The island of Bali is just one beautiful island among others in the ocean. There is much more to see. You should definitely not miss the group of Nusa islands (Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan), the Gili archipelago or perhaps the largest Lombok.
Gili Islands
Gili is an archipelago of three small islands, Gili Meno, Gili Air and Gili Trawangan. Each of these islands is completely different. All are located a short distance from the coast of Lombok. It is strictly forbidden to use motor vehicles on all the islands of Gili. Commuting is possible only by bike or horse-drawn carriage. The archipelago was formed during the eruption of Gunung Rinjani volcano in 1,492, when the volume of soil created by the Gili Islands was ejected from the volcano. Gili Meno has the most beautiful beaches and is a frequent target of newlyweds. The island is only 2 km long and 1 km wide. Only about 500 local residents live here, whose main income is from tourism and fishing. There is also a salt lake, which produces salt during the dry season. It is the quietest island of the Gili group. there is no nightlife here. Gili Air is the second largest island of the Gili group. It is located closest to the mainland and we can find something from everything here. Beautiful beaches, but also a bit of nightlife. There are about 1,800 local residents here. Gili Air has the best conditions for snorkeling and diving. There are a number of coral reefs and turtles can be seen here. When walking around the island, do not miss a tour of the coconut plantations. The last of the Gili group is Trawangan. It is the main and largest island of this archipelago, although it is only less than 3 km long and 2 km wide. Approximately 1,500 people live here. Trawangan is the most visited of the three islands, as in addition to beautiful beaches and nature, it offers exuberant parties and a great nightlife.
Lombok
Lombok is one of the islands of the Little Sunda, just like Bali. With an area of less than 5,000 km2, it is one of the larger islands. Approximately 3 million people live here and it is very densely populated. Lombok is very popular with tourists, but still maintains the reputation of a quiet place. It offers very beautiful nature as it is a mountainous island. It is the second highest volcano in Indonesia, Gunung Rinjani. If you are adventurous, the island is tempting to take several days of jungle hikes to the top of Rinjani volcano. Along the way you will pass many beautiful waterfalls, plantations for growing chili peppers, cinnamon and soybeans. The trek to the volcano can officially be undertaken only with guides, who often offer you equipment such as - 2 hot meals a day, porters and guides. It sounds a bit bloated, but for the locals it is one of the main sources of income, so you will contribute to a good purpose. Beaches and snorkeling are very popular here. The conditions for diving are excellent here. There are many lagoons, coral reefs, shipwrecks. In addition to diving and snorkeling, there are excellent surfing conditions. There are a lot of schools here and both advanced and complete beginners can ride the waves here.
Komodo Islands
The Komodo Islands belong to the group of Little Sundays and are the most interesting archipelago in Indonesia, which you should definitely not miss. These are the three main islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padara, and several small islets. The whole archipelago is Komodo National Park. It is the natural home to the Komodo dragon, which is the largest lizard in the world. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 individuals live here, most of them in the wild. Komodo National Park was established in the 1980s to protect this majestic animal. Diving and snorkelling are also famous for their large number of undamaged coral reefs. It’s as if you’re not here yet. You can usually dive with manta rays here. The whole complex of the Komodo National Park has an area of more than 1,110,000 ha and in 1977 it was registered in the UNESCO biosphere reserves.
