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GILI TRAWANGAN
How To Get To Gili Trawangan
BY AIR, TAXI AND PUBLIC BOAT
Daily local flights arrive in Lombok at Mataram’s Selaparang airport from Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali) and Surabaya. Domestic carriers include: Garuda, Lion, Merpati, Batavia, Trigana, Indonesia Air Trans.
Silk Air flies 3 times a week direct from Singapore.
From the airport it’s a 40 minute taxi ride to Bangsal harbour. An airport taxi counter is available at arrivals, and prices are fixed according to destination. If you don’t have much luggage, you can get a Bluebird or LK taxi from the road, which use meters.
From Bangsal, the public boat takes 35-40 minutes to cross over to Gili Trawangan.
The public boat departs once 20 people have bought a ticket, hence a wait may be involved. Alternatively you can buy the remaining seats left when you go to make your purchase, or you can charter a boat.
Only buy your boat tickets at the ticket desk at the harbor. All prices are displayed on the board behind the desk.
BY FERRY, BUS AND PUBLIC BOAT
The public ferry leaves Padang Bai (Bali) to Lembar (Lombok) and takes 4½ hours to cross. It departs every 2 hours and operates 24 hours a day. Tickets are bought at the harbour.
From Lembar, you have to take a bus to Mandalika bus station. From here take the Tanjung bus, but get off at Pamenang. A cidomo (horse cart) can take you to Bangsal harbor. Info: Lembar Harbour +62 370 681187 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +62 370 681187 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
BY FAST BOAT FROM BALI
There are three companies that run a daily speed boat service direct from Bali to Gili Trawangan. The ride is between 1-2 hours depending on the sea conditions.
1. Mahi-Mahi: Leaves from Benoa.
Contact: +62 85 238 773 045
2. Bluewater Safaris: Leaves from Serangan, Sanur
Contact: +62 85 238 773 045
3. Gili Cat: Leaves from Padang Bai
Contact: +62 85 238 773 045
There are no motorbikes vehicles on Gili Trawangan, which is one of the many things that make it such a tranquil and relaxing island.
CIDOMO
There are 36 registered horse carts locally known as “cidomo” on the island.
The cidomo are very handy for taking you to your hotel or guesthouse once you arrive, especially if you have large or heavy luggage, or if you haven’t booked a room yet. The drivers will take you around and help find accommodation for you.
You can also hire a cidomo to take you around the island, out to dinner, or just down the road if the mood takes you!
The cidomo tend to be a favorite with young children, and you can arrange for the driver to take the ‘little ones’ for a ride, while you have a few minutes of peace to yourself on the beach! If you need a cidomo early in the morning or after 6 pm, it’s best to make arrangements with one of the drivers ahead of time.
BICYCLES
There are several bicycle rental places around the island where you can hire by the hour, half day or day.
ON FOOT
The island itself is only 8km all around, and as most of the island’s hotels, restaurants, dive shops and beaches are concentrated along a 2km strip, everything is very easily accessible on foot.
A walk around the island is a lovely way to spend the afternoon and if timed properly, you can catch a stunning sunset over Bali’s Mt. Agung. (Remember to bring a torch with you, as there is no street lighting to guide you back.)
DIVING
There are now seven dive operators on the island which run a full range of PADI courses, starting from the Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) course or the Open Water, right up to Instructor courses at certain times during the year. The schools organize Fun Dives with local dive masters who have a wealth of knowledge about each site.
There seems to be a dive center for everyone, whether you like the hustle and bustle of a big busy school like Blue Marlin or Manta Dive, or more relaxed smaller groups at laid back schools such as Vila Ombak Diving Academy and Trawangan Dive. There are also some schools which are more tailored to French speaking divers (Big Bubble) and German speaking divers (Dream Divers).
The diving is very easy and varies from walls, slopes and plateaus. The maximum depths at many of the sites range from 24m-18m, making it perfect for beginners and more experienced divers alike. Almost all the dive sites can be reached by boat in 10 minutes and all the dive shops are located on the beach front making access very easy.
Some of the fascinating marine life you may see include: black and white tip sharks, turtles, frog fish, leaf fish, ghost pipe fish, moray and ribbon eels, pygmy seahorse, eagle rays, octopus, cuttlefish, snakes and bumphead parrot fish.
SNORKELING
Snorkeling in the waters off Gili Trawangan is very easy and doesn’t require a boat. Simply walk into the clear blue waters from the beach and you’re away! The main snorkeling area is along the main beach area, but there are other less busy areas with great snorkeling to be found up and down the east and northeast sides of the island.
