What is the best time to visit Gili Trawangan?

The best time to visit is May through October during the dry season, when weather is stable and sea conditions are calm. This period is ideal for diving, snorkeling, and beach activities. November through April is the wet season with higher rainfall, but offers fewer tourists and lower prices.

How do I get to Gili Trawangan?

Gili Trawangan is accessible via ferry from Lombok. The nearest major airport is Lombok International Airport (LOP), approximately 45–50 km away. From the airport, take a shuttle or taxi to the ferry port. Ferry crossings from Lombok typically take 10–30 minutes depending on conditions and departure point.

What activities are available on Gili Trawangan?

The main activities are snorkeling and diving in coral reef systems surrounding the island. Beach swimming, water sports, and recreation are available year-round. Visitors can also explore neighboring Gili Meno and Gili Air via day trips, or walk and cycle around the small island.

What is the population of Gili Trawangan?

Gili Trawangan has a resident population of approximately 1,500 people. The island is part of the Pemenang District in North Lombok Regency. Tourism brings seasonal visitation that significantly exceeds the permanent population.

Is Gili Trawangan suitable for beginners diving?

Yes, Gili Trawangan is popular with diving beginners and experienced divers alike. The surrounding coral reefs offer accessible diving sites. Multiple diving schools operate on the island offering PADI certification courses and guided dives for all skill levels.

Gili Trawangan: Island Off Lombok

Gili Trawangan is one of three islands in the Gili archipelago located off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. The three islands—Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air—are collectively known locally as Gili Indah, meaning "small beautiful islands." Gili Trawangan has a resident population of approximately 1,500 people. The island and its neighbors were administratively transferred to North Lombok Regency in 2010, forming part of the Pemenang District. The islands sit in the tropical waters between Lombok and Bali, accessible via short ferry crossings. The Gili Islands are positioned in the Asia/Makassar timezone. Tourism on Gili Trawangan centers on beach recreation, snorkeling, and diving due to nearby coral reef systems. The island sees seasonal visitation patterns tied to Indonesia's dry and wet seasons.

Updated 2026-05-04 · Source: GeoNames, Wikipedia

Image: Wikimedia Commons contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikipedia

Population: 1,500
Climate: Tropical
Best months: May–Oct

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Timezone

Asia/Makassar

Gili Trawangan: Island Off Lombok: -8.349, 116.037Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

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Quick facts

Gili Trawangan is one of three islands in the Gili archipelago off Lombok's northwest coast.
The three Gili islands are locally known as Gili Indah, meaning 'small beautiful islands' in Indonesian.
Gili Trawangan has a resident population of approximately 1,500 people.
The Gili Islands transferred to North Lombok Regency administration in 2010 from Lombok Barat Regency.
The islands sit in the Asia/Makassar timezone, which is UTC+8.
Gili Trawangan's coordinates are approximately -8.3490°S, 116.0370°E in the Indian Ocean.
The island's tropical climate has a distinct dry season from May through October.
Ferry crossings from Lombok to Gili Trawangan typically take 10–30 minutes depending on conditions.
Lombok International Airport (LOP), the nearest major airport, is approximately 45–50 km from the Gili Islands.
Coral reef ecosystems surrounding Gili Trawangan support diverse marine species including tropical fish and sea turtles.
The Gili Islands form an administrative village within the Pemenang District.
Water temperature around Gili Trawangan remains warm year-round, typically between 26–29°C.
The wet season (November–April) brings higher rainfall and occasional rough sea conditions.

Geography & Climate

Gili Trawangan is one of three islands comprising the Gili archipelago off Lombok's northwest coast. The island sits at coordinates -8.3490°S, 116.0370°E. The Gili Islands occupy a tropical maritime setting within the Asia/Makassar timezone. As part of the Indonesian archipelago near the equator, the islands experience a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season (May–October) offers clearer waters and more stable weather for water-based activities. The wet season (November–April) brings higher rainfall and occasional rough seas. The coral reef systems surrounding the islands support marine biodiversity attractive to divers and snorkelers.

