Enjoy the beach
Most people come to the island for one big reason – the beach 🏖️ Imagine super clear water and sand as white as snow.
it's a sight some can only witness once in a lifetime! You should definitely take the time to enjoy the beach when you're on the island.
I've put together a list of the 14 best beaches on Gili Trawangan, so you won't have to move from one place to another. Check it out here 👇🏻
Engage in various water activities
Okay, the beach is beautiful, but don't miss out on playing in the water too! Gili Trawangan offers plenty of water activities, and here they are:
- Swimming
- Snorkeling
- Diving with manta rays and sharks
- Glass-bottom boat rides
- Viewing underwater statues
Among these activities, seeing the underwater statues is the most popular, and you can do it too! Contrary to what you might think, it's not deep in the water, it's literally next to the beach.
The tour below is what everyone takes to see the statues, and it's my top recommendation too 👍🏻
Bike around the island
Gili Trawangan stands out as the best and most developed island among the Gili trio.
Unlike Gili Meno or Gili Air, where proper roads are lacking, Gili Trawangan offers the chance to circle the island and soak in its beauty.
As you bike around, you'll come across unique buildings like hotels, resorts, and restaurants. Despite being a tiny island, you can fully circle it in just about 30 minutes.
If you're interested, article below explains a lot about biking on Gili Trawangan.
Take the famous in-water swing
You've Googled the Gili Islands, and those images of girls swinging above the water during the golden hour caught your eye.
Well, guess what? That's exactly what you should do when you're on Gili Trawangan too!
There are over 10 swings scattered all around the island, but the ones planted in the water are on the west side.
I've got an article that shows you where all these swings are and what they look like. Check it out below 👇🏻
Horseback riding on the beach
Oh wow, Gili Trawangan is known for so many cool things, and one of them is this awesome horseback ride that's been a thing for like two decades!
If you're a bit of an Instagram celebrity, you've gotta get a pic riding a horse for one of your posts.
Here's what you should do:
- Book a horse and arrange for it to be ready during the golden hour (5:15 - 6:15) because you only have an hour to spare.
- Don't wait for the sun to touch the horizon before taking pictures, it will create too much backlighting, and you might not be visible.
- Head to a shallow beach, and voila, it'll look like your horse is walking on water!
Wanna check if horseback riding is available? Hit the button below 👇🏻
Visit the night market
Whether you're a food vlogger or not, you've got to check out the night market on Gili Trawangan at night.
It's the busiest place on the island, with lots of people showing up around 8 pm! It's a foodie haven with a ton of seafood options, all at incredibly affordable prices.
Everyone goes there for dinner instead of going to fancy restaurants because you get way more food for your money.
I wrote an article all about the night market, talking about how much things cost, when it's open, and some tricks to make your visit even better 👇🏻
Join a cooking class
Have you ever noticed how much tastier Balinese food is compared to Western dishes?
If you want to learn how to cook like a Balinese pro and surprise your family back home, consider joining a cooking class.
They offer two different classes, and I've got an article that goes into more detail about it right here 👇🏻
Watch the beautiful sunset
You definitely don't want to miss the breathtaking sunset experience that Gili Trawangan has to offer.
It's become a tradition for tourists to stroll along the west side of the island during the golden hour.
Whether you choose to walk, bike, go for a horseback ride, or just sit back and relax at one of the two sunset spots on Gili Trawangan, the views are truly mesmerizing.
Find out more about it below 👇🏻
Hop between Gili Islands
I bet you've heard a lot of people saying Gili Air is better than Gili Trawangan. Is that true? Well, if you've got some extra days, you can check out the other Gili Islands.
In my opinion, when it comes to Gili Air versus Gili Trawangan, I don't think Gili Air is better in any special way, it's just quieter because not as many tourists are there.
If you like a more peaceful vacation, you might want to spend the rest of your days on Gili Air.
Play golf by the beach
How cool is it that you can actually play golf on Gili Trawangan?
Well, not exactly on Gili Trawangan itself, but there's a little golf course in Lombok (super close to Gili Air) that you should check out.
It's right by a beach called Sire, and it looks pretty awesome too! If you're wondering what else to do on your last vacation day, playing golf could be a great option.
Get ready for a fun six-hour game 🏌🏻♂️ Check out more about it below 👇🏻
Watch movie at the outdoor cinema
Another activity for the night! After enjoying your meal at the night market, I recommend checking out a movie if you're not ready to head back to your hotel.
There are a few outdoor cinemas on the west side of the island. It's free, and you don't need to register or book in advance.
Check out my detailed guide below for more information.
Visit the cute cat cafe
There are a bunch of cat cafes on the island because there are tons of cats around. If you're a cat lover, you can drop by one and show them some love.
There's also this awesome non-profit that looks after stray cats, feeding them and making sure they get the healthcare they need.
Walk down the main street
The main street, as you can tell, is the busiest street on Gili Trawangan. A bunch of cool restaurants and other businesses are on it.
It's basically a section of the street on the east side. At night, the main street is so alive, like the downtown of a big city.
I really recommend walking down the main street at night if you have the chance.
Get some souvenirs
Still on the main street, there are some stalls selling well-crafted souvenirs that come in many variations—turtles, fishes, flowers, you name it.
There is even a male vital part souvenir made out of wood 🍆 All items start at as low as 15,000 IDR.
Watch the live music
If you're not up for heading to the west side of the island to catch a movie, no worries! You can hang out on the main street and groove to some live music.
There are like 3 or 4 cafes where they play live tunes, and the cool part is they're all right there on the beach.
They start singing every night from 7 pm to 11 pm, so you've got plenty of time to enjoy the vibes.
