The Gili Islands by Boat
There are now numerous direct boat services from Bali to the Gilis, all of which continue onto the main island of Lombok. Established daily services depart from Benoa and Serangan Island in South Bali and Padang Bai in East Bali. Benoa Harbour and Serangan are around 25 minutes by car, (dependent upon traffic) from the South Bali tourist hub. Padang Bai is further. If one was to depart by car fo the same point at the same time, the trip to Padang Bai would take around an additional 45 to 50 minutes in a vehicle on most days.

It’s more efficient to depart from Padang Bai if you are starting from central or east Bali, such as Ubud and Candidasa, or the east coast dive areas such Amed, and Tulamben or North Coast locations such as Lovina or Pemuteran.

No matter what port of departure you use, with the exception of those staying in Padang Bai, you will be required to use a vehcile transfer for one portion of your journey. The big consideration in choice of port of departure is time and distance at sea, coupled with weather.

The distance by sea from Benoa/Serangan to Gili Trawangan/Lombok, is just under twice that of the distance from Padang Bai to the same ports of arrival. Passengers departing from Benoa/Serangan will spend about twice the time at sea as passengers departing Padang Bai. This difference in time at sea logically increases exponentially when weather conditions deteriorate, as vessels are unable to maintain top speeds.

Gili Cat official operating logs demonstrate an average time at sea, all conditions, all years, (since initiating the first daily scheduled departure service in June 2007,) of 80 mins. While the trip from Padang Bai can be faster, (55 minutes,) it can also be slower. Benoa/Serangan operators marketing suggests two hours by sea. In reality, the time is more like 150 – 160 minutes on a “perfect” day. When selecting a port of departure it is worth keeping in mind that any deterioration of weather conditions will affect passenger comfort and the amount of time spent at sea, no matter what the port of departure. The greater the distance to be traveled at sea, the greater the effect of weather conditions on “real time” at sea. While one operator has reported commencement of construction of a significantly larger vessel, the vessels currently servicing all routes are smaller high speed craft.

Anyone traveling with children or infants, prone to sea sickness, historically uncomfortable on boats, or with any health conditions, would be well advised to select the shortest possible sea crossing. Similarly in anything but perfect weather conditions, the shortest sea crossing would be the wisest route in order to avoid weather related delays or discomfort.

A daily speedboat service called Amed Sea Fast Boat started to ply the Amed to Gili Trawangan route in 2010. There is also a daily fast boat service to Gili Trawangan from Nusa Lembongan, a small island off the south east coast of Bali.

There are currently significant differences in prices between operators on all the Gili Fast Boat routes. There are also significant differences in the standard of the vessels, operating standards, operating experience and crew certfication. Passengers would be well advised to look at more than just price. As competition has increased, so has misinformation about availability of seats or operating schedules. Passengers would be well advised to check the veracity of information direct with their chosen operator if told by a tour desk a vessel is “full” or “bankrupt – not operating” or has “spontaneously combusted.” Passengers are also advised to ensure their ticket states the specific vessel they have requested.

If you have more time than money, you can use a tour service (160,000 from Kuta/Ubud) to take you from your hotel on Bail, drop you off at the ferry, then pick you up in Lombok and switch cars a few times, then drop you off at the dock to the Gili’s and then on to a small boat. The whole trip takes about 12 hours and you will be subjected to unnecessary hard sells on booking return tickets (not necessary). The last stop you may be befriended by those talking up stories of mosquito born illness, then try to be sold repellent and coils at extortionate prices. These products are reasonably priced on the Gili’s.

Source: gilicat.com

We are working closely with SATGAS (local security on Gili Islands), KSDA (Sea and Forest protection in Lombok) and Mataram University (pak Arifin and his students in water supply and marine Biology) on different projects:

1. Biorock projects: study the recovery of the bleaching coral on natural conditions and on Biorock reefs.
2. We would like to set up juvenile grouper floating structure to put in Gili Air to give to the fishermen so we could work in the future on another fishermen agreement with less money and more fish!
3. we just bought a horse kart to clean gili trawangan of all the plastic and rubbish, we want to clean the island where the rubbish is not collected. We are also doing with some education programs about plastic, rubbish, burning plastic. Pak Acok from Sama-sama will be responsnible of the cleaning action. and there is so much work to do!
4. we are maintening the existing mooring buoys and also putting some more to stop anchoring which is damaging so much of our shallow reefs.
5. we are collecting more and more corals which are falling off because of the waves., currents, or divers fins. we are collecting corals atht would die without our help as they are not attached to anything. we call it “reef Gardening”.
6. The flyer for the eco-behavior is printed and i will get it to Gili next week!

