After four wonderful days on Gili Air, we transferred to Gili Meno for a two-night stay. We had absolutely loved Gili Air and had heard Gili Meno was just as incredible for turtle spotting and snorkeling but only even quieter, which suited us perfectly. Nicknamed the “honeymoon island”, Gili Meno is especially popular with couples looking for a slower, more peaceful escape.
The night before we transferred, a massive storm rolled into the Gili Islands. There was heavy rain, strong winds and some of the most intense lightning we’ve ever experienced. At one point it honestly felt like it had struck only metres away from us. By morning, the ground was soaked, the wind was still whipping around and sadly we had to give up our final sunrise snorkel on Gili Air.
We’d had perfect weather up until then so we really couldn’t complain, but every snorkeler knows rain and wind are never ideal when your plans revolve around being in the water. I started worrying about how much snorkeling we’d actually get to do on Gili Meno.
The Tiny Boat Ride to Gili Meno
At 10am sharp, our little transfer boat arrived right in front of our hotel to take us across to our next stay: Divine Divers Resort on Gili Meno.
The sky still looked angry. Dark storm clouds loomed on the horizon and it felt like the previous night’s storm hadn’t quite finished with us yet. Our boat was tiny and roofless, which made me slightly nervous considering our luggage was piled onboard too. If the sea got rough or the rain returned, everything was going to get absolutely drenched.
But that’s all part of the adventure, right?
Thankfully, the ride from Gili Air to Gili Meno only takes around 15 minutes. The water was choppy enough to make things interesting, but luckily not rough enough to send waves crashing into the boat. Even better, the rain held off completely and I somehow avoided getting seasick.
First Impressions of Gili Meno
When we arrived, our room wasn’t ready yet, so we decided to spend the morning exploring the island on foot instead. Since the weather still wasn’t ideal for snorkeling, we figured we’d save that for later and tick off some island exploring first.
Straight away, Gili Meno definitely felt quieter and far less developed than Gili Air, which is usually exactly what we love.
Unfortunately though, one thing really shocked us, the amount of rubbish around the island. Outside of the sunset side where we were staying, there was rubbish everywhere. Gili Air had the occasional plastic bottle here and there, which sadly is fairly common across parts of Indonesia, but this felt next level. Near the port we even saw full rubbish bags floating in the water.
Honestly, it made me sad and angry.
For a moment I remember thinking, “Honeymoon island? Hmm… maybe not.”
Thankfully, the side of the island where we stayed was much cleaner. Not spotless, but noticeably better. We were told the storm had likely washed a lot of rubbish ashore overnight and that conditions were probably worse than usual. Hopefully that was true and we simply saw Gili Meno at its worst.
Luckily, our time on the island improved a lot after that first impression and we ended up really enjoying our stay. We just never did another full walk around the island again. Instead we stayed near the cleaner beaches and crystal-clear water.
What to Do in Gili Meno?
Although quieter than Gili Air, Gili Meno offers very similar activities just with a more laid-back atmosphere.
Snorkeling
Thankfully the weather improved so the masks and fins were out again! Gili Meno has some of the best snorkeling in the Gilis. One of the main drawcards is the famous Bask underwater statues.
Now… I’ll be honest. It was BUSY.
Very, very busy.
During the day there are boats everywhere, all filled with people waiting their turn to jump into the water for photos with the statues. It’s become a huge Instagram spot and at times it honestly felt more like a floating photoshoot than a snorkeling experience.
We were told the best time to visit was sunrise to avoid the crowds. So we did. And there were already three boats there and at least twenty people taking turns posing underwater.
I eventually gave up trying to get the perfect shot and just snapped a quick photo between people diving in front of me. Patience has never exactly been my strongest personality trait!
That said, I did genuinely love the statues themselves, especially the amount of fish life surrounding them. The marine life there was incredible. We visited during shoulder season too, so I can only imagine how packed it gets during peak season.
Tip: The statues are located right across from the Bask resort. You do not need to go on a boat trip to see them if you stay on Gili Meno. It is only about 100m or less from the beach.
Swimming with Turtles
One thing Gili Meno absolutely delivered on was turtles.
