Gili Trawangan, often called Gili T for short, is a small yet very beautiful tropical island off the coast of Lombok. It’s part of a small archipelago of three islands, collectively known as the Gili Islands. Although not part of Bali per se, the Gili Islands, and Gili T in particular, have become a staple on most Bali itineraries due to their proximity to it. Gili T is a fantastic place to relax and unwind, enjoy the beautiful sunsets, sunrises and laid-back vibes. It also offers some fantastic snorkelling and diving opportunities, and there are no motorized vehicles, so you can walk or cycle anywhere without having to worry about vehicle traffic. To help you plan your visit and get the most out of your time here, we put together this guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Gili Trawangan (Gili T).

Disclosure: This page (Best Things to See and Do in Nusa Lembongan – A Bali Guide) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.

You might also be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best Things to See and Do in Bali
Best Things to See and Do in the Gili Islands
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Bali

Gili Trawangan: Location & Map

Gili Trawangan is one of three islands collectively known as the Gili Islands, alongside Gili Air and Gili Meno, just off the northwest coast of Lombok. Despite their greater distance from Bali, they are easily reachable within a few hours by fast boat.

About Gili Trawangan

Gili T is the largest and most built-up of the three Gili Islands. Although it’s the largest, it really isn’t that big, measuring only 3 km long by 2 km wide with a local population of around 1500. In fact, the local name of these three islands is Gili Indah, which means “small beautiful islands”.

Although the largest Indonesian settlement is located on Gili Air, Gili T has an overall larger population due to the number of Western expatriates who live there along with the locals. Most of the population is concentrated along its east coast, which is also where the majority of tourist development has taken place. Of the Gilis, Trawangan is the most developed and geared towards tourism. In fact, the economy of Gili Trawangan centres on tourism, as the island is too small to support any broad-scale agriculture and too remote to allow for any economically viable industry or commerce. 

Although the Gili Islands have a warm, tropical climate with a dry and wet season, they enjoy a slightly drier microclimate when compared to the surrounding archipelago as they are somewhat sheltered from rain due to their location between towering Mount Rinjani to the east on Lombok and Mount Agung to the west on Bali.

Other Important Things to Know About Gili Trawangan

– Transport: On Gili Trawangan (as well as the other two Gilis), there are no motorized vehicles. You have to rely on your own legs to get around.

– Water: As in the rest of Indonesia, it’s not safe to drink tap water here. Instead, you should either purchase bottled water or ideally drink purified water from refill stations to reduce your ecological footprint. There’s an excessive amount of single-use plastics consumed on the island, and nowadays, many hotels offer water refill stations or purified water tanks directly in the room. Otherwise, you can visit refillmybottle.com or download their app to find refill stations around the world, including in Gili T.

– Health: There aren’t any hospitals on Gili Trawangan. There are, however, several medical clinics that can treat common medical issues and non-life-threatening emergencies. In cases of more serious injury or illness, patients will need to be evacuated to hospitals in Lombok.

– Safety: Most streets around Gili T don’t have street lamps. It’s always best to carry a flashlight, cell flashlight, or headlamp when walking after dark.

– Money: ATMs can occasionally be cashed out or out of service. Although many places accept credit cards, it’s best to bring enough cash with you to cover most of your cash-only expenses. Notably, many beach bars and roadside vendors (i.e. snorkel gear vendors) only accept cash.
Although hotels, restaurants, and tour companies usually accept credit cards, they often add a 3% surcharge.

– Religion and local customs: Like in most of Indonesia (but unlike Bali), locals in the Gili Islands are Muslim. There are several daily calls to prayer, which can be heard throughout the island via loudspeakers positioned around the main Mosque. This is part of the local custom and religion, and it’s important to respect the practice. If you are a light sleeper and are staying in a hotel along the island’s East Coast, you might want to wear earplugs as the first call to prayer is before sunrise.
It’s also important to dress modestly when not at the beach or resort areas, especially if visiting the center of the island, where most locals live.

– Parties and Nightlife: Although Gili T is known for its vibrant party scene, there are also plenty of other things to do and plenty of places to go to enjoy some quiet relaxation time.

