Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan is the largest and liveliest of the three Gili Islands off Lombok's north-west coast. There are no cars or motorbikes; you get around by bicycle, on foot or by cidomo horse cart. The east coast strip has most of the restaurants, dive shops and bars, while the west coast is quieter and faces the sunset over Bali's Mount Agung.

Diving is world class and easy to get into. Turtles are almost guaranteed at sites like Turtle Heaven, and the island has some of the largest and most established dive centres in Indonesia for beginner courses through to technical diving. Snorkelling straight off the beach is good too, especially on the north-east corner.

Gili T has a reputation for nightlife, but it has broadened: there are now yoga studios, good cafés, upmarket villas and family-friendly hotels alongside the backpacker hostels. Fast boats run from Bali and from Bangsal and Teluk Nara on Lombok.