11 Things To Do In Gili Trawangan And Travel Guide For 2026

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Gili Trawangan (or Gili T) is a beautiful island, part of North Lombok, Indonesia. It’s actually known for being a party island, diving and insanely beautiful sunsets.

I’m not a party person but I still love Gili Trawangan and visit often, because there is so much more than night events.

My favourite things to do are going out for snorkelling trips, eating local food and watching fantastic sunsets.

Just like every other touristy place, Gili Trawangan keeps changing and evolving. However, it really has something unique about it that will always attract me to the island.

Unlike Bali, Lombok, Nusa Islands and so on, Gili Trawangan doesn’t allow transport with petrol. This means you will only see bicycles, electric scooters and horses.

You read that right, there is no traffic!

Here you can really see what it is like to live on a small island, knowing that at some point there will be “the last boat” and the island will be on its own until early in the morning.

Local people are also part of the reason why I always come back here. I honestly made beautiful, long-lasting friendships.

Most locals who live and work on the island are from Lombok, which means I’ve also been committed to visiting their homes and villages there when invited (all the time!).

Today I will give you a thorough guide to Gili Trawangan, including things to do, what you need to know and a few tips on where to stay on the island too!

How To Get To Gili Trawangan

From Bali

Easy! There are speedboats reaching Gili Trawangan several times a day from Bali.

I always take the boat from Padang Bai Harbour because it’s the closest to Gili Trawangan. The fast boat takes around 2 hours and it’s very reliable.

The price is around $30, depending on the time of the year it can be a lot less sometimes! I know it’s a bit pricey but I never got sick on this boat and I’ve been taking it for years (read more about the boat here!).

👉 Book Wahana Fast Boat through Get Your Guide. This boat is big and steady, the staff is professional and you will get to your destination without going through any horror story you see on social media!

You can also take a ferry from the Nusa Islands or Sanur Harbour in Bali. These trips would obviously be longer, so I recommend taking a seasick pill if you tend to get motion sick.

I take my pill every time I do long routes. If you don’t have one, you can ask the staff on the boat, they normally provide pills on request!

The price here varies on the boat and time of the year but prices would be around $24 from both Sanur and Nusa Islands.

👉 Check fast boats availability from Sanur or Nusa Islands on 12Go.com. This is the best website to book your fast boat. Some of them will also include option for pick-up at your hotel. I’ve done it before and it’s not bad but keep in mind, they will pick up everyone so it will take some time to get to the harbour!

From Lombok

If you are currently in Lombok and want to explore Gili Trawangan, I would recommend going to Bangsal Harbour, which is in the north-west of Lombok.

From here, you can either take a public boat, which is pretty slow but affordable (around $4), or the fast boat.

I normally take the fast boat because I get sick on the public ferry! The price is about $8, so double compared to the public ferry but at least I know it won’t ruin my day feeling unwell!

👉 Look at the updated prices and schedule on 12Go.com. Here you can find both local ferries and fast boat!

Best Things To Do On Gili T

#1 Try These Water Sports

Snorkelers with fins float above an underwater circle of life-sized statues encrusted with coral, surrounded by clear blue water and small tropical fish.

Scuba diving: This island is very hot for scuba and free diving. You will literally see incredibly deep pools where people train, especially on the east side of the island. It’s also a great place to get your diving licence if you haven’t already.

👉 Check availability for the next diving experiences here!

Snorkelling trips: Snorkelling experiences are also incredible here. You can swim with turtles (if you are lucky) and check out the “Nest” which is a circle made of 48 full-sized statues underwater. These statues were installed in 2017 and it shows human couples hugging each other. The aim of this art installation is to remind visitors of the fragility and preciousness of the sea.

👉 Book your snorkelling trip here! I’ve done this tour many times before and loved it! I even took my mum one time. It’s super safe and fun.

Sunrise SUP or Kayak experience: This is so much fun and it’s normally run around sunrise so you get to enjoy a fun water sport and the sun rising from Gili Meno at the same time!

👉 Check updated prices for SUP and Kayak here

#2 Rent a Bike

A woman in a blue tie-dye top and white skirt smiles while holding a yellow bicycle with an orange bag in the basket, standing on a dirt path in front of tall palm trees and a rustic wooden fence.

Oh, this was my favourite activity!

Gili T is quite a small island and cycling from east to west would take 30 minutes MAX. I just enjoyed random bike rides, getting lost and ending up in a cows’ field! You can also cycle near the coast and do a round trip to the island.

I would recommend renting the bike straight away for your entire stay. It will be cheaper than renting it by the day. You can rent the bike from your hotel or any bike stands on the road.

I decided to rent it through the hotel so that at night I could leave it locked at the hotel rather than returning it to the stand. The price would be about IDR 40,000 (just over £2) per day.

Extra tip: If you are visiting during the rainy season, cycling around is a good way to avoid walking in puddles and mud!

Don’t land in Bali unprepared

A free step-by-step checklist that helps you prepare everything from documents and health to accommodation, activities, and food allergies, all in one place.