Latitude: -8.3490
Longitude: 116.0370
Timezone: Asia/Makassar

Island Population & Settlement

Gili Trawangan hosts a resident population of approximately 1,500 people. The island forms part of the Pemenang District within North Lombok Regency, an administrative change implemented in 2010 when the Gili Islands transferred from Lombok Barat Regency. The three Gili islands together are designated as an administrative village (desa). Local communities maintain traditional livelihoods alongside tourism-related employment. The island's small scale and limited resident population contrast with seasonal tourism fluctuations.

Resident Population: ~1,500
Administrative District: Pemenang, North Lombok Regency
Regional Transfer Year: 2010

Best Time to Visit

Gili Trawangan's best visitation window aligns with Indonesia's dry season, typically May through October. During these months, weather conditions are most stable, rainfall is minimal, and sea conditions are calmer—ideal for beach activities, snorkeling, and diving. November through April represents the wet season, characterized by higher rainfall and occasional rough ocean conditions. However, the wet season brings fewer tourists and lower accommodation prices. Water temperature remains warm year-round, typically between 26–29°C. Divers and water-sports enthusiasts should plan trips during the dry season for optimal reef visibility and conditions.

Best Visit Months: May–October (dry season)
Peak Rainfall: November–April
Water Temperature Range: 26–29°C year-round

Activities & Marine Life

Gili Trawangan's primary attractions center on water-based recreation. Snorkeling and diving are major activities, with accessible coral reefs surrounding the island. The reef systems host diverse marine species including tropical fish, sea turtles, and coral formations. Day trips to neighboring Gili Meno and Gili Air are common. Beach recreation, swimming, and water sports occur throughout the year. The island's small size makes it accessible for exploration on foot or by rented bicycles and scooters. Evening entertainment and dining concentrate in the main beach settlement areas.

Primary Activities: Diving, snorkeling, beach recreation
Key Marine Ecosystems: Coral reefs, tropical fish species

Getting There

Gili Trawangan is accessible primarily via ferry from Lombok. The nearest major airport is Lombok International Airport (LOP), approximately 45–50 km south. Ground transport from the airport typically involves shuttle, taxi, or rental vehicle to the ferry port. Ferry crossings from Lombok to Gili Trawangan typically take 10–30 minutes depending on departure point and sea conditions. Multiple daily ferry departures operate between Lombok and the Gili Islands. Alternative routes exist via Bali, with ferry connections from Bali through Lombok to the Gili Islands. Direct speedboat charters are available for private or group travel.

Nearest Major Airport: Lombok International (LOP), ~45–50 km
Ferry Duration: 10–30 minutes from Lombok

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Gili Trawangan?: The best time to visit is May through October during the dry season, when weather is stable and sea conditions are calm. This period is ideal for diving, snorkeling, and beach activities. November through April is the wet season with higher rainfall, but offers fewer tourists and lower prices.
How do I get to Gili Trawangan?: Gili Trawangan is accessible via ferry from Lombok. The nearest major airport is Lombok International Airport (LOP), approximately 45–50 km away. From the airport, take a shuttle or taxi to the ferry port. Ferry crossings from Lombok typically take 10–30 minutes depending on conditions and departure point.
What activities are available on Gili Trawangan?: The main activities are snorkeling and diving in coral reef systems surrounding the island. Beach swimming, water sports, and recreation are available year-round. Visitors can also explore neighboring Gili Meno and Gili Air via day trips, or walk and cycle around the small island.
What is the population of Gili Trawangan?: Gili Trawangan has a resident population of approximately 1,500 people. The island is part of the Pemenang District in North Lombok Regency. Tourism brings seasonal visitation that significantly exceeds the permanent population.
Is Gili Trawangan suitable for beginners diving?: Yes, Gili Trawangan is popular with diving beginners and experienced divers alike. The surrounding coral reefs offer accessible diving sites. Multiple diving schools operate on the island offering PADI certification courses and guided dives for all skill levels.

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Sources & methodology

Geographic data from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Narrative sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and structured by Claude. Map by © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). See the methodology and sources registry for full attribution and update cadence.

This page last refreshed 2026-05-04.

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