Gili Trawangan was the favourite part of my first Bali trip, even if it’s actually in Lombok, another region of Indonesia.
We spent three days in Gili T (that’s what the cool travellers call it!) cycling around the island, lounging on the beaches and snorkelling with turtles!
If you want to snorkel with turtles while in Bali, you have to add the Gili islands to your itinerary!
Find out more about Gili Trawangan; including how to get there from Bali, the best beaches, and everything you need to know about doing an epic turtle swimming tour in Gili Trawangan!
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How to get to the Gili Islands from Bali
The easiest way to get to Gili Trawangan is to get a ferry from Padang Bay. If you purchase your transfer online it will usually also include the pick-up from your hotel in Bali and drop-off at the ferry harbour.
If you want to get to a different Gili island from Bali it’s usually the same ferry. It does first a stop in Gili T and then goes to Gili Meno and Gili Air.
As I was travelling from Bali I don’t have much experience about transport modes from other locations, however there are also ferries available from Lombok.
Book your transfer from Bali to Gili Trawangan here
About Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan is the biggest and most visited of the Gili islands. It has a reputation as being the “party island”, whilst Gili Meno is the “honeymoon island” and Gili Air is the “chill island”.
If you’re not sure which island is best for you, check out this article to help you decide which Gili island you should visit.
As I was travelling with my boyfriend at the time we were a bit wary of going to the party island, and would have preferred going to one of the quieter islands.
However we were very tight on time and my ex-boyfriend had issues with sea sicknesses, meaning we wanted to limit the amount of time spent on a ferry. So we decided to visit Gili Trawangan.
In our experience it didn’t live up to the party island reputation, which we were very glad about. We were staying at Wilson’s Retreat, which is on the North West side of the island, almost opposite compared to where the ferries stop.
This part of the island was very quiet, while still being lively. There are a lot of hotels, bars and restaurants along the beach with a view of the sunset.
It was probably also the time of year at which we were visiting, but we never thought it was too rowdy. This probably because the more party area is concentrated around the harbour where the ferries drop you off.
Most ferries only operate in the morning, since the sea becomes too rough in the afternoon. This is something you might want to bear in mind when planning your trip and travel to and from the Gili islands.
Check out the latest availability & prices at Wilson’s Retreat
Gili Trawangan, like all the other Gili islands, is entirely pedestrian. There are no cars or scooters on these islands. The only way to get around the island is either by walking, cycling or horse carriage.
Depending on where your accommodation is it might be worth getting a horse carriage to it. For us even if it wasn’t far we had luggage with us that we didn’t want to have to drag along unpaved roads.
It cost us about the equivalent of £5, and it was worth it. It’s such a picturesque journey, hobbling along the beach and then through a small palm tree forest.
Another popular activity and way to get around the island is horse riding, especially for a beautiful sunset ride.
Our experience snorkelling with turtles in Gili Trawangan
When we arrived at Wilsons Retreat they told us that it was one of the best snorkelling spots on Gili T, and they gave us snorkelling gear for free. We dismissed it thinking that since they work there, they kind of had to tell us that.
However we were very pleasantly surprised to find that they were right! We took our snorkelling gear and jumped in the sea just outside Wilsons Retreat, swam out maybe 20 metres and not even fifteen minutes later spotted three turtles!
It was a fantastic experience, which combined to the beautiful white beaches bumped Gili Trawangan into my list of top 10 best beaches in the world.
There are many official “turtle spots” around the island, however you will find that you can spot turtles pretty much anywhere, if you have the dedication to spend some time snorkelling and looking for them.
| READ MORE: 30+ MUST-SEE PLACES IN & AROUND BALI |
In the three days we stayed in Gili T we spent most of our time jumping in and out of the water, looking for turtles, which we were lucky enough to see almost at every dive.
One thing to bear in mind is that the currents on the West side of the island are quite strong.
The turtles were usually in front of Wilsons Retreat, however we found it easier to walk up the beach, and then jump in the sea further up, where we could then let the current drift us towards the turtle spot.
This makes it considerably easier and more fun than having to swim frantically against the current to keep up with a turtle.
Wilsons Retreat also provided beach shoes, which were really useful for walking out of the sea and along the beach once the tide went down.
This side of the island has a very rocky shore, so beach shoes are a must. The Eastern side of the island instead is all white and sandy.
There are a lot of dive shops and places that organise snorkelling tours on the island, however since we were seeing so many turtles on our own just next to our hotel we decided not to pay for an organised tour.
Gili T is the ultimate definition of island vibes. After a long day of snorkelling we rented bicycles from Wilsons Retreat for the equivalent of £3 for the whole day, and went out to explore the island.
As you cycle along you get to enjoy the beautiful views of Lombok in the distance, and other fellow travellers relaxing at beach bars and restaurants.
Everybody is relaxed and the busy traffic and bustling roads of Seminyak are a distant memory. We stopped at a beach restaurant on the west side of the island, where we got to enjoy dinner while watching a beautiful sunset.
Gili T is famous for its beach sunsets, with swings and hammocks dotted along the beach where you can get those famous Instagram worthy shots.
Organising your Gili Islands snorkelling trip
If you’re just looking to spot turtles, you can easily do so alone. Just head to the “turtle spot” in Gili Trawangan, just north of Wilson’s Retreat, jump in the sea and you’ll have a good chance of spotting them!
However this is obviously not guaranteed. If you go on a snorkelling tour there are higher chances to spot turtles, as well as other cool marine fauna, since they will take you to multiple spots around the islands.
Some of the snorkelling tours also take you to the nearby islands, so that you can see also Gili Air and Gili Meno, even if only from the water. Here are some tours that have great reviews online:
You can also arrange your snorkelling tours once you arrive, but it will be easier to do so online, that way you have it all confirmed before travelling to Gili Trawangan.
Click here to book your Gili Trawangan snorkelling with turtles experience!
Where to stay in Gili Trawangan
I’ve listed below a couple accommodation options on Gili Trawangan for every budget.
Budget: La Favela – This hostel is in the heart of all the action on the east coast of Gili T. It has spacious dorms, a pool, and a fun sociable atmosphere.
Click here to book your stay at La Favela!
Mid-range: Wilson’s Retreat– I’ve already mentioned that we stayed at Wilson’s Retreat and loved it. Besides being close to the turtle spot they also have a lovely pool and restaurant on the beach
Check out the latest availability and prices at Wilson’s Retreat
Luxury: Ombak Sunset– If you want to treat yourself, this is the perfect place to do so. Located right on the beach this beautiful resort has a huge pool and prime sunset views.
Click here to book your stay at Ombak Sunset!
I highly recommend visiting Gili Trawangan on your next trip to Bali.
We spent a fantastic three days there, and if I were to go back to Bali I would spend more time exploring also the other Gili islands and less in Seminyak or Ubud (even if Ubud has some pretty spectacular terraced rice fields).
If like me you love chill island vibes, snorkelling with turtles, and stunning beach sunsets, you’ll love Gili T! Don’t forget to check out the video to see the amazing footage of us swimming with turtles!
Looking for more Bali and Indonesia travel advice? Check out these guides:
- Borobudur and Prambanan temples day tour
- The best surfing beaches in Bali
- The 33 most photogenic places in Bali
- The 15 most Instagrammable hotels in Bali
- Best private pool villas in Bali (for every budget)
- Kawah Ijen night hike
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