How do you get from Bali to the Gili Islands? Which harbour do the fast boats leave from, how long do they take and what do they cost? Can you do it as a day trip? These are the first questions that come up when you try to fit the Gili Islands into a Bali itinerary.
The short answer: the quickest way is a fast boat straight to the Gilis from Padang Bai or another harbour in Bali, with about 1 hour 30 minutes on the water. Day trips exist, but they leave you only about five hours on the island, and staying at least one night is far less of a rush.
This article uses only what we could confirm from the fast-boat companies’ own timetables, fares and terms, Indonesian news reports (detikBali and others), and tour and booking sites. Fares and times change by company and season. Where we could not confirm something, we say so.
It is written for travellers who are already in Bali and heading to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air or Gili Meno. For getting to mainland Lombok, see Bali to Lombok: all the routes.
As of October 2026
What this article covers
- ✓How the three routes (fast boat, plane, public ferry) differ
- ✓The harbours the fast boats leave from (Padang Bai, Sanur, Serangan) and sample times
- ✓The range of one-way fares, and booking and cancellation rules
- ✓Cancellations, rough seas, wet luggage and past accidents
- ✓Why a day trip from Bali is hard, and how to plan your return
In short
The quickest way from Bali to the Gili Islands is a direct fast boat from Padang Bai or another harbour, with no changes. Boats from Padang Bai take about 1 hour 30 minutes, and one-way fares run from Rp250,000 to 800,000 (about US$14 to 45) depending on the company (August 2025 news reports and the operators’ sites as of October 2026). Some days are cancelled for high waves, so do not plan a tight international flight out of Bali on the day you come back. Day tours leave around 6 in the morning and return in the evening, giving you about five hours on the island.
What is the fastest way from Bali to the Gili Islands?
The quickest and simplest option is a fast boat from a Bali harbour straight to the Gilis. On the Gili Gili Fast Boat timetable, the 8:30 departure from Padang Bai reaches Gili Trawangan at 10:00. Wahana Gili Ocean also gives 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes from Bali to the Gilis and Lombok.
The alternatives are to fly to Lombok International Airport, drive to Bangsal harbour in northwest Lombok and take a boat, or to take the public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar Port in southwest Lombok and continue by car and boat. Both involve two changes and take longer than the fast boat.
Figure: Three routes from Bali to the Gili Islands
Which harbours do the fast boats leave from: Padang Bai, Sanur and Serangan
Padang Bai, in Karangasem Regency in east Bali, has the most departures to the Gilis. detikBali (11 August 2025) listed eight fast-boat companies sailing from Padang Bai towards Lombok, including Eka Jaya, Golden Queen and Semaya One, each running one to five boats a day. Destinations are the three Gili Islands, Bangsal harbour and Senggigi.
Sanur harbour, on the east coast of south Bali, is a new port that was formally opened on 9 November 2022 (Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia). The Scoot Fast Cruises timetable lists boats from Gili Trawangan and Gili Air to Sanur. These leave at the same times as the boats to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, so expect them to take longer than the Padang Bai route because of the stops in the Nusa islands.
Nearby Serangan is another departure point. Eka Jaya lists Padang Bai and Serangan as its departure harbours, and detikBali (September 2022) also named these two as the fast-boat piers on the Bali side.
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| Harbour | Location | Operators we could confirm (examples) | Time to the Gilis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padang Bai | East Bali (Karangasem Regency) | Eka Jaya, Gili Gili Fast Boat, Golden Queen, Semaya One and others | About 1 hr 30 min to Gili Trawangan (Gili Gili Fast Boat timetable) |
| Sanur | East coast of south Bali | Scoot Fast Cruises and others | Longer than from Padang Bai (one booking site lists 3.5 to 4 hours from Gili Trawangan to Sanur) |
| Serangan | South Bali (Denpasar) | Eka Jaya and others | The official timetable is only an image, so we could not confirm it |
*Based on the operators’ sites, detikBali (August 2025) and operator listings on booking sites. Checked October 2026.
