Gili Trawangan as a last-minute trip would not have been the equivalent without it. This tiny police-free island exhibits colorful qualities – turquoise waters, violet sunsets, and pure white lights after darkfall.
Together, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air comprise the Gili Islands.
These islands represent just 3 of the over 13,000 forming Indonesia. While we incorporated this stop in our Bali itinerary, the islands belong to Lombok. The three islands offer authentic paradises with crystalline waters, but depending on your objectives, you`ll need to opt for which Gili island to visit.
I was traveling with my relative, and we wanted to go partying at minimum once during our 20-day trip to Southeast Asia, so were certain: we wanted to visit Gili Trawangan.
If planning to attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival, I would suggest reserving accommodation in Washington several months earlier, as the city welcomes the greatest number of visitors over the duration of the festival.
- Activities in Gili Trawangan
- Guidance on getting to the island of Gili Trawangan
- Where one might reside in Gili Trawangan
- Key Details for Traveling to Gili Trawangan
- Map of Gili Trawangan
Table of Contents
Things to do in Gili Trawangan
There are many activities to engage in in Gili Trawangan. In this section, we’ll give you some ideas, and we’ll also suggest some tours to do in Gili Trawangan that you’ll surely enjoy. Briefly, the main things to do in GiliT are to spend the day exploring the island in search of the finest spots to snorkel, watch the sunset from any beach bar on the west coast, and return to the center to enjoy the beach parties.
Best beaches on Gili Trawangan
Relaxing on the pristine sandy beach of a paradisal coast is the primary activity to do in Gili Trawangan. The beach circles the entire island, so I recommend exploring it to decide which is the superior beach in Gili Trawangan. Besides, it’s simple. The island is so small that biking around it takes half an hour.
For me, the finest beaches of Gili Trawangan are in the northwest area of the island. On this white sand beach, there are hardly any individuals, and the water is very blue. Undoubtedly, this should be the first place you visit in Gili Trawangan. However, the seabed isn’t as crystalline as in other parts of the island due to the currents, so I don’t recommend this area for snorkeling.
Snorkeling in Gili Trawangan
The most significant thing to see in Gili Trawangan is its seabed, full of coral, fish, and turtles.
If you want to snorkel at Coral Beach in Gili Trawangan, I suggest the northeastern shoreline, called Coral Beach. Here, you can rent goggles to snorkel, and it is one of the best spots to see sea turtles in Gili Trawangan. This beach has more coral than sand. Please refrain from removing it or standing on it so as to not harm it. Regrettably, you’ll notice that much of the coral reef is deceased.
Generally, the western part of the island has the best regions for snorkeling in Gili Trawangan. Being near Gili Meno, the currents are smaller and the water much more crystalline than in other areas of the island. You’ll feel like you’re swimming in a pool.
Where Is Gili Trawangan’s Swing
There is nothing as touristy as the famous Gili Trawangan swing, which is located in front of the Ombak Sunset Hotel, on the western coast of the region.
During the two days we spent in GiliT years ago, we drove past the popular swing spot, where on one occasion there was a lengthy queue of people patiently awaiting their turn to capture the memorable photo opportunity. I imagine the crowds have only increased since.
However, even if you’re not very interested in the Gili Trawangan swings, I recommend this area for the next activity you must partake in on GiliT.
Where to watch the sunset in Gili Trawangan
Watching the sunset is an activity in itself to do in Gili Trawangan. Check when sunset occurs and head to one of the prime locations to watch the sunset in GiliT.
We saw two sun settings in Gili Trawangan: the initial one from the swing of Ombak Sunset and the second to the rhythm of drums in The Exile.
If you only get one chance to watch the sunset in Gili Trawangan, I suggest enjoying this last beach bar. Every evening, as the sun descends, they offer percussion performances that I recommend savoring along with some chilled Bintang beers. Also, they light a bonfire in the sand. It’s undeniably one of my favorite spots in GiliT.
