Gili Air, Small coral island in Gili Islands archipelago, Indonesia
Gili Air is a small coral island in the Gili Islands archipelago off the coast of Lombok, with fine white sand beaches surrounded by a fringing reef. The shoreline is lined with palm trees and traditional wooden structures, while shallow waters invite swimming and snorkeling.
The island was first settled in the 1970s when the Indonesian government transformed the undeveloped land into coconut plantations. This early development established the foundation for today's island community and its basic way of living.
Locals call the island "Tengaq Aiq", meaning "in the middle of the sea". Most native residents are of Bugis and Sasak descent and work mainly as fishermen, traders and tour guides. The village mosque stays active, and beach bars and restaurants keep serving through Ramadan.
Regular boat services connect the island from Bangsal Harbor in Lombok, while fast boats operate from various ports in Bali. Bring cash, as automated teller machines are limited and many places do not accept credit cards.
No petrol-powered vehicles run on the island; besides bicycles and cidomos, electric scooters are also in use. A full circuit takes about 40 minutes by bicycle, under 30 minutes by cidomo and roughly an hour on foot.
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