Choose your harbour by where you are staying in Bali. From Padang Bai the boat ride is shorter, but the drive from hotels in the south takes longer. For its 8:30 departure, Gili Gili Fast Boat picks up from hotels around Uluwatu at 6:00 (for an extra charge). Sanur is close to the south, but the boat ride to the Gilis is longer.
What time do the boats leave and arrive: sample timetable
Most boats leave in the morning and arrive around midday. The Gili Gili Fast Boat timetable is below; boats call at Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, Gili Air and Bangsal harbour in that order. Check-in is one hour before departure, and the company notes that times can change with the weather.
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| Sailing | Dep. Padang Bai | Arr. Gili Trawangan | Arr. Gili Air | Return: Gili Trawangan → Padang Bai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat 1 | 8:30 | 10:00 | 10:50 | Dep. 10:30 → arr. 12:45 |
| Boat 2 | 10:00 | 11:30 | 12:20 | Dep. 12:00 → arr. 14:15 |
*From the Gili Gili Fast Boat timetable on its official site. Checked October 2026. Times may change with the weather.
The 20 departures from Padang Bai by eight companies listed by detikBali (August 2025) leave between 8:00 (Eka Jaya) and 16:00 (also Eka Jaya), and half of them, ten boats, leave between 8 and 10 in the morning. For the return, the Scoot timetable shows departures from Gili Trawangan at 12:45 and Gili Air at 13:15 (to Sanur and other stops). We could not work out the times from Sanur to the Gilis from that timetable.
How much does it cost, and where do you book?
One-way fares range from roughly Rp250,000 to 800,000 (about US$14 to 45) depending on the company. In detikBali’s report (11 August 2025), fares from Padang Bai started at Rp250,000 (Ostina, D’Prabu) and went up to Rp650,000 (Eka Jaya).
As of October 2026, Eka Jaya’s site shows Rp685,000 one way from Bali to the Gilis (with Rp635,000 in brackets). Scoot lists Gili Trawangan to Sanur at Rp800,000 one way and Rp1,500,000 return for adults.
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| Operator | Route | One way (adult) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ostina, D’Prabu | From Padang Bai | Rp250,000 (about US$14) | detikBali (August 2025) |
| Golden Queen | From Padang Bai | Rp500,000 (about US$28) | detikBali (August 2025) |
| Eka Jaya | Bali to the Gilis | Rp685,000 (about US$38); Rp635,000 also shown in brackets | Official site (October 2026) |
| Scoot Fast Cruises | Gili Trawangan to Sanur | Rp800,000 (about US$45) | Official site (October 2026) |
*US$ figures at US$1 = about Rp17,800 (September 2026). Whether hotel transfers are included depends on the company and the ticket.
When comparing fares, also check whether hotel transfers are included and whether the boat stops at the island you want. Gili Gili Fast Boat lists pick-up times by area and charges extra for some areas. Besides the operators’ own sites, some companies take bookings on WhatsApp (Eka Jaya, Gili Gili Fast Boat and others). If you buy through a booking site, always check the operator’s name and the departure harbour.
Cancellation rules also vary. Under Eka Jaya’s terms, you get a full refund more than seven days before departure, 50 percent from seven days to 48 hours before, and nothing within 48 hours. Date changes are allowed up to two days before departure, subject to availability. Wahana Gili Ocean normally allows date changes up to 48 hours before departure, or seven days before in the peak periods of 1 June to 30 September and 20 December to 5 January.
How much should you worry about cancellations, rough seas and wet luggage?
Plan on the basis that boats can be cancelled on days with high waves. detikBali (26 December 2022) reported that strong winds and high waves in the northern Lombok Strait stopped fast boats from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan from the afternoon of 24 December, and they had still not resumed on the 26th. The port authority said this was “for passenger safety”. Eka Jaya’s terms also say sailings may be cancelled because of weather and other causes, and that the company does not cover the resulting costs.
Public ferries stop for Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu New Year holiday. For 2026, ASDP, Indonesia’s state ferry company, announced in advance that ferries at Padang Bai would stop from 4:00 on 19 March to 11:30 on 20 March (Times Indonesia). We could not confirm what fast boats do, so if you are crossing around Nyepi (the date changes every year, usually around March), check with your operator.
