10 Best Things to Do with Kids on the Gili Islands
The Gili Islands might be famous for diving, beaches, turtles and nightlife, but they are also surprisingly good with children.
There are no cars or motorbikes to contend with. Distances are short. The sea is never far away. And when everyone has had enough beach time, there are plenty of activities that work particularly well for families.
Some are obvious. Snorkelling with turtles is probably going to make the itinerary.
Others are less expected: children can learn to cook Indonesian food, make their own silver jewellery, try scuba diving, play mini golf, take a surf lesson or spend time with rescued horses.
And if you're travelling with very young children on Gili Air, there is even a kindergarten offering drop-in sessions.
So whether you're looking for the best things to do with kids on Gili Trawangan, planning a family holiday on Gili Air, or travelling between all three islands, these ten GiliPass experiences are a very good place to start.
Quick List: The Best Family Activities on the Gili Islands
Try scuba diving - Gili Trawangan, Gili Air & Gili Meno
Snorkel with turtles - all three islands
Play mini golf - Gili Trawangan
Try crazy golf - Gili Air
Take an Indonesian cooking class - all three islands
Go on a fishing trip - Gili Trawangan & Gili Air
Learn to surf - Gili Trawangan
Join a drop-in session at Bumi Kecil - Gili Air
Meet and ride rescued horses at STUD - Gili Trawangan
Make your own jewellery - Gili Trawangan & Gili Air
1. Try Scuba Diving
Best for: Ages 8+ for introductory pool experiences; ages 10+ for introductory open-water scuba
If your children spend half their holiday underwater wearing a mask anyway, scuba diving is the obvious next step.
And the Gilis are one of the best places in Indonesia to try it.
For younger children, the key age is eight.
PADI's Bubblemaker experience is available from age eight and introduces children to scuba equipment and breathing underwater in a closely controlled environment, with a maximum depth of just two metres. It isn't a certification course; it is essentially a safe first taste of scuba designed specifically for children.
From age ten, children can take part in a full introductory experience such as PADI Discover Scuba Diving or an equivalent agency programme. This can progress from basic skills in confined water to an actual open-water dive, with PADI Discover Scuba Diving allowing a maximum depth of 12 metres.
That makes scuba one of the more memorable family activities on the Gili Islands, particularly for older kids who have already fallen in love with snorkelling.
GiliPass has dive partners across all three islands.
Gili Trawangan
Blue Marlin Dive
Dive Central
Gili Divers
Manta Dive
Trawangan Dive
Gili Air
3W Dive
Gili Conservation Dive Centre
Gili Divers
Manta Dive
Oceans 5 Dive Centre
Gili Meno
Divine Divers
Meno Dive Club
That's a lot of choice.
Individual centres may use PADI, SSI or another training system, so parents of eight- and nine-year-olds should specifically ask about Bubblemaker or the equivalent confined-water children's experience. From ten onwards, ask about introductory scuba or a Discover Scuba Diving-style programme.
Standard medical and diving prerequisites still apply, and the dive centre will always make the final decision on whether a child is suitable to participate.
GiliPass offer: GiliPass holders receive 10% off eligible diving activities at all of the dive centres above, subject to each partner's current terms.
2. Go Snorkelling with Turtles
Best for: Children who are confident in the water
If there is one experience that belongs on almost every family Gili Islands itinerary, this is it.
Green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles are regularly seen around the Gilis, and joining a snorkelling trip gives families the chance to explore several locations rather than staying directly off one beach.
Gili Snorkelling operates trips across all three islands, with both group excursions and private charter options available.
A private boat can be particularly useful for families. You have more control over timings, can spend longer at locations your children enjoy, and can generally adapt the day more easily if younger snorkellers get tired.
The usual Gili snorkelling route can include turtle areas, coral gardens and underwater attractions around the three islands.
Just remember that turtles are wildlife. Give them space, don't chase them, don't touch them and definitely don't try to grab one for a photograph.
Gili Air also has another particularly interesting family option through Indo Coral Conservation. Its family-friendly boat snorkelling course has a minimum age of eight, requires participants to be able to swim, and incorporates coral education into the trip.
GiliPass offer with Gili Snorkelling: 10% off snorkelling trips, including group and private options. Advanced booking is recommended.
GiliPass offer with Indo Coral Conservation: A free Indo Coral Conservation T-shirt with every family-friendly boat snorkelling course. Minimum age eight.
3. Play Mini Golf on Gili Trawangan
Best for: Pretty much everybody
There are days when the family doesn't need another major excursion. You just need something easy to do for an hour.
That is where Gili Golf comes in.
