Lying 10kms from the northwest shores of Lombok, Gili Trawangan is the largest and the liveliest of the popular Gili Islands. It is a great dive destination, as with the other Gilis, and is straightforward to get to.
Often simply known as Gili T, Trawangan is completely surrounded by beaches, most of which are beautiful. It mainly caters to the backpacker crowd, with its many cheap guesthouses and bars, but also has some limited high-end accommodation.
The best thing about the Gili Islands is that there are no motorized vehicles allowed, making the islands that much more appealing. PADI-licensed dive operators have good facilities and can take you to fabulous dive spots. The snorkeling in Gili Trawangan is also spectacular while surfing is also possible on sunset beach.
The main gripe with Gili Trawangan is that its main beaches can become overcrowded during the peak tourist seasons. Nearby Gili Meno and Gili Air are quieter with less-impressive beaches.
Getting There & Away
You can get to Gili Trawangan by boat from Bangsal on Lombok in about 45 minutes; 2 hours from Sengiggi. Direct boats also sail to Gili Trawangan from Bali. A faster option is to fly to Mataram (Lombok’s capital) from Jakarta or Bali and then transfer to Bangsal by bus (1 hour).