Gili Trawangan Hotels from SG$62

Gili Trawangan is the largest island in the Gili archipelago of Indonesia. Located off the coast of Lombok, Gili Trawangan is the busiest, most vibrant of the three holiday hotspots. There are no motorized vehicles on the island and the only transport is bicycles rented to travellers and the cidomo, which are small horse-drawn carriages. This makes for a perfectly tranquil setting, with the inhabitants of Gili Trawangan living up a party lifestyle which has coined the area to be a paradise for hippies. Yet nightlife and jubilation is not the only attraction of Gili Trawangan, there are more than enough activities to keep families of all ages happy. Here we’ll be taking a closer look at this fantastic getaway.

About Gili Trawangan

The waters surrounding Gili Trawangan contain over 25 individual dive sites, with many more snorkelling and freediving areas waiting to be discovered. The island has more than enough distractions to keep visitors amused and entertained, while the natural beauty sucks you into a state of bliss and relaxation.

Best Place to Stay on Gili Trawangan

For Gili Trawangan luxury hotels with private beach access, look toward the area of the market. Near the Gili Trawangan Market you can find some of the most prestigious 5- star resorts offering everything from outdoor adventures including surfing, kayaking and hiking, to spa services inclusive of Swedish and Thai massage, reflexology, couple’s treatments and more. The beach bungalows are great for those who wish to be seated directly before the waters, while the full-spa service hotels offer the pinnacle of comfort.

Gili Trawangan hotels near the beach offer lower rates than the luxury resorts with private beach access, and give a similar level of service and comfort. Your options range from 3-star hotels to 5-star full-service spa hotels. Given the small size of the island, everything is within walking distance with the turtle hatchery being particularly close to most inland hotels.

Top Attractions in Gili Trawangan

The Bio Rock is a long-standing environmental initiative set up on Gili Trawangan which sinks artificial metal reef cages which are sent a steady supply of electricity to encourage the formation and regeneration of coral reefs in the area. This attracts an abundance of marine life which makes the 33 sites maintained by Bio Rock dive sites teeming with activity.

One of the best ways to experience the beachfront is a ride on horse-back. The route is picturesque and guides are available, however the horse rides are better suited those experienced riders. The trail along the coast can be quite challenging, but extremely rewarding.

Parties are the prime attraction of Gili Trawangan. There are more than enough bars scattered across the island that each host late night gigs which get the party going on any given night of the week. The locally produced spirits, particularly arak, can be very strong and very dangerous to stick to western drinks to minimize your risk.

Best Food & Shopping in Gili Trawangan

Within the local villages of Gili Trawangan are many warungs which serve up traditional Indonesian staples such as white rice, fried noodles and a meatball soup termed bakso. The night market comes alive at dark, serving up the best seafood, snacks and desserts on the island, however be warned that the prices are set to match the wallets of tourists. Better deals are found in the warungs.