– Drugs: Gili Trawangan has had a reputation for decades as a location where drugs are freely available. You should know, however, that Gili Trawangan is also the only island out of the three Gili Islands that has any active law enforcement. Even though overall police presence is low, Indonesian drug laws are extremely harsh: drug possession and use are severely punished under the criminal code (hefty fines and significant jail time).

– Water Safety Tip #1: Do not attempt to swim between the Gili islands. Even though Gili Meno appears to be a stone’s throw away, the current between the islands is so strong that it will pull you out to sea.

– Water Safety Tip #2: It’s highly recommended to wear water shoes (reef shoes) when entering the water from the Gili T beaches. The shallow waters are filled with sharp corals and shells. Water shoes will make your experience much more comfortable while also providing extra grip when walking over slippery, flat, rocky surfaces.

How to get to Gili Trawangan

Getting to Gili Trawangan — From Bali

The best way to get to Gili T from Bali is to hop on one of several fast boats that connect the Gili islands with Bali, which are offered by several different private companies (including Golden Queen, Eka Jaya, Semaya One, Blue Water Express, Ganggari, Gili Getaway, Wahana Virendra, and Gili Gili Fast Boat).

The most common routes to the Gili islands depart from the Pandang Bai port, along Bali’s east coast. As to which fast boat company to choose, we did a lot of research to determine which of those had the best reputation regarding safety, timely departures and customer service. Those that consistently rank near the top are Blue Water Express, Gili Getaway, Wahana Virendra and Eka Jaya (Eka Jaya has had bad reviews in the past, but they have since significantly improved on several fronts).

Wahana Virendra is particularly well-regarded for trips to Gili Trawangan, and you can easily book your tickets here for about 30 US$/€ for a one-way trip:

Wahana Virendra offers two daily departures from Bali to Gili T (or Gili Air), 9 am and 11 am, which are ideal morning departures when the seas tend to be calmer. They also have two return trips to Bali, which depart at 10h30 and 12h30 from Gili T. Each journey typically takes about 1h30-2h30, depending on sea conditions and wind direction.

Tips for a Smooth Fast Boat Trip to Gili T

– Note that the waters of the Baduing Strait can get quite choppy, even on beautiful sunny days, and often regardless of the boat operator. As a general rule, the larger the boat, the more likely the ride will be comfortable. If you’re prone to seasickness, you might want to consider taking motion sickness tablets beforehand.

– It’s best to book your fast boat tickets at least several days in advance, especially during peak season (we bought them several weeks in advance). Fast boats can fill up quickly, so booking online beforehand ensures that you get your preferred travel day and departure time.

– Also, many ferry and fast boat operators, including Wahana Virendra, will message you with confirmation details and alert you of any delays via WhatsApp, so be sure to have the app installed on your phone.

– If you are not based near Padang Bai, your hotel or accommodation can generally arrange for a transfer from your lodging to the Padang Bai port.

Getting to Gili Trawangan — From Nusa Penida

We are not overly familiar with the provider (Gili Voyages), but they have received great reviews so far on GetYourGuide. If you would like to visit Gili T from Nusa Penida, you can pre-book single-trip tickets here:

How to Get Around Gili Trawangan

We mentioned this already, but it bears repeating: there are no motorized vehicles on Gili T. There are only three ways to get around the island, and only two of which we recommend. We do not recommend using the small pony-drawn carriages (called a Cidomo), even if they are tempting to use when getting off the boat with your heavy luggage, as they are known to be regularly mistreated and not properly cared for. It’s a form of cruel exploitation that we definitely do not support.

Otherwise, you can either walk or rent a bicycle. Walking on Gili T is a breeze, you can get almost anywhere in less than an hour. Walking fully around the island will take you on average 1h30.

If you want to spend less time getting to places or want to see the island more quickly, you can also rent a bicycle. Many hotels rent them out, otherwise, there are tons of street-side vendors that also rent them out. They typically charge around IDR 50,000 (roughly 3 US$/€) per day. There are also many, many to choose from, so there is no need to book one in advance.

