The gentlest of the three Gili islands off Lombok has no cars, no motorbikes and no need for either — you cross it on foot in twenty minutes. Snorkel with turtles straight off the beach, eat grilled fish at sand-floored warungs and let horse carts provide the only traffic noise. Rooms with breakfast go for hostel prices. It's the tropical reset button, minus the resort mark-up.
Featured in Ten affordable tropical escapes that won't empty your savings · Tropical
Between party-minded Gili Trawangan and sleepy Gili Meno, Gili Air gets the balance right: no motorised traffic, turtles grazing off the east-coast reef and just enough good cafés to keep the days structured. Horse carts and bicycles handle logistics; the sunset view of Bali's Mount Agung handles the evenings. Take the public boat from Bangsal on Lombok rather than pricey fast boats from Bali if you're already nearby.
Featured in Ten quiet tropical islands nobody talks about yet · Tropical