Air house reef
East and north, minutes off the beach. Coral garden, reef fish and the occasional turtle. Best on a calm morning high tide.
The relaxed east corner
Air sits in the middle of everything
Hire the whole vessel to loop Meno and Trawangan, snorkel Air's house reefs, and time a sunset cruise. You pay per boat, so your group controls the route, the stops and the pace.
Chartering from Gili Air means hiring an entire vessel for your own group to loop Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, snorkel Air's house reefs, and time a sunset cruise.
- Air is the closest of the three islands to Lombok's Bangsal harbour.
- The more relaxed island — laid-back bars and thriving reefs rather than full-moon nightlife.
- Its own reefs drop off within swimming distance of the beach.
- The real question is which loop you want, not how many seats you buy.
One loop, five stops
Where an Air charter actually goes
A typical Air-based loop combines the house reefs, Meno for quiet beaches plus turtle and statue snorkelling, and a Trawangan pass before the run home. Conditions shift with tide and wind, so the skipper reorders stops on the day.
Meno Wall and turtle point
About ten minutes by speedboat. Green turtles on the reef drop-off. Best at slack tide, low swell.
The underwater statues
Fifteen to twenty minutes. The submerged sculpture site, and the photo stop of the trio. Best in clear midday light.
Giant clam and coral gardens
Ten to fifteen minutes, off Meno. Giant clams and hard coral. Best on low wind and good visibility.
Trawangan sunset side
About fifteen minutes. An open western horizon and a sundowner, late afternoon in the dry season.
Speed, shade or viewing
Which hull to charter
The right hull depends on your group size and whether you prioritise speed, shade or reef viewing. All are priced per boat and operator-set.
Glass-bottom boat
Ask for price per boat
- 6–10 guests
- 3–4 hour loop
- Reef viewing through the hull
- Best for families and non-swimmers
Speedboat
Most asked forAsk for price per boat
- 4–8 guests
- 3–5 hour loop
- Covers Meno and Trawangan quickly
- More in-water time per hour booked
Small catamaran
Ask for price per boat
- 6–12 guests
- 4–6 hours, sunset add-on
- More deck space and shade
- Best for groups and slow cruising
Private sunset cruise
Ask for price per boat
- 4–10 guests
- 1.5–2 hours
- Unobstructed western horizon
- Best for couples and small groups
There is no official government tariff standardising Gili private-charter prices. Any per-boat figure comes from an operator or direct negotiation, never an authority — so the honest move is a live quote for your date, group and route.
Sea state and season
Visibility and sea state are best in the dry season. May to August brings clear skies and warm temperatures, with June and July busy enough to book ahead.
September stays good with occasional showers and is the quieter, better-value month.
October to April is not recommended, as regular rainfall can disrupt travel and cut visibility.
During Ramadan some shops close and beach parties pause, which makes the islands calmer and sunset cruises more serene.
Five steps
How an Air charter is booked
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Message us
Your dates, group size and a rough itinerary — turtle snorkel, statues, sunset, or the full loop.
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Get a per-boat quote
Hull options, capacity and a price for your date. No per-person surcharge games.
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Confirm boat and time
Lock the hull, the departure window and the jetty pickup point on Gili Air.
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Meet at the jetty
Air is vehicle-free, so your skipper meets you there — walk or take a cidomo from your accommodation.
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Run your loop
The skipper adapts stop order to the day's tide and wind for the best water.
Straight answers
Gili Air questions
Loop it on your own boat
Send your date, group size and the stops you want — turtles, statues, sunset. No fabricated ratings, no guaranteed sightings, just a real boat held for your group.