Here we are at the 3rd part of our Circuit in Indonesia : the stay at GILI AIR which starts from day 11 to day 15.
Our program of the day
Bali-Gili crossing Air - Hotel installation - Relaxation - snorkeling - good restaurants
Where can I find tickets for the BALI GILI crossing?
I had checked the prices on the internet but they were way too high. So I decided to take them there. See my detailed article: BALI GILI CROSSING
For your transport in Asia, here is a very practical link: 12go.asia
We were dropped off in SANUR at the Scoot Fast Cruises agency (Sanur Kaja - Denpasar Selatan T +62 361 28 22 33). This very serious agency offered us 1 IDR round trips per person! Too expensive from what I had heard. And impossible to negotiate with this agency ...
So we went to the beach of Sanur where we found a small Kiosk from the SEMAYA ONE agency - See below.
There, we were able to negotiate the round trip at IDR 750 / person or half the price !!!
We left the next morning (they would pick us up from the hotel at 7:00 am) to drop us (1h30 taxi included in the price) at Padang Bay. From there, we waited at the pier until 10:00 am to leave by fastboat. Normally the crossing lasts only 2h00 but that day, the sea was rough and we put 4h00 to arrive at GILI AIR !
FYI, here are the "official" prices but I recommend that you negotiate them at 750 RP round trip!
What to do on GILI AIR?
Gili Air is a very small island (we can walk around it in 1h15) on which there are no motor vehicles. On arrival, you can take a horse-drawn carriage to get to your hotel. Otherwise, I advise you to move around during your cycling trip. We have negotiated the rental of a bicycle at IDR 40 per day or around 000 Euros.
Don't expect a place like Mauritius, Martinique, Seychelles or other very touristy and fashionable places… Here, people are simple, cool, respectful (average age quite young); it is a Bohemian and relaxed spirit that reigns over this little piece of land.
The snorkeling
The best spot on the island was in front of our hotel !!!
Massages
I tested the traditional Balinese massage (from head to toe): very pleasant, the treatments are done on the first floor of an overwater bungalow facing the sea (sound of the waves + Zen music): HAPPINESS for only 120 IDR or 000 Euros! Be careful, you have to book one day before.
Diving
Find out more near the port, several agencies or hotels offer excursions or other courses ...
Restaurants at GILI AIR
PACHAMAMA
We tested the PACHAMAMA : GREAT !!! Good products, well prepared and far from traditional nasi-goreng or mi-goreng in an intimate and warm setting… It is an inventive cuisine that knows how to combine flavors and present dishes in a modern way.
Small downside: The caramel truffle. I almost cried when the waiter brought me the plate because it was colorless, odorless, creamy, nothing ... just with a ridiculous tiny truffle (40g) that must have felt very lonely and abandoned in the middle of this empty plate. In addition, it did not bring me the expected pleasure in the mouth: rather bland taste and very dry and compact texture.
In short, choose the dessert rather similar to the Banoffee that I jealously looked at on the other plates ...
SATE-BAR
For lunch, we tested the very small restaurant on SATE BAR:
Good formula for lunch because you can quickly eat very good small skewers prepared in front of you. You can combine them as you wish and choose as an accompaniment to rice or sautéed potatoes. I liked, among other things, the vegetable kebabs and loved the pineapple ones. FYI, a skewer costs around IDR 10 (or 000 Euros). You can eat on average for 0,70 IDR (50 Euros).
CHILL OUT
We tested for the evening the famous restaurant le CHILLOUT:
Good place to eat fish and seafood (choose raw, weigh, pay and eat on the beach). A bit expensive but so good !!!
Yoga
CHEAP HOTEL IN GILI AIR
Good address : Unzipp Bungalows https://www.booking.com/hotel/id/unzipp-bungalows.fr.html
Facing the most beautiful snorkeling spots on the island, there is a group of bungalows around a beautiful swimming pool. In addition, the restaurant where breakfast is also taken is facing the sea with the sea air and the sound of the waves… The price paid was interesting for GILI AIR : 37 Euros per night with breakfasts included.
Unusual : the bathrooms and toilets are open to the sky. It's good to feel in nature and watch the birds when you are in the little corner !!!
Only downside: Some bungalows are a bit dark… but everything else is fine.
RETURN TO BALI
Very important information:
Even if you have reserved the date and time of the return ticket for the fastboat to BALI, you must go to the pier 48 hours before returning to validate your departure registration with your agency. This is very important because otherwise they put you on the returns where there is room and it is not necessarily the one that suits you and that you had reserved! Be careful because there are only 2 departures per day and always in the morning at 9 am or 11 am.
For your transport in Asia, here is a very practical link: 12go.asia
Here is what I photographed at the port at the departure pier:
My impressions on GILI AIR ? See my article: GILI AIR in 4 days