If you want to cycle around the island, there is a small section of the paved road around the northeast corner of the island that’s typically covered with sand, so you might have to get off your bike and walk that section.

Best Things to See and Do in Gili Trawangan

Explore Gili Trawangan’s East Coast

Gili T’s east coast is where most of the action is. The main road that follows the coast is where you’ll find most shops, restaurants, cafés, and diving schools. On the opposite side of the road are several street vendors, beach bars, long stretches of beach, the marina and the ferry & fast boat terminal.

The main road is fully paved, and you’ll have to share it with many other pedestrians, cyclists, and horse-drawn carriages. It can occasionally get crowded near the ferry terminal, where most horse-drawn carriages depart (the pictures above and below were taken in the morning when the streets were still fairly quiet).

A fun area to explore is the coast around the ferry terminal, where you can find many photogenic traditional Indonesian fishing boats docked along the beach, with impressive views of Lombok in the distance.

Spend Some Time On the Beach

You won’t have to look far to find a beach, as the island is surrounded by beautiful white sand. No matter where you are staying, you’ll have a beach nearby.

The widest and longest stretches of beach are found along the west and east coasts.

West Coast:

The waters along the western beaches aren’t great for swimming, except perhaps at the very peak of high tide, as you have to walk through long stretches of rocks and coral before reaching swimmable water.

The same is more true for the north coast and south coasts:

East Coast Beaches:

That leaves us with the Gili T’s east coast beaches, which are the best for swimming. The ideal swimming (and snorkelling) spot is along the northern section of the east coast, where there is a boat-free zone. The pictures below were taken around low tide, when it’s still possible to swim — though it’s best at high tide as it’s easier to get into the water.

Even though this is the best beach for swimming, there are still some rocky sections to go through, so wearing water shoes will make your experience significantly more comfortable.

Go Snorkelling at Turtle Point

The northeast corner of Gili T is also the best area to enjoy some snorkelling and, with some luck, see some green or hawksbill turtles. In our experience, the best area to see them is between “Turtle Spot” and “Turtle Point” (link to Google Maps). The are several street vendors that rent out snorkelling gear (fins, mask and snorkel) for about IDR 50,000. They are not necessarily the highest quality, but they do the job. You can also rent GoPros for about IDR 200,000 (cash only) to capture your underwater snorkelling adventures.

Take a Snorkelling Trip to Gili Meno

Although some of Gili T’s marine life can be enjoyed from near the shoreline, you are likely to encounter a lot more by taking a snorkelling trip between the islands and particularly around Gili Meno. Indonesia sits within the Coral Triangle and has some incredibly rich marine biodiversity, and heading out on a snorkelling trip from Gili T is a great way to experience some of it.

Tours will typically make 3-4 snorkelling stops around Gili Meno, including at the impressive Bask Nest underwear sculptures.

We can highly recommend this GetYourGuide snorkelling tour, which, after several snorkelling stops, includes time for a nice stop for lunch on a Gili Meno beach and a short visit to the small turtle sanctuary. They will take tons of pictures with a GoPro and will share them with your group afterwards. You can select your preferred group size (regular, small or private) for the snorkelling activity:

Walk or Cycle Around the Island

We mentioned earlier that walking and cycling are great ways to get around the island, and there’s no better way to get your island bearings quickly than doing a quick loop around it. A full loop is just under 7 km in distance – most can walk this in about 90 minutes, or can cycle around it in about 45 minutes at a very leisurely pace (keep in mind that you can’t really go fast in most places since you’ll be sharing the road with many pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages.

If you don’t want to do a full loop, you can skip the northern portion of the island by cutting across the island’s only east-west road that goes from coast to coast, Jalan Vila Kelapa (link to Google Maps), though this only shaves off about 1 km from the full loop distance.

Explore the Island’s Interior

Most people stick to the circular route that loops around the island and the east-west road that cuts across it (Jalan Vila Kelapa), mostly because the island’s interior is underdeveloped and not as clean. However, we think it’s a worthwhile excursion, as you will get a good glimpse into how Gili T must have looked just a few decades ago before the tourism boom. You might even come across a local soccer game like we did.

