A string of tiny tropical islands, fringed with coral, dotted with palm trees, and traveled only by horse cart and bicycle\u2026 the Gilis are a place of traveler legend. Our boat skidded onto the shore of Gili Trawangan, the biggest isle in Lombok, Indonesia\u2019s six-mile-square archipelago. Three naked kids splashed around in the water, while their grandpa, in his traditional\u00a0kopiah<\/em>\u00a0cap, watched over them.<\/span> We rolled up our pants and walked through the surf to the main dirt road.<\/p>\n The street was lined with reggae bars, posh restaurants, beach discos, and scuba shops. Paradise had been found\u2026not by us, but by backpackers in the 1980s who told their friends all over the world. Over the past thirty years, Gili T has transformed from a quiet fishing island of a few Muslim families to one of Indonesia<\/a>\u2019s top resort destinations. You could tell the island\u2019s head was spinning, and so was ours\u2026<\/p>\n The family behind\u00a0Gili Eco Villas<\/a>\u00a0saw the island beginning to buckle under the strain of its popularity and decided to build a sustainable retreat.<\/span> Through solar and wind energy generation, a biodegradable wastewater treatment system, rubbish recycling, and organic gardening, they are leading the way in responsible tourism in the Gilis. We were escorted under the arches of bougainvillea to our Joglo-style home, with an open-air living room, fully equipped kitchen, hammock-strung patio, and views of the water\u2026 and found the Gili T we were hoping for.<\/p>\n Days here are about slowing down and kicking back. We\u2019d bounce between the beach and the pool, with some snorkeling, noshing, and volleyball in between.<\/p>\n At only four miles in circumference, we had to see what the whole of Gili T was about. Rounding the horn from the bohemian-posh eastside, we\u2019re happy to still find lots of wild beaches, humble houses, and local life on the western half of the island.<\/p>\n When an island is made famous for partying, you need to rock out at least one night. Kicking it off at a beach bar made from an old fishing boat, we had a couple of Bintang beers, then a street cart dinner of spicy soto ayam soup, and closed it out with a reggae jam session at the legendary Sama-Sama.<\/p>\n The Gilis are surrounded by a coral reef, with dive and snorkel trips aplenty. We took a boat towards Gili Meno and spotted sea turtles, lion fish, box fish, Nemo, and local surfers tearing up a break between the islands.<\/p>\nGili Back Roads<\/h2>\n
![\"Horse](\"https:\/\/b510894.assetcdn.net\/2.0\/510894\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Gili-T-HoneyTrek.com-0348.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" "\\"Lombok,")
Leaving the bustling eastside in a horse-drawn cart, we trotted through the coconut groves in the center of the island. We emerged on the north beaches, home of the serene Gili Eco Villas.<\/p>\nGili Eco Villas<\/h2>\n
Lovely Lazy Days<\/h2>\n
Biking Gili T<\/h2>\n
When in Rome<\/h2>\n
Snorkeling Gili Meno<\/h2>\n
The Main Island of Lombok, Indonesia<\/h2>\n
![\"Lombok](\"https:\/\/b510894.assetcdn.net\/2.0\/510894\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Gili-T-Indonesia-HoneyTrek.com-9659.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" "\\"Lombok,")
<\/p>\nOoo la la Oberoi<\/h2>\n
![\"HoneyTrek](\"https:\/\/b510894.assetcdn.net\/2.0\/510894\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Gili-T-HoneyTrek.com-0355.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" "\\"Lombok,")