Along the main beach front there is usually an easy current which takes you along making snorkeling all the more easy as you drift with the current, get out at the end, and walk back up the beach and start again.
A host of amazing marine life can be found while snorkeling, ranging from parrot fish, morish idols and puffer fish, to barracuda, trumpet fish and baby cuttlefish, and if you’re really lucky, turtles!
Masks, snorkels, fins and life jackets can be found for rent all along the beach front.
BOAT TRIPS
If, heaven forbid, you’re getting a little bored on Gili Trawangan, hiring a boat and snorkeling of it around all three of the islands (Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan) makes for a fun day out. You can also take in the Bird Park and Beatles museum on Gili Meno, and have lunch on Gili Air at Vila Karang, where the pizzas are delicious! (Phone in advance for pizzas at lunch time so the oven can be fired up: 0813 3990 4440)
If you don’t enjoy swimming or snorkeling, but still want to see what’s going on under the surface of the water, then you can always take a Glass Bottom Boat trip. From the comfort of the boat you get a glimpse of some of the fishes, and even the turtles, swimming underneath.
HORSE RIDING
BaliKana Hotel and Stud are the two ‘stables’ on the island. You can arrange to take a horse out for an hour or more and ride around the island and along the beach. A guide will either accompany you on another horse or on foot. Most of the horses are actually ponies, although there are one of two larger horses.
KAYAKING
Kayaks are available to hire at a couple of locations along the beach area. If you’re feeling very energetic and want to try to kayak over to Gili Meno, beware of the currents which can be very strong – and don’t forget you’ll have to come back over again!
SURFING
While it doesn’t draw huge crowds of surfers, when the winds are right there is some good surfing to be found. There’s a crowd of local surfers on the island who have all the useful local knowledge, and who knows, maybe they’ll come along and lend you their boards.
SPA /MASSAGE
If you want to indulge yourself there are at least two spas on Gili Trawangan who can pamper you with massages, facials, reflexology, hair treatment manicures and pedicures and even waxing. The higher end spa is located at Vila Ombak Hotel, while the other is nearer the beach area.
Individual masseuse also offer their services on the island and signs can be found dotted around the main strip informing of their details.
GILI ECO TRUST
In 2002 the Gili Eco Trust was set up primarily to protect the coral reefs around the island against destructive fishing practices.
All dive centers charge their guests a one-time ‘reef tax’ of Rp 40,000. The funds collected are used to pay fisherman to stop using fishing methods that are damaging to the reefs. Funds are also used for beach cleaning, rubbish management and monitoring.
Line fishing, spear fishing and surface nets are permitted as these methods are not harmful to the reefs and the eco-system.
TURTLE HATCHERY
In 1995 a local initiative was set up to help the turtle population around Gili Trawangan. Turtle eggs are a delicacy in Bali and are tracked down as far away as Gili Trawangan. The poachers are paid for their find and the turtles are re-buried and kept under surveillance. Once they hatch, the baby green and hawksbill turtles are placed in a tank and left to grow until they are approx. 6 months old when they are big enough to fend for themselves, and are released into the sea.
The project still relies purely on donations by locals and tourists and has grown bigger and bigger over the years.
BIOROCK PROJECT
Much of the coral around Gili Trawangan has been destroyed over recent years by dynamite fishing and by the effects of el Niño in 2000. In 2004, Vila Ombak Diving Academy began a project to encourage the re-growth of the coral using a method called Biorock. The process involves using a safe low-voltage current that is applied though the sea water. The electric current attracts the minerals in the seawater to a steel structure where they grow into limestone very similar to coral reefs.
In 2006, after the success of the original project, all the dive operators on the island came together to construct more Biorock structures. The 14 structures can be found in the shallower waters (5-8m) at different points just in front of each dive shop.
BASIC NEEDS
All the holiday essentials like sun cream, toiletries, soft drinks, snacks, chocolates, ice-cream, postcards and much more, can be bought at the various shops along the main road whose owners have a good knowledge of the needs of the average tourist.
SOUVENIRS
The so called ‘art market’ or pasar seni is located just opposite the jetty, behind the volleyball court. Although it has seen better days, individual efforts are being made to smarten it up. Despite all this, a range of knick-knacks can be found here from sarongs and T-shirts, to woven traditional cloths and batik, wooden trinkets and masks, paintings and other handicraft.
BEACH SELLERS
Sellers on the beach are very laid back and not nearly so aggressive as those found in Bali, Kuta Lombok, or Senggigi. They will of course approach you and offer you their pearl necklaces, bracelets, rings and ear-rings, but usually if you say no they’ll leave you be. Most of the time though, many people, even though they may not buy anything, they end up having a chat and sharing a cigarette with the vendor anyway!