OUR MAIN GOAL IS NOW THE RUBBISH:
We have come up with a new system of accounting to charge everybody to get their rubbish collected. We have tried to make the new system as fair as possible for everyone.  We think that we currently don’t have everyone’s name and location. We need you to take responsibility by registering your house or business at info@giliecotrust.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , so we can apply the new accounting system to everyone. We need to know the following, number of bungalows/rooms for rent, if it is a/c and the name of the business. Please include houses or villas that are rented out or occupied by your staff. The donation system is based on everyone contributing per room as this is equivalent to the amount of rubbish generated.

With this new system, there will be enough money to provide salaries to existing and new employees, to buy new horse carts, to buy new horses, to feed the horses and to make new projects.
One of the new projects is to build a pathway to reach the rubbish dump in any weather condition. It will be a 350m long, 3,5m wide concrete road which will be 60 cm above normal ground level. As we want to be as eco as possible, and not spending to much money in concrete and cement, we came up with a solution:
1. Every month the extra money, after feeding the horses and paying the salaries will be used to build a part of the road: bricks, cement, workers.

2. We have decided to collect plastic from all over the island, shred it, mix it with rubble and sand to raise this pathway before concreting the surface.

3. Every month, the island will get cleaner and the pathway will get longer to reach the rubbish dump location before the next rainy season.
So we need your contribution by accepting the increase on your rubbish collection fee, and by giving us your rubble, sand or rubbish that you are not using.

To have this new system working as soon as possible, please:
1. Register your house or business at info@giliecotrust.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or head of your zone RT, or help us to register every house or business on the island with a list of your neighbors and new businesses you know we haven’t got on the existing list.

2. Let us (FMPL, Pak Acok or Pak Malek) know if you have some rubble or sand that we can use to build the pathway. We will organize a pick up.
In the future the extra money FMPL will have every month will be used:
· To organize a clean up day
· To buy more bins
· To fix the horse carts and look after the horses
· To ban the plastic bags from the island
· To produce recycled Gili T bags
· To put in place a good compost system
· To repair the wall of the rubbish dump…..etc….

These issues are not only an FMPL problem; we are all concerned by the plastic and the rubbish on this little island. If we want to keep our customers happy, we need to be ready to take collective responsibility and help each other to succeed in having a clean Gili Trawangan.
Because the new payment system has not yet been established, the Gili Eco Trust and SATGAS will provide the initial monthly payment to enable this project to begin immediately.
Thank you for your help and cooperation.

If you have any questions, contact Pak Acok at Sama-Sama, Pak Malik at Blue Marlin Dive, FMPL at Creative bungalows, or Delphine at Big Bubble Dive.

Source: www.giliecotrust.com

Here is things to do and see in gili islans while you visit the islands:
Snorkeling and Diving
There are no sights as such on the islands themselves, but the excellent snorkeling and diving all around is a major draw. Sea turtles are also common, especially around Turtle Point just north of Gili Meno. You can rent masks and fins off the beach, or contact any of the numerous dive shops to arrange snorkeling or diving at choice spots nearby.

Gili Trawangan, most offshore, is with 3,5 sq.km. the biggest of the three Gili’s. Many of the residents are, like the other people of the Gili’s, descendants of Buginese migrants from South-Sulawesi. They have interchanged with the local Sasak-population and speak the Sasak language as well.

On the climax of the tourist season, the months July and August, many of the daily flood of tourists which leave from Bangsal find a place to sleap on the beach. All losmen are located along the eastern coast. The young, mainly European tourists which come to the Gili’s, spend their days on the beack, sunbathing. Snorkling and playing frisbee are the favorite sports. On many places you can rent goggles and other diving gear. The reefs off the eastern coast of Trawangan are reasonable, but beware of the strong currents futher off the beach, they can be dangerous. A walk around the island takes about four hours.

You can find good equipped diving centers on the Gili’s. Most centers also take care of the beginners, but also can provide you with the heavy things, like diving in the strong currents off the west coast of Trawangan, where divers can see huge shells (tridacna), as well as sharks, mantha’s, and blue tailed rays.

High Recommend Dive Clubs in Gili Islands
Buddha Dive & Resort
Dream Divers
Blue Marlin
Manta Dive
Big Bubles
Trawangan Dive
Villa Ombak Dive Academy

Biking
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.

The biking around the islands is one of the best things to do if you don’t like to swim, snorkeling or diving.

