Searching for Things to do in Gili Trawangan? In this post you will find an overview of the best activities you should not miss out on.
Salt air and a warm ocean breeze I never needed anything more! A warm feeling you will not be able to escape, when visiting the Gili Islands. As much as the islands impress with their aesthetic, they are also known for their quite small size. Gili Trawangan is measured as the biggest island with 6 km². In relation you could also say that it’s twice the size of the New York central park, the same dimensions as the airport in London city, or measures the same size as a district in Berlin. This may raise some doubts, whether there are enough activities for traveler’s who need a little more adrenaline, than daily beach time. The island may be smaller than you would have imagined, but it has so much more variety to offer, which leads me to the: 6 Top Things to do in Gili Trawangan.
It doesn’t take such a long time until you’ll see blue water. Well to be fair you’ll arrive with a boat on the harbour, so there is not even a slight chance to miss the ocean breeze. Do not waste any time and enjoy the salty water! Swimming, floating and diving is fun, but the island has a few more water activities to offer.
Snorkelling
One of the most enjoyable activities I always recommend is snorkelling. The island offers a range of tours, which you can book either online or in person. Usually it’s possible to book your snorkelling trip on the day of the tour, which gives you a lot of flexibility. But you should be aware of the peak season and consider any personal requirements for your trip. Therefore it’s recommended to book in advance.
The snorkelling tours vary in duration, schedule, itinerary and group size:
Duration/schedule
For a brief excursion visiting the most popular snorkelling sites, you can book a tour lasting between one to two hours. If you want an more extended version there are offers available for about four hours. The longest tours are categorised as full-day trips.
Itinerary
The length also influences the routes, the more time you have, the more you’ll see.
Group size
Otherwise you can decide between private tours, or small groups of people. I would recommend to take a risk and have fun with strangers. It’s usually the highlight of these trips, when you share such special memories with people you have never met before and probably will never meet again.
When you go snorkelling, you’ll not only enjoy the water, a few fishes and the colourful corals. There are different Points which you will visit. One is called the „Turtle Point“. The name says it all. A spot where you can encounter a variety of unique turtles, from small ones to large giants. You can swim next to them, get a little bit closer and watch them gracefully glide through the water. Attention: don’t touch the turtles, and don’t disturb them! We are just visitors of their home and should respect them!
Another unique stop is the „Bask Nest Sculptures“. They are underwater statues, by the artist Jeppe Hein and actually look so magical. If you can dive deep enough, it’s an insane spot for a good picture. Keep an eye out, because there is not only the famous circle of statues, there are also like three stone people lying on the ground near this statue. I actually could not figure out the name, if you know it please share, I am curious.
Otherwise you may take a short trip to Gili Meno, or/and Gili Air, which is a nice offer, if you have only planned to stay at Gili Trawangan. *A lot of these trips are referring to a glass bottom boat. Don’t be too excited about that; our boat had a pretty small glass panel in the floor, which wasn’t really clean enough to see what was going on in the water underneath.
Scuba Diving
If you want to get deeper in the ocean, there is also the possibility to take a scuba diving course.
As well as the snorkelling tours, there are a few different providers that offer these type of courses. Just look through the variety and decide which offer fits you the most. There are beginner courses, but also lessons for advanced divers. Professional diving takes a lot more training and understanding of the equipment. Therefore the diving course will start in the pool, in order to experience the weight of the equipment and to implement the orders you have just learned. Depending on the bundle you select, you can enjoy a range of experiences from beginner diving sessions, to scuba diving at depths of up to 18 meters, exploring new underwater realms, improving your diving skills, and much more. There are also programs which are specifically designed to help, protect and preserve the environment.
Surfing/Kayaking/Stand-Up Paddling
If you want to enjoy the waves, the peace of the ocean and watch some turtles, you may find one of the places that rent the necessary equipment. In this case you usually don’t have to book something beforehand, you can just turn up and ask for a watercraft to rent. Some places even offer surf lessons!
It’s not just the water that has a lot to offer; the island itself holds many hidden treasures.
Yoga Classes
Breathe in, breathe out. Look after yourself and enjoy some relaxing time in a yoga class. Gili Trawangan offers a diverse range of yoga classes that not only impress with their beautiful studios and views but also with a unique variety of yoga styles. Look through the different studios and find out what you are interested in.
Some yoga studios are set in a treehouse-like atmosphere, occasionally offering views of the ocean. In addition to traditional yoga studios, you can also find “Fly High” yoga classes offered by “Sunset Beach Yoga.” Here, you’ll use a specialised Fly High Yoga belt to help you achieve various poses in the air. For those who prefer being closer to the water, there are beachside classes often held at sunrise or sunset. And if you’re looking for even more water, you can try meditation on a paddle board with “Fly Gili SUP Yoga“. The yoga community on the island is vibrant and welcoming, making it easy for visitors to join classes and workshops. A great way to seek relaxation, spiritual growth and physical well-being.
Hike Around the Island
After we found out the actual size of the island, it shouldn’t be such a surprise that you can easily take a hike around the whole island in about two hours. Take that hike! That’s the way you’ll actually get to know your surrounding and discover so many beautiful spots and beaches that Gili Trawangan has to offer. A short fun story from Emma and my trip: we met someone right at the beginning of our hike and explored the area with him, for about four hours. It was kinda fun, but we did not necessarily ask for that company, which ended in a happy split up, when we were back at the hotel. So whenever I think about the hike around Gili T., I will always think of that german guy, who didn’t want to leave us, even if our signs were pretty clear.
Bars and Clubs
Gili Trawangan is known as the „party island“. A very vibrant nightlife, with fairy lights everywhere, super cute restaurants, bars and clubs to party.
There is actually a pretty organised party schedule where all the bars close around midnight to 1 AM and only one bar remains open to collect all the party guests on the island, to celebrate until sunrise. Life music, local DJs, amazing views, cheap drinks while happy hour, silent disco and so much more. If you prefer a quiet atmosphere, but still want to be at a bar, you might find your luck at the „Paradise Sunset“ or „Malibu Beach Club“ which even features a bonfire at the beach. One thing that may be an interesting attraction at night, are the night markets by the boat harbour. They are set up almost every night and offer a variety of local specialities in typical warung style, all at very affordable prices.
Even though Gili Trawangan is a quite small island, it has everything it needs to create special memories. When you spend some time there, you’ll be able to see much of the island and try out many of it’s offerings. At some point, you might feel like you’ve seen the most important things. However, that’s something you shouldn’t underestimate because at some point, when you are probably far away from the island you might realise that there are specific activities, views, or places you totally missed. Thankfully, we can always go back to Gili Trawangan<3
Johanna
About the Author:
If Johanna were a word, she would be "stardust" – nondescript, quiet, demure, until the passion appears that brings the stardust to fully unfold. She’s a traveler at heart, constantly curious to see more of the world, with a camera always close by to capture every moment just as it is. Whether she’s at a concert, lost in the music, or exploring a new city, Johanna’s world is filled with an endless curiosity and love for the little details that make life feel like stardust.
Johanna
About the Author:
If Johanna were a word, she would be “stardust” – nondescript, quiet, demure, until the passion appears that brings the stardust to fully unfold. She’s a traveler at heart, constantly curious to see more of the world, with a camera always close by to capture every moment just as it is. Whether she’s at a concert, lost in the music, or exploring a new city, Johanna’s world is filled with an endless curiosity and love for the little details that make life feel like stardust.
