Gili Trawangan Sunset Snorkeling Boat Tour Lombok

Gili Trawangan, the starting point

Gili Trawangan is the largest and liveliest of the three Gili Islands, with a busy waterfront of cafes and dive shops and quiet lanes further inland. There are no cars or motorbikes, only bicycles and horse carts, so the meeting point is easy to reach on foot from most places on the island. The tour departs at 4:00 PM from a meeting point on Gili Trawangan, and the exact location is shown after you book.

Hotel pickup is not needed, because the island is small. Arrive about 15 minutes early to collect your snorkelling gear and meet your guide. Anyone asking what to do in Gili Trawangan in the late afternoon will find this trip a good way to combine snorkelling and sunset in one outing.

Snorkelling over turtles and coral

The waters around the Gili Islands are clear and warm all year, and the reefs close to Gili Trawangan have coral gardens, tropical fish and, quite often, sea turtles. The guide takes the boat to snorkelling spots where the conditions are best on the day and stays with the group in the water.

Turtle sightings are common but never guaranteed, because turtles are wild animals. Please do not touch, chase or feed them, and keep a respectful distance. A life jacket is included, so weaker swimmers can join, and you should tell the guide if you are nervous in the water. Late afternoon light shows the colours of the reef well.

The glass-bottom boat

The tour uses a glass-bottom boat, which has a window in the hull so you can watch coral, fish and sometimes turtles without getting wet. It is a good option for children, for anyone who prefers to snorkel less, and for the moments between spots when the boat moves slowly over the reef.

The boat is also the best place to watch the sunset, because you are away from the crowds on the beach and there is nothing between you and the horizon. Bring a light layer, since the breeze on the water can feel cool after the sun goes down.

Sunset over the Lombok Strait

Sunset near the equator is around 6:00 PM all year, and from the west side of Gili Trawangan the sun sets over the strait between Lombok and Bali. On clear evenings the outline of Bali's volcano Mount Agung appears on the horizon, and the sky turns orange and pink. This is what most travellers mean when they search for a Gili Trawangan sunset boat tour.

Clouds can hide the sun, so the sunset is never guaranteed, but the trip is enjoyable in any case. The tour returns to the island after about two and a half hours in total, and you can take photographs from the boat. A GoPro is shared among the group, and the files are sent after the trip.