This is where most of the locals live, generally in impoverished and rundown dwellings. You’ll also likely encounter several farm animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens. Roosters are also omnipresent (and you are likely to hear them in the morning), and there’s also a horse riding school and rescue, near the southern tip of the island.

Note that while some roads are paved, many of the island’s interior roads are dirt roads, making it less easy to visit by bicycle.

Watch the sunset and sunrise

The sunsets and sunrises on Gili T are simply glorious, there’s no other way to put it.

For sunsets, you can find plenty of open spaces along the beach or a cozy spot in one of several beachfront bars along the west coast. We don’t have any in particular to recommend, since you are there for the view and they all more or less share the same one!

One spot we also particularly enjoyed visiting was an area near the southern tip of the island where a large tree appears to be growing out of the ocean (link to Google Maps).

Earlier in the day, it’s also a great place to view Bali and Mount Agung in the background.

For sunrises, you’ll want to head to the east coast, where you will get glorious views of the sun rising above Mount Rijani in Lombok.

Take an Indonesian Cooking Class

We think that taking an Indonesian cooking class in Gili T is a must. It’s a lot of fun, you’ll learn a lot, you’ll meet new people, and at the end of it all, you’ll enjoy delicious food!

We had a great time with Gili Cooking Classes. They hold 3 daily classes per day (11:30 am, 4 pm and 8 pm), and you have three different class lengths to choose from: Intro course (1h30 and three dishes), Four of a kind (2h and four dishes), the Super Six (2h30 and six dishes). Everyone starts the class at the same time, but those who take the intro course or the four of a kind course will finish their class before the rest.

Among the dishes you’ll learn to make are Mie Goreng (Indonesian fried noodles), fried tempeh, yellow chicken curry and Gado Gado (a popular tofu and vegetarian salad with peanut sauce). They can cater to any dietary requirements. Class sizes are held to a maximum of 12 people, and there are always three chefs or assistant chefs around to help.

Go Scuba Diving

Gili Trawangan is a fantastic place for scuba diving, whether you are a novice or an experienced diver. The clear waters, healthy coral reefs where underwater life flourishes, and year-round warm temperatures have led to Gili T becoming a popular diving destination.

Many reputable dive operators have opened on Gili T over the years, so you have plenty of options to choose from. If you are a novice, most courses will begin with a short training period in a practice diving pool before heading out into the open water. If you are here for several days and take several classes, you might also be able to obtain your PADI Open Water Certification.

If you are a beginner or novice diver, Manta Dive (one of Gili T’s best-rated dive operators with excellent safety measures) offers this great introductory course:

Count the Gili Cats & Visit Cat Café

If you are a feline lover, you’ll truly enjoy wandering the streets of Gili T. While stray dogs seem to be everywhere on Bali, on Gili T, it’s cats. They are all over the place and are generally quite friendly (often hoping you’ll give them food). Locals thankfully leave out bowls of water for them (and sometimes food) at various places around town.

Many cats are also taken care of by the Cats of Gili Rescue Centre, which also doubles as a cat café (link to Google Maps).

Other Great Activities On Gili T

– Watch a movie under the stars: Several beach bars host free evening open-air cinema events on large screens set up on the beach. The most popular is the Aston Sunset Beach Resort (link to Google Maps). They usually have two showings per night, and it’s best to arrive early to ensure good seating. Food and drink service is available as well.

– Play mini-golf: right next to the Cat Café, there’s an 18-hole mini-golf course (Gili Golf – link to Google Maps)

– Discover Gili T’s Night Market: Although night markets aren’t as popular in Indonesia as in other Southeast Asian countries, Gili T has one large one near the main ferry terminal (link to Google Maps).

– Sunrise paddleboarding: If you are a fan of SUPs and sunrises, then this activity might be for you! You’ll enjoy the superb sunrise over Lombok while out on the calm morning waters. Tours start around 5h30 am, and can last between 1h and 2h30, depending on your preference. If you are a novice to stand-up paddleboarding, not to worry, beginners are welcome and will be assisted by the professional tour guide on-site:

– Sunrise/sunset beach horseback riding: Another great golden light activity that will yield amazing photos. The tours are suitable for both experienced equestrians and beginners, last one hour, and take place at any time of day (not just sunrise or sunset).