Send me the checklist ➡️

#3 Watch the Amazing Gili Trawangan Sunsets

A golden sunset over a calm ocean with the sun’s reflection shimmering on the water, framed by rocky silhouettes and a few hanging palm fronds.

Sunsets will be on the west side of the island and they are incredible. You can watch them while having a drink on the beach and listening to live music. I think sunsets in Gili T are magical!

There are 2 popular places where you can have a drink and watch the sunset:

Pinkcoco: This place offers live music (often with the saxophone), fire shows and fireworks.

Bora Bora: Here you can have food, drinks and enjoy DJ set during sunset. This is very popular right now in Gili Trawangan, you can also find known Indonesian actresses and actors visiting the bar.

Honestly, although these places look amazing, I go to The Beach House Sunset instead, because I always go to watch the sunsets with my friend and we both want a quieter place so we can chat!

This place has decent drinks and it’s more relaxing than a bar or a place with shows!

#4 Try A yoga Class Here

On Gili Trawangan, you can actually join really good yoga classes. This one on the beach is amazing and it’s available for both sunrise and sunset times.

👉 Check availability on Get Your Guide! The instructor here is amazing, I love this class!

I also tried these 2 yoga centres and I really enjoyed them (see details below).

An open-air yoga studio with a high thatched roof and sheer white curtains framing a lush tropical garden. A single yoga mat with a block sits on the wooden floor near a small altar table with a statue and water bottle. — **Gili Yoga**

They do traditional yoga classes (such as Yoga Flow, Yin or Hatha) as well as Fly Yoga.

Gili Yoga – I used to go to this one every morning. Drop-in classes are about IDR 150,000 ($10)
Sunset Beach Yoga – similar price and drop-in modality. Here you can also do fly yoga and enjoy the sunset!

#5 Listen To Live Music

I listened to live music at the Good Heart Resort every single night as it was right next to my last accommodation. This place is located on the east side of Gili T.

The atmosphere is beautiful and they also make delicious desserts! That being said, don’t miss out on the beach clubs with live music on the west side of the island that come alive at sunset.

My suggestion? Start from watching the breathtaking sunset on the west side, then make your way to the east to enjoy live performances.

#6 Go Island Hopping

View of a tropical shoreline with palm trees and distant hills, seen through the blue-painted frame of a wooden boat with a white plastic container stored below the window.

This is a great activity to do from Gili T, which is actually part of the Gili Islands. So right next to Gili T, you will find Gili Air and Gili Meno.

They are all very close to each other and there is a public boat covering them every day (ask your hotel for a time schedule).

You could even spend a few days on Gili Air and Meno, however, these islands are much smaller than Gili T so there won’t be much to do compared to Trawangan.

To move around the Gili Islands there is a local ferry called “Island Hopping”, locals call it “hopping”. A trip from Gili T to Gili Air on this ferry would be around $3 while if you take the fast boat it would be double the price.

These boats would start from Gili T, stop at Gili Meno and Gili Air. The whole trip takes about 15 minutes max!

I personally get seasick on the local ferry especially when they turn the engine off in order to approach the harbour.

I would recommend taking the fast boat, it’s more stable and reliable. 👉 Book your tickets on 12Go.com

#7 Party Places In Gili Trawangan

I’m not a party person but Gili T is very famous for it, so if you feel like going out there are quite a few options.

These are the places I’ve heard about (see below) but the schedule changes constantly so I would ask your hotel manager or just walk around (the island is tiny!).

#8 Get A Nice Massage And Manicure

There are quite a few places to get a relaxing massage or manicure. I only tried this one which I would recommend: The Rose Spa.

It’s amazing for both massage and manicure. You will find it on the east side of the island.

#9 Go For A Run On The New Track

From the harbour going towards the sunset point there is a brand new walking path that is more of a running track where people go for a jog every day!

Make sure you go early in the morning or late in the evening otherwise it would get too hot.

The most popular time is around sunset time.

#10 Interact With Locals And Ask Questions Like This:

Two women sitting outdoors on white lounge chairs, one smiling at the camera and the other covering her mouth with her hand, with a beachside deck, string lights, and people in the background.

If you didn’t know it before, Gili Islands are part of Lombok, which is predominantly Muslim.

The first time I arrived on the island it was my first time ever experiencing the call to prayer from a mosque. This would obviously happen 5 times a day and considering it’s a small island, you will hear it all 5 times loud and clear.

While this could sound like a nightmare, it’s also part of the local culture and has to be embraced. After a few days on my first visit, instead of feeling annoyed by it, I started asking questions to hotels manager or any interaction I would have with locals.

Now every time I hear it, I know exactly what is going on and I actually feel blessed by every single call to prayer.

How to connect with locals

I made some of the best friendships in Gili Trawangan. This is how!

Locals are really friendly, sweet and generous. You will see what I mean once you get there 🙂

The majority of the hotel staff actually sleeps at the property (sometimes outdoors too!). This means they spend late nights smoking and talking to each other until falling asleep.

