Life on the Beach: Gili Trawangan
Most of our days on Gili Trawangan revolved around the beach.
There’s one main road that goes all the way around the island, and along the way you’ll find plenty of little beach clubs, restaurants and places to stop for a swim, a drink or a few hours doing absolutely nothing.
And I really liked its simplicity.
Most of the beach clubs we stopped at didn’t charge you to use the sun lounges or chairs - you just bought some food or drinks. So we could pick somewhere we liked, settle in for a while, have a swim, read, people-watch and then jump back on our bikes and keep going.
It was a pretty good way to spend a day (or few).
The beaches aren't perfect
Now, I’m going to be honest.
The beaches on Gili T aren’t what I would call fabulous.
They’re quite narrow and, unfortunately, like much of Bali, there’s rubbish that washes up along the shoreline. It’s hard not to notice, especially when you have that incredibly clear, beautiful water right in front of you.
But the water really is gorgeous.
Crystal-clear, warm, and very inviting.
So while the beaches themselves aren't perfect, there are plenty of spots where you can sit right by the water, swim, snorkel or just spend a few hours doing very little.
And sometimes doing very little is exactly what you’re after on an island holiday.
Beach clubs and slow afternoons
The beach clubs are really what make the waterfront work.
There are little restaurants, bars and sun lounges all along the main road, so you can simply stop wherever takes your fancy.
Some are lively, some are quiet, some have music playing and others are just somewhere to sit under a big sun umbrella and watch the world go by.
We’d often find somewhere we liked and just settle in.
Swim.
Eat.
Drink.
Lie in the sun.
Repeat.
Honestly, I could get used to that.
Sunset on Gili T
And then there are the sunsets.
As the afternoon starts to disappear, people gradually make their way to the western side of the island and settle into the beach clubs and restaurants.
Everyone seems to be there for the same reason - a drink in hand, something to eat and a good spot to watch the sun go down.
The sunsets can be spectacular, with the volcano of Bali sometimes visible across the water.
But even when you don't get a huge colourful sunset, there’s something lovely about sitting on the beach as the light fades and watching everyone around you do exactly the same thing.
Gili T beach life
I think this is probably what I enjoyed most about Gili T.
It’s not a perfect tropical paradise.
The beaches are narrow, there’s rubbish washing up, and it can definitely be a little rough around the edges.
But the water is beautiful, there are plenty of places to stop and relax, and the whole island makes it very easy to spend your days doing whatever you feel like.
And really, isn’t that what an island holiday is supposed to be about?
A bike ride.
A swim.
A cold drink.
A sun lounge.
And watching the sun go down.
