Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Gili Trawangan?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Gili Trawangan?
Most people spend two to four days in Gili Trawangan during their visit. The idyllic island offers amazing highlights such as scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the nightlife scene, and the cuisine.
Gili Trawangan is the largest of the Gili Islands. It also attracts the largest number of tourists and has long been popular with backpackers who stay at cheap accommodation and enjoy the nightly parties. In recent years there's been an increase in high end accommodation and the island has shifted a bit in who visits. Today there are frequently families and couples who come to enjoy the idyllic setting and world class scuba diving.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Gili Trawangan? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Gili Trawangan?
One week is more than enough time to see everything that Gili Trawangan has to offer. Many visitors prefer to spend two to four days here, so you'll be able to take in all of scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the nightlife scene, and the cuisine at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then take in a boat trip or day trip if you're looking to explore further around the island.
How to spend a week in Gili Trawangan
Scuba diving and snorkeling around Gili Trawangan is world-class, and is one of the main reasons why so many visitors come here. Spend a day exploring the beauty of the surrounding underwater world. Snorkeling and diving are a highlight on the island, and a big draw for many visitors. The island is small, with a large concentration of tourists, so if you book a boat trip, you'll likely be surrounded by others. This doesn't mean you won't be able to enjoy colorful fish, a magical undersea world, and the occasional sea turtle.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Snorkeling Gili Island Including GoPro Camera ($49)
- Gili Island Snorkeling Trip - Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, & Gili Air, From Lombok ($88)
- Gili Air: Snorkeling 3 Gili Islands with GoPro Camera ($14)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. This is the "party island" of the Gili Islands. It has a wild nightlife scene that is particularly popular with backpackers. There are tons of beach bars that have live music, DJs, and nightly parties. There are also regular boat parties. The party scene is pretty well coordinated across the bars, and one bar will stay open late each night while the others close around midnight. This keeps the partygoers concentrated in one location and keeps the energy high for everyone.
Gili Trawangan is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the island, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. While it's the largest of the Gili Islands, it still small enough to walk around in about two hours and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.
The beautiful beaches await you in Gili Trawangan, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The island is filled with white sand beaches, most of which have restaurants and beachside bars nearby. One of the busiest beaches is near the port, but a quieter area is nearby Surf Point. The sunset side of the island is perfect in the evening when the sun starts to dip below the horizon, but the beaches on that side aren't as great as the other side of the island.
You'll want to have around 4 hours for Gili Trawangan Beach. It's a nice activity for families and couples and is known for its beautiful white sand beaches. It's free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Speedboat transfer Between Lombok and Gili Islands ($15)
- Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Cruise ($83)
- Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Sunset Cruise ($83)
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. As the largest and one of the most touristy of the Gili Islands, you'll find a wide range of cuisines. There's everything from Mexican to Greek available. You'll also find plenty of tropical fruits and some local Indonesian cuisine as well.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes ($33)
The public transit in Gili Trawangan is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the island quite easily and affordably. Many tourists enjoy getting around the island by cidomo, which are horse-drawn carts. Otherwise, walking or biking are your best options.
Don't miss beautiful beachfront setting during your trip to Gili Trawangan, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
Gili Trawangan is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. Crystal blue waters and white sand beaches make this an idyllic island paradise. The setting is perfect for hanging out by the water and soaking up the island vibe.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Speedboat transfer Between Lombok and Gili Islands ($15)
- Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Sunset Cruise ($83)
- Gili Trawangan Luxury Speedboat Transfer to Bali ($24)
After you've explored most of Gili Trawangan, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Pergasingan Hill One Day Trip ($120)
- Gili island Snorkeling Half Day Trip departure from Gili Trawangan ($18)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Gili Trawangan.
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Gili Trawangan. Plenty of amazing options are available.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Another day scuba diving or snorkeling is entirely warranted here due to the amazing under-sea life, clear waters, and amazing atmosphere. Visiting different areas of the surrounding waters can provide for unique dive experiences not found elsewhere.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Gili Trawangan.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Gili Trawangan?
Two weeks is more than enough time to see pretty much everything on Gili Trawangan. You can move at your own pace and take in the scenery and culture of the island. You could also use Gili Trawangan as a base for exploring the nearby destinations or get out on the water. You'll find some great day trips here for sure.
Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
How to spend 2 weeks in Gili Trawangan
With 2 weeks in Gili Trawangan, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the island has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time snorkeling or scuba diving, relaxing on the beach, and hopping around the bars and clubs. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this island looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.
A few trip suggestions:
- Pergasingan Hill One Day Trip ($120)
- Gili island Snorkeling Half Day Trip departure from Gili Trawangan ($18)
More Info
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