When a boutique hotel opens in an otherwise under-the-radar spot, you take notice. When a second opens, you know there’s something bigger brewing. Gili Meno is the smallest and lesser known of the trio of islands that are technically part of Muslim-majority Lombok neighbouring Bali, and until now, have been largely ignored by the masses in favour of sister islands Gili T and Gili Air. And praise be for that. There are few places left this close to Bali that are as tranquil as this tiny island. While the two other Gilis tend to target the boisterous backpacker market, Gili Meno is hedging its bets with higher-end accommodation that appeals to an older, more restrained crowd.

In the last few years, a handful of luxury boutique hotels have crept in, including the Aussie-owned and operated Meno House and more recently, Bask (also Aussie-owned), with its Ibiza-feel beach club and ultra-contemporary, design-forward standalone villas with plunge pools. When I arrive by boat to Gili Meno, the sun is blazing down on a azure shoreline that is nearly glowing it’s so white. You don’t get beaches like this in Bali. The journey by car and boat from Lombok has taken me just over an hour and a half, and having left Bali around 8am, I’m already barefoot and in island mode by lunch time.

I’m spending the next couple of nights at micro-stay Meno House, which is an adults-only property with six standalone villas, as well as 388sqm two-bedroom The Residence, which overlooks the infinity pool and ocean, and comes with perks such as butler service. 

The hotel’s interiors are the work of Australian architect David Hicks and cool tones feature prominently, with white, grey and navy furnishings presented alongside beach accents. My Garden View villa faces the pool and the ensuite has an outdoor shower. There’s an issue with the AC in my room on the first few nights, but engineering are able to resolve it. (It’s a common theme with gabled roofing in this part of the world; they’re much harder to cool and keep that way).

From the moment, I arrive, all I want to do is disconnect. Each morning, I set off to circumnavigate the island, which is so small, I manage to do it in roughly an hour at a brisk pace. It’s not the most exciting walk, the island is dead flat, but it’s refreshingly peaceful, with horse-drawn carts and bicycles the only modes of transport.

The Gilis is probably best known for its population of endangered green sea turtles and hawksbills turtles. Gili Meno is a known nesting site, which does warrant further discussion about ethical development here. If you want to see the half-shelled locals, all you have to do is step out of your villa at Meno House (at high tide) and swim towards the reef known as Turtle Point. The hotel provides both complimentary snorkelling equipment and bikes for guests.

Sunsets here are spectacular with the distant volcanos on Bali and Lombok creating a mesmerising backdrop. Meals at Meno House are taken right on the beach (or at your villa, if you wish), and breakfast has all the nostalgia of at café, with strong Aussie options, such as smashed avo, breakfast burgers,  eggs benedict and coffee from renowned Bali brand Expat. Seafood is also a focus and sourced from local suppliers, they serve up decent iterations of tuna sambal matah, grilled prawns and fish, and even poke bowls.

Gili Meno is within easy reach of Bali. But it’s also the type of place that you feel like you’ve flown halfway across the world for. (Just between you and me).

The writer travelled as a guest of Meno House.