How to Get There?

By Fst 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: +62 818 0530 5632
2. Bluewater Safaris: Leaves from Serangan, Sanur. Contact: +62 8133 841 8988, +62 361 3104558, +62 361 3104557. www.bwsbali.com
3. Gili Cat: Leaves from Padang Bai. Contact: +62 361 271 680, www.gilicat.com


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 harbour. All prices are displayed on the board behind the desk.

Most of the boats cross over between 9.30 – 10.30 am. The ticket office closes at 4.30pm.

NOTE:
If you arrive on an evening flight, it is advisable to stay the night in Mataram or Senggigi, before continuing to Gili Trawangan the next day.
Porters at Bangsal will offer to take your bags on to the boat. If you allow them to take your bags, be prepared to pay them a small fee (around Rp 2,000 / bag).

Departure airport tax: Domestic flights – Rp 20,000
International flights – Rp 75,000.

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 (horsecart) can take you to Bangsal harbour.

Info: Lembar Harbour +62 370 681187


PERAMA SHUTTLE BUS FROM BALI


Perama Tours and Travel organises travel to Gili Trawangan via bus, ferry and public boat, purchased all in one ticket. Perama offices can be found in the main tourist areas of Kuta, Legian, Sanur, Ubud, Lovina, Padang Bai and Candidasa.


Info: www.peramatour.com

The Paradise of Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan is the largest of Lombok's Gili Islands and is the only one to rise significantly above sea level. It is 3km long and 2km wide with a population of about 700. Of the Gilis, Trawangan has the most tourist facilities; the pub Tîr na Nôg claims that Trawangan is the smallest island in the world with an Irish pub. The most crowded part of Trawangan lies on the eastern side. It is administered under Lombok Barat Regency along with Sengigi Beach.

On Gili Trawangan (as well as the other two Gilis), there are no motorized vehicles. The main means of transportation are bicycles (rented by locals to tourists) and cidomo (a small horsedrawn carriage). For traveling to and from each of the Gilis, locals usually use motorized boats and speedboats.

Some of the first inhabitants of Gili Trawangan were from Sulawesi who are fishermen and farmers. Previously Gili Trawangan was covered in forest and deer lived on the island. (Source: Inhabitants of Gili Trawangan — no printed source available)

The economy of Gili Trawangan centres on tourism, as the island is too small to support any broad scale agriculture, and too remote to allow economically viable industry or commerce.