Prepare for wet feet and wet bags. Wahana Gili Ocean’s travel tips say your feet will get wet getting on and off small boats at the Gilis, especially at low tide when the water is too shallow for boats to reach the shore, and recommend suitable footwear and shorts. Eka Jaya’s terms allow two pieces of luggage per person, up to 25 kg in total.
There have also been accidents. On 15 September 2016, the fast boat Gili Cat 2 exploded about 200 m out from Padang Bai just after leaving the harbour. Reports differ on the number of deaths; Khaosod English reported two dead and about 20 injured.
On 5 June 2015, the Wahana Ocean 4, sailing from Senggigi to Padang Bai, caught fire in the Lombok Strait and dozens of people were injured (no deaths, according to Hipwee). This is a reason not to choose an operator on price alone, and to check the operator’s name before you book.
Caution
- Allow for cancellations: if you are crossing in the rainy season (November to March), leave slack in the days before and after.
- Put valuables and electronics in a waterproof bag: your feet will get wet getting on and off, and bags can catch spray.
- Check the operator’s name: even on a booking site, confirm whose boat it is and which harbour it leaves from before you pay.
How does it compare with the public ferry or flying via Lombok?
If price is your priority, take the public ferry; if you want to be less exposed to the weather, fly. The public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar Port in southwest Lombok takes about 4 to 6 hours (detikBali, September 2022, gave 4 to 5 hours), and the normal fare for an adult foot passenger is Rp65,300 (about US$3.67; detikBali, December 2025, with discounts on the official app over the year-end holidays).
From Lembar Port, though, you still have to drive from the southwest to the northwest of the island to reach Bangsal harbour, the gateway to the Gilis, and then take a boat, so it takes much longer than a fast boat.
If you fly, the drive from Lombok International Airport to Bangsal harbour takes about 1.5 to 2 hours (see our Bangsal harbour guide). From Bangsal you cross to the Gilis on a cheap public boat that leaves when it fills up, or on a fast boat. The advantage is that you avoid crossing the strait between Bali and Lombok by boat. On the other hand, with formalities at two airports plus a car and a boat, there are many connections and the journey takes longer than the fast boat.
Does a day trip from Bali work?
Day tours exist, but the travel is long and your time on the island is short. The “One Day Trip Gili Trawangan” offered on Semaya One’s booking page (Semayaone Activities) picks you up from your hotel in Bali at 6:30, leaves Padang Bai at 8:30 and arrives on Gili Trawangan at 10:00.
On the island you snorkel (two spots, which the listing names as “Meno Statue” and the turtle point), have lunch and cycle, then leave at 15:00 and are back at your hotel at 17:15. That is about five hours on the island and about 10 hours 45 minutes from leaving your hotel to getting back.
Figure: An example day on a Gili day trip from Bali
There are three reasons we hesitate to recommend a day trip. You spend more than five hours travelling and miss the island in the evening. If the return boat does not sail, you have to stay on the Gilis and your room in Bali goes to waste. And if you build the trip from scheduled boats rather than a tour, some companies leave you even less time on the island.
On the Gili Gili Fast Boat timetable, for example, the 8:30 boat arrives at 10:00 and the last boat back from Gili Trawangan leaves at 12:00, so a round trip with that company alone gives you two hours on the island.
If snorkelling and a walk around the island are enough for you, a day tour is an option. If you want to see the sunset or relax after a swim, build in at least one night.
Which plans suit one, two or three nights, with sample itineraries and what each activity costs, is covered in How many nights on the Gili Islands?
How to plan the trip back and your flight out of Bali
Avoid flying home internationally from Bali on the day you come back from the Gilis. Gili Gili Fast Boat’s return boats reach Padang Bai at 12:45 or 14:15, and from there you still have to drive to south Bali, where the airport is. For Sanur, a booking site lists one boat (Buyuk Fast Cruise) as taking 3.5 to 4 hours from Gili Trawangan. If high waves stop the boats, you will not get back that day.
The safe plan is to be back in Bali by the day before your flight and spend a night near the airport. If your schedule really has no slack, you can also cross from the Gilis to Bangsal harbour, go to Lombok International Airport and fly back to Bali. Even then, you still take the short boat from the Gilis to Bangsal.
