Gili Trawangan Turtle Point
The verdict
- Best for: Snorkellers and value travellers who want to see wild green turtles without paying for a boat tour, straight off a free public beach.
- Best spot: The northeast shore on a calm clear morning at a higher tide, wading out over the seagrass where the turtles graze.
- Know this: The turtles are free to see from the beach and the only cost is gear. Sightings are common but wild, so never guaranteed, and never touch or chase them.
Published 17 January 2026. Last reviewed 15 March 2026
Turtle Point is the reason a lot of people come to the Gilis, and the best part for a value traveller is that the headline experience is free. Off the northeast shore of Gili Trawangan, green turtles graze on the seagrass in shallow, calm water, and you can reach them by wading or swimming straight out from the public beach with a mask. No boat, no tour, no ticket. On an island where the bars and the swings are all priced for tourists, the single most memorable thing to do here costs you only a snorkel you can rent cheaply or bring yourself.
The smart move is to skip the upsell. Dive shops and boats sell snorkelling trips to the reef sites between the islands, and those are a fine cheap way to see more if you want a half day on the water, but for turtles alone you do not need to pay anyone. Walk or cycle to the northeast shore, rent a mask and fins from a stall for a small fee if you do not have your own, and wade in where you see other snorkellers gathering. Go mid morning on a calm clear day and your odds are good, though the turtles are wild, so sightings are common rather than guaranteed.
It suits snorkellers, families with confident swimmers and anyone who wants a real wildlife moment on a budget. The honest caveats are about the water and the wildlife. This is a shallow reef flat, so a higher tide gives you more water to swim over the seagrass while low tide can leave it too shallow, and there are no lifeguards anywhere on the Gilis. The bottom is coral in places, so water shoes help, and you must never touch, chase or ride the turtles or stand on the coral. Keep your distance, let them come and go, and you protect the very thing that makes this beach special. For the sunset and the best sand, head to the northwest.
Clubs on this beach
The northeast shore is quiet, with a few simple warungs and gear rentals rather than clubs. Operators and their terms change through the year, so compare the current options in our Gili Islands beach clubs directory.
Warungs and gear rentals near Turtle Point
The northeast shore has a scattering of simple beach warungs and snorkel gear rentals rather than smart clubs, handy for a cheap drink, a mask hire and a rest between swims. Specific operators, opening status and prices change through the year and are to be confirmed before you visit.
Beach bars and daybeds elsewhere on the island
For a daybed and a fuller bar, the northwest sunset shore and the east strip carry the choice. Pair a free morning snorkel here with an afternoon at a beach bar across the island. Operators and any minimum spend vary by season and are to be confirmed.
Turtle Point sits on the northeast shore of Gili Trawangan, a walk or short cycle from the harbour strip. There are no cars or motorbikes on the island, so you reach it on foot, by hired bicycle or by cidomo pony cart, and a bicycle for the day is the cheapest and quickest way to get there and on to the north and west beaches.
Bring or cheaply rent a mask and fins, pack reef safe sun cream and water shoes for the coral, and carry small cash since the warungs and rentals may not take cards. Aim for a calm clear morning at a higher tide, look for the stretch where snorkellers gather off the point, and keep a respectful distance from any turtle you find.
Reserve a day near Turtle Point
Tell us the date and party and we will match you to a beach bar or daybed on Gili Trawangan and pass on your request. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Can you see turtles for free at Turtle Point on Gili Trawangan?
Often, yes. Green turtles graze on the seagrass in the shallow water off the northeast shore, and you can reach them by wading or swimming straight from the public beach with a mask, no boat needed. Sightings are common in calm clear conditions but never guaranteed, as the turtles are wild. The only cost is your own snorkel gear or a cheap rental, which makes this the best value wildlife experience in the islands.
Do you need a boat tour to snorkel Turtle Point?
No. Unlike the reef sites between the islands, Turtle Point is reachable from the beach, so you do not need to pay for a boat tour to see turtles here. A shared snorkel boat is a good cheap way to visit several reef spots in a half day if you want more, but for turtles alone, wading in from the northeast shore costs you nothing beyond gear.
When is the best time to snorkel Turtle Point?
Mid morning to early afternoon on a calm dry season day, from May to September, gives the clearest water and the best chance of turtles. A higher tide gives you more water over the reef flat to swim, while low tide can leave it too shallow. Conditions are typical rather than guaranteed, so pick a calm clear day and check the tide before you go in.
Is it safe to snorkel at Turtle Point?
It is generally calm, but take normal care. There are no lifeguards anywhere on the Gilis, currents can run between the islands, and the bottom is coral in places, so water shoes and a buddy help. Never touch or chase the turtles or stand on the coral. Stay within your depth, check the tide and conditions, and treat the water with respect.
How do you get to Turtle Point on Gili Trawangan?
It is on the northeast shore, a walk or short cycle from the harbour strip, since there are no cars or motorbikes on the island. Hiring a bicycle for the day is the cheapest and easiest way to reach it and the other quiet north beaches. Look for the stretch of beach where snorkellers gather off the northeast point.
