How to visit Gili Trawangan, Lombok

When I was visiting Mt Bromo, my guide described a place known as the “Las Vegas of Indonesia”. The island in question? Gili Trawangan.

This island has a big reputation for its parties and nightlife. Lou wanted some social time after staying in mainly hotels for the previous few weeks during our trip through Indonesia, so we thought we’d give it a try.

After visiting Gili Trawangan, I’ve written this guide. That way, I hope to share what we learned about the island, such as what to do and where to stay, as well as my thoughts on whether it’s worth a visit in the first place.

About Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan, affectionately shortened to Gili T, is an island not far from Lombok, in central Indonesia.

Gili T is one island in a set of three, collectively known as the Gilis: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. The Gilis are well known for any visitors to Indonesia, due to their proximity to Bali, the most popular island. You can easily reach them with a 90 minute boat ride from the east side of Bali.

Naturally, their closeness to Bali makes them very popular with tourists. Most itineraries to Bali include a trip to the Gilis, and why not? We’re talking tropical islands here. It’s an idyllic place to go to (at least on paper).

Gili T: the party island

Each Gili island has its own vibe. Gili Trawangan – affectionately shortened to Gili T – is known for its nightlife and parties; Gili Meno is known for its peace and relaxation; and Gili Air lies somewhere in the middle.

Whilst I knew Gili T was the party island before I arrived, I’ll admit I knowingly let myself be hoodwinked. In my mind, the word island was the most significant one. Above all, surely this little island would feel like tropical paradise?

In reality, I didn’t feel like I got any sense of “tropical paradise” from Gili T. Sure, the island has the pretty beaches you’d expect. It’s also got the palm trees and gentle coastline.

But, the island is very developed (although still in a rustic style). There are few stretches of coastline which remain undeveloped. In almost every corner of the island you’ll find hotels, bars and restaurants. Most of the shoreline is in fact occupied by sun loungers you have to pay to sit on.

I can’t lie: I didn’t take to this set-up!

The beach

Ignoring how developed the island is, Gili T is home to some very pretty beaches. They’re thin, with white-beige sand, and often have coral debris and pebbles along the shoreline.

I really liked the beaches and can imagine how nice they would’ve been a century ago, before the island became a tourist hotspot. As the water around the coast is sheltered, in quiet areas you can hear the gentle waves lapping the shore. It’s so relaxing!

However, there are sun loungers along the majority of the coast, owned by establishments positioned around the circumference of Gili T. Lucky guests of beachside hotels have access to their hotel’s sun loungers. For the rest of us, buying food and drink from the bars means you can use the bar’s sunloungers.

If you’re like me, you don’t want to continually spend money on food and drink, and you have to search to find some shade that isn’t occupied by rentable furniture. We found the north coast to be best for this as there were some secluded shaded spots. However, even then, you are very close to bars and restaurants, and have to hide somewhat beneath the trees!

The reefs

Gili Air is well known for its pretty beaches and coral reefs. The reefs themselves are close to shore and therefore easily accessible. You can just wade out to see them!

I have to admit, I didn’t find the coral reefs as impressive as I’d seen elsewhere on Bali. The corals at Amed were much more developed! Whilst there were some patches of pretty corals with more developed reef systems, there were also a lot of bleached and sandy areas amongst the corals. If you are an experienced diver, you might find them disappointing.

However, for visitors to the Gilis, the main draw is the turtles. There are a lot of them! You’ll see them going about their daily lives,  snacking on algae, surfacing for air and chilling on the seabed.

We saw a turtle on over half of our snorkel sessions on the Gilis, so they’re super common to see. Also, you don’t need to go out too deep as it’s easy to see them in shallow water! On a few occasions, we watched them surfacing from the beach as well.

If you want to get away from the shallow corals and explore the most pristine sites, this is very easy on Gili Trawangan. There are plenty of dive centres on the island!

Life on Gili T

Life on Gili Air and the other Gili islands is quite different to the mainland. None of the Gilis have vehicles. They’ve only got bikes (of the manual and electronic varieties) and horse and carriages. This makes it fairly chill as no one is getting around in a hurry!

