THE JOY (AND OCCASIONAL CHAOS) OF RIDING A BICYCLE AROUND GILI TRAWANGAN
AUTHOR: D.B. DATE: December 2025
Let’s get this straight: riding a bicycle on Gili Trawangan is a must. It’s fun, it’s healthy… and, if you’re not careful, it’s also the easiest way to lose a bicycle you don’t technically own. Seriously. If I had a rupiah for every time someone said “Wait… where did I park my bike?”, I could probably buy every turquoise beach on the island.
So let me guide you through the art of cycling around Gili T — honest, and filled with the little details that only someone who has actually spent many years there would know.
Rule #1: Always Remember Where You Park
All Gili T bicycles look like cousins. Same frame, same bell. Some even have identical baskets, so your “unique green bike with rusty handlebar” is actually… everyone’s bike. Take a photo of the spot. Pray (add a bike lock if you have it). Trust me, future you will be grateful.
Rule #2 Think of Gili T Like New York — But With More Sand and Fewer Taxis
Yes, really. The island has its own system of “streets” and “alleys,” and just like NYC, the main street is chaos.
So here’s your insider tip: Avoid First Street. Always. It’s the Times Square of Gili T — busy, loud, full of people stopping for no reason.
Instead: Use the back streets. They’re quieter, shaded, and give you the real island vibe. Plus, getting lost is half the fun.
And by “lost,” I mean cycling straight into a palm plantation where a random goat looks at you like you’re disturbing its day. The secret is you cannot get really truly lost as always you will end up on the beach.
Route #1: From the Center → Jalan Kelapa → The West (Sunset) Side
Start from the island center and make your way toward Jalan Kelapa.
You’ll pass:
- The local dump (affectionately known as the “Mountain of Shame”)
- A surprisingly beautiful savanna right after it green hill of Trawangan will be on your left)
- An empty cement road that feels like a runway
This stretch is one of my favorites — warm wind, palm trees, and the sweet feeling that no tourist crowd can find you here. Keep going and you’ll pop out right in the middle of the west/sunset area.
Perfect for:
- sunset drinks
- drone shots
- pretending you’re in a tropical music video
Route #2: The public Harbour Backstreet → Secret Forest → Stud → Sunset Side
Start at the public harbor, then slip into the small street heading inward. Continue straight until the T-Junction, then turn left.
How to know you’re on the right path? The green hill should be on your right. This road is bumpier.
Expect:
- goats and cows chilling like retired uncles
- the occasional chicken that believes it owns the road
- kids playing
Once the houses fade away, you enter the secret forest — a quiet, leafy path behind Pondok Santi that feels like a hidden movie set. Follow it, and soon you’ll reach Stud ( best horse riding center & rescue center in Trawangan) and the beginning of the west side again.
And if the island gods love you that day… You might even spot the wild deer family that lives on the hill. Tiny moment. Big magic.
Why Bicycle Rides on Gili T Are the Best Kind of Adventure
Because it’s simple. Pure. A little sweaty.
You’ll feel like a kid again — but a kid who has a coconut latte and knows how to avoid potholes.
You’ll see:
- quiet local corners
- palm jungles
- Indonesian lifestyle
- the island’s hidden backroads
- and maybe even animals who treat Gili T like their private kingdom
And every single ride gives you a new story. And if you want funny stories, go cycle in one of 40 rainy days that catches Gili Trawangan.
