How to spend 3 days in Gili Islands, Indonesia
Most of us have connected Indonesia with Bali, nevertheless there are many more lovely places to explore apart form it when being at the country. Gili Islands, a complex of three unique islands, are a very good option to spend some more days in Indonesia.
There are many ports, depending on which side of Bali you are (Amed, Serangan Harbor, Padang Bai, Benoa Marina, and Sanur are the most common), where you can get a boat to reach the Gili Islands in about 2:30-3:00 hours. At this point I would like to mention that travelling by boat in Indonesia is a unique and perhaps not very pleasant experience due to their impunctuality, the lack of piers etc (for more details check Things to be aware of during your trip to Bali, Indonesia and useful information).
Gili Islands are composed of three islands, each with its own character; Gili Trawangan is the bigger one and busiest, full of clubs and intense nightlife. Gili Meno is the second in size and it is known for its marvelous white sanded, full of corals beaches and turquoise waters. Gili Air is the smallest from the three and ideal for relaxation. I decided to stay in Gili Air and combine my trip with a gorgeous yoga retreat that exists in this lovely island Flowers and Fire Yoga Garden Gili Air. If you are interested in yoga, it is the right place to be. The environment, the classes, the food and friendly staff are perfect.
Gili Air is a very small but beautiful island (you can go anywhere on foot, and you can do the roundtrip of the island in about 1:30 hours). There are no vehicles on the island, only bicycles, motorcycles and horse drawn carriages which give the sense of being in another era. Near the port are the best beaches, full of corals and blue-green water where you can totally relax. It is worth noting at this point that even if Bali ‘s religion is Hinduism, Islam is the religion of the rest of Indonesia. The Central Masjid Mosque at the center of the island is maybe one of the most beautiful mosques I have ever seen. Being in a tropical island and listening the Imam's prayer at the sunset time is a unique and very different experience. Keep in mind though that the same prayer will also wake you up very early in the morning.
Another unforgettable experience is the snorkeling excursion which is a must try as you make a tour at all three islands, making stops to watch huge water turtles, amazing corals and colorful fish. The best snorkeling spot is the Bask Nest underwater sculptures at Gili Meno. Underwater Statues of hugged couples, forming a circle and little multicolored fish above them is a breathtaking and outstanding view that you must not skip.
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