GiliFit

Fitness centre and gym in Gili Trawangan

GiliFit is a fitness centre in Gili Trawangan offering a dedicated space for visitors and island residents to train and stay active. The business was developed from an existing youth hostel and small island gym, with the current team taking over the property and beginning renovations at the end of 2019.

Today, GiliFit combines a fully equipped gym with fitness activities, accommodation and an on-site food and beverage offering. The complex is designed as a place where guests can train, relax and connect with the wider Gili Trawangan community.

Building a fitness centre on Gili Trawangan

Creating and maintaining a large fitness centre on a small island comes with its own challenges. The humid and salty tropical environment requires ongoing maintenance of fitness equipment, while transporting large and heavy gym equipment to Gili Trawangan is also a complex process.

At the time GiliFit was being developed, large equipment had to be transported to the island by local boats and unloaded directly onto the beach. With no motorised vehicles on Gili Trawangan, the team developed a custom trolley capable of transporting heavy equipment through the island’s narrow paths.

This practical approach helped establish GiliFit as a dedicated fitness facility on an island where gym options were previously limited.

Fitness and community

GiliFit was created around a shared vision of improving the fitness offering available on Gili Trawangan. The centre provides a space for people with different fitness levels and training goals.

In addition to gym facilities, GiliFit offers activities and classes, with schedules and current programmes shared through its social media channels.

The wider complex also includes Pokemu, GiliFit’s on-site restaurant, creating a space where visitors can eat and spend time before or after training.

A focus on reducing waste

Sustainability is an important part of how GiliFit operates. Co-owner Fabien’s experience volunteering in environmental and conservation projects on Gili Trawangan gave him direct insight into the island’s waste challenges.

The business has introduced several measures to reduce the amount of waste generated across the GiliFit complex. Single-use plastic is avoided wherever possible, and free water refills are available.

Locally made soaps are delivered without plastic packaging, while natural ingredients are used to create cleaning products for the gym. Pokemu uses home-compostable packaging, and waste is sorted to support recycling where possible.

Eco-bricks and sustainable construction

GiliFit has also incorporated eco-bricks into parts of its physical infrastructure. Eco-bricks have been used in the construction of the ground floor of the GiliFit rooms and the GiliFit bar.

This approach reflects the team’s wider interest in finding practical ways to reuse materials and reduce waste within the business.

Rather than presenting sustainability as a perfect system, GiliFit focuses on making changes where they are practical and achievable. The goal is to reduce waste through everyday operational decisions while recognising the challenges businesses face when adopting more sustainable alternatives.

Training on Gili Trawangan

GiliFit provides an option for visitors and residents who want to continue their fitness routine while spending time on Gili Trawangan. The gym’s location allows travellers to combine an island stay with access to dedicated training facilities.

With a fully equipped gym, fitness activities, accommodation and an on-site restaurant, GiliFit offers a broader lifestyle concept than a traditional standalone gym.

Its focus on fitness, community and practical sustainability also reflects the character of Gili Trawangan, where a small island environment makes the impact of everyday waste and resource use especially visible.

Follow GiliFit

Current fitness activities and class schedules are shared through GiliFit’s social media channels. Visitors can check the latest programmes and available activities before planning a visit to the gym.

GiliFit continues to provide a dedicated training space for the Gili Trawangan community and visitors, while integrating practical initiatives designed to reduce waste across its wider complex.