Get To Know Your Fellow Travellers On A Chilled Out Indonesian Island

Relax in a hammock after a decent night’s rest

The island of Gili Air is accessible from nearby Bali or Lombok by boat. There are regular daily departures that stop at all three of the Gili Islands. Upon arrival at the Gili Air Harbour, take the road inland away from the beach. You will find Gili Air Hostel around 200 m (~656 ft) along on the right-hand side. There are restaurants, beauty spas and laundry facilities near the hostel on this road.

The dormitory buildings are joglos, authentic Javanese houses with unique roof architecture, and all have been constructed from recycled materials. The facilities are quite new as the hostel opened in July 2014. All rooms have effective air conditioning and western style bathrooms with hot water available 24 hours a day. There are three standard dorm rooms each with six beds each. All are single beds, no bunk-beds, which makes for a spacious and comfortable sleeping environment. Each bed has its own power point, nightlight and secure locker provided underneath meaning you don’t have to fight with your roommates over charging your laptop or storing your belongings.

Unbeatable value for money

At under 10 USD or 125,000 IDR per night during high season for a dorm bed, including breakfast, the Gili Air Hostel is one of the most affordable places to stay on the island. Private rooms with shared bathrooms are also available from 18-25 USD (250,000-350,000 IDR) per night depending on the season. The hostel provides bed sheets and even towels for guests, which is a rarity amongst budget accommodation in Indonesia.

Breakfast is provided for guests every morning until 10 am. Options include banana pancakes or freshly made omelettes plus tea and coffee. Extra facilities include the cow bar, which is open daily, several hammocks and bean bags for your relaxation and a climbing wall if you feel like a challenge. The porch areas by each building are a great spot for chilling out with a book or chatting to your fellow travellers.

Make friends easily in this wifi-free hostel

Gili Air Hostel has a wifi-free policy throughout the premises. The aim is to encourage guests to engage with one another and really relax and enjoy their time at the accommodation. In a world where we are constantly logging onto our phones/tablets/laptops it’s a great way to properly detach from the outside world. Get to know your fellow travellers over a drink from the hostel’s cow bar, a chat on the veranda beanbags or a game of cards. On rainy days snuggle up with your roommates in front of a movie from the hostel’s extensive hard drive.

Get the most out of your time on Gili Air

Save on accommodation and spend on some unforgettable island experiences. Gili Air is a great spot for scuba diving. Complete your Open Water diving course at one of the many excellent diving schools or snorkel right off the beach. Turtle sightings are common in the shallows. If you’re feeling more active you can hire kayaks or stand-up paddle boards from a number of vendors across the island. Hiring a bicycle and circumnavigating the island is another great way to spend half a day. The H2O yoga and meditation studio is a great place to tap into your spiritual self, they hold classes twice daily. Or simply relax on the beach with a cold drink in hand – the choice is yours.