The beaches of the Gilis are still powdery white, the water a beautiful clear blue and they are positioned perfectly for sunsets over Bali’s Mt Agung and sunrise over Lombok’s Mt Rinjani. Thirty years ago the Giliislands were uninhabited and only discovered by the seafaring Bugis people from Sulawesi. It was only a matter of time before the more adventurous backpacker types discovered the islands and developed Trawangan into a hippy party paradise destination.

Gili Trawangan now identifies itself as a great holiday destination suitable for families of all ages. Various new hotels, luxury villas, and boutique bungalows now cater to children and offer good value. Some have baby-sitting services, and with lots of activities on the islands families are sure to enjoy their beach holidaysto the full.

Unique to the Gilis all forms of motorized transport are still not allowed – meaning the only way to get around is on foot, by bicycle and in pony carts known as Cidomos.

One sign of change is the recent introduction four ATM machines on the three Gili Trawangan to be found at Hotel Vila Ombak and Coral Beach.

It’s possible to follow the beach around the perimeter of the island in around two hours on foot. The most popular stretches of beaches are `Goodheart’ (the main stretch) and `North Beach’ where the best snorkeling is to be found.

All dive centers and many shack operations lining the beaches rent snorkeling equipment for around IDR 50,000 for half a day.

Hawkers are not so much of an issue on Gili Trawangan as in Bali; you’re likely to attract afriendly conversation from the locals rather than a hardcore sales pitch.

Beware of strong currents and do not attempt to swim between any of the islands.

With over twenty-five dive sites surrounding all three islands there are opportunities to dive any of the Gilis regardless of where you base yourself.

Most visitors stay on Gili Trawangan for the facilities and make the short hop out to the dive sites. Each dive school has its own fleet of traditional outrigger boats that ferry divers offshore to the walls and reefs where the best diving is to be found.

Aside from the obvious lure of snorkeling and diving, sunbathing and bar-hopping, Gili Trawangan has a fair amount of distractions to keep visitors both amused and entertained throughout the course of their stay.

Fishing trips and charters can be made with the local outrigger fishing boats who offer day trips with line fishing and trawling.

The Bio Rock is an environmental initiative set up by the Gili Eco Trust that over the last six years has hosted an annual Bio Rock workshop on Gili Trawangan. The artificial metal reef cages are fed a constant voltage of electricity to encourage coral regeneration and are a natural attraction for all forms of marine life. There are now thirty three individual projects in the Gilis and it’s possible to snorkel or dive around them and there’s even a PADIspecialty course tailored to educate and involve a wider community.

During early morning and evening walks in Senaru you are likely to see interesting birds, butterflies and at least one of the two species of monkey who live in the surrounding forest. Long-tailed macaques, known locally as kera, often sit on the road. More elusive is the rare Silvered Leaf monkey, and also known as the black monkey or lutung, which can often be glimpsed in the forest around the waterfalls.

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 wall

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.

Senaru Waterfalls

Senaru’s best known attraction is the Sindang Gila waterfall which attracts many thousands of Indonesian and foreign visitors annually. Located at about 600m above sea level, the waterfall is an easy 20 minute walk down a graded trail and steps from Senaru village. A pleasant alternative return route winds along the edge of the steep valley, following the irrigation canal.

For the more adventurous, Senaru’s “second waterfall” Tiu Kelep is another hour’s walk upriver from Sindang Gila. The scramble over rocks through the tropical forest is rewarded by the beauty of the waterfall and a swim in its deep pool. It is said locally that every time you swim behind the main waterfall of Tiu Kelep you become a year younger!

With access from the main road, Senaru’s “third waterfall” Betara Lenjang is strictly for rock climbers with a local guide and equipment.

Desa Sade adalah salah satu tempat wisata jika anda berkunjung ke Lombok. Desa Sade berisi rumah-rumah adat Lombok yang masih ada penghuninya. Jika anda berkunjung ke Desa Sade, akan ditemukan orang-orang menjual pernak-pernik atau oleh-oleh khas Lombok seperti kain, kalung, gelang, dan lain lain.

Selain itu, anda juga dapat berkunjung dan melihat ke dalam rumah adatnya. Anda juga akan mengetahui adat-adat kebudayaan Lombok dalam Desa Sade. Masih banyak orang yang mempertahankan budaya dan tetap menetap atau tinggal di rumah Sade.