Most of the locals come from the Sasak ethnic group, which originates from Lombok and is primarily Muslim. You’ll often see signs asking people to cover up off the beach to respect local culture, which is understandable.

A slightly weird aspect about Gili T in particular is the prevalence of magic mushrooms. So many bars sell their ‘happy juice’. It’s almost as if the island has decided to legalise them; you’ll even see it sold at bars located by the police station! Ultimately, it makes sense though as, compared to towns on Bali and Lombok, there is a limited police presence on the island.

Girls, be warned as a few bars sold their happy juice with signs featuring slogans moderately offensive to women. I was not impressed, but fortunately these weren’t too common.

Ratings

As part of this blog, I give every place I visit a rating so that I can easily compare destinations and decide whether they’re worth a visit. Those are the scores you see at the top of the page!

This is how Gili T rated:

• Safety: 5/5 – excluding the natural perils of being on an island, such as limited healthcare, we felt very safe on Gili T. My sister felt a little uneasy sharing the paths with fast-moving horse and carts.
• Accessibility: 4/5 – it’s easy enough to reach Gili T, with a range of ferries and fast boats departing from Bali and Lombok. However, any visitors will need to be comfortable getting on and off boats, and moving across sand.
• Enjoyment: 3/5 – Gili T was not for me; I just wasn’t keen on the vibe. However, it’s entirely down to your personal preference.
• Value: 3/5 – compared to Bali and Lombok, visiting Gili T is not cheap, particularly with respect to transport and accommodation. However, you can dig around to find cheaper food and drink, and it’s still significantly cheaper than you’d find in a Western country.

Overall score: 3.25/5

If you’ve already visited, let me know if you agree with these ratings! Just to note, the ratings are my personal opinion based on my visit, so you might have a completely different experience.

More: how I rank destinations using the Everywhere Ratings system

How to get there

To get to Gili T, you’ll first have to travel to Bali or Lombok, the neighbouring larger islands. From there, your only option is to take a ferry to the Gilis.

Travelling from Bali

To get a ferry from Bali to Gili Trawangan, you’ll need to head to one of the ports on the east coast of the island. There are plenty of ferries running from these ports directly to the Gili Islands.

Coming from the south (Denpasar Airport, Canggu, Seminyak, or Uluwatu)? Head to the port at Serangan, in the south-east of the island.

Coming from the centre (Ubud)? Head to the port at Padangbai.

Coming from the north (Munduk, Lovina, or Amed)? In the past there was a fast boat service from Amed to the Gilis. However, at the time of my visit this wasn’t running, so you’ll need to head to Padangbai instead.

It’s also possible to take a boat directly from Nusa Penida, a pretty island off the south-east coast of Bali. The boats going between the Gilis and Serangan often stop at Nusa Penida on the way.

Got more time? A final option is to take a ferry from Bali to Lombok, then hop on a boat to the Gilis from Lombok. The local ferries running from Bali to Lombok are much cheaper (but longer) than those taking tourists directly to the Gili Islands.

Should you take a fast or slow boat?

There are dozens of operators running boats directly between Bali and the Gilis. Most of these are fast boats, but slow boats between the two places exist too.

I would strongly recommend taking a fast boat with a reliable operator! On multiple occasions I’ve heard people describe the boat ride as the “worst few hours of their lives”. That’s because the journey to the Gilis can get very choppy – and some boats are just built better to be stable during this than others. Of course there is little you can do to mitigate the choppiness if the weather just isn’t that great, but some operators will deal with it more effectively.

If you have the budget, I’d highly recommend taking Blue Water Express. We took them and had such a smooth journey, and they were communicative and organised throughout. However, at Rp 650,000 ($42 / £33) per ticket, this is the priciest boat we found that sailed between Bali and the Gilis!

We have also heard good things about Eka Jaya and Golden Queen, two other fast(ish) boats sailing across. However, plenty of fast and slow boats are available, with prices ranging from Rp 200,000 to 500,000 ($13 to $32 / £10 to £25) per ticket.

Make sure to book tickets from the most reputable companies early, as they often fill up in advance!

