Gili Islands
The Gili Islands (Indonesian: Tiga Gili [Three Gilis], Kepulauan Gili [Gili Islands]) are an archipelago of three small islands or Gili island triplets — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. The local name of these three islands is Gili Indah which means "small beautiful islands".
Gili Islands and Mount Rinjani in the back | |
The Gili Islands, northwest of Lombok | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | South East Asia |
| Coordinates | 8.35°S 116.06°E |
| Archipelago | Lesser Sunda Islands |
| Total islands | 3 |
| Major islands | Trawangan, Meno, Air |
| Area | 15 km2 (5.8 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Administration | |
Indonesia | |
| Province | West Nusa Tenggara |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 4439 estimated permanent inhabitants (2010 Census) |
| Ethnic groups | Balinese, Sasak, Tionghoa-peranakan, Sumbawa people, Flores people, Arab Indonesian |
The islands are a tourist destination. Each island has several resorts, usually consisting of a collection of huts for tourists, a small pool and restaurant. The largest Indonesian settlement is located on Gili Air, however due to the amount of western expatriates who live on Trawangan together with the locals, it has become the more densely populated island, concentrated in a township stretching along its east side (this is also where the majority of tourist development has taken place). Automobiles and motorized traffic are prohibited on the islands by local ordinance, so the preferred method of transportation is by foot and bicycle or the horse-drawn carriage called a cidomo. Scuba diving and free diving in and around the Gilis is also common due to the abundance of marine life and coral formations. Most famous diving spots are Shark point, Manta point and Simon's reef.