport to the nearest harbor. From Lombok, you can go to Bangsal Harbor, while from Bali, you can go to Padangbai Harbor. There should be travel services or taxis available. I went with a private driver and negotiated the price, super lucky me!
- Do not buy your boat ticket from a third party. Go directly to the public ticket counter to get the cheapest price. I departed from Bangsal Harbor, and the ticket only cost me around IDR 18,000!
My first day
When I arrived in Gili Air, I went straight to my hotel, which was located in the middle of the island. I rented a bicycle for IDR 50,000 per day and started exploring the island.
I found a beachside restaurant, there are so many of them, and decided to just chill there. I listened to the sound of the waves, did some journaling, swam for a little while, and enjoyed the atmosphere. It was super relaxing. After swimming for just a few minutes in the afternoon, I even saw turtles. Turtles are everywhere around the Gilis!
I went back to the hotel, and suddenly I had so many ideas about what I wanted to do on the island.
What can you do in Gili Air?
You can go snorkeling with turtles, run or cycle around the island, relax at beachside restaurants, watch the sunset, try local food, join a jewelry-making or cooking class, work or network at a coworking café (they sometimes host events during the day!), work out at a beach gym, go horseback riding, take a freediving or diving course, yoga, or simply do nothing by the beach. It was so calm and very recommended for anyone who need some recharge time with nature.
I’ll share some of these experiences in more detail in my next posts. 
I’m really glad you enjoyed the story. It was such a memorable trip for me, and sharing it here brought back so many good memories. Hopefully there’ll be more adventures to share soon! 
Definitely one of the highlights of the trip!
Welcome to Connect
Boleh tolong share Google maps link nya yaa 
