Gili Trawangan is the largest of 3 islands in between Bali and Lombok. Known for amazing beaches, scuba diving, and nightlife you are sure to fall in love with this charming place. The path around the perimeter of Gili T is only 7 km making the entire island easily accessible by foot. Keep reading for our favorite things to do on Gili Trawangan!
For information on how to get there, best time to travel, transportation, accommodation, and more please visit our page on Backpacking Gili T.
Go Scuba Diving in The Crystal Clear Water
Scuba diving is an experience you can`t pass up here. There are several shops on the island offering everything from single dives to PADI certification. Blue Marlin and Manta Dive are a few of the most popular shops with the cost for a single dive starting around 500,000 IDR ($36 USD).
Bike Around The Island
There are no vehicles on Gili T so your transportation options are to walk, bike, or take a horse and carriage. On the topic of responsible tourism; skip the third option if you can avoid it. The horses are severely dehydrated and over worked which is heartbreaking and really unnecessary on such a small island.
Renting a bicycle is my favorite way to go out and explore! There are numerous bike shops and you can even rent them from most hotels for 50,000 IDR ($3.70 USD) /day. Cruising around the perimeter of the Gili Trawangan will bring you to all of the stunning beaches and snorkel destinations!
Go Snorkeling Right Off The Beach
There are many snorkel tours to choose from on Gili Trawangan but I honestly recommend just heading out on your own. You can easily rent your equipment for 15,000 IDR ($1 USD) /day and find incredible snorkel spots right off the beach! Expect to see colorful reefs, tropical fish and even turtles.
Get on the Water With SUP & Kayak Rental
Either take a guided day trip or go out and explore on your own! Gili Meno and Gili Air are so close that you can easily paddle board or kayak back and forth. Rent your equipment from Paddle Gili on the main street and get out over that beautiful blue water!
- SUP rental for 1 hour: 100,000 IDR ($8 USD)
- SUP full day rental: 250,000 IDR ($19 USD)
- Single Kayak 1 hour: 70,000 IDR ($5 USD)
- Single Kayak full day: 220,000 IDR ($16 USD)
- Double Kayak 1 hour: 120,000 IDR ($9 USD)
- Double Kayak all day: 300,000 IDR ($22 USD)
Experience the Beach Bars
The bar scene on Gili Trawangan is stellar with numerous hotels around the island hosting different events. For starters; make sure to attend a bonfire at Horizontal Lounge. They have excellent food, drinks, and beachfront bean bags chairs. The Exile is the best spot to catch a sunset due to its location on the west side of Gili T. Enjoy the food and drinks, stay the night in a bungalow or play around on the ocean hammock and swing. Additionally; each night of the week a different bar on the island will be hosting a party so ask around and enjoy!
Have a Drink at Sama Sama Reggae Bar
Located on the main street Sama Sama has a great atmosphere and live music every night. Stop in on reggae night for a drink and some entertainment; you`ll be glad you did.
Take a Great Photo at The Ombak Sunset Swing
I`m sure you`ve all seen photos of this famous swing somewhere on Instagram. It is located in front of the Ombak Sunset Hotel and it really is as beautiful as all the pictures make it out to be. While this is still the most popular one; many hotels have now built similar swings and hammocks all around the west side of the island. Visit during the day or at sunset for a remarkable photo-op!
We hope you enjoy your time on Gili T. Feel free to contact us or comment with your favorite things to do on Gili Trawangan. Make sure to check out our Bali Travel Guide and Lombok Travel Guide for your next adventure!
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