Gili Islands for women travelling alone
Three islands with no cars. You walk, cycle or take a horse cart
- Budget
- $35 a day
- On foot
- very walkable
- Getting around
- minimal
- Best months
- May to September
- First solo trip
- Good first trip
- Wifi
- poor
- English
- Moderate
- Places to stay
- 8+ read
01 of 07
The read
Women who come here leave lighter: no traffic, no rush, just water, bikes, and strangers who become friends.
What holds up
- No motorised vehicles on any island: every road belongs to walkers and cyclists.
- English is spoken widely in guesthouses, dive shops, and restaurants across all three islands.
- Dive shops and hostels on Gili Trawangan create a built-in social scene where solo travellers meet people within hours of arriving.
What to weigh
- The fast boat crossing from Bali takes up to 2.5 hours and gets choppy in wet season, November to March: book a reputable operator and take motion sickness tablets.
- There is no hospital on the islands: anything serious means a boat to Lombok, so travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is worth carrying.
The Gili Islands are three small islands off the northwest coast of Lombok: Gili Trawangan (the biggest, most social), Gili Meno (quiet, honeymooners), and Gili Air (in between). There are no cars or motorbikes on any of the islands. You get around by walking, cycling, or horse cart.
Gili Trawangan (Gili T) is where most solo women go. The island takes about an hour to walk around. The east side has the main strip with dive shops, restaurants, and bars. The west side is quieter with better sunset views. Snorkeling off the beaches is free and turtles are common. Diving courses are a social way to meet people, and Open Water takes about four days.
Fast boats from Bali, either Padang Bai or Serangan, take about two hours. Book directly with operators like Bluewater Express or Eka Jaya rather than through resellers. Accommodation on Gili T runs from fan rooms to beachfront bungalows. Solo dining is easy since most restaurants face the beach and have a casual, communal feel.
02 of 07
Common questions
What people ask about Gili Islands, answered with specifics rather than in general terms.
- Is Gili Islands a good place to travel alone?
- Gili Islands is one of the easier places in the region to travel alone for the first time. No motorised vehicles on any island: every road belongs to walkers and cyclists.
- How much does Gili Islands cost a day?
- Around $35 a day covers a bed, food and local transport for one person in Gili Islands. That puts it at the cheaper end of the region.
- How do you get around Gili Islands?
- No motors on the islands. There are no cars, scooters, or motorbikes. Walking and cycling are the only self-powered options. Horse carts (cidomo) run along the main paths for longer distances.
- When is the best time to visit Gili Islands?
- May to September is the window most travellers aim for in Gili Islands. The fast boat crossing from Bali takes up to 2.5 hours and gets choppy in wet season, November to March: book a reputable operator and take motion sickness tablets.
- Where should you stay in Gili Islands on your own?
- Distances in Gili Islands are larger than they look on a map, so the area you pick matters more than the property. Three islands with no cars. You walk, cycle or take a horse cart
03 of 07
Where to stay
Each of these has been read rather than listed. The full set is on the stays page.
- Pearl of Trawangan
Features outdoor pools with poolside bar and restaurant directly on the beach.
hotel · 4.5 from 2121 reviews - Mad Monkey Gili Trawangan
The female dorms have lockers and air conditioning, and the staff consistently make solo arrivals feel settled from the start. The description is upfront: quiet hours are not this hostel's strength.
hostel · 4.5 from 1269 reviews - Hotel Lumi Gili Trawangan
Reception open 7am to 10pm daily; the main pool has been under repair.
hotel · 4.6 from 1134 reviews - Villa Nangka - Boutique Hotel & SPA
The pool area is highlighted as a strong spot for unwinding.
homestay · 4.8 from 354 reviews - The Rabbit Tree Hostelhostel · 4.6 from 237 reviews
- Tipsea Turtle Gili Air
One woman came back after three weeks away, which tells you something. Staff hand out local knowledge freely, and the daily activities mean you are not eating breakfast alone on day one. No specific catch surfaces in the reviews.
hotel · 4.8 from 237 reviews - La Cocoteraie Ecolodge
Solo women single out this ecolodge for sitting well away from Gili Trawangan's party strip, in a quiet coconut grove. The reviews are thin on specifics beyond that, so finer detail on staff or evening access is hard to confirm.
hotel · 4.8 from 222 reviews · about $37 a night - Gili Beach Bum Hostel (Beachfront) – Gili Trawangan
Located steps from the beach on Gili Trawangan.
hostel · 4.4 from 196 reviews
04 of 07
What to know
- 01
Trawangan is the social island
If you want to meet other solo travellers, stay on Gili Trawangan. The hostels and dive shops create a built-in social scene. Gili Air is quieter but still has a small community. Gili Meno is mostly couples.
- 02
Dive certification is popular here
Many solo women come specifically to get PADI certified. Open Water courses run 3-4 days. The dive shops are social hubs where you meet people naturally through shared boat trips.
- 03
Power and water can be unreliable
The islands generate their own electricity and desalinate water. Outages happen, especially in peak season. Bring a power bank and be prepared for occasional water pressure drops.
- 04
The fast boats from Bali can be rough
The 2.5-hour crossing gets choppy, especially during wet season (November to March). Take motion sickness medication if you are prone. Sit at the back of the boat where it rocks less.
05 of 07
Getting around
- 01
No motors on the islands
There are no cars, scooters, or motorbikes. Walking and cycling are the only self-powered options. Horse carts (cidomo) run along the main paths for longer distances.
- 02
Bicycle rental is standard
Bikes are available at most guesthouses and along the main strip. The islands are flat so cycling is easy, but the sandy paths on the quieter sides can be difficult to ride on.
- 03
Island hopping by boat
Public boats run between the three Gilis several times a day. The trip between any two islands takes 5-15 minutes. Private charters are also available from the harbor areas.
- 04
Walking circumference
Gili Trawangan takes about 90 minutes to walk around. Gili Air is about 60 minutes. Gili Meno is about 45 minutes. All are flat.
06 of 07
How the day runs
Snorkeling, diving, beach
Dive boats leave around 8am. Snorkeling trips depart from the east coast. The morning is the clearest water. Cafes open from 7am for breakfast. Turtles are easiest to spot in the shallow water before 10am.
Beach, hammocks, cycling
The heat pushes people to the beach or into hammock-filled cafes. Some cycle the island perimeter. The swing sets on the south end of Trawangan are busiest for photos mid-afternoon.
Sunset, night market, bars
The west coast fills up for sunset. The night market on Trawangan serves grilled seafood and satay. Bars on the main strip stay open late, with different venues hosting their 'big night' on rotating days of the week.
07 of 07
Neighbourhoods
- 01
Gili Air
The quietest Gili island with clear water and no motors
- 02
Gili Trawangan
The biggest Gili island with diving, nightlife, and everything in between