ISLAND ACTIVITIES
SCUBA DIVING
Scuba diving in the Gili’s was one of the main draws for tourists years before the islands became a holiday destination in their own right.
The diving season is year-round, with an average water temperature of about 28 degrees celsius. There are more than 20 dive sites to visit with a variety of different topographies to explore. The conditions and dive sites are suitable for beginners and experienced divers alike, with a wonderfully diverse array of marine life, including reef sharks,
sea turtles, lionfish, stingrays, moray eels, frogfish,
barracuda, scorpionfish, eagle rays and mantas.
There are at least 20 dive operators now on Gili Trawangan alone. When choosing who to dive with, look out for those that are members of GIDA (Gili Islands Dive Association). These dive shops will provide the most professional, safe and enjoyable dive experience
SNORKELLING
For those people who don’t have time to immerse themselves into the diving, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the underwater world simply with a mask, snorkel and fins.
Snorkel gear can be rented from many places along the main strip for a daily rate of about Rp50,000 per person. A great place to start is off the east coast of the island because it is easy to get in and out of the sea. The best spot is on the northern tip of the island, on the eastern edge, although it can be more difficult to enter and exit the ocean there depending on the tide.
Snorkelling trips via glass-bottom boat can be arranged for approximately Rp150,000 per person. This is usually a 4-5hr day trip, including snorkelling at various spots around the 3 islands. Most trips stop off on Gili Air for 1hr for lunch, which is not included in the price.
Private charters are also available, and cost approximately Rp1,200,000, with a maximum of 6 people. Both types of trips include mask, snorkel and fin rental.
GILI T ISLAND PUB CRAWL
The Gili T Pub Crawl launched in 2018 and has fast become a popular choice for fans of the island's nightlife. It is perfect for solo travellers hoping to meet new people, or a perfect night time activity for a group of travel buddies. It’s the only way to take in the best of Gili T’s nightlife and score huge savings whilst doing so.
The Pub Crawl meets at Tír na nÓg and visits 4 of the island's best bars. Each bar offers a different vibe, a new game or activity, and a free shot!
It runs every Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday. Registration is at Tír an nÓg from 6:30 - 9:00PM and the Pub Crawl reaches its final stop around midnight.
The price is Rp250,000 per person, and includes the following:
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One FREE ‘Gili T Pub Crawl’ Singlet
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One FREE Vodka Juice bucket @ Tir na nOg
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FREE Shot at each bar on arrival
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Discounted drinks at all 4 bars
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Prizes to be won throughout the night
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A Gili Trawangan Discount Card with LOADS of savings
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Photos of the night uploaded to our FB page within 48hrs
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YOGA
Surprisingly, yoga took a while to cement itself a place on Gili Trawangan. But once it did, it became very popular. Where better than a remote, tropical island to explore your inner yogi?!
There are now several yoga studios on the island, offering practices from traditional yoga to Fly High Yoga with hanging swings.
The closest studio to us is Gili Yoga, which is a fantastic studio conveniently located on the main strip.
Gili Yoga offers a variety of daily drop-in yoga classes for all levels
of experience as well as yoga and meditation workshops and retreats. Their teachers are professional, passionate and dedicated yogis who love to share their lifestyle with you. Whether you are here to stretch and sweat, breath and relax, or embrace your spiritual potential, their yoga classes and teachers will help guide you through your journey.
FREEDIVING
Freediving is a rapidly growing sport, and the Gili Islands have the perfect place to practice! Freedive Gili is the best place to learn what it’s all about if you’ve never tried it before, or to train to a higher level if you already have some experience. Freedive Gili is set within the same business as Gili Yoga, with both activities complimenting the other perfectly. They have created a sanctuary for you to call your home
away from home and to meet like-minded adventurers.
The instructors there actively compete in major competitions and hold national records in their field. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and the tuition is second to none. They teach all SSI Freediving courses, from SSI Level 1 to Instructor, and are the only specialized
Freediving Instructor Training Center in the region.
Freediving is a challenging yet gratifying activity that can make your holiday in Gili T even more fun and interesting!
HORSEBACK RIDING
Horse-riding on the Gilis has been available for some time now, with the main outlet being STUD Horse Riding Adventures. They offer morning beach rides between 6 - 10AM or afternoon rides between 3 - 6.30PM. The horses are in excellent health, and one of the reasons is because they do not ride during the hottest part of the day. We recommend that if you want to try it, you have had some past horse riding experience.
The price is Rp400,000 per pax for 1 hour or Rp250,000 for 30 minutes. They accept cash IDR payments only. Price includes helmets, chaps and a private guide, and they do not mix groups. The STUD staff will be more than happy to take photos of you, just bring your camera or phone with you. Booking is essential for sunset rides as they are very popular.
They also offer a round the island tour in the mornings for experienced riders. This takes around 1.5 hours and the price is Rp550,000.
STUD imports all of their feed, supplements, horseshoes and equipment. They pay for freshwater and all of the grass is hand-cut in Lombok.
SPA TREATMENTS
There is a plentiful choice of spas on the island, offering a vast array of treatments to suit all of your relaxation needs. Most places offer traditional massages, manicures, pedicures, mud baths, sports massages, face masks, body waxing and more. Prices may be slightly higher than those in Bali, but are still very reasonable compared to what you would pay in a western country.
The closest spas to us, also among the best on the island, are
Villa Ombak and Azure Spa. Both are only a few minutes walk away. There is also a small spa located in the Black Penny hotel, which is directly next door to us and offers fish feet cleansing & body massages.
