Gili Trawangan in Indonesia is a cute and beautiful island away from the coast of Lombok and Bali. It’s typically called Gili T by the locals and constitutes one of the three Gili Islands.
The other two being Gili Air and Gili Meno (Neighbouring Lombok isn’t part of them.)
So if you are visiting Bali or are touring Indonesia, then you must allocate some time to visit the Gili Islands. Of the three Gili Islands, Gili T is a party island and has adorable scenic beaches and top-class restaurants.
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GUEST AUTHORS – We are Jimmy & Tah, American and Thai Millennials who left our careers in the military and finance to become full-time travellers.
Quick Travel Q&A for Gili Trawangan
Why Visit the Gili Islands?
Gili Trawangan might as well be one of the most loved places by many travelers in the world. Enjoy the best of parties, best of local seafood and top water adventure sports.
There are many things to do on the Gili Islands and Gili T attractions are multifaceted for such a small island! Experience the best when you visit the Gili Islands.
Here’s how to get to Gili T from Bali.
What’s the most important attraction of Gili T?
There is a remarkable Gili T sight that sets it apart from many other Indonesian islands. And you’ll notice it instantly.
Even though it is a party place that gets wild by the night, this one is completely eco-friendly. There are no cars, bikes or pollution-causing vehicles. So, you can just go there and breathe fresh air and adore those beautiful sceneries. (It’s a bit like an endless Silent Day of Bali.)
There is a noticeable Gili T sight that sets it apart from many other Indonesian islands. And you’ll notice it instantly.
Even though it is a party place that gets wild by the night, this island is completely eco-friendly, which is a major appeal in its own right.
There are no cars, bikes or pollution-causing vehicles. So, you can just go there and breathe fresh air and adore those beautiful sceneries. (It’s a bit like an endless Silent Day of Bali.)
10 Things To Do In Gili Trawangan
Diving
One thing the Gili islands are famous for are opportunities for water activities. If you love the ocean, then you should wonder what to do in Gili Trawangan. There are various options.
For one, you can enjoy scuba-diving, snorkeling and watch the underwater beauties. This will be a great experience for you if you love water sports!
Don’t worry if you don’t know diving and aren’t equipped enough. There are a lot of training centers and they help you learn and also give you the diving gear.
Ecolodge stay
The whole of Gili T island is eco-friendly. But, how about staying in an eco-friendly lodge to soak in that experience for a few days?
Enjoying the moonlight beside your window and waking up to greenery, fresh air and bright sunlight on Gili Trawangan island is a memory that you will keep in mind forever!
There are various options depending on your budget. This high end eco lodge is suited if you want to stay with a partner or travel buddy in the lap of luxury for the night.
For half the price, you can reside at the wonderful La Cocoteraie Ecolodge. From here, you’re only 250m away from the viewing point over Gili Trawangan Beach. Check it out here*.
Yacht Party
Yes, Gili T is fully about the party. Not only in pubs, beach bars, and restaurants but also on yachts. How lovely is that?! Though it is a bit expensive, this is a very different experience worth checking out.
Plus, youl’ll meet amazing backpackers and travel enthusiasts across the globe. Try it out one time, eat local food, drink and enjoy yourself fully.
Walk, walk and walk
Gili T is a very small island and so you can move around easily on foot. You can take a day to just walk around the island, admire the views of the island and just relax wherever you want.
Even so, you may bump into something that no one has seen! Do take some time to explore the island when in Gili T near Bali.
Adore the sunset
Do you want to watch one of the best sunsets in the world? You most likely find those in Gili T. Many travelers who have been to Gili Trawangan have agreed that this island has one of the best sunsets!
And since it only takes around two hours to walk around the island and beaches of Gili Trawangan, you can enjoy multiple sunsets on the tropical island.
Live music in the famous bars
Live music by various international musicians is played in many bars on Gili Trawangan. You can go to each one every day to see what they offer. For instance, Sama Sama is an amazing place for music and drinks.
Even if you are travelling alone, you’ll easily find company here or can enjoy a fun evening by yourself. Solo and well as band singers perform in Gili T’s bars. Plus, there are karaoke sessions in some bars.
Cycle the island
As there are no vehicles allowed when travelling Gili T, the best option for transport (apart from your own two feet) is cycling.
You can conveniently stop by at places you love, have local seafood and cycle on again to the next place. This way, you can complete cycling Gili T in just a few hours. Bikes are available on a daily rental basis.
Swing above the sea
I’m sure you know about the famous swing on the sea in Gili T – it’s just like a Bali swing. Of course, it’s one of the most instagrammed places on the Gili Islands. Sunset as a backdrop is perfect for capturing fascinating pictures.
Swing and enjoy the views of the sea from this angle. You can find it in Gili T West. Anyone on the island can direct you here. Feel free to ask someone and just get there.
Enjoy the nightlife on the island
What can you do in Gili Trawangan at night? Well, for one thing, there are plenty of local bars offering live music and rave nights in Gili T. After all, Gili T is considered the Party Island of the Gilis.
So, how can you spend a night on Gili T and not party? There are numerous bars and beach party gatherings that offer amazing food, local drinks, live music, dance and many other fun things.
They continue throughout the night until about 4am (restaurants close around an hour before midnight). You can stay there till the end if you have no plans for the next day.
Local Market Tour
A little more laid back vibe can be had at the local market of Gili Trawangan. It’s particularly amazing during the night. The location is in the main square of the Gili T island.
What can you do here? Sample local food for dinner and snack on traditional snacks, including spicy corn, fried noodles, rice or grilled satay. The food is really affordable and tastes better than many posh restaurants.
(Editor’s note: Don’t discount restaurants in general, however. Here are the best Canggu restaurants worth visiting to give you a taste of the many wonderful foodie spots the islands offer.)
Watch a Stick Fight
There are a lot more activities to do in Gili T. Want to do something different? Watch Stick Fight. This is a traditional form of combat between two people. It’s performed along with the music.
A stick and a shield are involved in this fight. It’s common on all three Gili Islands and especially famous in Lombok. However, if you are in Gili T on a Sunday afternoon, head to the marketplace and watch a fight there.
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