Developed in the early 1990s as an alternative destination for young tourists eager to taste “freedom and happy lifestyles”, Gili Trawangan has been transformed into a quite reputable tourist destination surrounded by pristine white-sandy beaches. Perfect for diving, Gili Trawangan is popular among adventurous visitors as it offers abundant water sport opportunities.
It is easy to get to Gili Trawangan, and the other two islets — Gili Meno and Gili Air, with travelers arriving either by sea or air. From Bali, there is a ferry to Lombok on which you can take buses, private cars or motorcycles, from Padang Bai port in Karangasem, east Bali. There are also speedboats from Padang Bai to Lembar Port in Lombok. The trip to Lombok takes around one hour on the 50-seat speedboat and passengers pay fares between Rp 500,000 and Rp 1 million per person. However, those who easily get seasick are advised to travel by plane. Local airlines, such as Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and other companies, already offer direct flights at affordable prices connecting Bali and Lombok islands. The flight itself only takes about 20 minutes.
However, once on Gili Trawangan, this painful journey will quickly be forgotten as visitors enjoy the beauty of the islets and their precious underwater life. Hundreds of tourists stay on Gili Trawangan to enjoy a more peaceful and quiet holiday, far away from the hustle and bustle of Bali. Measuring only 7.3 square kilometers in size, Gili Trawangan now offers accommodation facilities ranging from modest to star-rated establishments. Restaurants and local warung (food stalls) serve dishes of Indonesian and international fare. No motorcycles, let alone cars, are allowed on the island. Transportation is limited to bicycles and cidomo (horse carts). A one-hour tour around the island by cidomo is available from Rp 150,000 to Rp 200,000. Bicycles are also available for rent at Rp 15,000. No gas emissions, no noise pollution from motor vehicles — that is Gili Trawangan islet. An ideal location for a nice holiday break in an environmentally friendly destination.