Many times on my way back from dinner they would ask how my day went and I would end up stay out with them until very late at night talking about whatever!

👉 At Bale Sampan for example, people are very friendly and I made really nice connections during my long stay!

There are lots of opportunities to interact during the day too.

For my birthday this year I stayed at Rumah Sunyi and spent a long time before my boat talking to the staff, sitting with them.

An open-air shower with beige tiled walls features a rainfall showerhead and built-in shelves holding bottles, with a planter of green tropical plants and white stones beneath sunlight streaming from above. — **I also loved the shower at Rumah Sunyi!**

👉 Check Availability Here. The rooms there are stunning and you can shower in the sunlight!

Take whatever they offer, normally it would be tea or coffee, sometimes even fried bananas (which are amazing). The chances of getting food poisoning with local food are actually very slim as most of the food is thoroughly cooked.

As a female solo traveller I feel very safe on this island, there isn’t really anything to be worried about!

You can also easily interact with the cook or waiter at the restaurant. Be curious and ask where they are from, what is their favourite food and so on!

👉 I met my best friend at Belukar Villas 5 years ago and we have been talking constantly since then. I also visited her village in Lombok and introduced her to my family! The staff is very friendly here 🙂

-> If you are looking for more options, check out unique places to stay in Gili Trawangan

#11 Play Padel!

You won’t believe this but although Gili Trawangan is a small island, you can still find a padel court and play with your friends.

I was surprised when I saw it the first time! It’s actually quite nice and used a lot. The place is called Island Padel and it’s located on the west side of the island.

Before you head to Gili Trawangan, I always recommend having reliable travel insurance.

I use SafetyWing Nomad Insurance because it covers medical care abroad, is affordable, and can be paused or restarted anytime.

On a small island like Gili T, especially when you are taking boats, cycling and spending so much time in the water, having travel insurance gives you extra peace of mind.

👉 You can check SafetyWing here

I’ve partnered with SafetyWing to share Nomad Insurance, which I personally use when travelling.

Best Places to Eat

The food on this island is delicious. New restaurants and cafes keep popping up but these spots below are are my long time favourite!

For Western Food

Coffee & Thyme This is the perfect place for smoothie bowls, breakfast and brunch. The staff here is super friendly and caring 🙂
The Banyan Tree I think I had lunch and dinner here nearly every day when I visited Gili T last time! They offer a mix of Western and Indonesian food and it’s a great spot if you need to get some work done too!
Jali Kitchen – This place is beautiful!! Trust me on this one! Get a nice meal here before heading towards the sunset and you won’t regret it! I had a great burger but the dessert was something else!

Delicious Local food

Sumi Sate is the absolute best for sate which is grilled meat. I haven’t seen any tourists here and I think it’s Gili’s best-kept secret when it comes to local food!

Another place is actually a small Bakso shop that is next to the Night Market in Gili Trawangan but it’s not on Google Maps! When my local friend took me for the first time, I loved my dinner so much that I then became obsessed with Bakso! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s a broth with meatballs (chicken or beef) and you can have it with noodles or on its own.

A wooden bowl of clear soup with meatballs, rice noodles, and herbs sits on a napkin with a spoon beside it on a polished wooden table.

Wi-Fi On The Island

Wifi is generally reliable (unless it’s raining), definitely much better if you try it from a cafe.

It depends on what you are using it for, if you need to have work Zoom calls, you might struggle. However, I’ve heard of really good Airbnb offering a powerful connection on the island, so it’s worth checking Airbnb reviews and maybe getting your calls done from your accommodation.

FAQs

Are there ATMs on the island?

Yes, there are a few ATMs, but they can run out of cash during busy periods. Bring enough Indonesian rupiah with you to avoid problems, especially if you plan to visit smaller eateries or shops that don’t accept cards.

Should I take a horse cart while visiting?

It’s better to avoid them. Horses often work in extreme heat without enough rest or water, and the conditions can be harsh. Walking or cycling is kinder to the animals and lets you enjoy the island at your own pace.

Is Gili Trawangan only for party travellers?

Not at all. While it’s known for its nightlife, the island offers incredible snorkeling, diving, yoga, sunsets, and opportunities to connect with locals, plenty for travellers who prefer a slower pace.

When is the best time to visit Gili Trawangan?

The dry season (May to September) offers the clearest waters and sunniest skies, making it ideal for diving, snorkeling, and beach days.

That being said, August is literally overcrowded, I wouldn’t recommend that month at all! The wet season brings heavier rain but fewer crowds.

I actually enjoy going to Gili T in super quiet months like December or Janury.

What Now?

I’ve been to Gili Trawangan twice and I can’t wait to go again. It’s totally worth adding it to your list when visiting Bali, but allow yourself at least 1 week to get the best out of the island.

If you’re not sure how to combine it with your trip to Bali, check out this 2 weeks itinerary of Bali and Gili Islands!

Ciao for now,

Silvia x