Where to go next? Straights to gili and lombok?

Hello i am in ubud right now i had alot fun but im missing the coastal life.
Im deciding wether i should go and stay in east bali for a night or two then go to gili air.
Which east coast city of bali is the better one to base on until gili island? I was reccomened amed, but was also told it is expensive to get boat to gili there.
Amother question is, is gili air ok for a day trip should i stay for atleast 2 or more night for snorkling?

Or should i just head straight to gili then lombok?
I still have 2 weeks and a fee days left in indonesia so yheres no need for rush trip, just want a place with comfortable base for me to do some landscape drawing.
Thank you in advance.

There are reports the coral on Gili islands is spoiled. Its expensive to charter a boat to Gili islands but you can go to Padangbai and take ferry to Lombok then take public transport to the port for the Gili islands. Too far for day trip , stay at least several days. Some have suggested Gili Meno as being the better of the 3 islands.

Is spoiled and dead the same thing!

PICTURE - boat from Lombok to Gili Trawangan back in the day.

Are they dead ?

LINK to previous thread about Gili Trawangan

As to where to base in East Bali , I don't know what Candidasa is like these days , but there was nice countryside around and above Candidasa . Does anyone have updates about Candidasa ?

I feel like im getting mixed response, now i few alittle shocked that the gili is not worth going. Im still in ubud for an extra day to plan out but i dont know where to start. It seems like every where is far away. I dont really know which gili island to stat now, well i just want to know a good one for snorkelling and laid back sunset watching. As for lombok, should i base in kuta or some where near the gili island? im not sure whether to go to lombok first then gili or gili first then lombok.

Its not that Gilis are not worth going to , but some feel Gili Trawangan is too spoiled. Some still like Gili Meno. You don't need to base yourself anywhere just head straight for the Gili islands . Gili islands are just 3 small islands not far off the coast of Lombok , thus you do need to go to Lombok first. Kuta in Lombok is the other end of the island . I don't about direct transport to the Gili islands , but the normal way is to go to Lombok by ferry from Bali then take public transport to the port for the Gili islands . Probably your best bet is Gili Meno .

You can find more general info and advice on Tezza's Beaches And Islands Site - Lombok And Gili chapter This should help you.

PICTURE - Gili Islands sea

thank everyone very much this is just what I needed, I got my plan all set up and ready for Gili M! :)

I just came back from gili meno. It was a pretty awesome trip. If you want to go to gili meno, i advise not to use travel agent service in padangbai. Because there are so many scams committed by travel agents. If you want to go fast boat, you should buy a ticket on the fast boat official website. I used Marina Srikandi when I left and came home from Gili Meno. You can book tickets directly on their website in here

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