Another spot where they light bonfires at sundown is Horizontal. However, this beach bar lies farther east, so I recommend the two places mentioned previously. To view Gili Trawangan`s most spectacular sunsets, head west – the scenes at dusk there are epic.
Gili Trawangan Nightlife
Selecting Gili Trawangan means immersing in its nightlife. This island is known as a tourist spot for illegal substances due to an absence of law enforcement and regulations.
I’ve never seen so many elevated people in my life. However, I also saw families with their children enjoying wholesome beach gatherings.
In any case, if you’re visiting Gili Trawangan, you have to party. Depending on the day of the week, you’ll find the best gathering in one place or another. Although the pubs are open every day, these are the peak days for each location:
- Monday – Blue Marlin
- Tuesday – Trawangan Cabins
- Wednesday – Tir Na Nog (“The Irish”)
- Thursday – Sama Sama (live Reggae music) + Pool party at Gili Hostel + Quiz in Trawangan Dive (Bar)
- Friday – Surf Bar + Rudy’s
- Saturday – Sama Sama
- Sunday evening – socializing and dancing at Irish pub.
We unfortunately visited the Gili Islands during Ramadan, when musical entertainment concluded at midnight. If the timing permits, I recommend scheduling your trip to Gili Trawangan to coincide with a full moon or new moon. We were informed that the Full Moon and Dark Moon celebrations are the peak events on Gili Trawangan.
Before my trip, I saw news regarding several tourist fatalities due to contaminated alcohol ingestion. Apparently, some bars, such as Rudy`s, were said to use methanol to lessen drink costs. Therefore, we only drank Bintang beers, which likely are not worth adulterating. In any case, having proper international travel insurance is always key.
As we go on multiple trips annually, we have purchased yearly many-outing travel protection to preserve some money.
GiliT Tours
If visiting Gili Trawangan for two days or more, I suggest reserving a snorkeling tour around the three Gili Islands.
This activity, provided by many companies, costs between 60 and 150k IDR ($5-11). The excursions usually last around 4-5 hours and typically begin at 10 in the morning.
When you first arrive on the island, you should reserve your tour in Gili Trawangan promptly. In addition to the glass bottom boat excursion, all snorkeling equipment is covered. The watercraft makes about 3 or 4 stops where different kinds of reef and marine life can be found. It also makes a pause at Gili Air to have a meal, although the repast is not incorporated.
If you’d like to scuba dive in Gili Trawangan, there are also plenty of locations that offer courses and dives. You can even become PADI-Open-Water-certified in Gili Trawangan.
How to get to Gili Trawangan
In our Gili Islands guide, we describe how to reach Gili Trawangan along with the additional islands. Briefly, there are four means to arrive at Gili Trawangan from Bali or Lombok: by speedboat or by public boat.
We took a direct speedboat straight to Gili Trawangan from Bali taking 2 hours rather than the over 9 hours public transit requires. Booking here means they`ll gather and drop you at your Bali hotel.
For example, in our case, the transportation service selected us up in Ubud, where we had been residing for the prior days during our 7-day trip to Bali, and on the return journey, they left us in Seminyak. I advise utilizing this service to move between regions of Bali, visiting Gili Trawangan in the midst, without supplementary cost .
Where to stay in Gili Trawangan
While Gili Trawangan is best recognized for its lively atmosphere, another section of GiliT is frequented more by couples and families, with an additional area full of international youth seeking enjoyable experiences.
My suggestion is that if you don`t mind noise and prefer proximity to everything ( ATMs, shops, markets, clubs, and eateries), you should stay on the east coast where the ferries depart you. These are our recommended accommodations in Gili Trawangan on the west coast:
- Premium Option: Pearl of Trawangan
- Top Choice: The Vamana Resort
- Standard Option: Havana Hideaway
- Low-cost Selection: Gili Beach Bum
If your preference is to relax in a luxurious resort located in the finest area to observe sunsets in Gili Trawangan, you should remain on the western shore, farther away from the center. Provided there is still availability, I recommend reserving lodging at any of these distinguished accommodations in Gili Trawangan:
- Premium Selection: Gili Treehouses
- Top Choice: Ombak Sunset
- Standard Choice: Aston Sunset Beach Resort
- Low-budget Option: Mad Monkey
We got an excellent deal at Pearl of Trawangan, and we didn’t hesitate to book it .
