5 THINGS TO DO ON GILI TRAWANGAN

1.CIDOMO RIDE– if your guesthouse is located far from the pier, use Cidomo – a small horse-drawn carriage used exclusively on the Gili Trawangan Island. Heavily using this type of transport on the island (as there are no roads) has recently raised doubts, however, so, it is up to you whether to use it or rather not! 🙂

2. DIVING & SNORKELLING – Don`t miss out on some of the best diving spots in Indonesia. Join a dive school or take a diving boat tour to discover what is hiding in the warm emerald seas of the Gili Islands. Swim with giant turtles, sharks or rays and so that you leave the island with unforgettable memories.

There is also a Turtle Hatchery you can visit!

3. FOOD – Try some of the local specialities of the Sasak cuisine at the night market, the main public dining spot. It offers plenty of inexpensive open-air food stalls and traditional Indonesian warungs. Taste Bakso and Nasi Goreng  – yum!

Feel free to join a Cooking Class to learn how to prepare your favourite dish, but remember the food here is HOT HOT HOT 😉

4.FULL-MOON PARTY – join a pool party at one of the guesthouses on the island or a full-moon beach party (look up for the dates beforehand). There is a wide range of bars, clubs, and restaurants regularly organizing funky parties, drinking games and other activities, providing tons of fun!

5. SEA-SWING SUNSET – don`t miss out on the famous Gili sunsets – the best to be watched from the Ombak Resort sea swing but there are other 2 swings to enjoy!

Gili Trawagan, sunset at Ombak Resort

6.Relax. Sunbathe. Read. Swim. Enjoy the sweet doing nothing!

Gili Islands are perfect for chill-out!

TRAVEL TIP

You can easily move between the islands using the local ferry or the more expensive private boats. The isles are so close to each other that it only takes up to 30 min by a speedboat to get from one island to the other.

Simply book a guesthouse on the desirable island and go on island hopping in order to see the remaining islands in one day.

Gili Trawangan offers a wide range of accommodation, from cheap hostels to upscale resort; there are heaps of seaside restaurants and bars to enjoy

WHEN TO TRAVEL

The best time of year to visit the Gili Islands in between May-October in the dry season. Especially, fans of diving and snorkelling will enjoy the best visibility and clear, calm waters in these months. The peak season is June-September and so the prices go up. .

HOW TO GET THERE

Fly to Bali/Denpasar.

Most of the travellers take a private speedboat from Padang Bai/Bali, which takes 1-2 hrs/$30-50 USD one way, depending on the company and weather. If you travel on a budget you might want to go with a much cheaper option, the public ferry (5 hrs boat trip from Padang Bai, but it will cost you as much as $8 USD one way)

Gili Islands are easily reachable from Lombok. There are many boats frequently operating from the Bangsal Harbour to each of the Gili islands. ($1-5 USD one way, 2-hour ride). For more comfort, hop on one of the private speedboats in Senggigi that take you to the islands in just about 30 min for around $30 USD one way.

Gili Trawangan has also a small airport and you can get there from Bali by a private helicopter in just 45 min, however, this is quite a costly option (Air Bali)

For all international flights check out www.skyscanner.com or www.momondo.com