Must Visit Landmarks in Gili Islands and the Stories Behind Them

If you have spent any time drifting through the back roads and coastal paths of this tiny archipelago, you know the must visit landmarks in Gili Islands are not the glossy postcard kind. They are salt-worn, sun-faded, and often half-hidden behind coconut palms or a row of parked cidomo. I have walked these islands in the midday heat, in the early haze before the first boats arrive, and in the strange quiet after the beach bars close. What follows is the version of the islands I keep coming back to, the one built out of coral, concrete, old prayers, and stubborn local pride.

Gili Trawangan Hilltop Lookout and the Old Fort Trail

What to See: The remains of a Japanese-era concrete bunker and a rusted artillery position half-swallowed by scrub, plus a panoramic view across the western coastline toward Mount Rinjani.

Best Time: Around 6:30 in the morning, before the sun turns the metal ladder on the bunker ladder too hot to touch.

The Vibe: Quiet, slightly eerie, and surprisingly breezy. You will probably be the only person up there for an hour or two.

On the northern inland side of Gili Trawangan, a narrow dirt path branches off from the main cycling road near the area locals still call Bukit Kera, or Monkey Hill. The trail is not signposted in any official way, but you will see a faded hand-painted board pointing toward "Bunker" if you know where to look. The path climbs gently for about ten minutes through a cluster of kangkung plots and a small goat pen before opening onto a flat ridge. That ridge is where you find the old Japanese observation post, built during the Second World War when these islands sat along a critical supply route between Bali and Lombok. The structure itself is modest, a low concrete dome with a narrow slit facing the sea, but the story attached to it is not. Local families still pass down accounts of forced labor during the occupation, and you can still see shallow depressions in the ground where wooden supports once held up a thatched roof extension.

Most tourists never make it up here because the trail is not on any of the main cycling maps handed out near the harbor. The view, however, is one of the clearest on the island. On a good morning, you can see the full silhouette of Mount Rinjani rising above the clouds on Lombok, and the outline of Gili Meno floating low on the horizon. The bunker itself is slowly being reclaimed by a massive banyan root system, which gives the whole site a strange sense of time folding in on itself. If you go, bring a hat and water, because there is zero shade once you step out of the tree line. The metal rungs on the side of the bunker are also rusted and uneven, so do not climb on top of it for a photo unless you are confident in your footing.

Local Tip: Ask the older cidomo drivers near the Trawangan market about "Jepang dulu," meaning "the Japanese time." Several of them have grandparents who worked on the construction, and they can point you to a second, smaller bunker about two hundred meters further north that is almost completely buried in undergrowth.

Gili Meno’s Salt Lake and the Underwater Statues

What to See: A brackish inland salt lake, a cluster of submerged statues known as the "Nest," and a quiet turtle sanctuary on the eastern shore.

Best Time: Late afternoon, around 4:30, when the light turns the lake surface into a sheet of silver and the tourist boats have mostly left.

The Vibe: Surreal and still. The kind of place where you hear your own breathing more than anything else.

Gili Meno is often called the "honeymoon island," but the interior holds a landscape that feels more like a forgotten science experiment than a romance novel. On the southwestern side of the island, a short walk from the white sand beach, you will find a shallow lake separated from the sea by a thin ridge of coral rock. For generations, locals harvested salt here during the dry season, scraping crystalline deposits from the lake bed and selling them in Lombok markets. That practice has mostly stopped, but the lake remains, and its high salinity creates an unusual ecosystem where only a few species of tiny fish and brine shrimp survive.

Just offshore from the lake's outlet, a series of underwater sculptures known as the Nest were installed in 2014 by the Gili Eco Trust and local artists. The statues depict human figures in various poses, and over the years they have become encrusted with coral and algae, turning them into a kind of accidental reef. Snorkeling here is free, though the water clarity depends heavily on the season. During the rainy months from November to March, runoff can reduce visibility to just a meter or two. The statues sit at a depth of about three to four meters, so you do not need diving gear, but you will need to swim out about fifty meters from the shore. There is no formal entry point, so the coral rubble underfoot can be sharp. Wear reef shoes.

Local Tip: The small turtle sanctuary on the eastern side of the lake operates on donations and is run by a local family. If you visit in the early morning, around 7:00, you can watch them release juvenile hawksbill turtles that have been kept in protective pens. This is not advertised anywhere online.

Gili Air’s Old Mosque and the Coral Stone Walls

What to See: Masjid Al-Hikmah, the oldest mosque on Gili Air, surrounded by traditional coral stone walls and a centuries-old cemetery.

Best Time: Just after midday prayer, around 12:15, when the courtyard empties and the light falls cleanly across the carved wooden doors.

The Vibe: Reverent, cool, and deeply rooted. This is not a tourist site, and it does not try to be one.

On the southeastern side of Gili Air, about a five-minute walk from the main harbor, you will find Masjid Al-Hikmah sitting quietly behind a row of warungs selling nasi campur. The mosque was originally built in the late 1800s by Bugis fishermen who settled on the island after sailing down from South Sulawesi. The structure you see today has been rebuilt several times, but the original coral stone walls still form the boundary of the courtyard, and the carved wooden doors on the main prayer hall date back to the 1920s. The doors feature geometric patterns typical of Bugis craftsmanship, with no animal or human figures, reflecting a strict interpretation of Islamic art that was common among early maritime communities in the region.