From Lombok

If you get seasick, travelling from Lombok is the way to go. You can fly into the airport at Lombok then take a transfer to the port.

Most boats from Lombok to the Gilis depart from Bangsal port, in the north-west corner of the island. It’s super close to the Gilis; expect a 15 minute fast boat ride to Gili Trawangan.

There’s a fast boat going approximately every hour, costing Rp 85,000 ($5 / £4).

The slow boat leaves from the port as and when it’s full, and costs Rp 18,000 ($1.20 / £0.90). When we visited, we bought one of the last slow boat tickets, so we only had to wait a few minutes. However, if you’re travelling at a less popular time, it’s possible to have to wait for an hour.

Don’t worry about booking either boat in advance as they’re so frequent there’s normally space. I’d recommend our plan – turn up 15-30 mins before the fast boat, and if a slow boat is going before that time you can catch it instead. If not, you have the security of the fast boat leaving soon anyway! 

From the other Gilis

It’s super easy to travel between the Gili islands, with there being slow and fast boats travelling between the islands almost every hour. Just head down to the port to buy your ticket. The fast boat and slow boat options are the same as those that go to Lombok.

How to get around the island

Gili T is small, with a circumference of around 7 km. You can walk around it in around 2 hours, or cycle in just 1.

Therefore, it’s possible to get across the island just by walking. However, some people choose to rent a bike; it just gets you to the different beaches much faster, meaning you can move around as much as you’d like. Expect bike rental to set you back around Rp 50,000 ($3.20 / £2.50) per day.

It’s also possible to take a horse and carriage to get across the island. These are available to rent from nearby the port in the south-east of Gili T; I’m not sure about pricing.

However, to be honest I didn’t like the look of the horse and carts. I’m not convinced by the treatment of the horses – we saw some of their enclosures, which were scarily small, and I can’t imagine they care for the horses well. Therefore, we couldn’t justify ever taking one.

Also, the horse and cart horn is the most annoying sound ever, as they beep continuously for people to get out of the way along the thin beachside tracks. I am glad to not have to hear it ever again!

Where to stay

You’ll find an extensive range of accommodation options on Gili Trawanagan, from homestays and hostels to resort hotels. It’s more expensive than Bali for the same quality of accommodation – think Rp 200,000 to 300,000 ($13 to $20 / £10 to £15) for a dorm bed.

We stayed at Broken Compass hostel, around 10 minutes’ walk from the port on the east side of the island. We were hoping for a social but not party-oriented hostel, and Broken Compass was not this: whilst it was functional and comfortable, it wasn’t very social and ended up being quiet and isolating.

If I were to go back (and let’s be honest, I probably won’t), I would consider staying at one of the party hostels. Castle in particular looked quite fun – they were having a pool party when we walked past and it seemed like a good vibe.

When booking your hotel or hostel, make sure to check its location on the island. The east of Gili T is where you’ll find most of the bars and restaurants, as well as the port, so it’s a good option if you’re keen to experience the nightlife or want an easy experience.

On the other hand, the west side of the island is much quieter with less nightlife, so it is a good option if you prefer a quieter beach and want more time to relax. However, you may need to carry your bags a long way to your hotel, or else you’ll need to take a horse and cart.

Where to eat on Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan is home to a range of restaurants crossing many price ranges. You won’t struggle to find somewhere to eat!

The highest concentration of restaurants and bars is in the south-east of the island. Particularly towards the south of this stretch, you’ll find lots of Western restaurants and grills, which looked a little pricey compared to the more local warungs, but also had more ambience and picturesque ocean views.

If you’re on a budget, I would recommend looking inland, where most of the warungs are located. Restaurants off the main stretch were a bit cheaper. You can find reasonably priced warungs (with mains around Rp 40,000 / $2.50 / £2) on the roads heading inland from the port.

The night market is also very popular with tourists, and for good reason. It’s a food market with most of the stalls operated under by the same business, offering grilled seafood and skewers. Each skewer costs Rp 25,000 ($1.60 / £1.30), but if you buy two you’ll also get a massive plate of veggies to go with it (you can pick which sides you want). Not bad value!

