Gili Trawangan — “Gili T” — is the largest and most developed of the three islands and the one with the party reputation. Its east coast is a busy strip of bars, restaurants, dive schools and shops, and in the evenings the night market near the harbour fills with grilled seafood and satay.
There is more to it than nightlife, though. The west coast is a long sunset beach with swings in the water, the north is quiet, and a path climbs the small hill in the south for views of Bali’s Agung and Lombok’s Rinjani. From Gili Air it is an easy day or evening trip.
Top things to do at Gili Trawangan
Eat at the night market
Stalls near the harbour grill fish, squid and satay to order every evening. Agree the price per piece before you choose.
Watch the sunset on the west coast
Beach bars on the west side have swings and beanbags facing Bali. Bikes are the easiest way to get there from the main strip.
Visit a turtle hatchery
Small conservation projects on Gili T raise turtle hatchlings and release them into the sea when they are big enough to have a better chance of survival.
Dive the famous sites
Shark Point, Halik and Deep Turbo are all a few minutes from Gili T. See diving the Gilis.
How to get to Gili Trawangan
- Public shuttle boat: the island-hopping shuttle links Gili Air and Gili T (usually via Meno) about twice a day; the direct crossing takes around 15–20 minutes. Check times at the harbour ticket office.
- Charter boat: any time, including back to Gili Air after dinner, for an agreed price per boat.
- From Bali: most fast boats stop at Gili T first — see getting to Gili Air.
Insider tips
- Book your charter back to Gili Air in advance if you stay for the evening, and agree the price first.
- Indonesia has extremely strict drug laws. The “magic mushroom” shakes advertised on some islands are illegal and can be dangerous — do not buy them.
- Gili T gets busy in July, August and around New Year; Gili Air stays much calmer.
Best tours & tickets for Gili Trawangan
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Gili Trawangan from Gili Air:
Sunset cruise from $17 Gili Trawangan: Gili Islands Sunset Boat Tour and Snorkeling
An afternoon trip that combines two of the best things about the Gilis: turtle snorkelling and a sunset over Bali. It leaves from Gili T, a short hop from Gili Air by the island shuttle boat or a chartered boat.
- Late-afternoon snorkelling with turtles
- Watch the sun set behind Bali’s Mount Agung from the boat
- Small group
Snorkelling from $15 Gili Islands: Private or Shared Snorkeling Boat Trip
A classic three-island snorkelling loop that you can join from any of the Gilis. Choose the cheap shared boat or pay a bit more for a private one that runs to your own timetable — useful for families, or if you want to reach the turtle spots before the crowds.
- The most-booked Gili snorkelling trip, with thousands of reviews
- Shared boat or your own private boat
- Turtles, reef fish and the Gili Meno statues
Transfer from $29 From Bali: 1-Way Speedboat Transfer to Gili Trawangan
The GetYourGuide bestseller between Bali and the Gilis, with more than 1,600 reviews. It is sold as a Gili Trawangan transfer: check the options for a Gili Air drop-off, or take the short public shuttle boat from Gili T to Gili Air.
- The best-reviewed Bali–Gili speedboat on GetYourGuide
- Bali hotel pickup options
- Onward hop to Gili Air by island shuttle boat
