Are you wondering how easy it is to get around on Gili Air once you arrive on this paradisiacal island? You’re in luck—we’ve created this ultimate Gili Air ‘what to expect—getting around on Gili Air‘ guide.

There are three main methods of transport on Gili Air—these are cycling, using a horse and cart (yes, really!), and good ol’ fashioned walking. Read this guide and you’ll be fully in the know on the best ways to get around the island. Let’s get into it!

Good to know about Gili Air

The first thing to explain to you is that there is no motorized transport on any of the Gili Islands. It’s not just that nobody bothers with cars or motorbikes—they’re actually firmly banned across the islands by local ordinance. You may spot some locals driving scooters, but you’ll notice they’re electric, not motor powered. Most people agree that this is a good thing—there’s less pollution, you’re not constantly dodging speeding motorbikes, and the island is much quieter without constant traffic.

Because the island is so small, there’s no pressing need for motorised transport anyway—Gili Air is only 1.73 km². But if you’re wondering how you’re going to get around, there are a few options. 

Cycling

A common way to get around all the Gili islands is cycling, it is actually one of the best things to do on the Gili Islands! Gili Trawangan is probably the island most set up for cycling, then Gili Air, and lastly Gili Meno. This is to do with the quality/existence of the little island roads/paths/tracks. However, most people don’t find cycling on Gili Air too difficult—as long as you’re semi-decent at riding a bike, you should be fine. It takes around 30 minutes to circumnavigate Gili Air on a bike. 

If you’re interested in renting a bike, the best thing to do is to ask at your accommodation if they have any bicycles to rent (*Villa Burung provides guests with two bikes to use, free of charge). If they don’t, or they have run out, they may be able to call a friend that has some available and get them to bring them over. The reason it’s best to rent directly at your accommodation is that you don’t have to worry about returning the bikes before you leave.

If you can’t rent a bike from your accommodation, you’ll find them for rent at many other guesthouses and hotels, otherwise, there are often bikes for rent near the harbour just next to the Oceans 5 dive centre and hotel. The cost of renting a bike varies, but it’s generally around IDR 50,000 (USD 3) a day. The more days you rent for, the more likely getting a discount is.

Some of the bikes aren’t in very good nick, so do a little test drive before you cycle off with it, and check that the brakes and everything else is working. It’s also a good idea to find a bike that has a light attached to it as once the sun sets, there’s very little lighting across much of the island. Alternatively, you could bring a headlamp with you.

If they’re available, you’re best off asking for a bike with thicker tyres. For some reason, almost all the bicycles on the Gili Islands seem to be thin-tyred road bikes which are probably the most unsuitable bikes to have on islands with bumpy paths and sandy tracks. A lot of the bikes also have drop handlebars—this may take some getting used to if you’re accustomed to riding bikes with flat handlebars.

The path that circumferences Gili Air is made up of a mixture of concrete, pavers, bricks, dirt, and sand depending on which bit of it you’re on. Your bicycle will rattle along the bumpy path no matter where you are, and there will be points you’ll have to get off your bike and push as the way turns into loose sand. 

Horse and carts (cidomo)

Horses and carts are common on the Gilis. In the local (Sasak) language a cart is called cidomo (pronounced chi-do-mo). Using a cidomo may be helpful when you arrive at and depart Gili Air with all your luggage. The cost of a cidomo varies depending on the distance you’re going, but you can expect to pay at least IDR 100,000 (USD). 

You might feel conflicted about using a cidomo. When you read articles and posts about the Gili Islands, a frequent topic is the abuse and neglect of the horses. People have often mentioned the horses being underweight, overworked, left in the sun, with bad hooves etc. However, it’s worth mentioning that things have changed a lot in the Gilis in the past ten years or so.

Almost all of the horses we see today appear to be a healthy weight, being treated well, and in generally good health. Non-profit organisation Horses of Gili has worked tirelessly to bring up the welfare standards for the islands’ horses and help educate owners on how to properly care for them. Obviously, if you see a horse that looks skinny or is being mistreated in some way, don’t jump on the cidomo.

Walking

There’s really no reason you couldn’t get by on Gili Air just using your own two feet. As mentioned, Gili Air is a tiny island. You could circumnavigate the island in around an hour at a good pace. Crossing from one side to the other will take about 20 minutes. If you’re walking at night, you’ll definitely want to make sure you have a torch or a charged phone as in some places there is very little lighting. 

FAQs

How big is Gili Air?

Gili Air has an area of 1.73 km², and it has a circumference of just under 5 km.

How long does it take to walk around the island?

It takes approximately one hour to circumnavigate Gili Air and around 20 minutes to cross from one side of the island to the other.

How to get between Gili Islands?

Getting between the islands is made simple with the dedicated ‘Island Hopper’ boat that serves all three of the Gilis. Learn more about getting between the islands in our ‘Ultimate guide on how to get to the Gili Islands’ article which also talks about getting between the Gili Islands. Here you can also find out about getting a speed boat Gili Air direction.

Is Gili Air safe?

The overwhelming general consensus is yes! Crime is very rare across all the Gili Islands. However, as always, take precautions.

Are the horses on Gili Air mistreated?

This seems to have been more true in the past. Today, seeing a horse that looks too skinny or that is being overworked on Gili Air is much more rare. Non-profit organisation Horses of Gili has worked intensively with the local people in the Gilis to educate them on animal welfare standards and caring for horses.

Still, before jumping on a horse and cart, check to see how the horse looks—if it’s a healthy weight, its hooves are well-cared for, it doesn’t look tired out etc. Only giving money to owners that properly care for their horses will help maintain the welfare standards of the horses in the long run.