No motorised vehicles of any kind are permitted on the Gili Islands. The only wheeled transport is the cidomo — a small horse-drawn cart — and bicycles. Cidomos wait at the boat landings on each island and can be hired for a set price to take luggage to accommodation. Walking is how most people get around; none of the islands takes more than two hours to circle on foot.
Between islands, small outrigger boats run regularly throughout the day, stopping at each island in turn. The service is cheap and frequent in daylight hours. After dark, a private charter is the only option. Conditions permitting, water taxis will also take you on request at any time.
Bicycles are available for hire on all three islands. Trawangan, being the largest, most rewards a bicycle — the circuit of the island takes about forty minutes and covers beaches, coconut groves, and the quiet northwest shore that most day-trippers never reach.