Nightlife
Trawangan has more of a “party” atmosphere, than Gili Meno and Gili Air, with all-night parties that rotate amongst a group of venues each night. The largest of the parties takes place on a monday night at Blue Marlin and a wednesday night at Tir Na Nog. While during the day, the popular activities for visitors are scuba diving (PADI certified), snorkeling (mainly along the northeastern coastline), kayaking and surfing. There are also stalls that offer horseback riding as a pastime activity. As small as the island, you can circle the island with a bicycle within only 45 minutes. Path along the way is very sandy which makes it more difficult to pedal your bicycle.

]]> http://bali-gilifastboats.com/things-to-do-and-see-in-gili-islands-lombok.html/feed 0 http://bali-gilifastboats.com/gili-cat-express-from-padang-bay-to-gili-trawangan-and-lombok.html http://bali-gilifastboats.com/gili-cat-express-from-padang-bay-to-gili-trawangan-and-lombok.html#comments Sun, 03 Oct 2010 05:35:10 +0000 admin http://bali-gilifastboats.com/?p=231

Noted:
This trip is not suitable for:
* Children under 02 years old
* Pregnant woman
* People with heart or back problems
* Other physical impediments.

The principals of Island Xpress have a combined experience of fifty years in the marine tourism industry. We appreciate that safety, reliability, comfort, service, and, above all, speed, are the crucial factors in the modern tourist expectation. Our aim is to be the leader in all of these categories.

The Vessel:
We seat 16 passengers comfortably and dry in our spacious cabin area. All of your luggage will be stowed away securely in the bow of the boat where we have a dedicated luggage area. Our porters carry your luggage, diving gear, surfboards, free of charge.

All you have to do is make yourself comfortable and enjoy the beautiful views of the cliffs, shores, and volcanoes of Bali and Lombok. To give you an idea, here are a few pictures of our fast boat to Lombok and the Gilis.

Gili Cat is a fiberglass catamaran built in Australia to international survey standard. Our 12.00 m vessel is powered by twin Suzuki 250hp four stroke engines and capable of cruising comfortably at 30 knots. We seat 16 passengers under cover. We get you there in the minimum time, and as dry as when you stepped on the boat. There is ample room to stow luggage and each passenger is allowed a two bags. We have the latest in safety features and equipment, and a SOLAS standard life preserver for every passenger.

Safety Features
Gilicat was built in Australia by Noosa Cat to the highest standards using the latest materials and technology.

It is compliant with and has been issued with a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC) and International Safety Management System, Ships Management Certificate (SMC) .

The Safety Equipment on board includes:
* Certified 25 man Life Raft
* 20 adult and 5 child’s Life Jackets, SOLAS approved and imported from Australia
* 2 Life Rings fitted with Emergency Lights
* Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) GME
* Radar, Furuno
* Global Positioning System and Plotter (GPS) Furuno
* Depth Sounder, Furuno
* VFH Radio, Icom
* 2 Dry Powder 4.5 kgs Fire Extinguishers

Characteristics and facilities on board: fuel capacity 1400 lt, range 450 miles, toilet, radar, GPS, depth sounder, ship-to-shore radio, life raft (capsule), life preservers (SOLAS), fire extinguisher,

Schedule
Departures morning schedule every day, and Twice Every Day in high season a schedule on demand service.

Morning Schedules
* Outbound – Bali to Gili
- Pick up from Hotel 06.30am to 7.00am
- Boarding time at 8.30am (Padang Bai harbour)
- Departure time at 9.00am
- Arives at Teluk Kode (Lombok) 10.00am
- Arrives at Trawangan Harbour at 10.30am

* Inbound – Gili to Bali
- Boarding from Trawangan Harbour at 11.00am
- Departure at 11.30am
- Departs from Teluk Kode (Lombok) 11.45am
- Arrives at Padang Bai Harbour at 13.30pm
- Drop back to Hotel

Afternoon Schedules
* Outbound – Bali to Gili
- Pick up from Hotel at 11.0am to 11.30am
- Boarding time at 13.30pm (Padang Bai harbour)
- Departure time at 14.00pm
- Arrival time Teluk Kode (Lombok) 15.15pm
- Arrives on Trawangan Harbour at 15.30pm

* Inbound – Gili to Bali
- Boarding from Trawangan Harbour at 15.30pm
- Departure at 16.00pm
- Departure Teluk Kode (Lombok) 16.15pm
- Arrival at Padang Bai Harbour at 17.30pm
- Drop back to Hotel

All prices include a pick up / drop off to Kuta, Seminyak or Sanur areas.

Please note; there will be a small additional cost for pick up / drop off outside these areas, please enquire for prices.
For children under 12 years discounted fares on application.
Babies and infants under 3 years are free.
Kitas and domestic rates please enquire for prices.

