The ferry port is little more than a row of shacks and a simple wooden jetty, but our first impressions of this tiny tropical island were all about the dazzling light and vivid colours; bright paintwork, bougainvillea tumbling onto white sand, a lagoon-blue sea. A teardrop of coral beaches and coconut palms washed by the crystal-clear waters of the Lombok Strait, Gili Meno doesn’t quite qualify as a desert island, but the smallest of the three Gilis is home to fewer than 500 people. Only two kilometres long and half as wide, there is no traffic, no paved roads; bicycles and horse-drawn carts are the only means of transport (you can walk coast to coast in less than 20 minutes).
The dream begins with two houses, Bamboo and Stone, both set in a huge sandy garden right on the water’s edge. Each house has four bedrooms, open-plan living spaces, a grown-up kitchen, a fresh-water pool and ocean views. There are daybeds on verandahs, sunbeds on the beach, beautifully tiled floors in gorgeous bathrooms, sofas piled with bright cushions, rugs and pretty antique furniture – but the luxuries here are all about nature and the outdoor life: bikes, birds, hammocks, sunsets, sea breezes and starry skies. A world away from Bali’s tourist hotspots, this so-called honeymoon island is heaven for escapists.
Highs
- The gardens are made for relaxation: sunbeds, shade, an inviting blue pool, the beach on the doorstep... bliss
- Your small team of friendly staff take the art of housekeeping to another level – arranging everything from breakfast and bike hire to massages and boat trips and always with a bright smile
- The island’s lagoons are excellent for snorkelling and scuba diving (turtles swim in the shallows and there's a dive centre nearby)
- For larger groups of friends or family, it’s possible to rent both houses (sleeping 16 in total) – and they are right next door to each other
Lows
- Secluded, yes, but not entirely private; a walkway passes by and the eye-catching nature of the houses tends to draw attention
- The island is remote and unsophisticated, so expect occasional power outages; there is a back-up generator on site for such eventualities
- Whether by sea or air (via Lombok), the Gili islands are quite a trek, and boat services are occasionally delayed or disrupted by rough weather during the wet season
Best time to go
For warm, settled weather, May to August are the best months to visit Bali. Temperatures begin to climb in October and reach a high in November. December begins a typically tropical rainy season which continues until March (possibly the best time to visit if you prefer a quieter island experience). Boat access to the island can occasionally be delayed or disrupted in the rainy season.
Our top tips
Hire a bike and explore the island – it won’t take long (a circuit of Gili Meno’s beaches takes less than 2 hours even on foot) and there are no cars to pollute the air or impede your route. The traditional mode of transport on the islands is horse-drawn carts or Cidomos; charming, yes, but the horses are not always well treated, although welfare has improved in recent years under the guidance of the charitable Gili Eco Trust.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests
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