GYM & TENNIS
There are currently three gyms on the island. One is located at
Kelapa Villas and houses the islands only tennis court. They do not currently offer lessons, but there are racquets available to rent
if you'd like to play. There is also an on-site bar
and restaurant for a post-game treat.
GILIFIT is the gym of choice for expats and tourists alike. It’s fully equipped, and newly renovated, with state of the art modern gym equipment and has all the facilities you’d expect in a gym back home. They also have a wide range of programs and classes available.
SUNSET & SUNRISE
Everyone loves a sunset, and Gili Trawangan rarely fails to deliver!
Sunset falls between 6:00pm and 6:45pm year-round.
There are many places claiming to be ‘the best sunset spot’,
but anywhere on the South-West and West side of the island
offers a great view. Gili Teak is a nice place to watch it
as well as enjoy a nice cocktail.
Those of you who are more adventurous may want to trek up the hill for sunset. It’s a short and steep climb, but the rewards are worth it!
Sunrise, on the other hand, is best viewed on the East coast. The sun comes up over Mount Rinjani on Lombok. It’s a spectacular view,
but only early risers will get to see it. Sunrise is between
5:45AM and 6:15AM yearly and is worth catching
at least once during your trip.
MINI GOLF & GOLF
In 2014, Gili Trawangan saw the opening of the first mini-golf course on the island. Gili Golf is located towards the north end of the island, about 200m inland. Prices are cheap, there is a small bar for refreshments,
and there’s also trampolining, darts and table tennis available.
In Lombok, there is the opportunity to play at some great golf courses. Prices change frequently, but we can help find the most updated information & also arrange transport to the golf course. The trip includes a 15minute speedboat ride from Gili Trawangan, where you’ll be met by golf-cart and taken to the clubhouse to start the days round of golf. It’s a fun day out, but don’t forget your sunscreen as it gets very hot out there!
MT. RINJANI TREKKING
Mount Rinjani is the largest active volcano in Lombok and is visible from our breakfast area. It rises to 3,726 metres (12,224 ft), making it the second-highest volcano in all of Indonesia. On the top of the volcano is a 6-by-8.5-kilometre caldera, which is filled partially by the crater lake known as Segara Anak or Anak Laut (Child of the Sea). The lake is approximately 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level and estimated to be about 200 metres (660 ft) deep. There are also hot springs in the caldera. Sasak tribes and Hindu people assume that the lake and the mountain are sacred and some religious activities are occasionally undertaken in the two areas.
Trekking to the summit is a popular, but very strenuous activity. It is usually done as a 3 day, 2 night trek. The cost varies, but is roughly Rp1,500,000 per person, including transport there and back and all food & drink. Please ask our Reception staff for more information.
BIKE RENTAL
Gili Trawangan has no motorized transportation. The only way to travel around is by Cidomo (traditional horse-cart), by foot, or by bicycle.
Most visitors to the island will rent a bike at some point during their stay. It’s quite popular to circumnavigate the whole island by bike. The trip takes anywhere from 1.5 - 2 hours. There are some areas of deep sand, so you might have to hop off and walk for some sections of the route.
Our guests are welcome to rent bicycles right from our reception staff during their stay. Bike rental is approximately Rp50,000 per day, or Rp10,000 per hour. For more information, just ask our staff.
INDONESIAN COOKING CLASSES
Cooking classes have been available on the Gilis since about 2012.
If you've fallen in love with Indonesian food and want to bring your favourite recipes home with you, there is no better way to learn than from Indonesian chefs, with local ingredients, whilst in Indonesia.
Although it will require a day trip, we highly recommend
Gili Cooking Classes located in Gili Air. Classes are 3 hours long and conducted in English by professional chefs. Their experienced teachers will guide you through a session of hands-on, fun-filled cooking, with emphasis on the art of fine Indonesian cooking
in a relaxed social environment.
The courses are focused on traditional Indonesian cuisine using the freshest local & seasonal products. During the class, you will learn traditional and practical techniques, as well as the substitutions to Indonesian local ingredients to ensure you can prepare the dishes authentically and innovatively back home. You will prepare every
dish yourself before enjoying a friendly outdoor dinner.
SURFING & PADDLEBOARDING
Gili Trawangan has small waves on the South-East corner of the island, but can be large enough to surf during high tide. The underlying reef can be sharp so booties come in handy here in Gili T. Just follow the locals out jogging with their boards whenever the surf is decent!
There are a few breaks off Gili Air and Gili Meno, but they are more difficult to reach and typically smaller. The best season is the
January-June wet season, with swells from 1-2m. Surfboard
rental is approximately Rp50,000 per day.
Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) is a relatively new sport on the Gili islands, and is based out of Trawangan Dive's water sports centre,
Gili Paddle. You can learn to stand-up paddleboard, or if you are
already experienced, you can rent SUP's by the hour.
WEEKLY FITNESS CLASSES
In recent years, in line with the changing global mindset regarding our health and how fitness plays a vital role in it, the island has had an influx of fitness activities and classes popping up.
One of the most popular of these is the HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) classes. These are held several times
a week (there are both morning and afternoon sessions) at the Gili Wellness Centre @ Gili Teak Boutique Resort, located on the west coast of the island.
Other popular classes include the Barre Workout at Gili Yoga and CrossFit training at GiliFit gym.
GiliFit is soon hoping to launch a wide range of new activities including Spin Classes, MMA classes and Ass & Abs workshops.
If you are looking for a more personal training experience, both GiliFit and Gili Wellness Centre offer consultations with professionals. They can offer personalised training programs as well as diet advice.
For more detailed information and schedules, either drop us a message or contact the businesses directly.