This group of islands off the northwest and the southwest coast, are no longer just the backpacker Mecca of the 1980s and 1990s, as nowadays, especially on Gili Trawangan, there are options available to keep a more luxury-minded traveller happy with comfortble hotel rooms, elaborate seafood buffets and even one or the other chic and stylish beachfront eatery.
The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes still playing reggae and, best of all, no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace.
The Gilis to the Northwest often serve as perfect getaway after an extensive roundtrip tour on Bali, as reliable express-ferries make it directly to Gili Trawangan in roughly one hour.
Less known, and only since very recently (such as on Gili Asahan) offering decent accomodation, are the Gilis to the Southwest. The underwater world here is very much intact, and snorkelling-enthusiasts are already beginning to discover this paradise.
But usually those largely uninhabited isles are just frequented by day trippers coming for a few hours by boat from the mainland, or even as a romantic setting for romantic beach barbecues arranged by hotels.
