Gili Air, the closest island to Lombok mainland, is an excellent alternative to the increasingly upscale Gili Trawangan. The morning sea is calm, offering shallow swimming along the east coast and revealing a captivating coral reef table known as Gili Air Wall on the west. Nature enthusiasts frequent Gili Air to witness unique marine life like frogfish, flying gurnards, lionfish, and various pipefish.

Despite its small size, Gili Air features a coastal path that takes about 90 minutes to leisurely navigate. The island's maze of paths can be confusing, but they all lead back to the coast eventually. Boats from Bali provide direct access to Gili Air with transfer times of 1-3 hours, depending on the departure point. Alternatively, a 30-minute journey from Gili Trawangan, stopping at Gili Meno before reaching Gili Air, is another option from Bali. Public and private boats from Bangsal offer irregular schedules.

Accommodations and tourism facilities are concentrated on Gili Air's south and east coasts facing Lombok. With only one port, the island is easily navigable. Boats typically anchor in the center of the south coast. For convenient travel, some fast boat operators skip Gili Air, but live seat availability and online bookings can be checked at gilidewatatransfer.com.