PRICE PER PERSON
ADULTS (12 yrs & up) IDR 660,000 per person / ONE WAY trip
ADULTS (12 yrs & up) IDR 1,200,000 per person / RETURN trip
CHILDREN (4 to 11 yrs) IDR 495,000 per person / ONE WAY trip
CHILDREN (4 to 11 yrs) IDR 900,000 per person / RETURN trip
INFANTS (0 to 3 yrs) IDR F.O.C. per person / ONE WAY trip
INFANTS (0 to 3 yrs) IDR F.O.C. per person / RETURN trip

Children under 02 year old is not recommended to travel on the fast boats.
Children 02-05 years old half price and above 05 and below 10 years old 65% from adult price and above 10 years old full payment.

Pick up in Bali (Sanur/Kuta/Denpasar/Jimbaran/Nusa Dua) Rp. 150.000/person/min 02 person

Pick up in Senggigi area Rp. 150.000/person/min 02 person

Gili Air is the smallest of the Gilis and it’s closest to the Lombok mainland, making it popular with honeymoon couples and travelers seeking a quiet retreat. It has a population of about 1,000 and administratively lies in the West Nusa Tenggara province. The island offers excellent snorkeling and scuba diving off its east coast, and turtles can be seen along the coral reef.

The island still maintains its rural charm, as tourism is relatively new. In the early eighties it was backpackers who first discovered the three little islands of Air, Meno and Trawanggan, (gili, means small island) and basically not much has changed on Gili Air since then except that the level of services and facilities has grown little by little over the years.
Coconut Cottages and The Frangipani Garden Restaurant are located in a Coconut grove on the east coast of Gili Air only 100m from the beach where you can enjoy some of the best snorkeling on the island. Coconut was opened in 1992 by Kamil and his Scottish wife Elaine and together with their family hope to make your stay on the island relaxing and enjoyable.

The island of Gili Air is, with approximately 1,800 inhabitants, the most densely populated island of the archipelago made up of three small atolls (Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan). The local inhabitants (the Sasak) are very kind and hospitable to tourists.
Muslim is the prevailing religion, and is observed assiduously by the inhabitants of the island. Their religious ideas are in no way disturbed by the comparison with other cultures, customs and different uses, above all from western cultures.

The island economy has only recently been transformed from the fish market to a prevalently tourist market. There are continually new small resorts and restaurants springing up, which last just one season, whilst others, with greater experience, manage to establish themselves, and provide modest and primitive services that are of great interest to the tourists arriving on the island, in search of primitive adventures.

A holiday on the island of Gili Air will long be impressed on the visitor’s mind, as a kind of ‘Terrestrial Paradise’ that still exists on earth

The Sasak are worth noting for their splendid rites and their beautiful dances.
On the island, the only means of transport are the cidomo, which are small horse-drawn carts that transport people from one part of the island to another.
Gili Air has rich tropical vegetation, with many coconut palm trees, and is one of the most beautiful and still unpolluted natural areas.

]]> http://bali-gilifastboats.com/gili-air-biggest-island-and-quite-beaches.html/feed 0 http://bali-gilifastboats.com/gili-meno-smallest-island-and-salt-water-lake.html http://bali-gilifastboats.com/gili-meno-smallest-island-and-salt-water-lake.html#comments Sun, 03 Oct 2010 05:23:04 +0000 admin http://bali-gilifastboats.com/?p=212

Gili Meno is the middle of Lombok’s three Gilis. It has a population of about 400, mainly concentrated on the center of the island. The main income of the population comes from tourism, coconut plantation and fishing. On the west side of the island there is a small shallow lake that produces salt in the dry season. Until a few years ago there was also a small production of seaweed on the reef at the north end of the island. It has swimming beaches all around the island, as well as an impressive bird sanctuary.

The island attracts fewer tourists than Gili Trawangan and is the quietest and smallest of the Gilis. However, honeymooners are often drawn to the crystal clear water and idyllic, secluded white beaches.

There is no fresh water on the island, it is imported daily. Electricity is supplied by generators, although there are plans for renewable energy sources to be developed. There are also no cars or motorbikes and only a limited number of tourist accommodation options.

The second island between G. Air and G. Trawangan. The most quiet island and probably the water is cleanest.
Electricity is available 24 hours but very unstable. The water system has not been installed to this island therefore most of cheap hotels use light salty water and only expensive hotels buy pure water from the main land but most

The boats from Lombok arrive at the East coast of the island. The accommodation is spread m ainly to S(left as you land) and some to North

Gili Meno is the middle of Lombok’s famous three Gilis. It has a population of about 400, mainly concentrated on the center of the island. The main income of the population comes from tourism, coconut plantation and fishing. On the west side of the island there is a small shallow lake that produces salt in the dry season.

