Gili Trawangan
A car-free island off Lombok in Indonesia, known for scuba diving, snorkeling and sunsets. You get around on foot, by bicycle or by cidomo.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Gili Trawangan is the largest of the three Gili islands, a small group just off the northwest coast of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. It is also the most developed of the three and the only one that rises noticeably above sea level. The main village, nightlife and dive businesses sit on the east side. Motor vehicles are banned, so you walk, rent a bicycle or take a cidomo, a small horse-drawn carriage.
The island is known for diving and snorkeling. Shark Point, Manta Point and Simon's Reef are the best-known dive sites. Fast boats leave daily from Padang Bai, Serangan and Amed in Bali and take about 1.5 to 2.5 hours to cross. The dry season, roughly May to October, is the best time to visit, with temperatures from about 22 to 34 °C. For a quieter stay, Gili Air sits closer to Lombok as a middle ground, and Gili Meno is the calmest of the three. Some drugs are openly sold here, but buying them breaks Indonesian law, and possession can carry severe penalties.
Gili Trawangan in five
- Pick your boat from Bali or Lombok firstFast boats from Bali take roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours, and the public boat from Bangsal is the cheapest and shortest crossing. Rough seas cancel departures, so keep a spare day before any flight home.How to get to Gili Trawangan
- Choose the east strip or the quiet sideThe east coast near the harbor has the restaurants, bars and dive shops. The north, west and inland lanes are calmer and cost less for the same room, but you walk or cycle farther at night.Where to stay on Gili Trawangan
- Snorkel with a guide or from a buoy lineGreen turtles are regularly seen over the seagrass off the east coast, and currents between the islands can be strong. Go with a guide on your first swim, wear a flotation vest if you tire easily, and avoid touching turtles or coral.
- Carry cash and a refillable bottleATMs on the island run out of notes, and small cafés and bike rental stalls prefer cash. Tap water is brackish, so buy bottled water or use refill stations to cut plastic.
- Compare the three Gilis before you commitTrawangan is for company and activity, Gili Air sits in the middle, Gili Meno is the quiet one. A night on each costs only a short boat hop if you cannot decide.Gili T, Air or Meno
Things to do in Gili Trawangan
See all attractions in Gili TrawanganNeed to know
- Airport
- Lombok International (LOP) or Bali (DPS); no airport on the island
- Getting there
- Fast boat from Bali, or public boat from Bangsal on Lombok
- Getting around
- Walking, bicycles and cidomo horse carts; no motor vehicles
- Best base
- East coast for nightlife; north or west for quiet; inland for villas
- Time needed
- 2–4 nights; add days for a dive course
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Wet, humidJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 347 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, humid
- FebruaryRain26 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Wet, rough seaFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 312 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, rough sea
- MarchRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°WetMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 242 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°ShowersAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 179 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry, calmMayRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry, clearJuneRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Dry, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Peak seasonAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak season
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Dry, calmSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- OctoberRain18 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Warm, showersOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, showers
- NovemberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet, humidNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 238 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, humid
- DecemberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet, holidaysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 357 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, holidays
Average daily high and low in Gili Trawangan, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Gili Trawangan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 85%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 12%
Gili Trawangan
04:41 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today31°23°12%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Wed31°24°9%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Thu32°24°12%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Fri31°24°12%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sat31°25°22%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Sun31°25°41%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 41%.
Updated 04:17 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MarNyepiBali, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Gili Menoabout 20–30 min by boatThe quiet island, with a salt lake, a bird park and empty beaches.Read the guide
- Gili Airabout 20–30 min by boatCafés, yoga and a calm lagoon, a lower-key alternative.Read the guide
- Lombok mainlandabout 40–60 min by boat to BangsalSenggigi, Mataram or the road to Rinjani.Read the guide
Before you go to Gili Trawangan
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Gili Trawangan, checked
- Indonesia's visa rules decide whether you need a visa before you fly. Check the Directorate General of Immigration site (imigrasi.go.id) for your passport.
- Drug possession and use are illegal in Indonesia and can carry the death penalty. Buying the openly sold mushrooms on the islands still breaks the law.
- Motor vehicles are banned on the islands. Get around on foot, by rented bicycle, by cidomo horse carriage, or by electric scooter.
- Only Gili Trawangan has active police. On Gili Air and Gili Meno, report problems at the police station on Lombok.
- The local population is mostly Muslim. Dress and behave modestly outside resorts.
Gili Trawangan FAQ
Is Gili Trawangan worth visiting?
Yes for snorkeling with turtles, dive courses, car-free streets and sunsets. It is busy and social in the high season, so choose Gili Meno or Gili Air if you want calm. Two or three nights is enough for most people.
How many days do you need on Gili Trawangan?
Two to three nights covers a snorkel trip, a sunset and a free day. A four-day dive course needs more, and a week suits slow travelers. Add a night if rough seas could delay your boat home.
Can you swim and snorkel safely on Gili Trawangan?
Most visitors do, but currents between the islands can be strong and boat traffic is busy near the harbor. Swim in front of the east coast beaches with a buoy line or a guide, and wear a vest if you are not confident.
Do you need cash on Gili Trawangan?
Yes. Many cafés, bike stalls and boat counters prefer rupiah in cash, and the island's ATMs can run out. Bring enough from Bali or Lombok for several days, and keep a small reserve for the trip home.
Is Gili Trawangan a party island?
It has the island's livelier bars, mostly along the east coast, but the party stays on a short stretch. The west and north ends are calm, so you can sleep well even in the high season.