Gili Air (multiple shops along east and south coast)
★ 4.5(312 reviews)
Gili Air is car-free; bicycles are the main local transport alongside walking and cidomo (horse cart). Single-speed beach cruisers rent for 50-75k IDR/day from beachfront shops; multi-day rentals drop to 30-50k/day. The 7km island loop ride takes 60-90 minutes. Bikes are basic — accept that brakes are mediocre and tires sometimes flat.
# Gili Air Bicycle Rental: The Car-Free Island's Main Transport
Gili Air, like its sister islands Trawangan and Meno, has no motorized vehicles. The local transport options are: walking, bicycle, or cidomo (horse-drawn cart). Bicycles are the most efficient way to cover the 7km perimeter of the island and the practical choice for any multi-day visitor.
The island is roughly 1.5 km × 1.5 km. Walking the full circumference takes 2-3 hours; biking it takes 60-90 minutes (allowing for sand patches and stops). If your accommodation is on one side of the island and you want to dinner on the other side, walking takes 30-40 minutes vs 10-15 by bike.
Bicycles also unlock the western and southern sides of the island that are quieter and less developed than the eastern beachfront. These quieter beaches are some of Gili Air's best for snorkeling and sunset views, and they're not really walking-distance from the main accommodation cluster on the east.
Daily rate: 50,000-75,000 IDR per day. Higher prices at beachfront shops on the east side; cheaper at shops set back from the beach.
Multi-day rates: 3+ days typically drops to 30,000-50,000 IDR per day. 7-day rate around 250,000-300,000 IDR.
Hourly: Some shops offer 1-2 hour rentals for 25,000-35,000 IDR if you just want a quick island loop.
Deposits: Most shops don't require deposits — just cash upfront for the rental period. A few shops want a small deposit (50-100k IDR) returned at handover.
A single-speed beach cruiser. Coaster brakes (back-pedal to brake) on most, hand brakes on some. Wide handlebars. Padded seat. Front basket on most. Bell. A simple chain lock for parking the bike at restaurants or beach clubs.
Some shops also have basic mountain bikes with hand brakes and 7-speed gears at slight premium. These are useful if you want to attempt the western dirt paths but for the standard east-coast loop a single-speed is fine.
Helmets are usually available on request but rarely worn by riders. Use one if you're uncomfortable cycling without — the falls people take are usually tip-overs in sand patches at low speed, not high-speed crashes.
The 7km perimeter route runs along sandy paths and concrete sections. Time: 60-90 minutes including stops.
Going clockwise from the eastern boat dock area:
East coast (0-2 km): Concrete and packed-sand paths along the beachfront strip. Restaurants, dive shops, and bars on the inland side; sandy beach with sun loungers on the seaward side. Slow going due to pedestrians and crossings.
Northeast (2-3 km): Quieter beachfront beyond the main strip. Some sandy patches require pushing the bike for 50-100m at a time.
North coast (3-4 km): The quieter side with simple beach warungs and snorkeling spots. Sand patches more frequent here.
Northwest (4-5 km): Sunset side. Famous for swing-on-the-beach photo spots. Several small restaurants.
West coast (5-6 km): Fewer accommodations, more local feel, occasional dog encounters (mostly friendly).
Southwest and south (6-7 km): Some inland detours through coconut groves. Path quality varies — sometimes sandy, sometimes concrete. Eventually returns to the eastern dock area.
Total: 60-90 minutes at relaxed pace including 5-minute stops at viewpoints.
Several stretches of the island loop have deep sand that's unrideable on a single-speed cruiser. You'll push the bike for 50-200 meters at a time. This is normal and not worth complaining about — it's a feature of the car-free island.
If you have a multi-speed bike with knobby tires you can sometimes pedal through the sand in low gear, but it's still a workout. Easiest is to push.
If biking doesn't appeal, the cidomo (horse-drawn cart) is the local taxi. Fixed routes around the island, ~50,000 IDR for a short ride between beach areas, ~100-150,000 IDR for a longer cross-island trip.
Animal welfare advocates are critical of cidomo — the horses work long hours and welfare standards are inconsistent. If this concerns you, walk or bike instead.
Bike quality: Inspect before paying. Test the brakes (try to stop on a slight slope), test the tires (squeeze for firmness), check the chain (should not be visibly rusted to immobility). If anything is bad, ask for a different bike.
Locking: Use the provided chain lock when you stop at a restaurant or beach club. Bikes are sometimes "borrowed" by people who want a quick ride and abandon them — your responsibility.
Sunset traffic: 5-7pm on the east coast strip is congested with bikes, pedestrians crossing to beach restaurants, and slow cidomos. Ride patient and slow.
Salt and rust: Chains rust fast in salt air. The chain on your rental will be gritty and squeaky. This is normal. If it's actually seized, swap the bike.
Anyone staying on Gili Air for more than 1 day, families wanting an easy way to move around the island, sunset-chasers covering the west coast in time for golden hour, and dive students moving between dive shop and accommodation. Skip only if you specifically prefer walking everywhere or if you have mobility issues that make cycling difficult.