Inside the market you can also find crepe stalls at more reasonable prices than elsewhere on the island.

That being said, the night market is not for everyone. It gets smoky and hot due to all the grills, and there are a lot of flies. I’m not convinced by the food hygiene and got a bit overwhelmed. However, it’s something that has to be tried once!

What to do on Gili Air

1. Relax

Gili Trawangan is a tropical island, with pretty beaches and generally great weather. It’s the perfect place to get out your towel and find a spot to chill, or invest in a sun lounger!

2. Snorkel from the beach

Given the coral reefs and abundant marine life off the shore, there’s a fair bit to see in the ocean. Rent a mask and snorkel from your hotel or a vendor and dive in! Rental should be around Rp 25,000 to 50,000 ($1.60 to $3.20 / £1.30 to £2.50) for the mask and snorkel.

We found the best spot to snorkel at from the shore to be the north-east coast of the island. The water is deep enough to snorkel in fairly close to shore, and we saw several turtles in the water here.

Just be sure to watch the tide times. Around most of the island, the water is very shallow close to the beach and extends out at knee depth for quite some distance. There are fragile corals and marine life in these areas. With the water being so shallow, it’s hard to snorkel, meaning you have to risk stepping on something on the water, which can damage the organisms, or your foot.

Therefore, I’d recommend snorkelling at high tide if possible. (The north-east was okay at other times if low tide coincides with daytime!) If you have them, bring your water shoes so you can protect your feet from any unforgiving items.

3. Take a snorkelling tour

If you don’t want to wade out to the reef, your other option is to take a snorkelling tour. We took one of these whilst we stayed at Gili Air, and they are a lot of fun.

Public tours normally run in the morning or afternoon; private charters go at any time. You’ll get taken to three or four spots for snorkelling across the three Gili Islands. As you’ll be dropped off in deep water, you don’t need to worry about hitting any corals with your feet, and the coral quality should be higher than those you’d find close to the shore.

A particular spot of interest is the underwater statues off Gili Meno. Whilst snorkelling, you might get to see some turtles too!

Prices for the snorkelling tours tend to be reasonable, with a public tour costing Rp 150,000 to 200,000 ($10 to $13 / £8 to £10) per ticket including equipment rental.

Want to go on a boat ride but not snorkel? You can find traditional boat tours (and other less traditional options) across the island.

4. Go diving

There are dozens of dive centres across Gili T. You’ll find them offering dives at sites across all three Gili islands.

All dives are boat dives in the Gilis and you’ll mainly visit coral reefs. You can take them as a certified diver (a “fun dive”) or as a first timer (a “try dive”, which will include some practice time on the pool beforehand), so don’t worry if you aren’t certified.

My sister, Lou, enjoyed her dive at Turtle Heaven. She saw lots of turtles and many pretty fishes, and I gathered it was an all round enjoyable experience!

As there are so many dive centres to pick from, I’d recommend doing a bit of research in advance so you can pick one which matches your interests and style. If not, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

5. Take a massage

Bali is known for its massages, and Gili T is no exception. You’ll find many masseuses across Gili T, in outside coastal locations and also in formal massage centres. Expect prices between Rp 120,000 and 200,000 ($8 to $13 / £6 to £10) for an hour’s massage.

I didn’t try them, but they seem like a relaxing experience if you enjoy massages!

6. Take a cooking class

Want to try making some classic Indonesian dishes? Take a cooking class! You’ll find these offered in pretty much every tourist hotspot on Bali and Lombok, and Gili Trawangan is no exception.

There are several cooking classes on offer, but perhaps the best established on the island is Gili Cooking Classes, which also operate on Gili Air.

It’s a great way to embrace the local cuisine and get yourself fed at the same time!

7. Walk or cycle the island

If you want to see all sides of Gili Trawangan, it’s fairly easy to walk or cycle its full circumference. The walk takes around 2 hours, but you’ll probably want to stop as you go along, whether it’s to swim, chill on the beach, or have a drink at one of the many bars.

It gets hot on Gili T, and some stretches of the beach do not have much shade. I’d therefore recommend heading off early in the morning or waiting until later in the afternoon to start walking.

