Gili Trawangan is one of three islands off the coast of Lombok. All three Gili Islands are fun and beautiful, however, I only visited Gili Trawangan, more commonly referred to as “Gili T.” These islands are well known for both their lack of motor vehicles and lenient law enforcement – making it a must see for partiers and divers alike!
How to get to Gili T
Book a Fastboat with your accommodation beforehand. There are various ports that will take you to the Gili Islands and your hotel or hostel will know which one is closest or easiest.
NOTE: If weather is bad fastboasts can sometimes be cancelled between Bali and the Gili Islands. In this scenario, boat companies will give you the option of rescheduling your Fastboat to another day or taking a ferry to Lembar, a shuttle to Pamenang, and a boat to one of the three islands – this is a long and tedious option but if you want to get to Gili then it’ll do the trick.
Once on the island the only modes of transportation are bike rentals, horse and carriage rides, or walking. I definitely recommend getting a bike for however long you’re staying – they are the most convenient!
Where to Relax
Gili T is truly paradise and the perfect place to sit back and take in its beauty. Below are some of my favorite spots for doing nothing!
Turtle Beach – Turtle Beach is an easy spot to lay around, snorkel, spot turtles, and order food from restaurants right on the beach! Any chairs and umbrellas you see are free as long as you order a menu item from the restaurant the seats belong to.
Sunset Point – Exactly how it sounds: the perfect spot to sit back and watch the sunset!
Royal Regantris Hotel Outdoor Cinema – Each night the Royal Regantris puts on two movies at their outdoor cinema on the beach. They provide free popcorn and you can order food while watching the movie!
Dive – Depending on your definition of relaxation, you can book a diving tour! There are underwater statues and amazing wildlife surrounding the Gili Islands to dive down and explore.
Bike around the Island – The road on the eastern side of the island gets quite sandy so you can’t exactly bike around the coast of the entire island. However, the majority of the coastal road is beautiful and so fun to ride along with friends or solo.
Where to Eat
There are plenty of delicious spots to grab a bit to eat around Gili. Here are some of my favorites!
Trawangan Night Market – The night market is full of Indonesian cuisine that you can have grilled right in front of you. Everything is extremely cheap and you end up with a massive plate of food every time!
Coffee & Thyme – This cafe is perfect for a nice breakfast or lunch. The menu will leave you wanting to try everything. Portions are small though, so I don’t recommend it for a large meal.
Burger House – Amazing burgers! That’s all I have to say about this place!
GiliYo Frozen Yogurt – There are two locations on either side of the island so whenever you’re craving some fro-yo, GiliYo is there!
Pink Coco – This all-pink restaurant and hotel has some delicious food! My favorites was the pumpkin soup and pizza but you definitely can’t go wrong. They have pink beanbags lining the beach that face the sunset as well so you can eat in comfort and with a beautiful view.
More Information
Gili T is widely known for its party culture and the availability of certain drugs (weed and mushrooms). Per usual, always be safe and with people you trust if visiting Gili T for these reasons. Below are some of my tips for having a safe experience in an environment like this!
Do what you’re comfortable with – At times it will feel like EVERYONE is either drinking or high and that is simply not true. I met plenty of travelers who were visiting Gili for its beauty, the dives, or cute restaurants. No matter what you’re looking to find on Gili, you’ll find likeminded people!
Only purchase from well-known/recommended locations – There are loads of random people that will shout from the side of the road that they have weed or mushroom shakes for sale and these are often fake or extremely poor quality. Stick to commonly known locations (ask other travelers for recommendations) and it will be much safer.
Go with friends – As a female traveler, this is one location I definitely recommend visiting with friends, especially if you are going for any mind-altering substances. Men on Gili tended to be less respectful, even in the middle of the day, so I would not recommend being with people you don’t know or fully trust.
NOTE: The disrespect on this island was just my personal experience and this recommendation comes from my personal opinions. If you have been to Gili and had a different experience as a female traveler, then I would love to hear your perspective!
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