What to check before you book
- ✓The operator’s name and the departure harbour (Padang Bai, Sanur or Serangan)
- ✓Whether the boat stops at your island (Gili Trawangan, Gili Air or Gili Meno)
- ✓Whether hotel transfers are included, and the pick-up time
- ✓Deadlines for cancellations and date changes, and what happens if the boat is cancelled
- ✓Luggage limits (number and weight), and how much margin you have before your flight home
A note from Sekotong
When you buy a return fast-boat ticket, check the deadline for changing the return date first, so a weather delay does not catch you out. On the morning you sail, have your booking confirmation ready to show, and keep your phone and wallet in a waterproof bag in your hand, so they are less likely to get wet when you board and land on the beach. In the rainy season, it is realistic to leave a day between leaving the Gilis and your flight home from Bali.
Drawbacks to know before you go, and another option: the South Gilis off Sekotong
The boat ride from Bali to the Gilis may be only about an hour and a half, but with the drive to the harbour, check-in, and getting on and off at the beach, it takes half a day. On days with high waves the boats stop, and your bags and feet get wet. There are no cars on the islands; you get around by horse cart (cidomo) or bicycle. Gili Trawangan is lively, with lots of shops and places to stay, and may not suit people looking for quiet.
People still flock to the three Gilis because you can get there from Bali without changing, and you get a good stretch of time to swim and cycle around the island. In terms of ease of access, they suit people who want to add a sea island to a stay in Bali, or who are heading towards Lombok for the first time.
Off Sekotong in southwest Lombok there are also small islands known as the South Gilis. The fishing village in Sekotong where we run a beach cafe and more with local Sasak people is about 40 minutes by car from Lembar Port, where the public ferry from Bali arrives. The South Gilis lie offshore here, and they feel different from the three Gilis. To weigh liveliness against quiet, see Gili 3 vs the South Gilis; for the islands themselves, see the South Gilis off Sekotong.
Sekotong is also about 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport. What our stay programme of 3 nights/4 days to 5 nights/6 days covers (Rp4,800,000 per person, airport transfers included; flights and accommodation are not included) is on our Where to stay page, and directions from the port and the airport are on Getting here.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How long does it take from Bali to the Gili Islands?
About 1 hour 30 minutes to Gili Trawangan by fast boat from Padang Bai. Add the drive from your hotel to the harbour and check-in one hour before departure. Boats to and from Sanur take longer; one listing gives 3.5 to 4 hours between Gili Trawangan and Sanur.
Q. How much is the fast boat?
Roughly Rp250,000 to 800,000 (about US$14 to 45) one way. It varies by company, whether transfers are included and the departure harbour (August 2025 news reports and the operators’ sites as of October 2026).
Q. Can I do a day trip from Bali to the Gili Islands?
Yes, on a tour. One example leaves your hotel at 6:30 and returns at 17:15, giving you about five hours on the island. If you want to stay into the evening, build in a night.
Q. What happens if the boat is cancelled because of high waves?
Boats do not sail until the weather improves. In December 2022, boats were reported to have stopped from the afternoon of the 24th until the 26th. Some companies state in their terms that they do not cover costs caused by cancellations, so check what your travel insurance covers too.
Q. Can I fly home internationally from Bali on the day I leave the Gilis?
We do not recommend it. Return boats leave around midday and reach Padang Bai in the early afternoon, and if high waves stop them you will not get back that day. It is safer to be back in Bali by the day before your flight and stay near the airport.
Summary
The quickest way from Bali to the Gili Islands is a direct fast boat from Padang Bai or another harbour: about 1 hour 30 minutes on board and roughly Rp250,000 to 800,000 (about US$14 to 45) one way (checked October 2026). There are also boats from Sanur and Serangan, but boats to and from Sanur take longer. The public ferry and the route via Lombok airport involve more changes.
Cancellations for high waves do happen, and a day trip gives you only about five hours on the island. Stay at least one night on the Gilis, and plan to be back in Bali by the day before your flight home. Fares, times and terms change by company and season, so check each operator’s official site before you book.
