How to Travel from Bali to Gili Safely & Smoothly

The three Gili Islands have different vibes. Before booking the fast boat, think about what you want to do in the Gili Islands. Partying? Then, Gili T is the one to go. Gili Air makes a perfect choice if you want to relax, and Gili Meno is a honeymooner’s paradise. Here’s a quick guide to all the boats to all three Gili islands from Bali.

Bali to Gili Trawangan Specifically

How to get to Gili Trawangan, the most popular of the Gilis, from Bali? Fast boats from Bluewater Express, Bali Eka Jaya, Ostina, and Wijaya Perkasa depart as early as 8 AM and continue until the last afternoon boat at 4 PM. Always book your seats in advance, especially during peak season. Never show up at the ferry terminal without a prior booking!

Padang Bai remains the primary departure point from Bali to the Gili Islands, as it takes only 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach Gili T. Though you can leave from Sanur or Serangan Island, the travel time becomes longer, around 3-4 hours. As a quick tip, pack an Antimo (a tablet) or Tolak Angin (a packaged herbal drink) in case you get motion sickness. They’re what Indonesians have used for decades!

How to Get to Gili Air

Most travelers rarely go directly from Bali to Gili Air. Most will stop at Gili T first, spend a few days, and then head to Gili Air. But if you want to skip the bustling Gili T and go straight to the calm Gili Air, Semaya and Ganggari are among the fast boat operators you can pick. The earliest boat leaves at 8.30 AM and the last one departs at 1.30 PM.

The travel time from Padang Bai is approximately two hours. Most of the boats don’t actually go straight to Gili Air, as they often have a stopover in Gili T first. Stay seated, as they usually only dock for 10-15 minutes, and then the boats will reach Gili Air in 15-20 minutes.

How to Get to Gili Meno

Similar to Gili Air, travelers often spend time at Gili T first and then travel to Gili Meno. Pick Gili Gili and Bali Eka Jaya if you don’t want to experience Gili T, as they have routes to Gili Meno. The last fast boats depart at 12:15 PM, and the journey takes approximately 2 hours from Padang Bai.

All the boats leaving from Padang Bai will have to stop at Gili T. But you don’t need to wait long, as the journey from Gili T to Gili Meno only takes 5–10 minutes. That’s why I advise you to visit Gili T first and then go to Gili Meno as a day trip, as the island is relatively small.

For an actual island-hopping experience, you can depart from Nusa Penida to the Gilis. While you’ll never run out of things to do in Nusa Penida, going directly to the Gili Islands will save you time. The boat leaves from 9.15 AM until 2.15 PM, and the journey takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes to Gili Trawangan. Toya Pakeh Harbor remains the main departure port from Nusa Penida to the Gilis, though some boat operators also leave from Buyuk Harbor.

The sea journey from Nusa Penida can be a bit rougher. The reason? Because the route between these two islands is more exposed to the open ocean, making strong winds and larger waves are more common. Please expect a slight delay, especially when the waves exceed 1.5 meters and during the rainy season. Never skip bringing the motion sickness medication in your bag, just in case you encounter rough waves!

All boat operators departing for the Gili Islands leave from Jungut Batu Beach in Nusa Lembongan. The earliest departure is at 9 AM, while the last fast boat leaves at 2.45 PM. Most of the direct route to the Gili Islands has a travel time of around 2 hours and 15 minutes, including a boat transfer in Nusa Penida.

Most boat operators have an indirect route, especially in the afternoon. The indirect route means the boats depart from Nusa Lembongan to Sanur or Padang Bai first, then to the Gilis. The route takes longer (up to 2 hours and 45 minutes and more). I don’t recommend this, as you’ll spend more time at sea. And if you don’t want to feel an extreme bouncing motion, try to find a seat in the back.

How to get to Gili T from Lombok? You have two options: by public ferry or fast boats. The public ferry and fast boats leave from Bangsal Harbor, which run from 8 AM to 4 PM with irregular intervals. The ferry needs to fill the 40-passenger quota before leaving, but it only costs you around $1.50 to get to Gili T, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. You’ll arrive at the Gili Islands in 30 minutes. The fast boats offer a quicker travel time of around 20 minutes, with different operator charges ranging from $8 to $12 per passenger.

But if comfort is all you need, then Teluk Nare offers private speedboats to the three Gilis. The travel time is only 5-15 minutes, and the cost is around $20. The best thing about it is the flexibility, as you can arrange the time from 6 AM to midnight. There’s an additional fee if you leave before 7 AM (IDR 100K) or after 6 PM (IDR 50K).

Bangsal Harbors can be intimidating for tourists because people will try to sell you the tickets. But don’t worry, I’ve got some tips for you.

• Always go to the official ticket counter. Find the counters inside the harbor building.

• Book your tickets online. Save you time and money.

• Always verify the info beforehand. Ignore people who tell you the boats have left or the ticket counters are closed.

• Additional fee. There is an additional fee for booking private speedboats that depart before 7 AM or after 6 PM.

• Safety measures. Keep your important documents safe (like putting them in a money wallet).

Do you prefer comfort over hassle? Then you can’t ever go wrong by choosing any of these methods of transportation.

Returning to Bali from the Gili Islands is very efficient when you know how to do it correctly. Here are some tips I can offer to ensure your return trip is as smooth as your departure.

• Departure. Boats from the Gili Islands leave from 8 AM to 4 PM (the last boat) daily.

• Harbors. Padang Bai remains the most popular endpoint for returning to Bali, although you can also choose Sanur and Serangan, with double the travel time.

• Travel time. The traveling time is similar to the departure time, ranging from 1 hour 30 minutes to two hours.

• Transport arrangement. You need to arrange the transport from Padang Bai to your next destination in Bali. There will be no Gojek/Grab, so I advise you to arrange the pick-up beforehand.

• Book online. Book your return ticket online. The price range is around $26-$60, depending on the service you prefer.

Splurging is always an option when traveling from Bali to the Gili Islands. A helicopter tour may cost you a whooping $3,000-$4,000 per flight, which can accommodate up to five people. But you get privacy, an aerial tour of the Bali and Nusa Islands, and efficiency. The whole flight takes around 45 minutes, compared to hours of lugging your backpack and dealing with sea motion sickness. Helicopter tour operators, such as SIG, Fly Bali, or Balicopter, can also personalize your trip if you want a memorable experience for a honeymoon or to propose.

People have different preferences when traveling to Gili (budget vs splurge). But if you know the average costs of meals, transport, and accommodations, you can calculate how much you will spend in the Gili Islands.

• Drop-off/pick-up transport. From your hotel to Padang Bai and back, the cost can be up to $20. 

• Boat. Approximately US$55 for return tickets from Padang Bai to the three Gilis.

• Accommodations. Ranging from $10 at a hostel to a whopping $100 at a luxury hotel per night.

• Meals. Meals in the Gilis are relatively cheap. You can spend $2 at a local warung to $10 at an upscale restaurant.

• Harbor taxes. The total is IDR 50K ($3.50) and should be paid in cash. You need to pay IDR 10K upon departure in Padang Bai and then IDR 20K upon arrival at the Gili Islands, plus IDR 20K for island taxes.

• Transportation. Bicycle rental costs $3.50/day, while a cidomo can charge you $10 for the whole island tour.

• Attractions. The typical tour in the Gili Islands costs around $20 for snorkeling and $50 for diving.