If you’re looking to party hard on a stunningly beautiful Indonesian island, you’ll certainly want to check out the 3 best hostels in Gili Trawangan.
Gili T, for short, is the largest of the three tiny Gili Islands in North-West Lombok, Indonesia, near Bali, well known for its white sandy beaches, diving and of course… PARTY!
Having said that, just because you’re visiting this island doesn’t mean you have to join in the party. We’ve included 3 hostels that each offer something different.
Your shortcut:
- Gili Mansion Hostel – 5 Star Hostel & party vibes
- Compass Divers Hostel – for diving enthusiasts
- Gili la Boheme Sister – blend of social & chill for backpackers
Any questions about hostels in Gili Trawangan?
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As you can see, you don’t necessarily only head to Gili T when you want to party. This gorgeous island is well worth the visit.
What about great hostels on the other Gili Islands? You can read our full Best Hostels in Gili Islands guide or keep scrolling to our introduction section to find out more.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…
- are tired of crappy hostels!
- want a social Hostel to actually meet people
- are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
Read: 29 Best Hostels in Bali, Indonesia
If you want to party (even if it is just a bit) definitely go to Gili T. It is the biggest island, so you can find a calm place to sleep if you stay on the other side of the harbour.
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- cheapest hostels in Gili Trawangan
- best hostels in Gili Trawangan for solo travellers
- fun party hostels in Gili Trawangan
- exploring all Gili Islands (transport etc)
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- all hostel and sights on a map
- Flights
- FAQs
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Gili Trawangan
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Gili Trawangan cost 4€ – 11€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 10€ up to 40€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Hostel Type: Make sure you pick the right hostel type! If you want party, then pick a PARTY Hostel and vice versa. The right type of hostel will make the difference!
Location: The East area around the small port is the big party-fiesta-wodka-drink-fun-nightlife area. I highlighted it for you in the map along with all my favorite bars, sunset bars, restaurants and dive center.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Transport: There are no motorised vehicles on Gili Trawangan. Therefore, bikes, walking and horse carts are the main modes of getting around. Pretty cool, huh? Seeing as the island is small enough, we suggest giving the horses a break and explore on foot or by bicycle instead. Our personal is here: The bicycle! By walking, it takes you around a relaxing 1:30h to circle the island. By bike it takes you 30 min approx.
Gili Islands explained: There are 3 Gili Islands all offering a different vibe:
- Gili Trawangan – the party island (+ the biggest)
- Gili Meno – for honeymooners and couples; much more quiet, but also with live-music and lots of fun!
- Gili Air – the in-between. Perfect for backpackers who want to socialise but not party.
Ramadan on Gili Islands – Party Break: Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. And since the Gili Islands are in the Islamic regency of Lombok, this is a holiday period here. What does that mean for you? For instance, you are asked to cover up away from the beach and that there is limited parties. If you want to come here for the party, better skip this time. We visited Gili T especially for Ramadan since we wanted to have it more quiet, yet experience it.
Nerd knowledge: Gili simply means “small island” in Sasak. In case you want to annoy someone with this boring, smart-ass fact…
🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
- 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
- How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide
The 3 Best Hostels in Gili Trawangan
Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Gili Trawangan.
We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 For Sociable Solo Traveler: | Gili Mansion |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Gili la Boheme Sister |
| 🥳 Party Hostel: | Gili Mansion |
| 👩❤️👨Couple Hostel: | Compass Divers Hostel |
| 👫 For Socializing: | Gili la Boheme Sister |
| 🤿 Diving enthusiasts: | Compass Divers Hostel |
| 🎒 For Backpackers: | Gili la Boheme Sister |
1. Gili Mansion
Your home is your castle, and your castle is your 5 Star Hostel. Welcome to Gili Mansion, a mansion themed party hostel!
Are you looking for a place that has an…
“…awesome party vibe, a big swimming pool to cool down in and is surrounded by a great social area and bar that brings all travellers together?”
The team at Gili Mansion has you covered, in that case.
As we’ve already mentioned, this is a party hostel offering endless fun activities and consistent bubbly vibes.
It’s super easy to get into the party mood when staying here. Especially when the onsite bar opens at 08:30am each morning!
Join in the fun and take part in:
- Famous thirsty Thursday pool party (DJ, free drinks, BBQ)
- Beats & BBQ party @ sister hostel Gili Castle
- Bar crawls
Note: Enjoy all facilities & parties at sister hostel Gili Castle, just a 2 minute walk away.
Not only is there a pool, but to add to the unique design of this hostel, there is also a 5 meter jumping platform! Are you feeling brave enough?
Want to go scuba diving? They’ve teamed up with Gili Divers so you can enjoy a discount if you stay at Gili Mansion and book a dive through them.