The cemetery behind the mosque is older than the current building. Several of the graves are marked with smooth, uncarved coral stones, a tradition among Sasak and Bugis communities that predates the use of formal headstones. One grave, slightly apart from the others, is said to belong to a local spiritual leader who mediated a long-standing conflict between Gili Air and Gili Trawangan fishermen in the early 1900s over sea cucumber harvesting rights. That conflict, known locally as the "teripang war," is rarely discussed in guidebooks, but it shaped the informal territorial boundaries that still influence where local boats anchor today.

Local Tip: You are welcome to enter the courtyard outside of prayer times, but you must remove your shoes and cover your legs. There is a small ablution area to the left of the entrance. A local caretaker named Pak Iwan sometimes sits under the banyan tree near the gate and is happy to talk about the mosque's history if you approach respectfully and speak even a few words of Bahasa Indonesia.

The Gili Islands Underwater Bicycle and the Coral Restoration Sites

What to See: A submerged metal bicycle sculpture, a series of coral frames being grown by the Gili Eco Trust, and a healthy stretch of staghorn coral.

Best Time: Early morning, between 7:00 and 8:30, when the water is calmest and the sun angle makes the coral colors pop.

The Vibe: Playful but purposeful. It looks like a joke at first, but the science behind it is serious.

Off the southeastern tip of Gili Trawangan, in an area known locally as Turtle Point, a metal bicycle sits on the sandy bottom about fifteen meters from the shore. It was placed there in 2012 as part of a coral restoration project run by the Gili Eco Trust, a local nonprofit founded in 2000 by a group of dive shop owners and residents who were alarmed by the damage done by dynamite fishing in the 1990s. The bike serves as a substrate for coral growth, and today it is almost completely covered in acropora and brain coral. It has become one of the most photographed objects in the water around the islands, but most people who swim out to it have no idea of the broader restoration effort happening around it.

The Gili Eco Trust maintains dozens of coral frames in the shallows around all three islands. These are hexagonal metal structures planted with fragments of broken coral, which are then monitored and cleaned by volunteers. The project has been remarkably successful. Where there was once bare, bombed-out rubble, you now find dense patches of reef that attract parrotfish, small reef sharks, and the occasional manta ray during the wet season. The trust runs weekly coral planting sessions on Trawangan, usually on Fridays at 10:00, and anyone can participate for a small donation. You do not need to be a certified diver. The work is done in shallow water using snorkeling gear.

Local Tip: The coral frames near the bicycle are numbered. Frame 14, about ten meters to the north, has been growing since 2011 and is one of the oldest in the project. If you ask the Eco Trust staff, they will let you see the before-and-after photos on a laminated chart they keep at their office near the harbor. It is a striking visual.

Gili Trawangan Night Market and the Old Chinese Shrine

What to See: A nightly food market serving mie goreng, satay, and martabak, plus a small Chinese shrine tucked behind the market stalls.

Best Time: Around 7:30 in the evening, when the stalls are fully set up but the dinner rush has not yet peaked.

The Vibe: Loud, smoky, and wonderfully chaotic. This is where the island eats when the tourists go to the beach clubs.

The night market on Gili Trawangan sits on the inland side of the island, just south of the main cycling road, in an area that was historically the center of the island's small Chinese-Indonesian community. The market itself is a semi-permanent structure of tin roofs and plastic tarps, with rows of folding tables and a speaker system that plays dangdut music at a volume that makes conversation difficult. The food is cheap, a plate of mie goreng costs around 25,000 rupiah, and the quality is surprisingly consistent. The satay stall run by a woman known as Ibu Ratna has been operating in the same spot for over fifteen years, and her peanut sauce recipe is rumored to include a small amount of ground coffee, which gives it a slightly bitter depth that sets it apart from the standard version.

Behind the market, down a narrow alley between two stalls selling batik sarongs, you will find a small Chinese shrine dedicated to the goddess Mazu, the protector of sailors. The shrine dates back to the 1930s, when Chinese traders from Lombok and Bali used Gili Trawangan as a stopover point. It is a modest structure, about two meters tall, with a red lacquered altar and a brass incense burner. During the lunar new year, the shrine is decorated with red lanterns and fresh fruit offerings, and a small group of elderly residents gathers to burn incense and pray. For the rest of the year, it is easy to miss entirely.

Local Tip: The shrine is not locked, but the door is stiff. Push gently and it will open. If you visit during the evening, bring a small stick of incense from one of the market vendors and place it in the burner. It is a quiet gesture, but the older caretakers appreciate it.

Gili Air’s Traditional Weaving Houses and the Lontar Palm Manuscripts

What to See: A cluster of traditional Sasak-style weaving houses, examples of hand-woven songket fabric, and a private collection of lontar palm manuscripts.

Best Time: Mid-morning, around 9:30, when the weavers are actively working and the light inside the houses is good for photography.

The Vibe: Intimate and unhurried. This is a working neighborhood, not a museum.