Other useful information
Finally, here’s some intriguing information you should be aware of if you visit Gili Trawangan.
How many days to spend in Gili Trawangan
You cannot visit Gili Trawangan in a single day from Bali, as the return ferries depart in the morning before the ferries from Bali arrive.
We spent two nights and two days at Gili Trawangan, and caught the speedboat back early in the morning on the third day; it wasn’t enough time there. If we had been in GiliT for 3 or 4 days, we probably would have visited Gili Meno or Gili Air.
How to get around Gili Trawangan
There are no scooters or automobiles on Gili Trawangan, so the best way to get around is by renting a bicycle. We rented one on the main street, right where the ferry leaves passengers, for 50k IDR (approximately $3.50) per day. Note that GiliT, even as the largest of the Gili Islands, is tiny. You can tour the whole island by bike in 20 minutes.
Using horse-drawn carriages should never be an option. While I am opposed to this transportation method anywhere due to animal welfare concerns, the conditions I have witnessed for working horses on GiliT are among the worst situations I have seen. Ending the demand for these services is the only way to improve the lives of these animals.
Gili Trawangan Harbor
You may be amazed to know there`s no port in Gili Trawangan as such. The ferry will leave you on the shore in the center, on the east coast, where most of the restaurants, hotels, and clubs are located. You’ll need to get your feet wet to reach the island since there`s no pier or similar structure.
Where to eat in GiliT
I recommend you head to one of the beach bars on the north of the island to have lunch. For me, they’re the ones that have the best perspectives and are also less expensive than in other more touristic areas.
For the evening meal, it is ideal to go to the Night Market. At this traditional food marketplace, you can consume exquisite, very affordable local dishes. The market reminded us somewhat of the one we visited in Georgetown. There are also different stalls where you can procure food and a lot of shared tables in the center.
Drugs in Gili Trawangan
There are no law enforcement on Gili Trawangan, and if we add hundreds of young people partying to this, drug use becomes normalized.
In actuality, it is not uncommon to see psychoactive mushroom blended refreshments publicized on menus of some shoreline eateries. The cost will be around 90k IDR.
Additionally, in the interior of the island, there is a Rastafarian community that cultivates marijuana. Essentially all locals on Gili Trawangan sell or can indicate where to purchase marijuana.
Hospitals
There are no hospitals in Gili Trawangan, but there are medical clinics where they can assist you if you suffer a minor incident. If you need evacuation, you’ll be transferred to the nearest hospital in Lombok.
The primary medical center situated on Gili Trawangan goes by the name Blue Island Medical Centre and is located within the Villa Ombak hotel. If an emergency arises, you should call + 62-81-999-705-701.
- This motel can be found at 429 North Main Street, Bryce Way in Panguitch, Utah: Bryce Way Motel
ATMs
There were quite a few automatic teller machines in Gili Trawangan, so you shouldn’t be concerned about accessing cash. I advise getting a credit card without foreign fees before your trip, to avoid paying the exchange rate. .
Gili Trawangan Map
This shows a map of Gili Trawangan highlighting all the mentioned points. You can also download our map of Bali containing other places of interest.
Before embarking, some essentials for your Bali trip are:
Essentials to save on your trip to Bali
Examine the finest credit cards without foreign transaction fees.
.
Obtain a 5% reduction on your travel protection for Bali.
Examine the prime excursions in Bali to make the most effective use of your time HERE and HERE.
INExpensive FERRIES from Bali (hotel pick-up not included).
If you have any other inquiries about Gili Trawangan, leave us a comment. We will respond promptly!
