Gili Trawangan photo by louwrensenmarianne

My tourism course to Gili Trawangan Lombok – Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) was starting from Bali by bus. The bus will stop at Mandalika bus station at Mataram, the capital of NTB Province. From Mandalika, I ride smaller bus to Pelabuah (Port) Bangsal at Pemenang Village that cost IDR 15,000 per person. Bangsal Port is the gate to Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air.

For information, just in case you make a tourism course to Gili Trawangan, there are buses from Selaparang Airport to Bangsal Port that cost only IDR 10,000. The course is about 40 minutes. Hotels in Mataram also provide car for rent that cost between IDR 400,000 to 600,000 per day. Or, using boats from Nusa Lembongan, Bali, which cost IDR 450,000 – 550,000 which take two hours.

We can choose the coastal route or forest route. If you chose the forest route, you’ll see the green of Pusuk forest, the habitat of gray monkeys that we can see them on the roadside waiting for the riders and passengers to throw food (bread, bananas, etc.) for them. Tourists may stop here to feed the monkeys, and taste the sweet tuak (coconut wine) and durian. During the durian fruit season, a durian is priced between IDR 15,000 – IDR 30,000 depends on it size. But you have to remember that this fruit may increase your blood preasure and glucose in blood. While a bottle of sweet tuak sold between IDR 2,500 to IDR 5,000.

If you choose the coastal route, you will see dunes of Senggigi, and beautiful panorama of blue sea under the blue sky. In good weather, we’ll see Mount Agung in Bali far away across the sea. We’ll feel tranquility when passing this route. Bt, we are free to stop anywhere in a beach that is full of coconut trees, step on the white sand of the beach, or in some places we may see the process of making briquttes of brown sugar, which is usually consumed by athletes. One box of brown sugar sold at IDR 25,000.

At the Bangsal Port

There were boats that will take me to Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air. I’d prefer to visit Gili Trawangan at this moment. Ticket was relatively cheap, IDR 10,000 per person to Trawangan, IDR 9000 to Meno, and IDR 8,000 to Gili Air. A maximum passangers for a boat is 25 person. According to the ticketing person, to sail from Bangsal to Trawangan take about 45 minutes, to Meno 30 minutes, and to Gili Air 20 minutes.

Just a tourism information, if you are reluctant to overcrowding, you may charter a boat there, certainly it has more expensive rates. Rate to Gili Trawangan is about IDR 185.000, IDR 165.000 to Gili Meno, and to Gili Air is about IDR 150,000. An alternative when you do not intent to spend the night at the Gilis, you may charter the boat for IDR 450,000 to stop at three Gilis for a while.

In Trawangan

In Trawangan I tried to find a lodge or hotel to stay. Here, I found out various hotel classes. For those with big pockets, there are available many star hotels rated for IDR 1.5 million overnight, middle class hotel for IDR 500,000 to Rp 600,000 per night. For backpackers may find cheapest which is standard jasmine class rated for IDR 100,000 to Rp 150,000 a night, plus free service for snacks and coffee and a glass of sweet tea in the morning. I stayed at the backpacker’s hotel as I intent to explore the tourism places in Trawangan and the hotel is only for sleeping at the late night.

In the morning after finishing my breakfast, it just great to do snorkeling. People in Trawangan provides everything (you just provide the money, of course), snorkeling equipment can be rented for IDR 50,000 a day. For diving, you simply provide USD 600,000 to pay the equipment and the instructor.

Satisfied to see under water scene, the next program is walking around this small island. It was great for biking. To rent a bike it costs IDR 50,000 per hour and Rp 75,000 per day. Except biking, we can ride traditional cart namely Cidomo (buggy vehicle with a car tire). This is polutant free vehicle, as any car or motorcycle is not allowed in Trawangan.

When hungry, there are restaurants that provide variety of seafood which cost only for thousands rupiah. However, there are food stalls that provide cheap mixed rice with side dishes, just spend Rp 10,000-Rp 15,000.

Well, it was great to visit Gili trawangan. When you want to travel to a beautiful place with innexpensive accomodation, Gili Trawangan may included in your agenda.