These Are the Best Things to Do at Gili Trawangan (2025)

Gili Trawangan, one of the Gili islands, is a popular side trip from Bali for people seeking scuba diving, beaches and parties. I love it so much, I’ve gone there twice within a year to chill out, while exploring Bali. And I’m not alone – according to Google, the Gili Islands were the top trending travel destination in 2024 by travel lovers in the U.S. The laid-back vibe is so captivating, you may come for a few days and end up staying for a fortnight. Here are the best things to do at Gili Trawangan.

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How to get to the Gili Islands from Bali

The Gili islands lie 45 minutes in a fast boat from Amed on the north coast of Bali. This is the quickest and easiest route.

You’ll arrive at the main port area, which has an attractive white sand beach. These days, long boats fight for space along this strip, as an increasing number of people are drawn to Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T for short.

Otherwise, you can book a boat trip from Bali to Gili T. A minibus will pick you up from your accommodation in Ubud or Seminyak and take you to Padang Bai harbour. From here, it’s a 1.5 hour boat journey.

If you have a return ticket, be sure to keep all parts of your tickets and make a note of the boat company named on it. Visit the company’s ticket office at least two days before you depart Gili T, to make sure you have a seat on your preferred date, as they get booked up quickly.

Book your place on a speedboat from Bali to Gili Trawangan here.

Where to stay on Gili Trawangan

I recommend you stay near the main beach at Gili Trawangan, so you’re close to the night market, bars, restaurants and boats for transportation. To avoid hauling your bags around various Gili Trawangan accommodation, it’s best to book in advance. Luckily there are plenty of affordable guest houses, homestays and hostels on Gili Trawangan.

The best Gili Trawangan hotels

We stayed in Rose Homestay, a small but fabulous guest house just off the main strip. The brand new building benefited from air conditioning, free WiFi, tasty breakfast served on a terrace by a friendly manager.

Alternatively, try the Gili Divers Hotel, which has basic but clean rooms with air-conditioning, breakfast and Wi-Fi, just two minutes from the beach, restaurants and bars. This place is popular with divers, as it’s attached to a diving centre.

If you prefer somewhere quieter, book a beachfront bungalow at the superb Wilson’s Retreat in the north of the island. They have traditional Lombok architecture, private balconies, air-conditioning and the price includes breakfast. You’ll be near the snorkeling spots but away from the party noise.

Browse and book your Gili Trawangan accommodation via the map below:

The best things to do at Gili Trawangan

You can do as little as you like on Gili T. But if you fancy an activity, there’s plenty to do.

Snorkelling and diving at Gili Trawangan

The boat owners by the port offer a range of snorkelling and diving trips, or taxi boats to the sister islands of Gili Meno and Gili Air.

Snorkelling is a popular pastime on Gili T. Hiring a mask and fins for the day, you can swim among an array of colourful fish, vibrant coral and even a sea turtle or two. The best spots are Turtle Point and Shark Point. If you stick around until evening, you can witness stunning sunsets over the sea.

There are also a number of scuba diving schools here you can try if you’re on a Gili islands backpacking trip.

Book your place on a popular private or shared snorkelling boat trip here.

Go beach-hopping

Gili Trawangan has a number of fantastic beaches. Check out Paradise Sunset Point for iconic sunsets, Malibu Beach is great for swimming, while Good Heart Beach is quieter.

Choose a comfortable spot at one of the many beachside restaurants and bars. These range from appealingly rustic to consciously chic, and most have complimentary beach beds. Once settled on one of these, lay back and sip your Bintang beer as the hours slip by.

Walk or cycle around the island

One of the things that’s most charming about Gili T is the island’s lack of motorised transport. No rattling motorbike engines here or polluting cars, just bicycles and horse-drawn carts roam the streets.

The island takes around two hours to stroll around and it’s a beautiful walk. Alternatively, why not rent a bike.

Just a few minutes north of the main port with its bustling bars you can find quiet and peaceful beaches, with no boats. Why not grab a refreshing drink in one of the serene little wooden bars on stilts overlooking the sea.

If you’re keen to go off the beaten track, you can head into the centre of the island and see day-to-day life of the locals in the village streets, away from the tourist hustle and bustle. Around the island you may find quirky sculptures, like this coral garden.

Enjoy a sunset swing

If you love sunsets, head to the west side of the island and you’re in for a treat. Grab a sunbed and a drink at the Gili Beach Bar and you can relax as the sun goes down.

At several places on this side of Gili T, you’ll find sea-swings, which are really romantic at this time of day. You can pose with your legs dangling in the water, which means it’s actually quite hard to swing on it unless you stand up. But, details.

The original and most famous Gili Trawangan swing is in the sea next to Ombak Sunset hotel. If that’s busy, there’s another further south by The Exile Gili Trawangan hotel, close to Gili Beach Bar. A third one is nearby, outside the Malibu Beach Club restaurant.

For the ultimate in romance, sunset beach horse-riding is also available.

Dining and drinking on Gili Trawangan

Once you’ve worked up an appetite with an island stroll, it’s time to choose one of the many restaurants for dinner. As well as beachfront seafood restaurants, you’ll find sociable bars playing live music.

For a cheaper dinner option, you can check out the night market which sells traditional Indonesian street food dishes, such as nasi goreng (fried rice), sate ayam (chicken satay sticks) and curries.

For after dinner entertainment, we loved the Sama-Sama Reggae Bar, which has a live band performing every evening and a friendly atmosphere.

Partying on Gili Trawangan

Every other night, one of the island’s bars hosts a late night party. For our last evening on Gili T, we thought it would be an excellent idea to go to the Full Moon party and dance until the early hours of the morning. Of course, it was brilliant fun.

The DJs played pumping tunes and fire dancers appeared as if from nowhere. It seemed like everyone on the island was there, locals and tourists alike, spilling onto the beach. The sun was peeking over the horizon as we left. But we suffered the consequences. We had to lug our heavy bags and wait what seemed like hours for our boat back to Bali, after about two hours’ sleep and heavy from our hangovers. What a night!

Final thoughts on the best things to do at Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan offers a harmonious balance between calm and lively, peace and party time, touristy and remote, activities and relaxation.

This means you can choose exactly what kind of holiday you’d like to have here.

So what more is there to say? This Gili island is perfection to a T.

Now, discover my full guide to planning your Bali backpacking trip here.