We stayed in Gili Backpackers, the most popular hostel on Gili T, as it has a good party scene and an amazing pool. We met up with some backpackers we'd met in Bali there and got straight into the nightlife with them, there are many great bars along the main street, each night holding a different location for the go-to bar of the evening.
There is no traffic on the Gilis and the only modes of transport are bicycles and horses. We spent a lovely day hiring bikes and cycling around Gili T coast, stopping at various locations to swim, sunbathe, eat and drink. It was lovely to get away from the main strip on Gili T and adventure the back route, it was a lot quieter and had some gorgeous beaches. On the opposite side were the famous sea swings, which provide amazing pictures and capture a gorgeous sunset.
There is an amazing food market every night which we ate from, you pile up the noodles, meats, veg etc. and it's dirt cheap. During the day we ate the classic Nasi Goreng, a simple noodle dish which can be bought opposite Gili Backpackers.
One of my highlights was when we hired snorkels for the day and headed down to coral bay. Closer to the beach most of the coral has been destroyed from boats and people stepping on it, but swim a little further out and there are some gorgeous formations full of colourful tropical fish. I was lucky enough to see two sea turtles which came to rest on the sea bed. I watched them for a good twenty minutes before they swam off into the depths and I returned back to the beach for a rest.
This island is a truly magical place and you would struggle to find anywhere like it in the world. I spent a great week with friends partying, sunbathing and exploring so got a real mix. It is a little touristy at times so would recommend one of the other Gili islands for a more peaceful retreat, however I felt this had good diversity and wasn't too tacky (unlike Kuta in Bali) keeping some of the traditional local wonders rather than being taken over fully by shops and bars.
