Visiting Gili Trawangan – Everything you MUST know in 2023
Are you planning on visiting Gili Trawangan? Welcome to the complete guide of everything you need to know when planning a trip to Gili Trawangan in 2023.Â
Gili Trawangan which people usually just call Gili T is the largest of the three Gili Islands which are Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. They are located just off the coast of Lombok which is an epic travel destination itself. If you want to find more about this beautiful island then check out our Lombok blog posts HERE!
Gili T is a beautiful remote island and offers many amazing experiences for travellers that want to see more of Indonesia. In recent years it has become known as a famous party island which is a little misleading. Gili T offers a lot more than just cheap drinks and late night music!
Get ready to learn everything you need to know to visit this idyllic island.
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When to Visit?
Just like other islands in Indonesia you will find tropical weather all year round. The hot and humid weather throughout makes any time of the year a great time to visit. The seasons are split into two; rainy season which is November to March and dry season from April to October.Â
The best time of year to visit Gili T would be between July and October when there is only a little rainfall and average temperatures of just below 30°C make it ideal for all of the amazing experiences Gili T has to offer.
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How to Get There?
As a small island Gili T is only accessible by boat but there are a few ways to get there.
Lombok to Gili T:
The journey that we took to Gili T started in Sengiggi in Lombok and was stress free and quick. We highly recommend this travel route. Boats leave frequently throughout the day and more information about specific times will be confirmed with you when booking.
You can book a private speed boat which will take around 15 minutes depending on conditions. This is a luxury way of travelling and will therefore set you back more money than other options but if you are wanting to travel quickly then the speed boat is the best option for you.
If you want to save a little money then be prepared for a longer journey time and get a ticket for the public boat. This journey will be a little less comfortable as it is around 30 minutes and there are considerably more people and cargo onboard, despite this it is still a great way to travel to Gili T.
For any boats that you are planning to get we recommend booking with a company before turning up at the port which can be a very overwhelming experience with lots of people hassling you to buy their tickets.
Bali to Gili T:
Many travellers will be coming directly from Bali to Gili T and again the only way to do this is by boat. (Sorry to anyone who gets seasick)Â
The boat from Bali to Gili T leaves from Pandang Bai which is the main port in Bali and in our experience is a little stressful to navigate. The best way to get onto the boat is to pre-book your ticket through a trusted company so you do not have to haggle at the port. The boat takes around 1.5-2.5 hours depending on conditions and stops; usually Gili T is the last stop. There are a few different companies which offer faster boats, still the journey is estimated at 1.5 hours.
Once you arrive in Gili T whether from Bali or Lombok you will arrive at Pelebuhan Port and make your way to your accommodation.Â
Note that transport is limited to traditional horse and carts, bicycles or electric scooters in all of the Gili islands as they do not have any motorised vehicles. A good tip is to book accommodation you can easily walk to from the port with all of your bags.
Where to Stay?
There are many different options when it comes to accommodation in Gili T:
Budget:
There are many homestay type places to stay in Gili T and our favourite was Almaida 2 which was a great budget friendly option. The quiet location was great to avoid the noisier areas with loud late night music and the host family were lovely and welcoming. This homestay offers bicycle rentals at a cheaper price than in the town plus a yummy included breakfast and hot drinks throughout the day.
Luxury:
For travellers with a bit more money in their budget we recommend The Pearl of Trawangan Hotel which is in a great location as it is close to the main area on the east side of the island. This hotel offers hot tubs, swim-up bars and gardens which will allow you to relax when you are not out exploring this beautiful island.
What to Do?
Snorkelling:
A top highlight of our travels in Indonesia was snorkelling in Gili T! We booked a trip with a great travel company called GILI SNORKELING CENTRE and were surprised at how cheap this activity was – we paid only 150,000 IDR each (around $10). The cost included all rentals of snorkels and flippers plus the ticket for the boat which took us to 3 different locations around the 3 Gili Islands. We enjoyed sights of colourful coral, underwater statues, schools of tropical fish and even wild turtles. For anyone visiting Gili T we cannot overstate how incredible snorkelling was, but if you’re still not convinced we have an entire blog post dedicated to it HERE!
Scuba Diving:
Another famous thing to do whilst in Gili T is to sign up for a Scuba Diving course. There are many options from 1 day beginners dives to full diving certificates offered by many different respectable companies. You can dive in the clear blue waters in a variety of dive sites including coral ridges and wreck sites whilst surrounded by a huge array of marine life.
Beaches:
If you find yourself with time to relax then head to the white sand, clear water beaches where you can swim in the day and watch the mesmerising sunset at night. The beaches in Gili T are what many picture when you think of tropical paradise and they are not to be missed: try Gili Beach or Pantai Kerang.
Bicycle:
Gili T is only 15 km² in area and you can easily cycle around the island in less than an hour. This is a great way to get to know the island and view the beaches and ocean from all angles. There is a smooth path that goes around the entire circumference that is easy to cycle (even if you haven’t been on a bike in years) and there are many beach bars or trendy cafés to take a quick rest in.
What to Eat?
Gili T has a great collection of places to eat all the way from traditional Indonesian warungs to luxury restaurants and you should try to experience a mixture of both.Â
In the evening there are many grill restaurants which have fresh seafood and meat ready to be grilled and served along with an all you can eat selection of side dishes. If you are looking for Western style food we recommend Blue Marlin Café, but make sure to get there early as later on in the evening tables are moved and this becomes a popular dancing spot. There is also a local night market in the centre of the main east strip which offers many different tastes of local Indonesian cuisine which is definitely not to be missed.
As for drinks there are many places in Gili T which offer cheap drinks from practically morning until night. Tir Na Nog which is an Irish Pub is a popular place for drinking and even hosts a pub crawl which will ensure you end the night merry to say the least.
What to Pack?
When packing for your trip you will need to include the normal amounts of clothes and toiletries that you would expect to bring to any destination in Asia but there are a few extra bits that we suggest bringing with you too:
Be aware of the weather – Rain jackets and bag covers are a must as the weather can change drastically when out and about in Gili T. On the other hand it is important to have plenty of sun tan lotion and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
You will most likely be in and out of water so bring a few extra swimming costumes or trunks plus a waterproof camera to capture the amazing sights underwater. A dry bag and cover for your phone is a good addition to your packing list to ensure that everything stays dry plus a microfibre towel for when you’re jumping in and out of the sea.
Personally when we visited Gili T we only had a limited time but we feel like we still fit in everything we wanted so here is our suggested itinerary to help you plan your time:
2 Nights 3 Days Itinerary:
Day 1:
- Travel to Gili T as early as possible and check into accommodation by midday
- Rent bikes and cycle to the east side of the island for lunch
- Spend time on the beach enjoying the picturesque ocean and sand
- Watch the famous Gili T sunsetÂ
- Walk around the night market and try different local dishes
Day 2:
- Early morning snorkelling starts around 9am and finishes 1pmÂ
- Grab lunch at Blue Marlin café
- Head back to your accommodation and wash off the sea water
- Cycle around the island when it is a little cooler
- Try the fresh seafood at one of the many beachfront grils
- Try a few drinks at The Irish Pub
Day 3:
- Your choice of a relaxed beach day or a 1 day scuba fun dive
- Catch your boat out of Gili T to your next destination
Now you’ve read our guide on Gili T check out some more posts to help you plan your trip to Indonesia. CLICK HERE!
Let us know what you think and if you have ever visited Gili T yourself over on our Instagram.
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