Related reading
- What are the Gili Islands? The three islands comparedHow Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno differ, and how to get there
- Bangsal harbour guideUsing the harbour to cross from mainland Lombok to the Gilis, and dealing with touts
- Bali to Lombok: all the routesFlights, fast boats and the public ferry to mainland Lombok compared
If you leave from Padang Bai, Padang Bai harbour guide covers getting to the harbour from Bali’s airport, buying tickets through Ferizy or official outlets, and what to watch for at night, on Nyepi and in the rainy season.
If you are still choosing between the Gilis and the other islands near Bali, such as Nusa Penida and Lombok itself, our comparison of islands near Bali sets out travel times, day trips and what each island suits.
SEMELAR BEACH VILLAGE
Come and spend some time in the Sekotong village we call home
About 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport. We offer a stay programme of 3 nights/4 days or more, with island trips by local boat and sunsets at SAKURA CAFE. The villas are due to be completed in stages from 2027.
Sources for this article
- Gili Gili Fast Boat, “Boat Schedules” (official site)https://www.giligilifastboat.com/boat-schedules/
- Eka Jaya Fast Ferry, official sitehttps://www.ekajayafastboat.com/
- Eka Jaya Fast Ferry, “Terms and Conditions” (official site)https://www.ekajayafastboat.com/_tos.html
- Scoot Fast Cruises, “Time Table” (official site)https://www.scootcruise.com/time-table
- Wahana Gili Ocean, official site, “Travel Tips” and “Terms and Conditions”https://www.wahanagiliocean.com/https://wahanagiliocean.com/travel-tips/https://wahanagiliocean.com/terms-and-conditions/
- Semaya One, “One Day Trip Gili Trawangan”https://besact.hybridbooking.com/semayaoneactivities/booking/rsv/detail/SOA7598/One-Day-Trip-Gili-Trawangan
- Buyuk Fast Cruise sailing details listed on KKdayhttps://www.kkday.com/en/product/538335
- detikBali, “Harga Tiket dan Jadwal Keberangkatan Fast Boat Bali-Lombok Agustus 2025” (11 August 2025)https://www.detik.com/bali/berita/d-8054179/harga-tiket-dan-jadwal-keberangkatan-fast-boat-bali-lombok-agustus-2025
- detikBali, “Penyeberangan Fast Boat Padangbai-Gili Trawangan Ditutup Sementara” (26 December 2022)https://www.detik.com/bali/berita/d-6481409/penyeberangan-fast-boat-padangbai-gili-trawangan-ditutup-sementara
- detikBali, “ASDP Pastikan Armada Siap Layani Penyeberangan Lembar-Padangbai saat Nataru” (19 December 2025)https://www.detik.com/bali/bisnis/d-8268075/asdp-pastikan-armada-siap-layani-penyeberangan-lembar-padangbai-saat-nataru
- detikBali, “Mau Liburan ke Lombok dari Bali? Bisa Naik Pesawat hingga Fast Boat” (September 2022)https://www.detik.com/bali/wisata/d-6283998/mau-liburan-ke-lombok-dari-bali-bisa-naik-pesawat-hingga-fast-boat
- Times Indonesia, “ASDP Hentikan Sementara Penyeberangan Jawa-Bali-Lombok saat Nyepi” (March 2026)https://timesindonesia.co.id/peristiwa-daerah/580607/asdp-hentikan-sementara-penyeberangan-jawabalilombok-saat-nyepi-siapkan-skema-lebaran-2026
- Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, “Presiden Jokowi Resmikan Sejumlah Infrastruktur di Provinsi Bali”https://setkab.go.id/presiden-jokowi-resmikan-sejumlah-infrastruktur-di-provinsi-bali/
- Khaosod English, “2 Dead, 20 Injured as Speedboat Explodes in Bali” (15 September 2016)https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/asean/2016/09/15/1-dead-20-injured-speedboat-explodes-bali/
- Hipwee (September 2016)https://www.hipwee.com/travel/lagi-berita-duka-kembali-menyapa-kapal-boat-tujuan-gili-trawangan-meledak-satu-nyawa-melayang/
