“How do I get from Bali to Sekotong?” “Is the plane or the boat quicker, and which is cheaper?” “Is there a boat straight to Gili Gede in the South Gilis?” If Sekotong, in southwest Lombok, is where you are heading, a guide to crossing from Bali to Lombok does not answer everything. In short, there are three routes. You can fly to Lombok International Airport and drive, take the public ferry to Lembar Port and drive, or take a fast boat to Gili Gede, an island off the Sekotong coast. For a first visit, the plane and a car is the safer choice: it has the most departures and is the least affected by the weather.
We use only the figures published in this site’s own guides, with their sources, and figures our team checked on booking sites, news reports and timetable sites on 11 October 2026. Where our guides disagree with each other, and where we could not confirm something (such as the drive to the ports in Bali, or which days the fast boat runs), we say so.
This article is for people who arrive in Bali and then plan to spend time in Sekotong or the South Gili islands. We also cover flying into Lombok via Singapore without going through Bali. Routes to other parts of Lombok, or to the three northern Gili islands, are not covered here.
As of October 2026
What this article covers
- ✓The three routes from Bali to Sekotong, with rough times and costs for each leg
- ✓How often each one runs (flights and ferries daily, the fast boat to Gili Gede 3 to 4 days a week)
- ✓Arranging the last stretch from the airport or port to Sekotong
- ✓Choosing a route by luggage, weather, day of the week and arrival time
- ✓Flying straight into Lombok via Singapore
In short
The quickest way from Bali to Sekotong, and the one with the most departures, is to fly to Lombok International Airport and drive about 1 hour 10 minutes. To keep costs down, or to take a car or motorbike across, take the public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar Port (about 4 to 6 hours, Rp65,300 per adult) and drive about 40 minutes. If you are staying on Gili Gede in the South Gilis first, there is a fast boat from Serangan (about 2 hours, €49 to €57.60), but the booking site we checked listed only one operator, sailing 3 to 4 days a week (October 2026).
How many routes are there from Bali to Sekotong?
There are three. Sekotong is in the southwest of Lombok, some way from the airport in the centre of the island and from the northwest coast, where the boats to the three northern Gili islands arrive. So the routes split according to where you enter Sekotong once you reach Lombok.
The first is to fly from Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar (DPS) to Lombok International Airport (LOP) and drive to Sekotong. The second is to take the state-run ferry from Padang Bai in east Bali to Lembar Port and drive to Sekotong. The third is to take a fast boat from Serangan in south Bali to Gili Gede, off the Sekotong coast, and then a small boat across to a harbour on the Sekotong side.
Most fast boats from Bali arrive on the three northern Gili islands or at Bangsal in northwest Lombok, which adds a long drive down the length of the island to reach Sekotong. If Sekotong is your destination, choosing one of the three routes here is the shorter way.
Figure: Three routes from Bali to Sekotong (rough time and cost for each leg)
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| Route | Sea or air leg | Last stretch to Sekotong | How often | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Plane and car | About 25–50 min in the air (around 2–3 hrs with airport procedures); fares vary widely by season and airline | About 1 hr 10 min by car from the airport | Many flights a day | First-time visitors, those short of time, those who dislike boats |
| B Public ferry and car | Padang Bai to Lembar Port, about 4 to 6 hours (about 4 hrs 30 min on average); Rp65,300 per adult (about US$3.67) | About 40 min by car from Lembar Port | About 13 sailings a day, 24 hours | Those keeping costs down, or taking a car or motorbike across |
| C Fast boat and small boat | Serangan to Gili Gede, about 2 hrs; €49–57.60 | Small boat from Gili Gede to Tembowong harbour, about 10–30 min, then a car | 3–4 days a week (1 operator) | Those staying on Gili Gede first, whose dates fit the sailing days |
*Plane figures from our guides as of August 2026, ferry and car figures as of September 2026. Fast boat figures checked on a booking site on 11 October 2026. US dollar figures at US$1 ≈ Rp17,800 (September 2026). Euro fares are not converted.
