The Gilis
A playground of tropical rustic luxury awaits…
The Gilis are a string of three small, idyllic islands off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. Used by Japanese fighter pilots as a refuge during WWII, the Gilis did not have permanent settlements until the 1970s, when Sasak people from Lombok decided to settle there and establish palm plantations. Palm trees are native to the Gilis. This is where “Palm View Properties” comes from: honoring the beautiful native plants that lend the islands their tropical beauty and also provide economic opportunity. There’s nothing like a cold coconut — a “kelapa muda dingin” — on a hot day!
The original Gili settlers discovered paradise islands where marine life is plentiful, beaches are soft and white, and the lifestyle is slow and relaxed. Foreign tourists discovered the Gilis in the 1980s, as tourism began booming in Bali, and started to open up rustic resorts, restaurants, and dive shops, most popular during the dry season, which runs from May to October. The warm waters surrounding the Gilis are a Mecca for both scuba and free divers, who sometimes call it the sea turtle capital of the world.
The Gili Islands remained a hidden gem until the about 2010, when development started to skyrocket. The first luxury private pool villas opened and dining options proliferated. While the Bali accommodation market became quickly saturated, the market in the Gilis can’t keep up with demand. Tourists can’t get enough of this heavenly destination with its crystal clear waters and stress-free lifestyle. The real estate market reflects this strong demand, with property values growing, on average, a whopping 8% per year.
Despite the booming tourism economy, the islands have maintained their vibe of rustic luxury. There are no motorized vehicles allowed, and everyone gets around by foot, on bicycles, or on a cidomo—a horse-drawn cart. Around sunset each day, everyone drops what they’re doing to watch the sky turn vibrant orange and pink. Musicians play live music at weekly parties where fire dancers twirl with flaming poi. Aspiring yoga teachers learn their craft at one of the community’s yoga shalas. There are no dogs on the Gilis, and most shops and hotels are home to friendly, stub-tailed cats. The community on the Gilis cares deeply about their home, and local NGOs are working to educate people on how to protect marine life and eradicate single-use plastic. Dive shops lead flocks of divers in monthly reef and beach cleanups. People work hard and play hard, supporting each other’s businesses and seeking to reinforce a strong and diverse community.
Join the Gili community and realise your tropical dreams!
Which Island Is Right For You?
Each of the Gili islands has a distinctive character and vibe of its own. Let’s find the right fit for you.
Gili Trawangan
Why choose Gili Trawangan?
Gili Trawangan, known affectionately by the locals as “Gili T,” is the biggest of the three Gilis. It also has the most topographical diversity, rising 30 meters above sea level. “Trawangan” comes from the Indonesian word “terowangan,” for “tunnel,” as the Japanese built tunnels in Gili T’s hill during WWII. The hill is perfect for those who love hiking and want to take in the views of the surrounding islands and the Lombok Straight.
Gili T is also the only one of the Gilis that has uninterrupted sunset views, all the way across the Lombok straight to Bali and Mt. Agung. Gili T has a bit of a reputation for being a party island, but it’s so much more than that. It is full of divers and restaurant and hotel owners, and has launched key community initiatives that help inhabitants of all three islands.
Gili Trawangan, known affectionately by the locals as “Gili T,” is the biggest of the three Gilis. It also has the most topographical diversity, rising 30 meters above sea level. “Trawangan” comes from the Indonesian word “terowangan,” for “tunnel,” as the Japanese built tunnels in Gili T’s hill during WWII. The hill is perfect for those who love hiking and want to take in the views of the surrounding islands and the Lombok Straight.
Gili T is also the only one of the Gilis that has uninterrupted sunset views, all the way across the Lombok straight to Bali and Mt. Agung. Gili T has a bit of a reputation for being a party island, but it’s so much more than that. It is full of divers and restaurant and hotel owners, and has launched key community initiatives that help inhabitants of all three islands.
Gili Meno
Why choose Gili Meno?
Sandwiched between Gili Air and Gili Trawangan, the tiny island of Gili Meno is a little slice of paradise. The least developed of the three Gilis, Gili Meno is the ideal location for anyone who dreams of experiencing life on a near-private island. With only a few hotels and restaurants and pristine white sand beaches, Gili Meno is the perfect place to get away from it all.
You can spend the day walking around sandy paths, saying hello to napping sea turtles, having a picnic on the shores of the island’s small lake, or just hanging out in a hammock, reading. This island is truly for those who wish to take a break from the fast-paced life, for those who want to slow down and just be.
Sandwiched between Gili Air and Gili Trawangan, the tiny island of Gili Meno is a little slice of paradise. The least developed of the three Gilis, Gili Meno is the ideal location for anyone who dreams of experiencing life on a near-private island. With only a few hotels and restaurants and pristine white sand beaches, Gili Meno is the perfect place to get away from it all.
You can spend the day walking around sandy paths, saying hello to napping sea turtles, having a picnic on the shores of the island’s small lake, or just hanging out in a hammock, reading. This island is truly for those who wish to take a break from the fast-paced life, for those who want to slow down and just be.
Gili Air
Why choose Gili Air?
Among the three Gilis, Gili Air is just right: it’s bigger than Meno and smaller than Trawangan. It’s more lively than Meno, but more relaxed than Trawangan. It has more variety than Meno, but less of an urban vibe than Trawangan. It’s the perfect destination for honeymooners, scuba and free divers, and anyone who simultaneously loves a night out and a quiet day by the pool. Gili Air is the only one of the three Gilis that has its own subterranean water source (“air” means “water” in Indonesian), which is perhaps the reason why it has the biggest Indonesian population of the three Gilis.
Choosing to invest in Gili Air is choosing to invest in a tight-knit community. Gili Air has the strongest real estate market of the three Gilis, and now is the time to invest there, as land resources are limited. When you invest in Gili Air, it means that you are joining a group of people who have realized their dream of building a life in paradise. They know that Gili Air is a special place and they can’t wait to share it with you.
Among the three Gilis, Gili Air is just right: it’s bigger than Meno and smaller than Trawangan. It’s more lively than Meno, but more relaxed than Trawangan. It has more variety than Meno, but less of an urban vibe than Trawangan. It’s the perfect destination for honeymooners, scuba and free divers, and anyone who simultaneously loves a night out and a quiet day by the pool. Gili Air is the only one of the three Gilis that has its own subterranean water source (“air” means “water” in Indonesian), which is perhaps the reason why it has the biggest Indonesian population of the three Gilis.
Choosing to invest in Gili Air is choosing to invest in a tight-knit community. Gili Air has the strongest real estate market of the three Gilis, and now is the time to invest there, as land resources are limited. When you invest in Gili Air, it means that you are joining a group of people who have realized their dream of building a life in paradise. They know that Gili Air is a special place and they can’t wait to share it with you.