With a population of just 300, Gili Meno is the mellowest of the three islands, and certainly the most in-tune with a desert island ethic. The beaches are much nicer than you will find on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air.

A coastal path leads all the way around the island, and can be covered at a very leisurely pace in 90 minutes. Most of the tourist facilities, including the boat arrival and departure point, are on the southern part of the east coast.

There is a lake on the western side of the middle of the island. This is sometimes quite full, and at others very dry. It is though always very saline.

HOW TO GET THERE:
From Lombok
Public boats depart from Bangsal between 8AM-5PM, take about 30 minutes, and cost Rp 10,000. They depart only when there are enough people (normally a minimum of 15). Dedicated boats to Gili Meno are few and far between, and best looked for early in the mornings and mid-afternoon. The boat office at Bangsal will though make sure you get dropped off by a Gili Trawangan-bound boat if necessary. A chartered boat from Bangsal to Gili Meno will cost about Rp 200,000.

Perama  has a tiny office (tel:+62 370 632824) on Gili Meno at Kontiki Cottage. They offer daily transfers to and from Senggigi, but these may not run direct outside the peak seasons, and you may be diverted to Gili Trawangan.

From Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno
Public inter-island boats run twice daily. The morning boat leaves Gili Air at about 8:30AM arriving in Meno at 8.45AM. The same boat goes onto Gili Trawangan picking up there at 9.30AM, and returning to Gili Meno at 9:45AM. The afternoon boat runs the same route leaving Gili Air at 3PM and Gili Trawangan at about 3:30PM. The fare from either of the other islands to Gili Meno should be about Rp 20,000, but is prone to impromptu fluctuations.

A charter boat from Gili Trawangan or Gili Meno will cost about Rp 200,000 – a relatively huge sum of money for a 10 minute ride.

WHAT TO SEE:
It is hard to imagine why anyone on Gili Meno would want to do anything other than walk. Do just that, slowly. Horse carts (cidomos) are available though, and are useful for getting you and your bags to and from the boat landing. A single trip should cost Rp 40,000-60,000.

*  Gili Meno Turtle Sanctuary
A splendid initiative whereby green sea turtle and loggerhead turtle eggs are collected, hatched, and the younglings safely released into the ocean. In 2008 and 2009, a total of 2,000 turtles were released. Go along, see the work and lend your support. Donation.  edit

* Taman Burung (Bird Park)
Sadly, this aviary is not as well kept as it was, and the formerly very popular komodo dragon died in 2007. Still worth a visit though, with a large range of birds present. Rp 50,000.

WHAT TO DO:
Diving:
Blue Marlin,
This is the only dive shop actually on Gili Meno. It is a full blown operation though, with the same range of PADI courses and fun dives as are offered on the other islands.

Snorkelling
There are several good spots for snorkelling, and gear can hired at almost any cafe or hotel for about Rp 30,000. The beach in front of Good Heart Cafe on the north western shore is as good as any, and you have a reasonable chance of seeing turtles in shallow water here. Also on the west coast, try the area close to the disused, derelict jetty (formerly the landing point for the equally derelict Bounty Resort). The former pontoon here was sunk and has become an important dive site with a healthy reef life. If you snorkel off the east coast, be careful of boat traffic.

Walking
A gentle stroll around the coast path of Gili Meno is not to be missed, and it is probably the nicest walk anywhere on the three islands. If you do this in the morning, there is no real preferred starting point. It is a nice idea to walk in the late afternoon, starting in the northwest at about 4:30PM, taking it easy to walk all the way around the island in either direction, returning to your start point at about 5:45PM. Then get yourself set for sunset behind Gili Trawangan (6:15PM-6:45PM), perhaps stationed at Good Heart Cafe with an ice cold Bintang.

WHAT TO BUY:
There is no ATM, nor is there much to buy on Gili Meno. If you run out of cash, Blue Marlin is probably the only option for a credit card cash advance, and they charge a 10% commission.

WHERE TO EAT:
Unsurprisingly, fish is the go here and many cafes set up a seafood barbecues every evening. Just choose what you want and wait while it is cooked over an open wood grill. The other widesperad option is wood-fired pizza which has become something of a Gili Meno speciality.

Most of the cafes are clustered in the southern half of the east coast and many are attached to hotels. After you have ordered, be patient as nothing happens very fast here. That is all part of the charm of the place.