Mini golf is one of the simplest family activities on Gili Trawangan because it requires virtually no preparation, no specialist ability and no commitment to half a day on a boat. Small children can play. Teenagers can play. Parents who suddenly become absurdly competitive can definitely play.
It is particularly useful towards the end of the afternoon, between beach time and dinner, or when the family wants a break from activities involving salt water.
And unlike real golf, nobody has to pretend they understand handicaps.
GiliPass offer: 10% off mini golf at Gili Golf.
4. Try Crazy Golf on Gili Air
Best for: Families of mixed ages
Gili Air has its own answer to mini golf at Happy Gilmores. The venue combines a creative mini golf course with axe throwing, although for a family afternoon the golf is obviously the main attraction.
Happy Gilmores describes the mini golf as suitable for all ages and skill levels, making it another useful activity where younger and older children can actually do the same thing together.
That is more valuable than it sounds. Finding an activity that works equally well for a six-year-old, a twelve-year-old and two parents can be surprisingly difficult. Crazy golf solves that rather neatly.
It is also one of the better things to do on Gili Air with kids when you want to get away from the beach for a while.
GiliPass offer: 10% off mini golf at Happy Gilmores. The same offer also covers axe throwing where appropriate.
5. Take an Indonesian Cooking Class
Best for: School-age children, teens and food-loving families
One of the easiest ways to get children interested in another culture is through food. Especially when they get to make it themselves.
There are GiliPass cooking-class partners on Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno, so this is one family activity you can do regardless of which island you choose.
On Gili Trawangan and Gili Air, Gili Cooking Classes runs hands-on sessions focused on Indonesian dishes and local ingredients.
Classes range from around 90 minutes to two and a half hours, depending on the menu chosen, and no previous cooking experience is required. Participants cook the dishes themselves with guidance from local chefs, then eat what they have made.
Typical dishes include fried noodles, tempeh with peanut sauce, yellow chicken curry, gado-gado and Lombok's famous chicken Taliwang.
On Gili Meno, Meno Cooking Classes gives families the same opportunity on the quietest of the three islands.
Cooking classes work particularly well with older children because there is an actual end result - Lunch.
And if the chicken curry goes badly, there is always someone else in the family to blame.
GiliPass offers:
Gili Cooking Classes, Gili Trawangan - 10% off
Gili Cooking Classes, Gili Air - 10% off
Meno Cooking Classes, Gili Meno - 10% off
Advance booking is highly recommended.
6. Go on a Family Fishing Trip
Best for: Six and above, with some patience
Fishing is not going to suit every child. If yours needs something different to happen every four minutes, possibly move on to mini golf. But for children who enjoy boats, wildlife and the excitement of waiting to see what appears on the end of a line, a fishing trip can be a brilliant family activity.
On Gili Trawangan, GiliPass partner Sunny Fishing Tours offers several styles of fishing, including casting, trolling, popping, jigging and bottom fishing. Trips start from IDR 2,500,000 before the GiliPass discount and should be booked in advance.
On Gili Air, Gili Fishing Games offers fishing trips alongside fishing equipment and accessories. Their GiliPass benefit takes a slightly different form: rather than discounting the trip itself, GiliPass holders can receive onboard or underwater video shooting - or use of an action camera - plus a complimentary edited video clip. There is also 10% off equipment, gear and accessories in the GFG shop.
For families, that video is actually a pretty good perk. If someone catches their first fish, you have evidence forever.
Check directly with the operator regarding the suitability of younger children, lifejackets, sea conditions and the best fishing style for your family before booking.
GiliPass offers:
Sunny Fishing Tours, Gili Trawangan - 10% off fishing trips
Gili Fishing Games, Gili Air - complimentary trip filming/action-camera use and edited video, plus 10% off shop equipment
7. Take a Surf Lesson on Gili Trawangan
Best for: Water-confident children
The Gilis are much better known for diving than surfing. But that doesn't mean you can't catch a wave.
Sunny's Surf School on Gili Trawangan offers lessons from beginner through intermediate level and specifically states that all ages are welcome.
For children, that makes a beginner lesson a very different way to spend a couple of hours in the water.
The instructor can introduce the basics of positioning, paddling, standing up and ocean awareness, rather than parents attempting to explain surfing using knowledge acquired from watching Point Break once.
Conditions obviously matter, particularly with children, so lesson times and locations should be determined by the surf school.
GiliPass offer: 10% off surfing lessons at Sunny's Surf School. Advanced booking is recommended.
8. Let Younger Kids Join Bumi Kecil on Gili Air
Best for: Ages 3–6
This one is specifically for families travelling with younger children. Bumi Kecil Kindergarten is an international kindergarten on Gili Air offering bilingual early-years education inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy.
