Is Gili Islands Safe for Tourists in 2026?

On Gili Trawangan, individuals offer drugs to tourists and then signal to accomplices posing as plain-clothes police who appear moments later and threaten arrest. Victims are told they can avoid jail by paying a large on-the-spot bribe, typically 3,000,000 to 10,000,000 IDR. Real police are rarely involved. This is one of the most financially damaging scams operating across the Gili Islands.

How to avoid: Refuse all drug offers from strangers under any circumstances. If confronted by plain-clothes individuals claiming to be police, demand to see official identification and insist on going to the nearest police station rather than paying anything on the spot.

Where: Bar and beach areas along the main strip on Gili Trawangan, particularly between the boat harbor and the night market, and quieter beach paths on Gili Air

Unlicensed dive operators on Gili Trawangan advertise PADI Open Water courses at prices 40–60% below market rate, then issue unofficial or forged certification cards that are not recognized by dive operators elsewhere. Some use equipment that has not been properly serviced, creating genuine safety risks. Students often only discover the fraud when they attempt to dive elsewhere and their certification cannot be verified.

How to avoid: Book only with PADI or SSI-registered dive schools — verify the shop's affiliation number on the official PADI or SSI website before paying. Do not pay the full course fee upfront. Ask to see the instructor's current certification. Budget Open Water courses on Gili T typically run IDR 3.5–4.5 million from legitimate operators.

Where: Budget dive operators along the main strip on Gili Trawangan's east beach; social media listings targeting backpacker Facebook groups

Drink spiking incidents are regularly reported by travelers on Gili Trawangan, particularly at the beach clubs and bars near the harbor on the party strip. Victims lose consciousness quickly and wake up missing cash, cards, phones, or passports. The no-motorized-vehicle environment and limited medical facilities make incidents harder to respond to rapidly.

How to avoid: Never accept drinks from strangers and keep your drink in hand or with a trusted companion at all times. Travel in groups at night and arrange in advance how you will return to your accommodation safely.

Where: Beach clubs and open-air bars along the Gili Trawangan party strip between the main harbor and the night market

Fake booking websites and social media accounts impersonate well-known Gili Trawangan and Gili Air villas and bungalows, collecting deposits of 300,000-1,500,000 IDR for non-existent reservations. The Gili Islands have no land transport and no police station on Gili T or Gili Air, making dispute resolution after arrival extremely difficult. Scam pages replicate real property photos and names closely.

How to avoid: Book only through major platforms such as Booking.com or Airbnb with verified property listings, or contact properties directly via their official domain email. Confirm your reservation by phone or WhatsApp with the property on the day before travel from Lombok.

Where: Fraudulent sites targeting travelers before they reach Bangsal Harbor or Teluk Nara pier on Lombok for the boat crossing