Gili Trawangan is the largest of the three Gili islands, belonging to Lombok, and is the most popular with tourists due to its beautiful beaches, excellent selection of restaurants and vibrant night life. The island is roughly 3 km long and 2 km wide and it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to walk around it. Surrounded by fringing reefs which support a huge variety of marine life, the Gilis are home to some of the most renowned scuba diving and snorkelling in Indonesia.
The islands were first inhabited by Bugis fishermen from Sulawesi just over 50 years ago, who used the islands as a stop off point for their voyages around the archipelago. In the 1970’s coconut plantations began to develop, which were harvested by inmates from the overcrowded prison in Mataram. And then the backpackers arrived in the 1980’s, kick starting the tourism boom that made Gili Trawangan what it is today.
Motorised transport is prohibited on the island so the only modes of transport are bicycle, Cidomo (traditional horse cart) or by foot.
The local people who live on Gili T are primarily from Lombok and are Sasak people. They are mostly Muslim and we ask our visitors to be respectful of local customs – especially when it comes to clothing. There are three mosques on the island so you will hear the call to prayer usually five times a day, but can be more during religious festivals and Ramadan. Ramadan is the month of fasting which occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar. If you are on the island during Ramadan, please be respectful of this tradition and patient with our staff as they are fasting throughout the day.
