The tiny island of Gili Meno in Lombok, Indonesia is the smallest and most peaceful of the three Gili Islands. With perfect beaches encompassing most of the island and lukewarm water full of snorkeling opportunities just off-shore, Gili Meno is the place to bring a good book and loose yourself for a while.
While boisterous Gili Trawangan attracts most of the crowds and development, Gili Meno offers a quiet respite for couples seeking seclusion or travelers who simply need a break from the road. The sounds of birds - there is a sanctuary in the center of the island - replaces the thump of dance music.
Gili Meno is often overlooked by travelers that divide their island time between Gili Air and Gili Trawangan. During the off season, you may find more cows and sea turtles on the island than tourists!
Life on Gili Meno
As on the other two Gili Islands, a sandy path allows you to explore the entire circumference of the island; the trail can be walked in about 90 minutes. There are no cars or motorbikes to spoil the sounds of paradise. If you packed too much, a few cidomos (horse-drawn carts) are available to help get your bags from the boat landing on the east side of the island to your bungalow.
Only around 400 people call Gili Meno home. Most residents live around the matrix of trails that make up the interior of the island. Tall palm trees provide shade away from the sand and finding a private stretch of secluded beach is not as difficult as it sounds.
Electricity on Gili Meno is spotty, but you may never notice! Many guest houses provide candles and cook with fire; island life goes on uninterrupted no matter what the generator is doing.
Things to Do on Gili Meno
- Walking: No stay on the Meno is complete without taking a stroll around the island to observe local life. One point of interest is the very salty lake found on the west side of the island.
- Beaches: The beaches on Gili Meno are considered to be the best in the Gili Islands.
- Snorkeling: Snorkel gear can be rented from many guest houses and no boat is necessary. Turtles can be spotted just a short distance from shore along the west coast.
- Diving: Blue Marlin operates the only dive operation on the island and frequents the same sites accessible from the other Gili Islands. The warm water is home to mantas, reef sharks, and turtles; visibility is usually excellent.
- Bird Park: Visit the small bird park on the island to see a staggering array of species.
- Turtle Sanctuary: Go see - and support - the restoration efforts to protect green and loggerhead turtles in the Gili Islands.
Gili Meno Hotels
Prices for food and accommodation are slightly higher on Gili Meno than the rest of the Gilis. As with most islands, cheaper places to sleep are found inland a short walk from the beach. Prices for bungalows can be negotiated outside of peak season (July, August, and December) particularly if you are staying for a week or longer. Most rooms include a basic breakfast.
You will pleasantly find that resorts on Gili Air tend to be friendly, family-run, and more eco-friendly than those found on the other islands. Although most hotels are clean, learn how to avoid bedbugs before staying!
Food on Gili Meno
There are not an abundance of eateries on the island, but guest houses and beach cafes serve great fresh fish grilled in banana leaves. Most restaurants have wood-fired ovens for making pizza.
Some popular spots for food on the island are:
- Rust Warung: This is the most popular eatery on the island and is your best bet for meeting people when the island starts feeling a little too secluded.
- Yaya Warung: This small place is popular with budget travelers for the excellent prices on Nasi Goreng and other typical Indonesian fare.
Nightlife
There is very little nightlife to be found on Gili Meno. Outside of meeting people staying at your guest house, your best chance for socializing is to walk up on a beach bonfire party. Most people looking for a party grab the one-hour boat over to Gili Trawangan.
Money
There is no ATM or bank to be found on Gili Meno, bring enough cash for the duration of your stay. In an emergency, the dive shop Blue Marlin may be able to provide a cash advance on credit card for a substantial fee. The only ATM in the Gili Islands is on Gili Trawangan.
Health
There is a tiny medical clinic with resident nurse in the center of the island for minor health concerns.
Travel to Gili Meno
From Lombok: Daily boats for the Gili Islands leave frequently from Bangsal Harbor, just one hour north of Senggigi. You will probably have to wait for enough passengers wanting to go to Gili Meno or see if you can arrange for a boat destined for Gili Trawangan to let you out at Meno.
Staying in the rough port town of Bangsal is not an option, you would be better off just going to Gili Trawangan for one day and then taking a speedboat on to Gili Meno in the morning.
From Bali: Boats for the Gili Islands leave from Padangbai - a port town 90 minutes from Kuta - or you can take the more-expensive and luxurious "fast boat" from Benoa Harbor in South Bali.
From the Other Gili Islands: Speedboats run between all three islands every morning and evening, inquire at the boat landing.
Other Travel Considerations:
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You may charter a boat directly from Bangsal or Senggigi to Gili Meno for about US $20.
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All boats in the Gilis usually land on the beach - be prepared to wade ashore in shallow water.
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Although they appear very close, don't even think about trying to swim between islands; the strong currents have caused deaths in the past.
When to Go
The peak season on Gili Meno is July, August, and December. During these months prices rise significantly and accommodation becomes harder to find. The island is almost never busy outside of these months.
The rainy season for the Gili Islands runs from November to April.