Apart from Bali, Lombok is now increasingly famous as a vacation destination for expats in Jakarta and Bali. It has a stunning landscape, and its tourism sector is growing.
Well, one of the amazing destinations to visit is Gili Meno Island in Lombok. Gili Meno is an integral part of the three Gilis in the northern waters of Lombok Island.
Gili Meno, the smallest and least populated island, offers a serene escape from the city’s hustle and bustle, making it an ideal choice for those seeking tranquility.
One of the unique attractions of Gili Meno is the sight of a human nest sculpture on the seabed, a home to vibrant coral reefs. This underwater sculpture, known as the Nest, is a creation of Jason deCaires Taylor, a renowned British underwater sculptor.
The Nest is a collection of 48 human statues carved to human height. Made in a circle, each sculpture seems to be a human ‘nest’.
To see this statue, you can take a boat or swim from the beach with snorkeling equipment. With just 7 minutes of free diving, you can see the beauty of this statue accompanied by colorful fish passing by.
While the experience of snorkeling and diving around the statue is a must-try, it can sometimes be marred by the large number of tourists. Just like the one in Instagram user @lx_koch that shows how instagram vs reality in The Nest, Gili Meno.
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To fully enjoy this unique attraction, it’s crucial to plan your visit during the best time to travel to Gili Meno.
When is the best time to visit Gili Meno?
Avoid high tourist season
The high season is mainly from June to August. It is also crowded at the end of the year, around October until the New Year celebrations. Then, from January to March, it starts to get a bit quieter.
If you prefer a more intimate experience with the island, consider visiting during the quieter months of January to March. However, do note that this is also the rainy season in Indonesia, which may affect sea diving conditions.
Come in summer
January and March are quiet, but this is usually the rainy season in Indonesia so that sea diving can be risky.
In August and September, the waves are calm, so the boats travel without being buffeted by waves and strong currents. Taking a boat on a full moon at high tide is also risky.
The best advice from some speedboat drivers is to go in the morning when the waves are calm.
Start early in the morning
Any time of the day, especially in the morning, provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Gili Meno. Usually, snorkeling services from various boats are provided from as early as 9 am.
However, if you want to get a spacious atmosphere to take photos for Instagram, leave from dawn around 5-6 am so that the atmosphere is quieter and the sun is not so hot.
Happy exploring Gili Meno when you travel to Indonesia!