To top it off, the rooms are impressively designed, comfortable & modern. There’s a good range of basic dorms for budget travellers, to deluxe private rooms with an ensuite. The female dorms offers single beds instead of bunks, too.
Read our full review of Gili Mansion here.
Location: Right in the centre of everything! It’s an easy 2 minute walk to the beach, and one street away from the best bars and restaurants on the island. You can walk to the small port there too, it only takes like 3 minutes.
This is one of the best hostels in Gili Trawangan for
- Party animals
- Solo travellers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Full Review | Hostelworld
2. Compass Divers Hostel
As the name suggests, Compass Divers Hostel is your answer to less party and more great scuba diving opportunities.
These guys offer scuba diving courses, try dives and fun dives both at the hostel and in the sea. In fact, here we took our very first diving lesson!
This is super handy because diving can be quite tiring, especially when you’re new to it. After your dive, all you need to do is get dry and relax on the rooftop or collapse on a beanbag. Easy!
Obviously the big swimming pool is used for dive practise, but it’s also open for general relaxation at all other times.
Choose between a 3-bed dorm or private double.
Each dorm provides double lockers (including a key), with a shelf and charging point inside to keep your things extra safe. Each beds comes with a curtain and reading light for added comfort and privacy.
Other little but important perks include:
- Free breakfast
- Free tea, coffee & water all day
- Free towels
- Free WiFi
When staff members make the effort to remember your name, you just know it’s going to be good.
Location: Close to the harbour and beach in a quiet area. Many good restaurants and coffee shops are within a short walking distance.
This is one of the best hostels in Gili Trawangan for
- Diving enthusiasts
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Gili la Boheme Sister Hostel
Looking for a fun backpackers Gili Trawangan?
Gili la Boheme Sister is a colourful and vibrant Gili T backpackers hostel that is a perfect blend of relaxing and partying, depending on how you feel.
“This is an amazing, fun and friendly hostel where you can live the bohemian dream.”
It’s design is actually constructed entirely from a reclaimed boat!
Kick start the experience with FREE banana pancakes in the morning + a coffee from the kitchen.
As the team has travelled extensively, they worked hard to pick out the best bits of their hostel experiences around the world and put them all into one place.
That’s why you’ll be treated to so many wonderful things. Let us show you:
- Free tea, coffee & water all day
- Access to swimming pool, cinema room & restaurant @ Gili La Boheme
- Treehouse common areas + bar
- Discounts (food, tours, diving)
- Daily epic activities
These activities include beer pong, beach bonfires and a famous La Boheme BBQ to name a few. With added access to brother hostel Gili Laboheme, it’s possible to meet hundreds of backpackers during your stay here.
A total of 60 people can stay here at one time, maintaining a homely feel amongst the vibrant vibes.
Up in the treehouse common area you can chill out in hammocks or on beanbags with your favourite drink. Nice.
Location: Situated just 200m from Turtle Conservation Gili Trawangan, and 500m from the harbour, beach and Art Market. You are in the middle of action, please check our map.
This is one of the best hostels in Gili Trawangan for
- Backpackers
Compare prices and check availability at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
What about cheapest hostels in Gili Trawangan?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. Forget hotels! We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.
Why?
The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.
However, if you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Gili Trawangan.
- Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Gili Trawangan
- Order the listing by price
Simple as that.
Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels
Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.
Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.
Best Hostels in Gili Trawangan for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Gili Trawangan for solo-travellers?
Without seeming too predictable, we are going to say that Gili Mansion, our #1 and 5 star hostel on the island, is the top choice for solo travellers.
The cool thing about staying here is that you’ll also get access to Gili Castle, their sister hostel that’s just as much fun.
View: Our full review of Gili Castle
These 5 star hostels are designed for party animals and solo travellers that just love to have fun.
Climb the wall, jump off the 5 meter platform into the pool, enjoy drinks from the bar and epic weekly parties.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld
Party Hostels in Gili Trawangan
Seeing as Gili T is the party island, it would be rude not to include another party hostel option for you to take a look at. Obviously, our first choice is certainly Gili Mansion. It’s not often you get a 5 star hostel and party hostel all rolled into one!
However, we’d also like to throw 2 other options into the mix.
Lively Party Hostel
First off, let’s introduce Mad Monkey Gili Trawangan – one for the beach bums out there!
This is a newly opened hostel, part of the Mad Monkey hostel chain which spreads across Asia and Oceania.
And boy, is it extremely enticing to anyone looking to have a good time! Here are some highlights:
- 12 meter Infinity pool overlooking the ocean
- Sandy beachfront area
- Daily & nightly events
- Onsite hostel bar
You can expect the usual drinking games and live DJ sets to get you in the party mood in no time. The onsite restaurant is a perfect place to grab either some local or western food to line your stomach.
