Gili Air Snorkeling with Turtles and Underwater Statue Lombok
- Duration5 hours
- Daily
- Group
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Overview
This snorkelling trip starts from the beach on Gili Air and takes you by glass-bottom boat to Turtle Point, the underwater statues off Gili Meno and colourful coral reefs. Choose the five-hour shared group trip, with free time on Gili Meno and a visit to the Turtle Conservation Centre, or a shorter three-hour trip with a small group of up to eight people. An English-speaking guide, snorkelling gear, life jacket, mineral water, insurance and GoPro photos are included. It suits confident swimmers who want turtles and statues without a long day.
Highlights
- Swim with sea turtles at Turtle Point in the Gili Islands
- Snorkel above the underwater statues, a ring of life-size figures on the seabed
- See the coral reefs and tropical fish on the way
- Ride in a glass-bottom boat from Gili Air with an English-speaking guide
- Visit the Turtle Conservation Centre and have free time on Gili Meno on the five-hour option
- Small-group option for a maximum of eight people
- Snorkelling gear, life jacket, mineral water, insurance and GoPro photos included
Full Description
Gili Air, the starting point
Gili Air is the closest of the three Gili Islands to Lombok, and it is known for a quieter, more local atmosphere than Gili Trawangan. There are no motor vehicles, only bicycles and horse carts, and the beaches on the east side are lined with small cafes. The trip starts at an easy-to-find meeting point on the island, so a Gili Air snorkelling tour needs no hotel pickup.
At the meeting point the crew hands out mask, snorkel and fins and helps you choose the right fin size, and the guide gives a safety briefing. You then board a glass-bottom boat that sails from the beach to the first snorkelling spot. Please share an active WhatsApp number when you book so the crew can reach you.
Turtle Point
Turtle Point is a shallow reef between the islands where green and hawksbill turtles feed on sea grass, and it is the main reason travellers search for a Gili Air turtle snorkelling trip. The guide takes the boat to the spot where turtles are most often seen, and you slip into the water with a life jacket.
Turtles are wild animals, so a sighting is very likely but never guaranteed. Please do not touch, chase or feed them, and keep a respectful distance so they stay relaxed. Morning departures usually have the calmest sea and the fewest boats, which gives you the best chance of a peaceful swim with turtles.
The underwater statues
Off Gili Meno lies a sculpture called Nest, a circle of life-size human figures standing on the seabed in shallow water. It was installed as an art project in 2017, and coral and marine life are slowly growing over the figures. Many people search for the Gili underwater statue tour because it looks so unusual from the surface.
The site is one of the most popular in the Gili Islands and can be crowded at peak hours, so the small-group option gives you more room. The water is calm and shallow, and you can see the statues clearly with a snorkel and mask. The guide takes photos with the GoPro, and the files are shared with you after the trip.
Gili Meno and the Turtle Conservation Centre
On the five-hour option the boat stops at Gili Meno, the smallest and quietest of the three islands. You get free time for lunch, which is optional and paid on the island, or for a walk along the beach. The visit to the Turtle Conservation Centre shows how young turtles are raised before release.
The shorter three-hour small-group trip does not include the Gili Meno stop and focuses on the snorkelling spots. Check the duration and the group size in the option before you book. Lunch is not included in either option, and a towel is not provided.
Itinerary
- Meeting on Gili AirMeet the crew at the meeting point on the beach, collect your gear and choose your fin size.
- Safety briefingThe guide explains the equipment and how to behave around turtles, coral and fish.
- Underwater statuesBoard the glass-bottom boat and snorkel above the ring of statues.
- Turtle PointSwim with sea turtles in shallow water with the guide.
- Coral reefsSnorkel over colourful coral and tropical fish, with GoPro photos taken during the trip.
- Gili Meno and the Turtle Conservation CentreOn the five-hour option, free time for lunch and a visit to the centre.
- Return to Gili AirThe boat returns to the meeting point and you hand back the gear.
What's included
- English-speaking guide
- Transport in a glass-bottom boat
- Snorkeling gear
- Life jacket
- Mineral water
- Insurance
- Visit to the Turtle Conservation Centre
- Shared GoPro photos and video
Not included
- Lunch
- Towel
- Tips
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children
- A half-day plan — about 5 hours
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.8/5 by past travellers
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
Not suitable for
- Children under 7 years
- Pregnant women
- People with heart problems
- People with mobility impairments
- Non-swimmers, as the trip is not recommended for them
Meeting point
There is no hotel pickup. You meet the crew at the meeting point on Gili Air, and the exact location is shown after you book. Please arrive about 15 minutes before the departure time, which depends on the option you choose, and share an active WhatsApp number when you book.
Important information
- Bring swimwear and a towel, because a towel is not provided
- Lunch is not included, and the optional lunch on Gili Meno is paid on the island
- The trip is weather-dependent, so check the forecast and be ready for changes
- Do not touch, feed, chase or disturb turtles, fish, coral or other marine life
- The Underwater Statue Point can be crowded at peak hours
- The duration is the maximum for the option, counted from leaving the meeting point to returning to it
- For the shared GoPro on the group trip, individual footage may be limited
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Gili Air snorkelling trip cost?
The price depends on the option you choose, such as the five-hour shared group trip or the three-hour small-group trip. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. The trip starts and ends at a meeting point on Gili Air, and the exact location is shown after you book.
How long is the trip?
The shared group trip takes up to five hours, and the small-group trip takes up to three hours, counted from leaving the meeting point to returning to it.
Is lunch included?
No. On the five-hour option there is free time on Gili Meno, where you can buy lunch at your own cost.
Is the trip suitable for children?
It is not suitable for children under 7. Older children who swim well and are comfortable in open water can join with a life jacket.
What should I wear and bring?
Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and a change of clothes. Snorkelling gear, a life jacket and mineral water are provided.
Will I see turtles and the statues?
Turtle sightings are very likely but not guaranteed, because turtles are wild. The statues are a fixed site, so you should see them if the sea conditions allow.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Often yes. Choose the earliest date and time in the booking panel; if it is available you can book it.
What is the difference between the options?
The five-hour option is a shared group trip with a Gili Meno stop and the Turtle Conservation Centre. The three-hour option is a small group of up to eight people that focuses on the snorkelling spots.
Is Gili Air snorkelling worth it?
Yes, if you want turtles and the underwater statues from a quiet island. The trip is short enough to fit around other plans.
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