It caters for children aged three to six and, importantly for visiting families, offers drop-in classes.
That makes it unusual among Gili Air family activities. Rather than being another tourist attraction, children get a chance to spend time learning and playing in a proper early-years environment with other kids.
And parents potentially get a little time to themselves. Everyone wins.
For families staying on Gili Air for several days or longer, it can also break up the holiday nicely. Even children who love the beach can eventually reach a point where building the 47th sandcastle of the week begins to lose its appeal.
GiliPass offer: 10% off a Bumi Kecil drop-in class. Advanced booking is recommended.
9. Meet the Horses at STUD on Gili Trawangan
Best for: Children who love animals
STUD Horse Riding & Rescue is not simply somewhere to turn up, ride a horse and leave. The organisation also operates as a rescue, caring for horses and ponies on Gili Trawangan.
For children, there are several ways to get involved. STUD promotes beach pony rides, private riding lessons, Groom & Walk experiences and Pony Paddle sessions, where participants can interact much more closely with the animals.
The Groom & Walk and Pony Paddle options are particularly good if your child loves horses but is not ready for a conventional ride.
STUD does not publish one blanket minimum age for every children's experience. Suitability depends on the individual activity, the child's size, confidence and riding ability, and the horse or pony available.
That is worth stating clearly rather than inventing a number. For younger children, contact STUD directly beforehand and let them recommend the most appropriate experience.
They regularly work with children and promote dedicated experiences for younger guests.
There is another reason we like this one.
Money spent at STUD helps support its rescued horses, so the activity contributes to the animals visitors are coming to meet.
GiliPass offer: 10% off Groom & Walk, Pony Paddle and Private Lessons. Advanced booking is recommended.
10. Make Your Own Silver Jewellery
Best for: Older children and teenagers
Some holiday souvenirs survive approximately four days after getting home. A piece of jewellery you actually made yourself has a better chance. There are GiliPass jewellery-making partners on both Gili Trawangan and Gili Air.
On Gili Trawangan, YIN Jewellery runs hands-on jewellery-making classes where participants can create their own piece rather than simply buying something from a shop.
On Gili Air, Silver Corner Jewelry Making offers its own silver-working workshops, teaching basic techniques involved in shaping and constructing jewellery.
This is one of the better Gili activities for older children and teenagers. It is creative, practical, doesn't involve a screen, and produces something they can actually take home. It is also a very useful option when everyone needs a few hours out of the sun.
Neither partner currently publishes a universal minimum participant age through the GiliPass offer, so families with younger children should contact the workshop directly before booking. For older children and teens who are comfortable following instructions and working carefully with tools, it can be one of the most rewarding activities on the islands.
GiliPass offers:
YIN Jewellery, Gili Trawangan - 10% off jewellery-making classes
Silver Corner Jewelry Making, Gili Air - 5% off classes
Advance booking is recommended.
Which Gili Island Is Best for Families?
All three islands can work for families, but they offer slightly different experiences.
Gili Trawangan has the biggest overall choice of things to do. There are several dive schools, mini golf, cooking classes, surfing, jewellery making, horse experiences and fishing trips, alongside the widest choice of restaurants and accommodation.
It is the easiest island if your children like having plenty of different options.
Gili Air strikes a particularly good balance. You get excellent snorkelling and diving, but also crazy golf, cooking classes, fishing, jewellery making and Bumi Kecil for younger children. The atmosphere is generally quieter than Gili Trawangan without feeling too sleepy.
Gili Meno is the quietest option. There are fewer organised activities, but families looking primarily for beach time, snorkelling, diving and a slower holiday may see that as an advantage rather than a drawback.
And because the three islands sit so close together, you don't necessarily have to choose just one.
Family Activities Across All Three Islands with GiliPass
Family holidays become expensive surprisingly quickly. One snorkelling trip becomes four tickets. One cooking class becomes four places. Two parents and two older children trying scuba suddenly makes that 10% diving discount considerably more interesting.
That is where GiliPass can make particular sense for families.
Across the activities in this guide alone, GiliPass gives you benefits on diving, snorkelling, mini golf, cooking classes, fishing, surfing, childcare, horse experiences and jewellery making.
And those are only the family activities.
Your pass can also be used across restaurants, cafés, spas, transport providers and dozens of other GiliPass partners on Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. See all GiliPass Offers here.
Buy your pass online, receive it instantly by email and show it directly at participating businesses to access the relevant offer.
More things to do. More of the islands to discover. And hopefully fewer cries of “I'm bored.”