How Do I Get to Gili Meno from Bali?
FAST BOAT
Several boat companies operate from various ports in Bali (Amed, Padangbai, Sanur, Serangan, Nusa Lembongan and Benoa) and also provide transfers from hotels to the harbor. Most companies offer morning departures – the first leaving around 9am and the second at 11am. Most companies operate in the morning hours only because the seas are usually calmer. Please note that most fastboats only drop you off at Gili Trawangan or Gili Air. From Serangan in South Bali, Karma Reef recommends using Gili Getaways as the most reliable and comfortable option. The price is approximately $80 USD per person one way. The additional transfer between Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno takes only 10 minutes by private speedboat.
If you want to avoid the hassle of changing boats in Gili Trawangan and be dropped off directly on Gili Meno, the Ekajaya fast boat runs direct trips from Padangbai to Gili Meno twice a day. This is a large and stable fast boat with open roof deck and AC controlled cabin downstairs. The tickets cost only $30 to 35 USD per person. The price per couple, including a private car transfer from your Bali hotel to the harbor, is $90 USD year round and $100 USD in peak season.
HELICOPTER
Air Bali offers to fly you directly to Gili Meno. The heliport is based in Benoa, south of Bali. The flight takes roughly 45 minutes. There is no regular service, so you will need to charter the flight which costs roughly USD $ 3000 (IDR 46 million) one way for up to 4 persons including luggage.
How Do I Get to Gili Meno from Lombok?
LOMBOK AIRPORT TRANSFER
If you arrive at Praya International Airport (LOP), we can arrange to have you picked up in our air-conditioned car and transferred via speedboat to Gili Meno. The journey is less than 2 hours by car and approximately 15 minutes by private speedboat. The price for up to 4 persons is $ 100 USD one way. This option is also available after sunset when all the public boats have stopped operating.
INTERISLAND PUBLIC BOAT
Public boats make hourly trips between Bangsal Harbor Lombok and Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan between 09:00 and 17:00 (in both directions). From Bangsal to Gili Meno generally takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Local slow boats cost IDR 25K per person and fast boats cost IDR 85K per person. The harbor of
Gili Meno is located at the south entrance of the resort. You can find the up-to-date boat schedules via a downloadable app called “The Gilis – Boats and Weather”.
To book your island transfer please contact us at concierge@karmareef.com
THE GILI MENO VIBE
With a population of around 500, Gili Meno is the ideal island for couples or families who are looking for nature and romance far away from the hustle and bustle. Gili Meno is the is the most untouched and charming island in the Gilis. That’s because the Lonely Planet started a rumor in the 90’s that the saline lake on the island created mosquito problems. The rumor was not true, but scared off the crowds anyway. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The beaches on Gili Meno outdo the beaches on the other Gilis – powder white and barely a tout in sight. On Gili Meno there are 3 ATM’s and one money changer, however their rates are well below the market rates you can get in Bali or Lombok. At Karma Reef we have a cashless system where you can pay your bill with a credit card at the end of your stay. Only hotels accept credit cards so bring some cash with you if you plan to eat at the local Warungs or buy souvenirs from the local hawkers. The dining scene is under developed with the majority of Warungs catering mostly to backpackers. The questionable level of hygiene makes it difficult to recommend other restaurants other than our own beach club.
Be respectful of the local Muslim culture and customs. The island Mosque is located in the center of the island and there are usually five calls for prayer per day which may be heard from the resort. Like the other Gilis, you won’t find any motorized vehicles on the island. A leisurely stroll around the entire island takes around an hour (5 kilometers). The only alternative to walking or bicycling around the island is the “Cidomo” or horse cart. Riding in a horse cart is a take-it-or-leave-it deal. The local horse carts in the Gilis attract a little bit of controversy. The cost of the short rides are getting rather extortionate (IDR 100K one way or IDR 250K to go around the island). Animal lovers can get involved with the movement for horse’s well being by getting in touch with the Gili Eco Trust.
