The east side of the island is more densely populated, but in case you’re unsure which coast to settle on: The beauty of Gili Trawangan above other islands is that Gili Trawangan has beaches facing east and west, and are not too far in distance between them. Take note that this means you’ll be able to enjoy both sunrise and sunset easily no matter which side of the island you’re staying.

3* hostels, resorts, and private villas for backpackers to luxury travelers at beachfront venues. The social scene will encourage you to socialize and relax at affordable rates for a weekend trip mere steps away from the beach in an island that’s only 15km to walk around for an afternoon stroll.

Restaurants on the island are hit or miss due to the fact they need to ship their food onto the islets from Lombok, and is quite limited – however they do offer healthy, vegetarian options among others. There are of course local eateries, warung, to enjoy Indonesian delicacies, and the Gili T nightmarket that serves barbeque and freshly grilled seafood. With epic ocean views that stretch for miles, nothing beats the scenery by miles.

Partying during a full moon makes for a wild night – beach parties with a DJ that accompanies partygoers until the sun rises. Renowned for Full Moon parties, Gili Trawangan has been an underground rave by the beach for backpackers for years now. Although a relatively safe place being small and walkable, Gili Trawangan has been known to have the presence of illegal substances, drugs specifically. Take care to refuse any offer for drugs, despite the lack of policing on the Gilil islands.

Popular activities for tourists to do in Trawangan (besides partying) are watersports, such as scuba diving (with PADI certification), snorkeling (on the northeast coast), kayaking and surfing. There are diving schools if you are not yet certified. Home to beautiful coral, you will find reef sharks and stingrays, but do be careful of the currents. Subwinging is an activity that is picked up more recently in the Gili islands, the experience of flying underwater by holding on to a winged board and get pulled at slow speed underwater by a boat

The Gilis are an easy place to relax in – with no loud and motorized vehicles such as cars or motorbikes, you are able to explore the small islands on foot. It’s not every day that you wake up to living on a small and sparsely inhabited island. Alternatively, you are able to rent a bike for a cheap fee to be used all day, and there are cidomo (horse-drawn carriages) to take you around as well, commonly found in Lombok.