Gili Meno

Gili Meno is the middle island geographically and the emptiest by some distance. There is no nightlife, no strip, and on much of the coast no development at all — a circuit on foot takes about an hour and a half and passes long stretches where you will not see anyone.

It draws two groups: honeymooners, and day-trippers coming for one specific thing. That thing is the Nest, an underwater sculpture installation by Jason deCaires Taylor — 48 life-size human figures arranged in a ring on the sea floor, gradually being colonised by coral. It sits in shallow water off the west coast and is reachable by snorkel, not just by dive. It is the single most photographed site in the Gilis and the standard second stop on every three-island boat hop.

The island also has a turtle hatchery near the main beach, where hatchlings are raised before release, and a salt lake in the interior that fills in the wet season and dries to a crust in the dry.

Snorkelling off the east and north coasts is good, with turtles regularly seen. Facilities are limited: a handful of restaurants, a few small resorts, no ATM worth trusting and patchy electricity in places. That is the trade. If you want to do nothing at all, Meno is where you do it.

What are the underwater statues on Gili Meno? The Nest, by sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor — 48 life-size figures arranged in a circle on the seabed off the west coast, shallow enough to reach by snorkelling.

Is Gili Meno boring? It is deliberately quiet, with no nightlife and few restaurants, which suits couples and anyone wanting to do nothing, and frustrates travellers who want variety.

Can you snorkel to the Gili Meno statues? Yes — they sit in shallow water and most three-island boat hops stop directly above them, though morning gives better visibility and less current.

How big is Gili Meno? Small enough to walk around in roughly 90 minutes, with long undeveloped stretches on the north and west coasts.

Is there a turtle hatchery on Gili Meno? Yes, near the main beach, where hatchlings are raised before being released — it runs on donations and visitors are welcome.