If something does take your fancy, but isn’t quite the right fit, or not quite how you want it, very often the sellers will be able to make the desired adjustments for you on the spot, so it’s worth taking a look and asking.
SECONDHAND BOOKS
There are at least two second-hand bookshops on the island. You can just pick one up or trade your finished book for a new one.
Despite being such a small island, Gili Trawangan has a superb selection of dining experiences to choose from. Ranging from Japanese, Indian and tapas, to fresh seafood barbeques and sandwich bars, local treats (Nasi Campur at Khayangan, opposite the Japanese restaurant, is highly recommended) and bakery delights! It’s all there, all you have to do is decide where to go!
If coffee is your thing, Gili Trawangan has two coffee shops over-looking the sea providing idyllic views to accompany that perfect cup. One shop offers Illy coffee, while the other specialises in Caswell’s coffee from all over Indonesia, including coffee from Aceh, Sumatra, Java, and not forgetting Lombok – a real coffee aficionados heaven!
As you would expect for a tourist destination, there are several bars on the island including a daily live music venue and an Irish bar. The main bars on the island take it in turns to host the ‘party’ every evening, which usually kicks off after 11pm and can continue until the wee hours of the morning!
And if partying is not your thing, you can catch a film at the ‘cinema’ or on a private TV, or just chill out overlooking the sea and majestic Mt. Rinjani.
MONEY
The first ATM on the island became operational in September 2008 and can be found at Hotel Vila Ombak. It dispenses Rp 50,000 notes and can be used to withdraw from foreign accounts displaying the VISA or PLUS logos on the cards.
Aside from this one Mandiri Bank ATM, the nearest ATM is in Senggigi, 30 minutes away from Bangsal by car.
Non-authorised money changers can be found at tourist information kiosks, however they tend to give a lower than average exchange rate.
Credit cards are accepted at most of the dive schools and big hotels, however there is usually a 3% surcharge for this facility.
HEALTH
There is one main clinic on the island at Hotel Vila Ombak. Although it is part of the hotel complex, it is open to the public 24 hours a day.
TELEPHONE AND INTERNET
Local and international calls can be made at the Wartel (Warung Telekomunikasi – telephone kiosk).
Internet can be accessed at the 2 or 3 Warnet (Warung Internet – internet kiosks) on the island. They all claim to be fast broadband connections, but be prepared as that isn’t always the case.
Wi-Fi internet connections can be found at Scallywags.
POWER SUPPLY
Electricity is available throughout the island, however, demand for electricity is much higher than the supply.
To cope with the high demand, the electric company tends to rotate the supply to different areas on the island, on alternate days, at particular times of the day.
The effect is that you are more likely than not to encounter a power cut during your stay on the island. While some hotels and restaurants have generators for such circumstances, others rely on candles and torches.
Packing a torch is advised both for power cuts and for walks back at night.
WATER SUPPLY
The water from the wells on Gili Trawangan is saline.
Fresh water is brought over from the mainland and is not readily available at all hotels. Where it is available, be prepared to pay a little extra for your room.
SECURITY
There is no police station or post on the island. However, as the island relies heavily on tourism the island authorities/officials make it their top priority to ensure that any incidents are very rare.
If there is a report of a crime, such as a theft, it is dealt with in a very swift manner. The item is usually recovered and punishment typically involves banishment from the island for the offender.
The 900 odd local residents of Gili Trawangan are mainly Sasak (from Lombok), and Bugis (from Sulawesi). The local language on the island reflects this ethnic mix, and is a dialect of Sasak which incorporates some Bugis terms and intonation.
Before the first tourists began to land on Gili Trawangan, the island was used as farmland to grow among other things, coconuts, corn, cassava and even at one time, rice.
Tourists first began come to Gili Trawangan in the early 1980s, when a very basic guesthouse was set up on top of the hill. It was actually Gili Air that initially began to develop as a tourist destination, however by the late 1990s, development on Gili Trawangan had overtaken that on Gili Air, and now it attracts more visitors.
There is a daily market on the island which arrives by boat between 11am – noon. The dozen or so women unload their fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and other goodies and set up shop next to the village head’s office, opposite the harbor. It’s quite a busy and colorful affair, with the usual fun, hustle and bustle found at all local produce markets.
On the island there is one secular playschool and one religious playschool, one primary school and one junior high school. Children who want to continue their education must do so on the mainland. Almost all the local residents of the island are Muslim. There are two mosques on the island which call people to pray five times a day. Although Gili Trawangan is a ‘tourist island’, visitors are expected to behave with respect to the religion, and things such as topless sunbathing are very much frowned upon.
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