10 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BEING A RESPONSIBLE TOURIST
DO SOMETHING TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW THERE IS NO PLANET B
BE A ROLE MODEL
Set a good example by being an environmental citizen people will follow suit.
THROW WASTE IN THE BINS PROVIDED
No littering, no excuses!
SAVE WATER AND TURN OFF ELECTRICITY
Be conservative with fresh water Turn off lights, AC & fans when you are not in your room.
DO NOT THROW ANYTHING IN THE TOILET
This will increase pollution and kill our fragile underwater eco-system.
REFILL YOUR WATER BOTTLE
Avoid buying single use bottled water and ask our friendly bar staff to refill your bottle.
DO NOT TOUCH OR STAND ON CORALS
Corals are living creatures. Interacting with this fragile ocean ecosystem will damage it
DO NOT COLLECT SEA SHELLS FROM THE OCEAN OR THE BEACH
Hermit crab use empty shells as they outgrow their own and waves break down shells to make sand to sustain our beaches.
RESPECT OUR POPULATION OF TURTLES
Never touch them and avoid fish feeding sessions. Report any snorkel tours that touch or pick-up Turtles.
REFUSE STRAWS AND PLASTIC BAGS
Little actions make BIG differences Saying no to a straw in your drink and refusing a plastic bag when shopping can help us reduce the waste on Gilis.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND ISSUES
Join us for Sunday beach cleaning, recycling and zero-waste workshops Visit our eco gift shop Volunteering your time or making a donation means that we can continue our hard work.
THINGS TO DO ON GILI MENO
We look forward to welcome you to Karma Reef – Gili Meno. We remain at your disposal for any additional information to help you plan your stay. Do not hesitate to contact us at
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Gili Meno Lake at Sunset
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Gili Meno Beaches
According to TripAdvisor’s “Travelers’ Choice Awards 2016” Gili Meno was voted as the very best beach in all Indonesia, and rated in the top five of all Indonesia for ten consecutive years already. The first thing you’ll notice when pulling up to Gili Meno is the clear blue water the boat glides over. While making for a pretty entrance, you’ll want to go around the island and choose for yourself your favourite beach on the island. From the northern end of Gili Meno you can see across to Gili Trawangan and you can even catch a glimpse of Bali’s Mount Agung in the background. The beach here is very wide and offers good snorkeling at high tide. The long stretch between Diana Cafe and Sunset House on the west coast has some pretty sections of beach, but it doesn’t quite compare to the north of the island, however this area is very good for snorkeling as well. One of the nicest and longest beaches on Gili Meno is found on the south of the island. There isn’t a lot of development there except a little beach bar. This is one of our favorite spots on Gili Meno and it’s just around the corner from the more built-up southeast side. The area 200 meters south of our resort definitely has the most picturesque beach on Gili Meno, but it’s also one of the busiest places on the island. The sand is white but like all Gili Islands beaches a little rough in parts due to coral – the water is something magical though and it’s hands down the best place to swim on Gili Meno.
There are more beautiful beaches on Meno than Trawangan and Air, so you’ll have no trouble finding your own piece of paradise.
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Karma Reef, Gili Meno
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Snorkeling
Karma Reef offers complimentary use of snorkeling equipment and life jackets during your stay. Spotting turtles while snorkeling just off the shore is more common in Gili Meno than the other Gilis. However, the best way to guarantee a sighting is on a snorkeling trip. The local boatmen know all the best spots. Snorkeling trips cost around USD $10-15 per person for a 2-3 hour trip, and children are usually charged half price. If you have a group of more than three or four people, then it’s worth chartering a boat for a private tour which costs only around USD $60. Our concierge team will be happy to assist you making the reservation.
Gili Meno’s best snorkeling spots are around the west side and from the northeast coast to the east coast in front of Karma Reef. On both sides of the island, the current plays an important role and you should avoid going against the current while snorkeling.