* Aroma Cafe,  Well prepared wood-fired pizzas are the deal here.

* Good Heart, Serves good local dishes and is located directly on the beach overlooking the sea. This hotel and restaurant is a bit off the beaten track, on the northeast side of the island. You can take the track around the island or a shortcut across the middle to get there. If you are not staying here, this might be a better choice for lunch as walking through the island in the dark may not be comfortable for some travelers. Rp 20,000-70,000.

* Jali Cafe, Serves Sasak food and it is quite authentic. The chicken curry is excellent, as is the obligatory fish barbecue every evening The old Gili Island ethic is very much still alive here. Expect the locals to be strumming a few Bob Marley tunes.

* Rust Warung,  Probably the best known eatery on the island, and the one that attracts some sort of crowd, even when there are few visitors around. Fresh fish everyday, and as elsewhere on Meno, there is no real need to even think about eating anything else. Rp 20,000-100,000.  edit

* Yaya Warung. Choose your fish and let Yon cook it on the open fire. Inexpensive, expect to pay around Rp 40,000 for a fresh fish with nasi goreng and vegetables. If the fish all gets too much, they have a pasta menu, and make a passable job of preparing it. Nasi goreng is Rp 10,000 and fresh juices around Rp 8,000. About 100m north of the boat landing. Slow service, but a chat with the owner and the view will distract you

WHERE TO DRINK:
Nightlife is very laid back here, and somedays you might not notice any at all. This is very much the anti-Trawangan.

* Diana Cafe, ? +62 818 0577622. Very good choice for a sunset beer or cocktail and somedays it goes on until quite late here. The beruga pavilions are comfortable and allow you to look right at the setting sun.

WHERE TO STAY:
In general terms, accommodation on Meno is more expensive than on Gili Air and Gili Trawangan, and the standards of service distinctly lower.

Budget
* Amber House
Popular circular bungalows on the north coast. Set back from beach in a very quiet spot. A good choice if you really want to be away from it all. From Rp 450,000.

* Tao Kombo
These budget bungalows away from the beach have been around a long time. They are a bit worn and distinctly rough and ready, but that does not seem out of place on Gili Meno. Probably the most popular backpacker option on the island. Backpacker huts from €14, bungalows from € 30.

* The Sunset Gecko.
A Japanese-owned small resort, with a couple of cabins and one beachside family house. Rooms are simple and clean, great atmosphere and they do their best to be eco-friendly Rp 250,000-450,000

Mid-range
* Biru Meno
Nice quality bungalows on the south coast, with verandahs and decent bathrooms. About a 10 minute stroll from the boat loading point. From US$ 50.

* Hotel Gazebo
The ten individual cottages here are a bit run down, but the location near the southeast beaches is very nice indeed. Choice of fan-colled or air-conditioned rooms. Has a communal pool right by the beach. US$60-95.

* Kontiki Cottage
You will enjoy staying here due to the location, right by one of the best bits of beach anywhere on the 3 islands. You will also wish they had thought about the design a bit more, and tried a lot harder. The cheaper rooms are fan-cooled and there is quite a premium if you want air-conditioning. Rp 475,000-700,000.

* Malia’s Child
Very cute looking thatched roof bungalows on the east coast near the boat harbour. Right on a lovely stretch of white sand beach. From US$ 60.

* Royal Reef Cottages (formerly Janur Indah)
Thatched roof bungalows set in nice gardens very close to the boat landing. Each bungalow has its own little private terrace and ceiling fan, but no air-conditioning. A few steps from here and you are on the beach. From US$ 48.

Splurge
* Villa Nautilus
The swankiest accommodation on Gili Meno. Five detached villas which are fairly well appointed. Guests might wonder why they fitted those ugly tiled roofs when such good natural materials are available here. Still, a nice enough option. From US$ 95 – 150

Stay healthy
There is small, simple clinic with an attendant nurse in the middle of the island next to Taman Burung. While this is fine for dealing with a minor ailment or injury, any visitor with a more serious problem needs to get back to Lombok, or better Bali, as quickly as possible.

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 Senggigi 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.

There are now seven dive operators on the island which run a full range of PADI courses, starting from the Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) course or the Open Water, right up to Instructor courses at certain times during the year. The schools organise Fun Dives with local dive masters who have a wealth of knowledge about each site.

There seems to be a dive centre for everyone, whether you like the hustle and bustle of a big busy school like Blue Marlin or Manta Dive, or more relaxed smaller groups at laid back schools such as Vila Ombak Diving Academy and Trawangan Dive. There are also some schools which are more tailored to French speaking divers (Big Bubble) and German speaking divers (Dream Divers).