On the northern side of Gili Air, in an area called Kampung Sasak, a small group of families still practices traditional songket weaving using wooden looms that have been passed down for generations. Songket is a hand-woven fabric interwoven with gold or silver thread, and it was historically worn during ceremonies like weddings and circumcisions. The weaving houses are simple structures with thatched roofs and open sides, and the women who work there are usually happy to show you the process if you approach politely. One weaver, Ibu Siti, has been working at her loom for over forty years and can produce a single piece of songket in about three months. Her work has been exhibited in Mataram and Denpasar, but she sells most of her pieces directly to visitors for prices ranging from 300,000 to 2 million rupiah depending on the complexity.

What most visitors do not know is that one of the families in Kampung Sasak also keeps a small collection of lontar palm manuscripts, ancient texts written on dried palm leaves using a sharp pengrupak knife. These manuscripts contain everything from medicinal recipes to calendars of auspicious days. The family does not advertise the collection, but if you are respectful and express genuine interest, they may allow you to see a few pieces. The manuscripts are stored in a wooden box under a sleeping mat, and the leaves are so fragile that they can only be handled with cotton gloves.

Local Tip: The weaving houses are not marked on any map. Look for the cluster of homes with bright blue trim near the northern end of the main walking path. If you buy a piece directly from the weaver, ask about the meaning of the pattern. Each motif has a name and a story, often related to protection or fertility.

Gili Meno’s Abandoned Bungalows and the Ghost Island Era

What to See: The ruins of a 1990s resort complex, overgrown bungalow foundations, and a stretch of untouched beach on the western shore.

Best Time: Late afternoon, around 5:00, when the shadows are long and the western light gives the ruins a strange, golden quality.

The Vibe: Melancholy and beautiful. It feels like walking through a film set after the crew has left.

On the far western side of Gili Meno, about a twenty-minute walk from the main beach, you will find the remains of a small resort that was abandoned in the early 2000s. The story, as locals tell it, is that a Balinese investor built a cluster of ten bungalows and a restaurant in 1994, hoping to capitalize on the island's growing reputation as a quiet alternative to Trawangan. The resort never attracted enough guests to turn a profit, partly because the access road was never paved and the generator failed repeatedly during the dry season when water was scarce. By 2003, the owner had left, and the jungle began its slow reclamation.

Today, you can still see the concrete foundations of the bungalows, a collapsed wooden bar counter, and a rusted sign with faded lettering that reads "Paradise Found." The area has become an unofficial nature spot, with coconut crabs scuttling through the undergrowth and a pair of sea eagles nesting in a dead tree near the cliff edge. The beach just beyond the ruins is one of the quietest on the island, with powdery white sand and water so clear you can see the bottom at chest depth. It is not safe for swimming during the monsoon months because of strong currents, but during the dry season from May to September, it is one of the best snorkeling spots on the island.

Local Tip: The path to the abandoned bungalows starts near the large banyan tree on the main western trail. Look for a faded red ribbon tied to a branch. It marks the turnoff onto a narrow dirt track that most cyclists miss entirely.

Gili Trawangan’s Eastern Cemetery and the Old Dutch Anchor

What to See: A historic cemetery with graves dating back to the 1800s, a massive rusted anchor believed to be of Dutch origin, and a quiet stretch of coastline with views toward Lombok.

Best Time: Early morning, around 6:00, when the air is cool and the cemetery is empty except for a single caretaker who sometimes waters the plants.

The Vibe: Contemplative and windswept. This is the side of Trawangan that most visitors never see.

On the eastern coast of Gili Trawangan, past the area where the morning fish market sets up, a narrow path leads to a small cemetery that predates most of the current buildings on the island. The oldest graves are marked with rough coral stone markers, and several have inscriptions in Dutch and Bugis script that date them to the mid-1800s. The cemetery was used by a small community of Bugis and Bajo sea nomads who lived on the island long before tourism arrived. Their descendants still live on Gili Air and Gili Meno, but a few elderly residents on Trawangan maintain the cemetery and visit regularly to clean the stones and leave offerings of flowers and incense.

Just beyond the cemetery, half-buried in the sand near the high tide line, sits a massive iron anchor that locals believe belonged to a Dutch East India Company ship that ran aground on the reef in the 1700s. The anchor is over two meters long and heavily corroded, but its flukes are still clearly visible. There is no official plaque or marker, and the anchor has never been formally studied by archaeologists, so its exact origin remains uncertain. What is certain is that it has been in the same spot for as long as anyone on the island can remember, and it serves as a quiet reminder that these islands have been a crossroads for centuries.

Local Tip: The cemetery is considered sacred by some local families. If you visit, do not step on the graves or sit on the stone borders. The caretaker, a man named Pak Made, sometimes sits on a bench near the entrance and is willing to share stories about the families buried there if you ask politely.

When to Go and What to Know

The dry season, from May through September, is the most comfortable time to explore the must visit landmarks in Gili Islands. The humidity drops, the paths are passable, and the sea is calm enough for snorkeling at the coral restoration sites. October and April are shoulder months that can work well if you do not mind occasional downpours. The rainy season from November