Three islands, three or four stops in the water, and a guide who swims next to you instead of waiting on the boat. This is the trip most people come to the Gilis for, and it is the one I run most mornings.
Where we go
We start at the turtle feeding grounds, where green turtles graze on the seagrass in water shallow enough that you can float still and watch them come up to breathe. Then the ring of underwater statues off Gili Meno, sitting on white sand and slowly turning into coral. Then a coral garden, and a stop on a quiet beach to dry off before coming back.
The order changes with the current. I decide the route in the morning, once I can see what the sea is doing — that is the part a booking platform cannot do for you.
What the morning looks like
Three departures a day: 9:30, 10:30 and 4 in the afternoon. We meet at the food market in front of the pier, and the whole trip takes about four and a half hours including the beach stop. Masks, snorkels, fins and life jackets are handed out on the boat, and I give a short briefing before the first stop so nobody goes in cold.
I am in the water with you at every stop. That matters more than it sounds: turtles move with the tide, and knowing where they feed at which hour is most of the job.
If you are not a strong swimmer
Come anyway. Life jackets are included and most people wear one the whole time — it keeps you floating so you can just look down and relax. Tell me before we leave and I stay close to you in the water. Children are welcome too; for families I often suggest a private boat so we can pick calm, shallow spots and head back whenever the kids have had enough.
What it costs
IDR 175,000 per person, and 150,000 each once you are four or more. Paid in cash in rupiah on the day: no deposit, no online payment, no booking fee and no agency in between. Food and drinks are not included, so bring water and something to eat.
What is included
- Boat, captain and guide in the water with you
- Mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket
- Three to four snorkeling stops
- Life jackets for everyone, children from 5 years
What to bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- A hat and a towel
- Water and a snack — not included on board
- Cash in rupiah
Questions people ask
Are turtles guaranteed? +
Nothing wild is ever guaranteed, but turtles are seen on the large majority of trips — they live here year round, and I know where they feed at different times of day.
Do I need to bring equipment? +
No. Mask, snorkel, fins and a life jacket come with every snorkeling trip. Food and drinks are not included, so bring water, a snack, sunscreen, a hat and a towel.
What happens if the weather is bad? +
Safety first. If the sea is rough or a storm is coming in, we move the trip to another time or another day, or you get your money back. I will always tell you honestly what the conditions look like.
Message me and we sort out your day
No booking platform, no deposit, no commission in between. Tell me your dates and how many you are, and I answer in minutes.
Also worth your morning
The underwater statues of Gili Meno
Forty-eight figures in a circle, 3 to 6 metres down off Gili Meno. What the statues are, when the light is best, how to reach them and how to get the photo, by a local guide.
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Private snorkeling boat
Your own boat around Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air: turtles, the underwater statues and coral gardens, at your pace. Good for families and photos. From IDR 1,000,000 per boat.
Read more →