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A snorkeller keeping distance from a green turtle over shallow reef

The quiet middle island

Meno is the snorkel island

A private, per-boat hire around the quiet middle Gili — built for turtle snorkelling, the underwater statue site and calm-beach stops. Set your own start time and pay one flat rate, not per head.

A Gili Meno boat charter is a private, per-boat hire around the quiet middle island of the trio, built for turtle snorkelling, the underwater statue site and calm-beach stops.

  • Meno is the smallest and least developed of the three, with arguably the best beaches.
  • Undeveloped, calm and reef-fringed — which is why it is the snorkel island, not the nightlife one.
  • Meno's draw is what it does not have: crowds, traffic and noise.
  • Chartering lets you reach the turtle zones and statues at first light, before the day-trip boats.

Timing is the whole trick

What a Meno day can hold

The turtle zones and the statue circle get busy with group day-trippers by mid-morning. Holding the whole boat lets you be there before them. All timings assume the May–September dry season.

Turtle reefs, 7–9am

Meno's wall and east side. Calmer water, fewer boats, and turtles actively feeding.

The statue site, 8–10am

The ring of sculptures between Meno and Trawangan, in clear light before the crowds.

West-coast beaches, late afternoon

The softest sand of the three islands, and a quiet swim once the day boats have gone.

Sunset cruise, 5–6.30pm

West-facing with an unobstructed horizon and a calm sea.

Three shapes of day

Which charter suits your group

Rates are per boat, not per person, so larger groups get better value each. Your final quote depends on hull, group size, fuel, duration and season.

Half-day Meno snorkel

Most asked for

Ask for price per boat

  • 3–4 hours
  • 4–8 guests
  • The turtle wall and the statue site
  • Time for a beach swim

Full-day three-island hop

Ask for price per boat

  • 6–8 hours
  • 6–12 guests
  • Meno base, Trawangan facilities, Air reefs
  • The classic private combination

Private sunset cruise

Ask for price per boat

  • 1.5–2 hours
  • 4–10 guests
  • West-facing, unobstructed horizon
  • Best for couples and small groups

There is no government tariff, marine-park fee or regulation that standardises Gili charter prices. Every figure comes from an operator or direct negotiation, never an authority.

Guests watching the sunset from the deck of a charter boat, in silhouette

When Meno is at its best

May to August brings clear skies and calm seas. June and July are the busiest weeks, so book dry-season sunset cruises well ahead.

September is quieter and better value, with good weather and occasional showers.

October to April is not recommended — rain can disrupt travel and cut underwater visibility.

During Ramadan some shops close and beach parties pause, which leaves the water noticeably calmer and quieter. Couples often book the sunset cruise then for exactly that reason.

Five steps

How booking works

  1. Message us

    Your dates, group size, and where you are staying — Meno, Air, Trawangan or Bangsal.

  2. Get a per-boat quote

    A rate, a hull and a suggested itinerary: turtle reefs, statues, quiet beaches or a sunset run.

  3. Lock the boat and time

    Confirm the departure point and jetty. The islands are vehicle-free, so pickup is on foot or by cidomo.

  4. Confirm gear and weather

    Check masks, fins and life jackets are in, and check the window — plans shift in the wet season.

  5. Charter day

    Meet your boat, run your route at your pace, and settle per the terms agreed in writing.

Straight answers

Gili Meno questions

Book your Meno charter

Send your dates and group size. You get a per-boat quote and a Meno itinerary built around turtles, the statue site and a quiet sunset — no per-person markup, no pressure.