Just like Gili Air, turtles are everywhere here. We didn’t do a single snorkel without spotting at least one. Seeing turtles in the wild honestly never gets old for me, the second I spot one, I’m instantly happy.
Our favourite snorkel was right in front of Divine Divers at sunrise. Calm water, barely anyone around, turtles gliding through the reef… pure magic.
Relaxing on the Beach
After so much time spent in the water, we actually enjoyed slowing down a little more on Gili Meno. There’s something really nice about sitting on a beach chair watching the boats drift by while listening to the ocean.
Sunset Watching
Cocktail in hand, sunset views, ocean breeze… my favourite time of the day.
Simon always jokes that I treat sunsets like mandatory events.
“You’ve seen thousands of sunsets already,” he always says. “Missing one won’t hurt.”
But honestly? Every sunset is different and when I’m travelling, I’ll always try my hardest to catch them.
From our sunset spot we could even see Bali’s Mount Agung volcano in the distance, which made the whole scene even more beautiful.
Amazing Food at Pomona
One of our favourite meals on the island was lunch at Pomona, the Latin American restaurant located at Bask Resort.
Yes, it was definitely on the pricier side for Indonesia but still cheaper than back home in Australia, and wow, the food was worth it. Everything was fresh, full of flavour and absolutely delicious.
If we’d stayed longer, we definitely would have gone back again.
Visiting the Lake
Gili Meno also has a saltwater lake located behind Bask Resort. There isn’t a huge amount to do there, but it’s worth a quick look if you’re nearby and you may spot some birdlife.
There used to be a wooden boardwalk surrounding parts of the lake, but honestly we wouldn’t recommend walking on it anymore. It looked badly damaged and half-rotten in sections, definitely not worth risking an injury. And honestly, holiday injuries are never fun… something I’d unfortunately be reminded of again only a few days later in Lombok.
Where to Stay in Gili Meno?
Divine Divers Resort
We stayed at Divine Divers Resort and thought it was fantastic value for money.
If you’re a diver, this would be an especially good choice as they run dive trips multiple times daily and we heard excellent things about the diving around Gili Meno.
Even though we don’t dive ourselves, we chose it mainly for the location. It sits right in front of some of the island’s best snorkeling spots. There were turtles directly out the front and beautiful coral gardens just a slow drift away.
The staff were incredibly friendly and one thing we especially appreciated was that the rooms had fresh water showers, which surprisingly isn’t always guaranteed on Gili Meno.
Bask Gili Meno
If you’re after something more upscale and modern, Bask Gili Meno is probably one of the island’s most luxurious stays. It has a stunning beachfront location, a beautiful pool area and direct access to the famous underwater statues.
It’s definitely more of a resort-style experience and ideal for couples wanting a romantic getaway or honeymoon-style stay.
Seri Resort Gili Meno
For something more mid-range, Seri Resort is another popular option. It offers beachfront villas, a lovely pool and excellent snorkeling straight off the beach. It’s quieter than some of the larger resorts while still having great facilities and comfortable rooms.
How to Get to Gili Meno?
You can reach Gili Meno from Bali, Lombok or the other Gili Islands.
From Gili Air or Gili Trawangan
Small local transfer boats run regularly between the islands and only take around 15–20 minutes depending on conditions.
From Bali
Fast boats depart from Padang Bai in Bali and travel directly to the Gili Islands. Travel time varies depending on sea conditions but is usually around 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
From Lombok
You can also reach Gili Meno from Bangsal Harbour in Lombok using either public boats or private speedboats.
Public boats are much cheaper but usually involve waiting until the boat fills up before departing. Private boats cost more but leave immediately and are far quicker and more comfortable.
Would We Go Back?
Even though Gili Meno wasn’t love at first sight and I’m still disturbed by the amount of rubbish we saw on that first day. We actually ended up really enjoying our stay.
The snorkeling was incredible, the turtles were everywhere and the peaceful atmosphere was exactly what we wanted after the busier pace of everyday life.
That said, Gili Air still remains our favourite of the two. We personally preferred having a few more restaurant options, beach bars and sunset spots while still keeping that laid-back island feel.
If you’re looking for nightlife and parties, Gili Meno probably isn’t the island for you.
But if you want slow mornings, turtles, sunsets and quiet island life, it may end up stealing your heart too.
Read More
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