What To Do On Gili Trawangan – More Than Snorkel and Party
If you’re planning a trip to Bali, you’re likely planning on adding a few nights over on the Gili Islands as part of your trip, which is a great idea! These three islands are designed for sun, relaxation and enjoying the water.
What Are The Gili Islands?
The Gili Islands are three small islands based just off Lombok, the island east of Bali. The islands (from west to east) are Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air.
These islands are part of Lombok, so you won’t see many Balinese temples and offerings. Instead, you’ll see Sasak culture and hear the call to prayer from the mosques.
Many of the local people working here come from Lombok rather than Bali. They will speak Bahasa Indonesia, the language of the country, but also their local language Sasak too.
White sandy beaches almost all the way around the island
Top Things to Do in Gili Trawangan
Snorkelling at Turtle Point
This is the number one thing to do for a reason.
Head up to the island's northwest corner and find yourself a lounger. Hire a mask, snorkel and reef shoes from one of the many stands.
You’ll want the reef shoes. It’s rough out there.
Then you can just walk in from your bed and swim. This place is called Turtle Point for a reason, so you’re almost guaranteed to see at least one.
The ocean looks stunning on Gili Trawangan
Movie night
Have you spent a long day in the sun and need to unwind? What about a movie?
Gili Trawangan is too small for a cinema, but several hotels use their beach restaurant/bar area as a cinema each night.
Check their listing guide on your laps around the island during the day to see what they’re showing.
A word of warning: some nights are packed! If it’s a popular film, you’ll want to get there early to ensure you can nab a beanbag.
You can watch films at Aston Sunset Beach Resort and Royal Regantris Sunset Bar.
Watch the sunset
The sunsets on Gili Trawangan are something else.
The best spots to watch are in the north of the island and along the west coast, away from the port (where much of the accommodation is).
You can either cut through the island or head around the outer path. It gets dark quickly here, so be prepared to navigate back in the dark!
The sun setting behind Mt Agung in Bali
Island Hopping
Gili Trawangan is one of three islands off the coast of Lombok. And while the snorkelling on this island is outstanding, there are two other islands to explore.
The best way to see and experience Gili Meno and Gili Air is to book a private tour that leaves early in the morning. This will allow you to see those famous statues without the crowds.
Cycle Around the Island
This island is small! At only 7km (4.3 miles) around, you can get around the whole island pretty quickly.
Each side of the islands hosts a variety of restaurants, stalls, pool bars and beaches. So spend some time hopping along, eating great food, buying gifts and relaxing.
Some words of warning: There aren’t many trees or shade around, so it can get pretty hot. Bring your water with you!
If you plan to cycle at night, some patches are dark, so make sure your phone is fully charged or bring a torch. If you cut through the island, be prepared to go slowly through the sandy pathways.
The best form of transport on the island
Relax on the Beach
No matter where you’re staying on Gili T, you won’t be far from an epic beach.
Make sure you give yourself enough time on your trip to spend the day gazing out over the ocean, sipping your drink of choice. There are plenty of options for eating with your feet in the sand, too.
If you want to swim, check the tide times. Much of the island is surrounded by a reef, so the ocean disappears at low tide. Also, head away from the port for the best sunset views.
Beach clean up with Gili Eco Trust
This place is paradise, but with the amount of tourism, it’s slowly being degraded. You can be a part of the solution. Gili Eco Trust is working across the islands to reduce waste, clean up the islands and restore the coral reefs.
Are you coming for a short trip? Join their weekly beach clean-ups to meet like-minded people (and get a free beer!). Or sign up for longer to help rebuild the gorgeous coral reefs that the Gilis are famous for.
The team hosts well-organised clean-ups each week
Final weigh in for the weekly clean-up
Padel
Padel is taking over Bali and hasn’t left Gili T behind. The padel court is on the sunset side and is open from 8am to 8pm.
Cat Rescue
You’ll quickly notice the lack of cars and motorbikes on the island, but did you see it’s also dog-free?
The Gili Islands are sometimes referred to as the Cat Islands.
A program is running to desex the cats to help reduce their numbers. You can support the team looking after all these stray cats at their Kucing Kafe (Cat Cafe).
Lots of love at Kucing Kafe
Silver Workshop
Feeling creative? Flex your skills at a silver workshop where you can make your own jewellery!
