The island
Three islands sit off the north-west tip of Lombok. Trawangan is the loud one, Meno the empty one, and Air — ours — is the one with a village, a reef around the whole shore, and just enough cafés to never cook if you don’t want to.
Getting here
Fast boats leave Padang Bai (and some from Serangan and Sanur) every morning, most between 8:00 and 11:00. Book one that stops at Gili Air directly — many do, some go via Trawangan. We’ll tell you which operator is running best that month.
Fly into Lombok (LOP), drive 1h45 to Bangsal harbour, then a public boat (cheap, leaves when full) or a private one (leaves when you do). This is the calmer route in the rainy season.
Tell us your boat and we’ll be there. The whole island is walkable, so it’s a five-to-fifteen-minute stroll, or a cidomo — a horse cart — to any of the villas. Bikes are waiting at the house.
Things we actually do
Walk into the water on the east shore around seven. The turtles graze on the seagrass a few metres out; you’ll see them without fins. Bring a mask — the villas have them.
Cycling the island takes forty minutes with stops. The north side is quieter, the south-east has the cafés and the sunset bars. Every path ends at the sea.
A private boat to snorkel Meno’s statues and Trawangan’s reef, back for lunch. Ask us — the good captains fill up in high season.
Fresh fish on the grill, feet in the sand, and the volcano going pink behind Bali. Then the walk home with no traffic — only the sound of the reef.
When to come
Blue skies, flat sea, the best visibility. July and August are the busiest weeks of the year — book early. The water sits at 27–28°.
Short afternoon storms, then sun. Fewer people, softer prices, the gardens at their greenest. Boats from Bali can be bumpy in January.
Late April to June, and September to early November: warm, quiet and clear. Our favourite weeks on the island.
Good to know
Before you come
Where to stay
A short walk from the next one, and from the beach. The team lives five minutes away.
See the villas