4 Days 3 Night at Gili Trawangan

Its almost a year since my last trip to Nusa Penida, and I start to feel that my daily schedule is boring, more and more negativity pile in my mind, it’s the time to have a trip (and of course another #freedivearoundglobe video). After discussing several option with my partner in dive (@endahkusmardian) such as Karimun Java, Derawan, Gorontalo or Gili island (all in Indonesia), we finally decide Gili island is where we go.

Gili Trawangan is Is the largest island of Lombok’ Gili islands. Gili islands consist of 3 island, and Gili Trawangan is one of them, the other island is GIli Meno and Gili Air (the smallest and the closest to Lombok main island). This island is located at north west of Lombok, while Lombok is located at the east of Bali.

To get to Gili Trawangan, we could take flight to Lombok international airport then from there we still need 2 hour driving by car, to Bangsal harbor, then from there we take boat crossing to Gili Trawangan. Other way to get there is by boat from Bali, direct to Gili Trawangan. Me and Endah, we both take 5 AM flight from Jakarta, which means we need to get ready at 3 AM, so we decide to just not sleeping and using our time to packing our stuff, get ready and go to airport. The flight take around 1.5 hour then we take a shuttle car, but we didn’t go to Bangsal harbor as people usually does, we get to Nara private harbor and rent a speed boat from there, it cost us IDR 350.000,-/boat (more expensive, but better timing; only 7 minute).

My friend Sita, suggest me to stay near Gili Trawangan harbor, so it would be more convenient (the only transport in Gili islands is bike or horse cart); but that area is crowded, while me and Endah want to get cozy and relax in quite area, so we choose the Gili Trawangan Aston hotel; because the location of the hotel, after we arrive in Gili Trawangan harbor we rent a bike and ride to the hotel (Endah got dizzy after half way, because of lack of sleep and heat). Horse cart is the most comfort transport, but it also quite expensive (cost almost like taxi).

Our schedule is first day resting, second day is land trip, third day is water trip and at the fourth day also resting plus going back home. As I already mention above, to get to Gili is quite hardwork and we both don’t have enough sleep because we both take early morning flight, that’s why first day is rest-day with sleep, relax, dinner on the schedule. The food in Gili island is vary from local Balinese / Lombok's cooking, to western food, its easy to get, we have tried from nasi campus, grilled seafood, pizza, omelets, etc.

On the second day, we wake up early then have a nice breakfast on the beach, then we pack our long fin and snorkel, bring lots of water and ride our bike around the island. We start from Aston hotel going north and continue clockwise. Almost all beach in Gili Trawangan is shallow reef/coral, its swimmable everywhere. The most famous one is at the very north of the island, right where the road end, you will found many people swim and snorkeling around.

It took us around 6 hour to ride along the island, snorkeling in 2 spot (at the first spot my pentax got broken), buy take away lunch and having lunch at the beach and back to hotel, we close our activity with a spa massage at the hotel and get sleep to regain our power. At night we meet a friend at a restaurant around the harbor to discuss about our plan the next day. The harbor at night is load with bar, live music, people chatting along the road.

The third day, as discussed before, me, Endah and Sita (my high school friend) decided we will take half day snorkeling trip it will involve not only Gili Trawangan, but also Gili Air and Gili Meno. It’s a nice trip to get introduction to all Gili island. The boat stop at 5 spot, include the turtle point, have lunch at Gili Air then head back to Gili Trawangan. After finish, me, Endah, Sita and Sindoro (Sita’s husband) rent a horse cart to go to the west area of the island for a sunset view and a little walk on the beach, then  we have dinner together (with 3 more friends) at the harbor night market.

The next morning, me and Endah wake up late, we have a slow morning and breakfast, preparing our self to get back home (which we don’t want to, we event thinking to apply a job at Gili Trawangan Aston hotel where we stay).

4 days 3 night is the minimum time i would suggest to spend there, longer is better, but less then that i think would be waste of time and energy, because the effort to go there and the cost for me wouldn't be equal. If its your first time to go there, just like us, try to ride bike around the island and try the half day snorkeling trip, you will quickly feel familiar with the island. If its not your first time to Gili, then try much deeper / advance activity like yoga course, freedive course, scuba diving course, cooking class, try to stay at Gili Air, Gili Meno, etc.

The first reason me and Endah choose Gili as our holiday destination is because we both never went there (which Endah have been to more places then iam), the other reason is there several freediving center in Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air; and also scuba dive center - which a hint that the area is good for diving. Compared to Amed, Menjangan and Nusa Penida in Bali, Gili Trawangan isn’t the best one but the water clarity / temperature and depth here is great for beginner / expert diver. That reason I mention above is reason before we went there, after present at the island, we fall in love right away. The vibration there, specially if you stay far from the harbor, relaxing quite beach, the horizon spread separate the blue ocean and the sky, clear fresh air, nice diver every where, good food.

Its an amazing place to spend time with your love one, like me and Endah, we enjoy our time together, a lot; you could bring family there, but maybe you would need to rent horse cart to go around, because riding bike could be exhausting for children and elder. I think the vibration there at Gili would bring relationship more intimate; doing activity like ride bike together, chill on the beach together on breakfast, lunch, dinner, on sunrise and sunset, snorkeling together, diving together, even get lazy together. I personally wont suggest people to stay around the harbor, because it s very crowded at night (if you like crowd, then choose other area such as Kuta – Bali, Senggigi – Lombok, etc). Checkout our youtube channel, review with video and other video here...