The north coast’s most popular site is the Meno Wall and Turtle Heaven. This underwater pinnacle is home to huge sea turtles who rest on the sea bottom and regularly come up for air. The Meno Wall and Turtle Heaven are a little too far from shore so it’s best is to hire a boat to get there.
On the west coast, enter the water at the Mahamaya Restaurant or at Two Brother Bungalows, depending on the direction of the current, and gently glide along the coral gardens of the Meno Slope. You will also find the NEST underwater statues. You will also spot the Bounty Wreck on the southwest end of the coast.
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Horse Cart
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Turtle Point Reef
The east side of the island between Karma Reef and the Seri resort is called Turtle Point Reef, approximately 800 meters long, featuring nice corals, lots of tropical fish, moray eels, sea stars and turtles. This reef is best explored while drifting with the current.
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Underwater Statues Gili Meno
The biggest attraction is definitely the Gili Meno underwater statue park. The installation named “Nest” consists of 48 life-size human figures in a circular formation referring to the circle of life. The statues were created by the famous sculptor Jason DeCaires Taylor. The statues are in shallow (4 to 5 meters) water in front of BASK Resort (currently under construction). You can snorkel from the shore or a book snorkel trip that will include a stop at the statues.
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Bounty Wreck
Sunk in 1999, this former floating dock has become the perfect artificial reef and home to many different species of coral and marine life. There is medium visibility and sometimes strong currents at this site, but it is still fantastic for diving and snorkeling. The wreck is 9 – 14m deep and only 40m from the beach so great for all levels as well as night dives. The location is exactly in front of the Two Brothers Bungalow resort.
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Scuba Diving
Learn to dive in the Gilis and discover an entirely new world. The famous marine explorer Jacques Cousteau once said “The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish” Dive sites are absolutely littered around the Gilis, and cater to all levels of divers. You’ll encounter turtles, eels, reef sharks, mantas, stingrays and rare critters. All the dive sites are within a quick 15 minute boat ride away from the dive center. Among the three dive centers on Gili Meno, Blue Marlin is the most reputable diving operator. They offer PADI courses and Discover Scuba for first-timers. If getting your PADI is on your bucket list, this is the place to tick it off, it can be done in just three days. There are also daily fun dives for certified divers at 09:00, 11:30 and 14:30 plus several times a week there are night dives and UV night dives departing at sunset. Blue Marlin dive center is located just 200 meters south from our resort.
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Night Diving
The thought of dipping below the surface at night seems mysterious, yet so alluring. Although you’ve been scuba diving at a site many times before, at night you drop into a whole new world and watch it come to life under the glow of your dive light. The scene changes as day creatures retire and nocturnal organisms emerge. Whilst you can usually look around during a normal dive and see around you in every direction, a night dive means everything around you is focused on where your dive light is pointing. In the same way, daytime diving shows you an entire shelf of coral. Night diving challenges you to see a small part and observe everything about it. Imagine floating through space, suspended in a gravity-free environment as neon colors pop from the dark like a scene from the movie Avatar. In UV night diving, this is our reality! Using a specialized highintensity blue light in combination with a yellow visor, we are privy to the underwater psychedelic world as many corals, fish and marine creatures glow in hues of yellow, green and orange for a once in a lifetime experience
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Horse Riding
A fun and relaxing way to discover the island of Gili Meno is by horseback. Zaen, the friendly owner of the King’s Stables offers well groomed horses and experienced riding guides. The terrain is flat and undemanding and can also include a romantic canter through the surf for experienced riders. Horseback tours can be booked through the resort concierge.
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Be Careful
Due to the absence of a police force, Magic Mushrooms are openly sold on the Gili islands, just don’t sneak any back to Bali or you’ll get in serious trouble. Most Reggae bars in the Gilis serve them, so don’t be shocked when you see big signs advertising them or when a “helpful” bartender suggests you try some. Anyway as for the psilocybin mushrooms, probably not a good thing to try out a long way from home, if it does not work out right it could get messy.