Gili Trawangan – A Little Known Gem

Among the idyllic Indonesian islands, and not far from the well known hotspots, lays the island of Gili Trawangan, or Gili T, as it is more affectionately known. Over recent years it has come more and more into the spotlight of tourists that frequent the area, so lets have a closer look at where it is, and why it is becoming ever increasingly popular.

Bali. The tourist mecca that attracts thousands every year. These days it has become a hustle and bustle of scooters, traffic jams, and crowds of humanity, all packed onto one small Indonesian island. Tourists continue to flock there, however, in the slowly dying hope of spying just a fleeting glimpse of the tropical paradise that it once was.

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Several of the more savvy tourists will tell you to go further afield these days. Places like Candi Dasa are far away from the noisy and overcrowded hotspots like Kuta and Legian. But even places such as these are also suffering from the tourist invasion, and may inevitably capitulate to the same fate as the rest of Bali.

Fortunately, there are other options, and one of these is Gili Trawangan, the largest of the Gili Islands. Closer to Lombok than Bali, the peaceful little islands that sit on top of an ideal coral reef are a perfect reflection of Bali 30 years ago, and will not disappoint.

They will take you a little longer to get to, but if you are after a peaceful, relaxing getaway, the trip is worth it. Here are a few reasons why Gili Trawangan should be your next Bali holiday.

Table of Contents

• The Serenity
• Bang for your buck – or lack of Bucks!
• Swim with turtles
• Have a swing in the sea
• The boat to Gili is half the fun
• When to go
• Where to stay

The Serenity

A little-known fact about the Gili islands is that there is absolutely no motorised transport. That’s right – not a scooter or Bemo in sight! The main form of transport on the islands are pushbikes, horse and cart, and good old walking.

The most popular of the Islands is Gili Trawangan, or Gili T as it is affectionately known by anyone that has been there. Known to many backpackers and tourists as a party island due to the late-night beach bonfires and parties, during the day it is a quiet and peaceful mecca for anyone who is just looking to relax. In fact, yoga and health retreats are dotted all around the island – no booking necessary.

The island is not big, in fact for only about $3US a day, you can hire a pushbike and ride around the whole island in an hour – or four. In my personal experience, you don’t get far before stopping to wonder at the beauty of a perfect strip of isolated beach, or take advantage of a secluded beachside bar advertising the daily cocktail specials. On this island, falling asleep in a hammock strung between two palm trees with a cold Bintang and a fresh sea breeze rocking you off is a very real danger.

Insiders tip: Don’t ride past a great looking beach, or a secluded bar thinking “I will just stop at the next one”. There are some real hidden gems on this island and plenty of time to see it all. Stop and smell the roses because time just does not exist on Gili Trawangan.

Bang for your buck – or lack of Bucks!

To say Gili T gives you value for money would be an understatement. One thing you will notice when you get off the boat and head into the main street is the number of backpackers that flock to Gili Trawangan – and they do so for a reason.

You don’t need much money to have a good time on Gili.

Most backpackers who arrive on the island don’t even have accommodation. That’s because a short stroll through the village will present dozens of local homestays offering budget accommodation for anyone. Some offer the use of pools, but when you’re on an island, that’s not really a necessity when you’re trying to budget. So, for only a few dollars a night to stay in an authentic, quiet Balinese village, how can you go wrong?

Insiders Tip: At dusk, head into the main square along the main street. A local food market pops up every night, and for only about $4US you can fill a large plate with authentic local cuisine cooked right in front of you. How can you go wrong?

Swim with turtles

All of the Gili Islands are surrounded by hundreds of ideal spots for scuba diving and snorkelling. Most of these are even accessible from the beach. For this reason, you will often find snorkelling gear for hire along the way.

There is a beautiful stretch of water on the North-Eastern side of Gili Trawangan called Turtle Point, and it’s not named by accident. At this spot, you can actually wade out into the water and swim with turtles that are as large as the average dining table, as they graze on the sea grasses. The experience is absolutely out of this world, and totally free, especially if you bring your own snorkelling gear. No tour guide necessary.

Insiders Tip: Before taking the plunge, sit on the beach and observe. Every now and then you will see what looks like a coconut bobbing in the water. This is actually a turtle’s head popping up for a breath of air. Take note of the location and swim out to it. This small tip will save a lot of swimming in circles searching for turtles!

Have a swing in the sea

That’s right – swing, not swim.

A well-known location on Gili Trawangan is The Exile, located on the southern rim of the island. The beaches here are extraordinary, dotted with isolated bars, and sport a fantastic view of the main island of Bali in the distance.

The Exile, though, has several swings in the water. Anyone who is active on social media has probably seen photos of the swings and wondered where in the world they are. Well the answer is, right here on Gili T!

Wade out into the water and get a photo on the swing with Bali as a backdrop. I guarantee it will be your Facebook background for a long time, especially if taken at the right time of the day. There’s even a couples swing and a hammock for a bit of variety!

Insiders Tip: Keep an eye on the tides. A visit when the tide is too high can mean the swing is in the water and doesn’t look as good. But don’t worry too much. If you’re on Gili for a few days, you will likely ride past numerous times, and get dozens of opportunities.

The boat to Gili is half the fun

Don’t worry about the fact that you have to take a boat to get to Gili. If you do it right, the trip is half the fun!

From the airport at Denpasar there is a couple of hours drive to get to Padang Bai, the harbour up the coast where the boats depart from. There are literally dozens of boats to book with, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. Get a good seat and enjoy the view, the sea air, and the incredible scenery that is presented you enroute to Gili.

Keep your eyes peeled too. It is not uncommon to be accompanied by pods of dolphins racing the boat, or even sea turtles popping up to say hello on the way past.

Insiders Tip: Find a boat that allows you to sit on the roof. Slap on the sunscreen and brush up on the suntan. You will see more and the experience is so much better. On most boats, the crew will pump up the music and sell cold beers to help pass the time!

When to go

The best time of the year to visit the Gili Islands is during the peak season of July-September. During this period the weather is milder, and there is less chance of tropical rain putting a dampener on your holiday. The great thing about Gili, though, is that there is always a beautiful breeze blowing, meaning even the low season can be almost perfect.

Where to stay

To treat yourself – scallywagsresort

For a more budget friendly option – Absolute Villa

Gili Boats – Gili Fast Boats

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