The diving is very easy and varies from walls, slopes and plateaus. The maximum depths at many of the sites range from 24m-18m, making it perfect for beginners and more experienced divers alike. Almost all the dive sites can be reached by boat in 10 minutes and all the dive shops are located on the beach front making access very easy.

Some of the fascinating marine life you may see include: black and white tip sharks, turtles, frog fish, leaf fish, ghost pipe fish, moray and ribbon eels, pygmy seahorse, eagle rays, octopus, cuttlefish, snakes and bumphead parrot fish.

SNORKELING
Snorkeling in the waters off Gili Trawangan is very easy and doesn’t require a boat. Simply walk into the clear blue waters from the beach and you’re away! The main snorkeling area is along the main beach area, but there are other less busy areas with great snorkeling to be found up and down the east and northeast sides of the island.

Along the main beach front there is usually an easy current which takes you along making snorkeling all the more easy as you drift with the current, get out at the end, and walk back up the beach and start again.

A host of amazing marine life can be found while snorkeling, ranging from parrot fish, moorish idols and puffer fish, to barracuda, trumpet fish and baby cuttlefish, and if you’re really lucky, turtles!

Masks, snorkels, fins and life jackets can be found for rent all along the beach front.

BOAT TRIPS
If, heaven forbid, you’re getting a little bored on Gili Trawangan, hiring a boat and snorkeling of it around all three of the islands (Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan) makes for a fun day out. You can also take in the Bird Park and Beatles museum on Gili Meno, and have lunch on Gili Air at Vila Karang, where the pizzas are delicious! (Phone in advance for pizzas at lunch time so the oven can be fired up: 0813 3990 4440)

If you don’t enjoy swimming or snorkeling, but still want to see what’s going on under the surface of the water, then you can always take a Glass Bottom Boat trip. From the comfort of the boat you get a glimpse of some of the fishes, and even the turtles, swimming underneath.

HORSE RIDING
BaliKana Hotel and Stud are the two ‘stables’ on the island. You can arrange to take a horse out for an hour or more and ride around the island and along the beach. A guide will either accompany you on another horse or on foot. Most of the horses are actually ponies, although there are one of two larger horses.

KAYAKING
Kayaks are available to hire at a couple of locations along the beach area. If you’re feeling very energetic and want to try to kayak over to Gili Meno, beware of the currents which can be very strong – and don’t forget you’ll have to come back over again!

SURFING
While it doesn’t draw huge crowds of surfers, when the winds are right there is some good surfing to be found. There’s a crowd of local surfers on the island who have all the useful local knowledge, and who knows, maybe they’ll come along and lend you their boards.

SPA/MASSAGE
If you want to indulge yourself there are at least two spas on Gili Trawangan who can pamper you with massages, facials, reflexology, hair treatment manicures and pedicures and even waxing. The higher end spa is located at Vila Ombak Hotel, while the other is nearer the beach area.

Individual masseuse also offer their services on the island and signs can be found dotted around the main strip informing of their details.

Source : http://www.gilitrawangan.org

PT. LOMBOK TROPIC HOLIDAYS INDONESIA
Jl. Barakuda No 09/10
BTN Griya Batu Bolong Senggigi
83355 Senggigi-Batu Layar West Lombok
NTB-INDONESIA
Phone : +62 (0)370 692179
Fax : +62 (0)370 692 179
Cell: +62 (0)818 057 20243

Contact by Email:
booking@bali-gilifastboats.com

SEMBALUN LAWANG
Sembalun Lawang is set in an ancient and fertile caldera to the east of Mt. Rinjani, the preferred access route for summiteers. The rich soil produces high quality market garden crops, including the famous garlic and rice, staple of local farmers. Seismic activity is monitored daily at the government Rinjani Volcanology Centre.
The beautiful valley of Sembalun is also known for its hill walks, recently restored traditional village, active cultural performers and local weavers.

Some home stay (losmen) accommodation is available and trek services are based at the Park’s Rinjani Information Centre. Also enquire about the local walks: the Sembalun Lawang Village Walk, to experience the scenic beauty of the village or/and the Sembalun Wildflowers Walk, a two day one night hike to see the wildflowers at Propok in Gunung Rinjani National Park.

Sembalun Area
Sembalun is divided into two villages, namely Sembalun Lawang village and Sembalun Bumbung village which are 2 km apart. The two villages are well known traditional villages have a lot of history about the Sasak people. The area looks like a dry lake, transformed into a fertile land.