At the end of the night, collapse inside your private teepee or enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a 3-bed dorm.
Location: Situated on the West coast of the island, set away from the main area of Gili Trawangan.
Important: You can purchase a so-called Golden Ticket by Mad Monkey. Stay 30, 60 or 90 days in their hostels at a super low rate and one-time payment. Check more info about Golden Ticket here.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld
Relaxed Party Hostel
So what if you want the option to party, but also appreciate a good night’s sleep?
Broken Compass Hostel is for those that…
- Want to party out in the bars and come back to a chilled out hostel
- Want a good nights sleep so they have plenty of energy to explore the island
- Don’t want to be up all night listening to rowdy neighbours
At the same time, Compass offers a really fun and lively stay with infamous events such as pub quiz and live DJs on the cards.
Chill out at the 2 swimming pools joined by a tunnel, in the restaurant-bar or in the huge common area.
Each bunkbed comes with a curtain to support your privacy and rest.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld | Airbnb
Exploring all Gili Islands
The Gili Islands are a popular destination for travellers also visiting Bali. From Bali, it’s an easy 1.5 hour boat ride to the Gili Islands. Yet in fact, the Gili Islands are part of Lombok, not Bali.
Read: 29 best hostels in Bali
Here’s an idea…
Here’s a quick overview of the islands in case you missed it:
- Gili Trawangan – the party island (+ the biggest)
- Gili Meno – for honeymooners and couples
- Gili Air – the in-between. Perfect for backpackers who want to socialise but not party.
It’s super easy to move between the three islands by speedboat.
From Gili Trawanagan to Gili Air it takes just 10 minutes.
From Gili Trawanagan to Gili Meno it’s a quick 5 minute boat ride. Easy peasy!
Tip: If you want to visit Gili Meno, we suggest doing a snorkel tour which visits all 3 islands.
How to book?
We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations. Hostelworld is the most popular website when it comes to hostel bookings.
Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Here is the overview:
- Gili Mansion: Hostelworld
- Compass Divers Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Gili la Boheme Sister: Booking.com | Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!
All of Gili Trawangan best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish hostels, secure your room or bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
Any Discounts?
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.
It is completely free to join!
How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Gili Trawangan best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!
Need an eSIM Card for Gili Trawangan?
Get your eSIM Card with Airalo.com instantly online. It is easy to set up and cheap! Read our review of Airalo here.
No more searching for mobile stores. Get your eSIM Card for now and enjoy it instantly after landing in your new destination.
Our Favorite Hostels in Gili Trawangan put on a map + sights
Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Gili Trawangan hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.
We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:
- Harbor Spot
- Shark Point
- Villa Ombak Harbour
- Jali Kitchen and Regina Pizzeria (popular restaurants we love!)
Any questions about hostels in Gili Trawangan? 🤔
Join our Facebook Group!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
Flights to Gili Trawangan?
Well, you cannot fly to the Gili’s obviosuly…We flew in to Lombok actually, and then stayed a few days in Kuta, South Lombok. From there we took a taxi to the north to the ferry.
We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.
Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.
FAQs
Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.
Where to stay in Gili Trawangan?
The top 3 hostel recommendations in Gili Trawangan are:
- Gili Mansion Hostel - 5 Star Hostel & party vibes
- Compass Divers Hostel - for diving enthusiasts
- Gili la Boheme Sister - blend of social & chill
Which place is better for scuba diving in Bali for beginners, Gili Trawangan or Nusa Lembongan?
Gili Trawangan is an ideal for beginner divers. This is where we dived for the first time! We recommend booking your stay with Compass Divers Hostel as they offer try/fun dives in their swimming pool before heading out to the ocean.
Gili Mansion also offer a great scuba diving discount.
Can I visit the Gili Trawangan swing?
Gili Trawangan Swings can be found down the western part of the island. Just walk along the beach and you’ll find a bunch of awesome swings and sea hammocks. They’re all free to use and the perfect way to watch the sunset!
FYI: The swings at Ombak Sunset are very popular so make sure you get there early.
More guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Gili Trawangan.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:
- best hostels in Jakarta, Indonesia
- All beautiful and fun hostels Bali has to offer
- best hostels in Gili Islands
- best hostels in Ubud, Bali
- best hostels in Canggu, Bali with Kos One Hostel
- coolest party hostels in Canggu
- Best Surf Hostels in Bali
- COOLEST Party Hostels In Bali
- best hostels in Lombok, Indonesia
- cool coworking hostels in Bali
You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.
Over to you
Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!
Your question will help us to improve this Gili Trawangan guide.
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.
Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks
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