Hike the Hill
If you’re feeling adventurous, head up the viewpoint for a view across the ocean. It’s a sweaty climb in the sun, but the views are worth it.
The viewpoint is easily reached from the perimeter path. From there, you can head down towards the centre of the island.
Keep your eyes peeled for the bunker!
Epic views from the hill on Gili Trawangan
Yoga
Spending time on your mat can be the perfect way to start (or end) your day. There are a few options to get into your down dog on the island.
You can stay onsite at Gili Yoga or attend one of their drop in classes. Located near the port, this place is easily accessible to most accommodations.
Staying sunset side? Check out Sunset Beach Yoga and practice whilst overlooking the ocean.
Horseriding
While the horses you see pulling tourists, luggage and other goods around the island are working hard, there are other ways to spend time with these beautiful creatures on Gili T.
Stud Horseriding allows you to ride across the sand at sunset and get the perfect shot for the ‘gram.
The best part? The horse are all rescued or retired ponies. These hard working animals are now given a peaceful retirement where they’re well-treated and able to enjoy life.
Well-cared for horses with Stud Horseriding
Surfing
Do you prefer being on the water rather than in it? Check out the surf break south of Gili Trawangan. While you wouldn’t travel to Gili T to surf, you can surf here. Get a full rundown of the break and what to expect here.
Trips from Gili Trawangan
While most people visit the Gili Islands as part of their holiday from Bali, you can see so much more of Indonesia from here.
Lombok
Lombok Island is a short 30-minute boat ride from Gili Trawangan. From here, you can adventure to the south and see the surf beaches surrounding Kuta, Lombok.
You can venture up Mount Rinjani, but be prepared! This is not a hike for the faint-hearted.
The island is also home to waterfalls, rice paddies and another set of islands fondly known as the Secret Gilis.
Komodo Island
Want to see real life dinosaurs? Okay, maybe not quite. But a trip to see the giant lizards on Komodo Island is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
A Few Things To Know About Gili Trawangan
The Horses on Gili Trawangan
There are no cars or scooters on the Gili Islands, which makes the place very peaceful and adds to the island vibe. The best way to get around is by pushbike.
The other option on the island is horse-drawn carriages known as cimodos. The locals use these to move goods around and they’re also available to take tourists around the island.
Treatment of these animals has improved over the years and varies from owner to owner.
When booking your stay on Gili T, look at booking a spot closer to the port so you can easily access your accommodation on foot.
The classic cimodo (horse-drawn carriage)
Gili Trawangan - Just A Party Island?
We have visited Gili T as young people looking to party and as people just looking for an idyllic getaway. You can do both here!
If you’re looking for quiet, check the reviews of the accommodation options for comments about noise. We’ve stayed in quiet places on the island's far side, and you’d never know that there are a lot of parties going on elsewhere.
Plumbing on Gili Trawangan
The island's infrastructure is struggling in a lot of ways. And plumbing is one of those!
Your accommodation may ask that you not flush toilet paper to help them deal with this lack of proper plumbing.
Waste on Gili Trawangan
Walking through the island's centre, you may see the landfill that is slowly growing. Again, the infrastructure needs to be improved, so much waste is dumped. A lot of what is collected is added to this mountain of trash.
There is work being done to provide recycling options and taking some of the waste off the island.
While you’re visiting, reduce your waste as much as possible. Refuse plastic where you can, bring your water bottle and choose plastic-free alternatives as much as possible.
How to get to Gili Trawangan
To get to Gili Trawangan, you have several options, depending on where you are arriving from. If you’re coming from Bali or internationally, you want to go to Serangan Harbour in the south of the island. From here, you can take the fast boat (3-5 hours) to Gili Trawangan. Book yours with 12go for the best prices.
Some boats will stop at Nusa Lembongan on the way. Also, most companies will offer complimentary pick-up from parts of the island or a small charge from other regions.
If you want to avoid the long boat ride from Bali or you’re visiting Lombok too, you can fly into the international airport in the south of Lombok. You’ll need to organise a driver to take you to Bangsal Harbour in the north. We always recommend our friend, Baron, from Lombok Manis Transport (WA: +62 821-4424-6776).
Once you’re at Bangsal, you can take the public ferry across to the island. There’s often a wait for these as they only run once they are full. But it never takes too long and it’s much cheaper than taking the fast boat.
The local ferry from Lombok (Bangsal Harbour) to Gili Trawangan
