Have you ever imagined an island where the contents are really full of exciting things? Do you think that kind of place is actually exist? Well, it actually is! That island is Gili Trawangan.
Located in Lombok, Gili Trawangan is an island which is a part of West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. For the record, Gili has 3 popular island which consist of Air, Meno, and Trawangan. Each island has its own uniqueness but in our opinion, Gili Trawangan is the most popular and the most hunted by travellers among those three.
Why Gili Trawangan?
The Government of North Lombok Regency is ready to welcome the new normal phase in the three Gili tourist areas, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, in North Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). This readiness follows that the three islands are still in the green zone status or have declared zero positive cases of Covid-19.
The residents in the Gili Trawangan are ready to implement health protocols, one of which is related to the use of masks and sanitizer. Police and health officials in the area continue to socialize and provide examples so that residents in the three-dyke area are disciplined in applying health protocols.
The West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Office noted that 120 hotels and restaurants are ready to resume operations, with more than 4 thousand employees at hotels, restaurants and a number of business units ready to await and serve tourists who will enter the three dyke areas.
Alright, without any further due, here are tons of things that you can enjoy in Gili Trawangan!
Diving. For those who like diving, there are many diving spots to choose from. Price for each spot is around IDR 500,000, for those who already have a diving license, and IDR 950,000, for an introduction people who don’t have a diving license.
Snorkelling. Interested to see underwater in clear Gili sea? Snorkelling could be fun, especially if you’re afraid to dive. The snorkelling packages offered on Gili Trawangan are all the same, you’ll be taken to snorkel on 3 islands; Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. The snorkelling package also includes lunch at Gili Air. There are usually 2 departures a day, in the morning and at noon.
Seafood hunting. You are also obliged to try seafood at the night market. There are marlin fish, tuna, snapper, squid, etc. Here, most of the seafood is served in the form of skewers. One stick is usually 4 pieces of seafood. The price also varies but make sure you buy it at the best price, which is IDR 20,000 per seafood stick.
Open air movie. How does it feel to watch movie with wind blows your hair? Well, there are 2 places to watch open-air movies in Gili Trawangan, it’s at Ombak Villa and Aston Hotel. In Ombak Villa, the cost to enjoy the unique sensation of watching a movie in the open air is IDR 100,000. While at the Aston Hotel, you can enjoy movies for free, while ordered some food from their restaurant.
Yoga. Gili Trawangan is not only a favourite destination for those who like underwater activities. For those who like yoga, you must also try yoga on Gili Trawangan. If you want to find peace, it is highly recommended to try the quiet yoga centre on Trawangan Hill.
Cidomo Ride. The cool thing is, on Gili Trawangan there are no motorized vehicles. There are only 3 vehicles that we can ride on this island. First, there is a wagon with a horse, called “cidomo”. Second, there is an electric motorbike, but even then, it is rare and usually owned by local residents. Third, bicycles. Cycling around the island can be a memorable experience that you shouldn’t leave.
Turtle Conservation. To the north of the night market, there is a turtle hatchery that conserves turtles, collects eggs from the beach at night, and cares for these eggs. There are also glass tanks containing small turtles. We can also release these turtles into the sea. No wonder why when snorkelling or diving, we can see so many turtles
Enjoy the sunset. While on a super beautiful island, don’t forget to enjoy the sunset. At sunset, we can also take even cooler photos. Don’t forget to prepare sunset photo ideas. The sunset point is south of the market place.
Horse riding. Have you ever seen a TV scene where someone is riding a horse on the beach? Yes, you can be this kind of person here in Gili Trawangan! the serenity obtained from the gentle breeze on our faces feels so good. The cost to experience this sensation is IDR 350,000 per hour.
Gili gelato. On Gili Trawangan, there are many rows of gelato sellers called “Gili Gelato”. The price per scoop is IDR 20,000. Apart from gelato, there are also crepes, French fries, and pasta which all have an affordable price. Complete your summer vibe with the Gelato!
Free diving course. Did you know that in Gili Trawangan you can learn to dive for free? Yes, this super-short course is 10 minutes long and is done in a pool, so it’s definitely safe for those of you who are learning to dive for the first time. Diving is one of the most widely practiced activities in the Gili Islands. Not only for professional divers, you who are still beginners can enjoy it. Because the water conditions are good, the current is calm and the visibility is quite good.
This means that diving in Gili Trawangan is relatively easy (water conditions are good and you don’t have to fight hard currents), you can also enjoy amazingly beautiful underwater scenery. The best time for diving is from May to September, during the dry season. Gili is rich of amazing diving spots, from casual to adrenaline-challenging – depending on which one you prefer. On Gili Air, we found several diving schools that offer free 10-minute diving lessons. Looking for it is not difficult; just ask the people you meet on the street and they will show you!
Winging underwater: Adventure with Sub-wing. Do you remember when we used to fantasize about flying by air ships? Now, when it’s materialized and flying on a ship doesn’t sound fantastic anymore, why not try flying and hovering in the water using Sub-wing? This is a new kind of sport activity which is not only unique but also gives you the opportunity to witness the beautiful coral reefs under the sea.
Almost like snorkelling but not exactly the same. Instead of just wearing a snorkel and then jumping into the water, here you will be wearing a snorkel, jumping into the water, then holding on to the sub-wing board. Then a motor boat connected to a sub-wing board will pull you in the sea so you can witness the wonders of the underwater world there.
Underwater treasure hunting: Bounty Wreck Dive. This is not a wreck as you might think, but rather a fragment of a dock that has sunk under the sea. Initially, The Bounty was the pontoon used by the Bounty Resort on Gili Meno. Then everything on the dock sank together to the bottom of the sea. The Bounty Pier falls into shallow water on Gili Meno, so it is accessible to all divers, both advanced and beginners. There are also rocks along the 12-20 meters that you can trace around this broken pier.
The three Gilis (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air) are famous as one of the best scuba diving spots in the world. There are many interesting places for diving around the Gili, for example the wreck of a Japanese ship from World War II.
Honestly, there are still many things to write about Gili, but it is better to find it yourself! But anyway, how to get there?
The fastest and easiest way is to use a fast boat or speed boat from Bali. We can take this type of boat from Padang Bai, Tanjung Benoa, Serangan Island or Sanur. Although the price is quite expensive, around IDR 500k-800k/person for one way, but it is worth it!
