Gili Trawangan is one of the Three Gilis in the northwest of Lombok Island, along with Gili Air and Gili Meno or also known as the Charm of the Three Gilis ‘Tramena’. Gili Trawangan is located in Pemenang District, North Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. The population of Gili Trawangan is 2,089 people with 1,085 men and 1,004 women.

History Of Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan, one of three small islands located northwest of Lombok Island, has a long history that is closely related to the Dutch and Japanese colonial periods, as well as its role as a stopover for the Bajo and Bugis tribes on their journey across the archipelago.

In the Sasak language, the small island is called ‘Gili’ while Trawangan itself comes from the word ‘Terangang’ where Terangang means in the Sasak language the turtle’s egg-laying, because in Gili there were many turtles at that time. Then the pronunciation of the word Terangang was rather difficult for the Sasak tribe at that time and always called Trawangan and over time the word Terangang changed to Trawangan, finally the name Gili Trawangan became popular until now.

Gili Trawangan, has a long history that has undergone various changes in function throughout the ages. From the Dutch and Japanese colonial era as a place of exile and logistics, to becoming a stopover for Bajo and Bugis sailors exploring the archipelago, this island has a history that is closely related to Indonesia’s long journey. Today, Gili Trawangan is a popular tourist destination, but its historical heritage remains deep-rooted, reminding us of its important role in the history of shipping and trade in Indonesia.

What You Can Do

To reach Gili Trawangan, you can use a private speedboat or public boat that can accommodate around 50 people from Bangsal Harbor. The trip using a private speedboat can take around 15-30 minutes and costs start from IDR 200.000/person. While the trip using a public boat will take around 30 minutes and costs start from IDR 30.000/person.

The land conditions of Gili Trawangan consist of white sand. Most of its area is also surrounded by coral reefs. The underwater scenery is also quite exotic because there are many marine life such as clownfish, turtles, and various coral reefs that are still pristine.

In Gili Trawangan itself, there are quite adequate lodging and restaurant facilities. In addition, a number of bars and nightclubs are also present to accompany your nights in Gili Trawangan.

• Diving and Snorkeling

The mandatory activities that you must do are snorkeling and diving. With the exotic underwater conditions of Gili Trawangan, snorkeling and diving here will truly be an unforgettable experience.

Or if you want to be even more exciting, you can also try sea walking. Walking on the seabed wearing a special helmet connected to an oxygen tank above the water’s surface. The sensation of walking around the underwater world is truly an extraordinary experience and one you will never forget.

• Watch sunset and sunrise

An experience that you should not miss is the sunset and sunrise moments in Gili Trawangan which guarantees, the view of the sunset and sunrise from Gili Trawangan will be the most romantic moment, especially if enjoyed together with your partner and the person you love.

For those of you who like to travel around, you can use a boat around Trawangan while enjoying the sunset and sunrise.

• Cycling Around the Island

If you are tired of walking around the island, riding a bicycle can also be a fun alternative. You can rent a bicycle and go around Gili Trawangan Island while enjoying the beautiful and cool atmosphere of the island.

The average bicycle rental price in Gili Trawangan is around IDR 10,000/hour or if you want to save more, you can rent it for IDR 50,000/day. It is quite cheap and economical for transportation options during your vacation in Gili Trawangan.

In addition, cycling also makes the body fitter and healthier. Plus the air of Gili Trawangan is still fresh and cool, making pedaling the bike even more enjoyable.

Vacationing in gili is one of the interesting things you can try! For you who are still young, you really need to explore tourist attractions in Lombok, one of which is Gili Trawangan.