Gili Islands: Explore The Hippie Pristine Gem Of Indonesia
Indonesia has the most islands in a group than any other country. It comprises many small islands, each giving visitors a different experience. The Gili Islands are a small group of three islands that are part of this group. Gili Islands are made up of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, which are all small coral islands.
These three islands are all to the northwest of Lombok and are different enough to meet the needs of different travellers. There is a perfect spot for everyone on one of these Gili Islands, whether they like water sports are on their honeymoon, or want to sit and listen to the sounds of nature. So, before you go to Gili, you should know what you want. Let’s go to the three islands and discover what makes them unique and why many people worldwide want to visit them.
Gili Trangwan or Gili T Islands
Gili Trawangan is a party paradise and the most developed of the three Gili Islands. It boasts a thriving cultural scene, a wide variety of accommodation options to suit the needs and preferences of visitors from all walks of life, some of the world’s best diving spots and a plethora of reputable diving schools, and some of the best restaurants and food courts serving up authentic Oriental fare. Since it has so much to offer visitors, Gili Trawangan has become one of the most popular destinations in the Indonesian archipelago.
Best Things To Do At Gili T
Here are amazing things which you can do at Gili T islands to make your holiday memorable.
1. Relax At Beaches
Maybe one of the most excellent things to do on Gili Trawangan is just to rest. You are on an island, after all! And what better location to do precisely that than at the beach!
There are numerous beaches in Gili Trawangan, all boasting magnificent vistas, excellent swimming conditions, and many beachfront vendors, restaurants, and bars where you can grab a snack or enjoy a freshly cracked coconut. If you need help figuring out where to start, here’s a brief glance at the most incredible beaches in Gili Trawangan. Here are all the fantastic beaches at Gili T islands:
- North East Beach: The beach in front of Villa Almarik is excellent for swimming and is the best place to see turtles in the shallow water. It is a 5-minute walk from the jetty. This is your best bet for a Gili T beach that is relatively quiet.
- Sunset Beach: Sunset Beach is on the island’s northwest coast. It’s a popular place for people who want to watch the sunset or take pictures for Instagram. Sunset Beach is pretty impressive during the day, but it’s even more beautiful when the sun starts to go down. If you want to take a picture in one of the incredible swings on Gili sunset, make sure you get there a little bit early so you can be first in line.
- Malibu Beach: Malibu Beach is on the southwest side of Gili Trawangan. It’s a great place to kick off your shoes and find a spot in the sand. There are also a lot of cool beach bars where you can easily find a beanbag, order a cocktail, and watch the waves come and go.
- South or Good Heart Beach: South Beach, also called Good Heart Beach, is on the island’s southeast side and is likely the most crowded beach in Gili Trawangan. During the day, many backpacker party people are there, and any of the nearby vendors will have happy hour deals. This is the Gili T beach to go to if you want to party!
2. Go Snorkelling
One of the best things to do on Gili Trawangan is snorkelling, which is on par with some of the best places to snorkel in Southeast Asia. And honestly, you can only go to the Gili islands if you look closely at the colourful treasures under the water.
Snorkelling in the Gili islands stands out from other places in Indonesia because they have fantastic coral reefs full of colourful fish, beautiful sea turtles, and a few underwater statues.
Also, you can swim and snorkel right off the beach in Gili, no matter where you are. If you didn’t bring your own snorkelling gear, you can easily rent a mask, flippers, and a snorkel from one of the town’s dive shops or a local on the beach.
3. Explore Island On Bike
Gili Trawangan has no cars, so the only ways to get around are on foot or by bike. You can rent bicycles for as little as IDR 50,000 a day all over the island. Most of the time, the place you stay will have bikes you can use for free.
What’s the best? Gili T is very small and doesn’t rise very high. You could easily spend less than an hour or two seeing the whole island. Not only is it a great way to get around, but it is also a lot of fun. Ride your bike to all the beaches, find a place to relax, jump in the cool water, or just hang out under a palm tree for a while before moving on to the next spot.
4. Go Island Hopping
Even though Gili Air and Gili Meno are only a short boat ride from Gili Trawangan, it’s easy to see all three Gilis in one trip.
Two public boats go between Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air every day. Every morning at 9:30, the boats that take people from Gili T to Gili Meno and then to Gili Air leave. At 15:20, the last boat to Gili Trawangan leaves. So there’s a lot of time to hang out at the beach, go snorkelling, or go on adventures.
5. Day Trip To Lombok
If you can pull yourself away from Gili Trawangan’s beautiful beaches and fun things to do, it’s worth going to Lombok for the day.
Lombok is a popular place for backpackers and slow travellers to go because it has a laid-back vibe and beautiful scenery. Other popular things to do in Lombok are to relax on the beautiful beaches and look for waterfalls or volcanoes. Since you probably don’t have much time, booking a tour is best. If you do this, you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery without worrying about anything else.
6. Catch The Most Epic Sunsets
The sunsets on the Gili Islands are very well known. And seeing one (or more) should be on your list of things to do at Gili Trawangan.
On the “sunset side,” there are many beach bars and little elevated huts where you can get an ice-cold beer or a freshly cracked coconut. It’s the perfect place to sit in an airy hut, deck chair, or beanbag and listen to excellent music while watching the sun go down over the horizon. Trust me. It doesn’t get any better than this. Last but not least, don’t forget your camera!
How To Get To Gili T From Bali?
Speed boats are the quickest and easiest way to get from Bali to Gili Trawangan. The boat ride takes about two hours and leaves Padang Bai every day at 9 a.m. Since fast boats only leave at certain times, booking a ticket early is best to avoid missing out.
There are a lot of boating companies to choose from, but make sure you pick one that will pick you up at your hotel in Bali. So you wouldn’t have to worry about all the details of how to get to the port.
Final Words :
In Gili Trawangan, there is a ton of stuff to do, regardless of whether you want to hang out at the beach, do scuba diving, or join in on the wild party scene. Regardless of what you decide to do, one thing is certain: you should make a point of soaking in the chill atmosphere and making the most of your time in paradise.