Sembalun as a tourism object is already well known inside and outside the country, because from this village climbers begin the hike to the top of Mount Rinjani to enjoy the beautiful sights. At Sembalun Lawang village there is a Beleq village where one can see the artefacts of traditional houses of the local Sembalun people, the grave of Majapahit or Gajah Mada and the traditional Tandang Mendet dance of the local people.
There is a big statue in Lawang of two big ‘onions’ indicating that this area was once one of the biggest producers of onion (bawang bombai) / garlic (bawang putih) / shallot (bawang merah) in Indonesia.

In Lawang is the Rinjani Information Centre. Nearby is the Rinjani Volcanology Centre. To the west, there is a major greenhouse project using soil and hydroponics techniques there, producing vegetables for local and export markets.

Sapit
Just off the way to Sembalun, Sapit is a combination of beautiful sights, agriculture, and mountains. The traditional society in this village ploughs agricultural land and garden with their traditional ways. There is accommodation there with brilliant views across the rice fields to the coast and Sumbawa Island. You can take walks to various interesting places.

PT. LOMBOK TROPIC HOLIDAYS INDONESIA
Jl. Barakuda No 09/10
BTN Griya Batu Bolong Senggigi
83355 Senggigi-Batu Layar West Lombok
NTB-INDONESIA
Phone : +62 (0)370 692179
Fax : +62 (0)370 692 179
Cell: +62 (0)818 057 20243

Contact by Email:
booking@bali-gilifastboats.com

Links:
www.rinjanimountain.com
www.rinjanionline.com
www.rinjaninationalpark.com

The village of Senaru, an easy 2.5 hours drive from Mataram or Senggigi, is the main access to the National Park. As a non-trekking destination it is also popular – a cool, flower-filled mountain village stretching along a hillside spur above Bayan. Senaru has a range of accommodation in simple home stays (losmen), and a number of cafes serving delicious local specialties. The Rinjani Trek Centre at the trailhead offers displays, ecotourism activities, and visitor information. Village guides, including several local women, escort visits to the adjacent traditional village, three waterfalls, and a number of Village Walks. Circuits include the one hour Rice Terraces and Waterfall Walk, or discover the highlights of Senaru in a lovely half-day Senaru Panorama Walk.

The cool, flower-filled mountain village of Senaru on the slopes of Mt. Rinjani stretches up a hillside spur along a winding road above Bayan. It is a scenic 2.5 hours drive from Mataram or Senggigi to Senaru. The Desa includes the hamlets of Senaru, Batu Koq and Tumpang Sari, and all offer accommodation in simple but pretty homestays (losmen) with lovely views.

The Rinjani Trek Centre is located at the top of the village at the trailhead. It offers information for visitors on the Rinjani Trek, the National Park, Sasak culture and the range of ecotourism activities available for visitors to Senaru. National Park and village entry fees are paid here, and all porters for trekkers have to be hired from the Senaru Porters Group which is also based in the Rinjani Trek Centre. Village guides, including several local women, have been specially trained to escort visitors around the sights. Arrange a guided excursion through the Rinjani Trek Centre or your losmen.

Senaru Traditional Village
A visit to the Senaru Traditional Village, situated next to the Rinjani Trek Centre where the Rinjani trail begins, is greatly enhanced by asking a local guide to show you around. The Sasak inhabitants are the cultural guardians of Mount Rinjani and its surrounding forest and safeguard its spiritual values. Locally guided visits include opportunities to experience the villagers’ daily life, visit their thatched houses, prepare meals using local produce, and understand their traditional way of life.

Morning waterway walk and sunrise
Leave your losmen early for a one and a half hour escorted walk through the fields, past traditional villages and along the irrigation channel that winds through village fields past crops and houses. Enjoy visiting local homes, seeing early morning activities and learning about farming methods. Witness the sun rising from the sea beneath the spectacular sweeping views of north Lombok from the summit of Mt. Rinjani to the coast.

Evening walk and sunset
Below the Senaru Traditional Village, a one and half hour escorted walk along village trails brings you to the “secret waterfall” or “traditional swimming pool”, the Tumpasan Senaru. Enjoy a refreshing swim or late afternoon laze. On the return trip, visit some local hamlets as the people return from their fields, and enjoy the sunset over Mt. Agung in distant Bali from a vantage point in a local orchard.

Senaru panorama walk
Discover all the highlights of Senaru on an easy half-day walk through the scenic landscape of palm-fringed rice terraces, waterways, traditional village and rainforest waterfalls. Follow the irrigation channel that winds through the village fields – the lifeline of the district. Local women will guide you, happy to share their special knowledge of culture, customs and nature. This tour departs every morning from the Rinjani Trek Centre.