6 Activities Not to Miss on Gili T

The Gili’s, better known as a three island paradise, are located just off the coast of Lombok and a few hour boat ride from Bali. They are a popular destination for tourists looking to experience white sand beaches, crystal clear turquoise water and a surplus of marine life. The Gili’s are made up of three islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno each with their own defining characteristics. Gili T is the most popular and busy of the three, while Gili Air and Gili Meno are more laid back and tranquil.  We spent our time on Gili Trawangan where we enjoyed the island lifestyle and took advantage of the unique activities that are offered on the island.

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1. Swing into the Sunset: 

There are hundreds of places around the world where you can watch an utterly stunning sunset, and Gili T is one of those locations. Watching the sunset is a daily island gathering, and although it can get crowded on the beaches it should not be missed!

The best place to watch the sunset is from the west side of the island. Hotel Ombak Sunset is the most popular place on the west side as they put a sunset swing in the water making for the perfect Instagram photo. Fair warning: the line to take a picture can get very long! There are also bean bag chairs on the beach where visitors and hotel guest can order drinks and enjoy the view. If you don’t want to be with the crowds, you can walk along the beach until you find a quiet stop.

2. Bike Riding:

Once you land on Gili T, you will start to notice that there is a lack of hustle and bustle due to the fact that there are no motor vehicles on the island. By not having any cars, visitors have three options to get around: by foot, a cidomo (horse drawn carriage) or by channeling their inner child and hoping on a bike.

For those looking to laugh until their stomach hurts we’d suggest bike riding around Gili T. We rode our bikes during the day and at night and ended up on some wild adventures! There is a single road that circles the island and it takes about an hour to go around the whole thing. It’s a very easy ride, but be sure to rent a quality bike as you can get stuck in some sand patches along the way. Oh and if you decided to ride during the night, bring a flashlight! At some points it was so dark that we couldn’t see anything in front of us!

3. Stargazing:

As mentioned above, Gili T does not allow motor vehicles on the island, which is great news for those looking to do some stargazing. Since no cars are polluting the air with their exhaust pipes and no big buildings polluting the sky with their lights, the stars really shine at night! It’s incredible to see what the stars can look like when pollution doesn’t mask them. If you go for a bike ride a night, be sure to stop and look up… you won’t be disappointed!

4. Snorkeling/Diving:

The Gili’s are known worldwide for their incredible marine life and most people who visit should throw on a snorkeling mask to see if from above or go scuba diving to get up close and personal. Depending on the length of your visit you can even get certified. Spending the day snorkeling/diving in the crystal clear waters around the Gili’s is an amazing experience. Around 20 dive sites are surrounding all three islands. Also, most companies will bring you to one of the other Gili Island (Gili Meno or Gili Air) to take a break and enjoy lunch by the water.

5. Relaxing on the Beaches:

For those looking to sunbathe on white sand beaches, then your in for a treat when you make your way to Gili T. In our opinion, the best beaches are on the west side of the island as it less crowded and a bit cleaner. Most hotels offer sun beds that you rent and then spend the rest of the day relaxing.

6. Enjoy the nightlife:

As we mentioned earlier, Gili T is the most popular and busy of the three Gili Islands. Part of this has to do with the many bars and restaurants located on the island. Depending on your interests, we’d suggest heading out for a drink or two (or three or four or five). The majority of the bars are located on East side ranging from reggae bars to lounges, to full blown clubs.

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If you’re headed to back to Bali after your trip to the Gilis, be sure to check out all our blog posts!