– Sunset boat tour: If you enjoy scenic boat rides during sunset and snorkelling, then you might enjoy this boating activity. It combines snorkelling with a glass-bottom tour from which you can watch the sunset.

– Enjoy a festive foam pool party: This is not necessarily our thing, but Rabbit Jump (link to Google Maps) is a popular spot to enjoy fun times in a foam-filled pool.

Where to Eat on Gili T

There are so many places on Gili T from which you can enjoy great food. These are some of our favorites:

Coffee, Breakfast, & Pastries

Carpe Diem – Coffee & Restaurant (link to Google Maps) – Our go-to for early morning coffee and pastries.

Coffee & Thyme Gili Trawangan (link to Google Maps) – Our favorite breakfast/brunch place on Gili T.

Lunch, Dinner & Drinks

You’ll notice that many of our favorites are along the main east-west road (Jl. Vila Klp.). We really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the area.

Tiki Groove (link to Google Maps) – Enjoy some of the best cocktails on the island here in a fun tiki bar-themed establishment.

New Gili Frame Resto and Bar (link to Google Maps) – a great spot to enjoy food and drinks on a large roof-covered outdoor patio.

Pizzeria da Marco (link to Google Maps) – Look no further to find some of the best pizzas on the island.

L’Osteria dell’Isola Gili Trawangan (link to Google Maps) – Yes, another Italian, but a true hidden gem. We loved the food and the atmosphere so much that we went twice! The service is amazing and the food is delicious. And you are craving Indonesian food, they have many options to satisfy that craving, too!

Other well-rated places we didn’t get to try:
– Jali Kitchen (link to Google Maps)
– My House (link to Google Maps)

Where to Stay on Gili T

There are loads of accommodations to choose from on Gili T. You’ll find great options along every coast. Accommodations along the East Coast are great because they are close to most shops and restaurants, but they may not be as quiet as you’d like during the late evening, given their proximity to all the action. Also, they might not be ideal in the early morning if they are too close to the main mosque (link to Google Maps) from which the prayer announcements are made.

For a quieter and more relaxing stay, you might want to consider accommodations and hotels on the western, southern, or northern coasts. There’s also a growing number of inland accommodations, particularly around the main east-west drag, Jalan Vila Klp.

But no matter where you are staying, the East Coast shops and restaurants are at most a 30-minute walk (or an even shorter bike ride) away. And there’s a growing number of restaurants and shops along the west coast as well.

Here are some of the best-rated mid-range accommodations on the island:

Hotel Lumi Gili Trawangan (West Coast)

Aston Sunset Beach Resort (West Coast)

Jali Resort (Island Center, near East Coast)

La Bella Hotel Villa and Spa (East Coast)

PinkCoco Gili Trawangan (South Coast)

Kardia Resort (West Coast)

Best Time to Visit Gili Trawangan

The best time to visit Gili Trawangan is during the dry season, which typically runs from late April to mid-October. This period offers the most favorable weather with less rain and lower humidity. During the dry season, the seas are also generally calmer, which is ideal for those wanting to snorkel or dive, and means that the Bali-Gili journey is more likely to be smooth.

Consider off-peak months like May-June or September-October for a more personal experience with fewer crowds.

If you visit during Ramadan, which usually takes place in March or April, know that some businesses will either completely close or close earlier (from sunset to sunrise).

How Long Should You Stay In Gili Trawangan

We recommend staying 3-4 days to fully experience everything the Gili T has to offer. With that much time, you should be able to see and do most of the things we described above in this guide.

Planning a Trip to Bali?

You might be interested in these pages: (coming soon)
Best Things to See and Do in Bali
Best Things to See and Do in the Gili Islands
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Bali

We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Bali: The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide
Lonely Planet Bali, Lombok & Nusa Tenggara

Photography Gear

If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.

Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug

Other Travel Essentials

Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.

e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.

Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.

Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).

Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).

Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)

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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Bali guide on Best Things to See and Do in Gili Trawangan and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.

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