8. Watch sunset

The Gili islands are known for their beautiful sunsets, so many people like to go watch one (or a few more!) whilst they’re visiting.

Just head around to the west side of the island half an hour before sunset. There are many bars on this side with their chairs pointing west for a perfect view of sunset. We particularly liked the vibes at Pink Coco.

However, if you’re trying to save money, there is plenty of space in which to watch sunset without getting a drink. In particular, you can sit on the boardwalk by Pink Coco overlooking the sea. With the music and atmosphere of the bars washing over you, as the sun sets beneath the clouds and/or Mt Agung, it is absolute bliss!

9. Experience the nightlife

And of course, Gili T is known for its nightlife. If you come to this island, you have to experience for at least one night. (If this sounds like your idea of Hell, Gili Air or Gili Meno might suit your style more!)

Now, I have to admit I found the vibes on the main stretch a bit weird. I think it’s because the best nightlife comes from having a group to enjoy it with, and that’s quite hard to guarantee if you’re travelling solo or just with a friend.

As my hostel was quite anti-social I didn’t have a large group to spend the night with. I’d therefore recommend staying at a party hostel even if only for one night. There doesn’t have to be non-stop parties, but check the reviews to make sure there is a social atmosphere and it’s easy to make friends!

You might also want to check out organised events. For example, the Irish bar organises a pub crawl for Rp 200,000 ($13 / £10) three times a week. There seemed to be a much better vibe in the crowds coming from the Irish bar than I saw anywhere else!

10. Try surfing

This one is a bit of a long shot, but I have to mention it. Apparently, at Gili T you can go surfing!

I know, I know. I’ve just mentioned snorkelling from shore. Where could the waves possibly be?

To be truthful, I still have the same question as I saw minimal waves. However, I saw some surf academies on the south-west corner of the island, where it’s apparently possible to surf over the reef fringe off this area of coast.

Would I recommend the surf here? It didn’t look great to me, but as I didn’t try it I can’t be sure. Either way, it’s an option if you’re trying to experience everything this island has to offer!

11. Go horse riding

Another activity you can try on Gili Trawangan is horse riding. I wouldn’t recommend taking rides with unknown operators – as I mentioned earlier in this guide, the treatment of working horses on the island can be a big problem.

However, there are a couple of horse rescue centres on the island, which appear to offer much better conditions for the horses. When we walked past one of them, the horses looked much happier and healthier than the ones we saw elsewhere. If any of these centres offer horse riding, I would consider going with them.

Although I didn’t try it myself, I can imagine that riding along the beaches on Gili T is so much fun!

12. Visit a cat cafe

I can’t finish this list without talking about one of my favourite things (cats).

In the east of the island, you’ll find a cat welfare project known as Cats of Gili. They do lots of important things on the island, such as vaccinating and neutering strays and caring for sick animals.

One of the ways you can support them whilst visiting the island is to go to their cat cafe. You can come in, have a coffee and meet their cats!

As a major cat-lover who was missing her kitties back home, I absolutely would have adored to go to the cat cafe. However, when we tried to visit they were closed 🙁

Please go on my behalf!

Tips

Here are my top tips for a pleasant stay on Gili Trawangan:

1. Book the ferry early. Seats on the most reputable ferries will fill up in advance, and you don’t want to be stuck on one that isn’t as good in wavy weather!
2. Pick a place to stay with a social atmosphere. It’ll make the evenings much more fun!
3. Bring cash with you. You’ll need it for trips, restaurants and transport on the island. That being said, there are several ATMs on Gili T, so if you run out during your visit it’s not the end of the world.

Conclusion

Gili T is a party island which will certainly split opinions. It wasn’t for me, but for others it’ll be paradise!

Come here if you’re looking for fun nightlife in a beachside setting. However, the other Gili Islands are better if you want a relaxing island experience, so check those out too before you decide on a destination.

Do you have any questions about visiting Gili Trawangan? Let me know in the comments.

Planning a longer trip to Bali? Check out my guides on Gili Air, Ubud and Amed!