By plane and car: how long does it take, and what does it cost?
The actual flying time from Denpasar to Lombok is about 25 to 50 minutes, according to our guide comparing the routes from Bali to Lombok. Our flights guide, based on scheduled services, puts it at about 50 minutes to 1 hour, so our guides give slightly different ranges. Even on a domestic flight there is check-in and security, so allow around 2 to 3 hours from reaching the airport to getting off the plane. One-way fares vary widely with the season and the airline, with the dearest several times the cheapest (August 2026). Several airlines fly the route, with many flights a day.
In the August 2026 schedule data, the Denpasar to Lombok route was flown by TransNusa and Wings Air. Wings Air uses propeller aircraft, and according to Lion Group’s official baggage policy, routes flown only by propeller aircraft have no free checked baggage allowance (0kg). If you are checking a suitcase, compare fares on the basis that you will add baggage when you book.
From Lombok International Airport to our village, on the shore of a fishing village in Sekotong, allow about 1 hour 10 minutes by car. One private transfer booking site gives about 1 hour 48 minutes and 67.5km from the airport to the village centre of Sekotong, so depending on where in Sekotong you are going, the time can differ by around 20 to 40 minutes. We found no public bus (DAMRI) route from the airport towards Sekotong, so you will use a transfer from your accommodation, the airport’s official taxi, a ride-hailing app (Grab or GoCar) or a chartered car.
As a rough cost, a private transfer booking site lists a standard car (1 to 3 people) from about US$45 one way. The airport’s official taxis use zones or meters, but the airport’s official site does not publish a fare for the Sekotong area, and we could not confirm it. We compare the options in more detail in Getting from Lombok Airport to Sekotong.
Adding it up, from arriving at Denpasar airport to reaching Sekotong works out at about 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes: around 2 to 3 hours for the flight leg plus about 1 hour 10 minutes by car. If you are connecting straight from an international flight, add the time to clear immigration in Denpasar and collect your bags before moving to the domestic flight. If you buy the international and domestic flights separately, assume the domestic flight will not wait if the international one is late, and either leave plenty of time between them or spend a night in Bali before flying on.
By public ferry to Lembar Port: what to expect
Padang Bai and Lembar Port are about 36 nautical miles apart, and the crossing takes about 4 to 6 hours; the port authority gives an average of about 4 hours 30 minutes. A timetable reported in September 2026 showed about 13 sailings a day, every 1.5 to 2.5 hours, and the port runs 24 hours a day. The adult fare is about Rp65,300 (about US$3.67) and children aged 0 to 2 pay about Rp6,100 (about US$0.34) (September 2026). Cars and motorbikes are charged separately by vehicle type. Our guide comparing the routes from Bali to Lombok also allows 4 to 6 hours for the crossing, to cover delays caused by the sea.
Tickets are normally bought online through Ferizy (the website or the app), which was introduced in August 2023. They go on sale 60 days before departure and must be bought by the day before. Antara, the state news agency, reported in July 2024 that tickets are no longer sold at the port at 28 harbours including Lembar and Padang Bai, so do not plan on buying one when you arrive.
From Lembar Port to our village is about 40 minutes by car. Public buses from the port are said to be infrequent and irregular, and most people use a car booked in advance. There is no direct boat from the port to the South Gili islands. For the port itself and how to buy tickets, see our Lembar Port guide.
The weakness of this route is that the timing is hard to predict. The drive to Padang Bai (we could not confirm the time from south Bali), the wait for a sailing, a crossing that can run long in rough seas and the drive from the port all add up, and the trip takes most of a day. The Lombok Strait has strong currents, and sailings are sometimes cancelled or delayed, mainly in the rainy season (November to March). The public ferry also stops for Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu new year. For 2026, ASDP announced in advance that ferries at Padang Bai would stop from 04:00 on 19 March to 11:30 on 20 March.
Caution
- Buy tickets online by the day before: buying in advance on Ferizy is the normal way. If someone at the port offers to sort out a ticket for you, it may not be through an official channel.
- You may arrive late at night or early in the morning: the ferry runs around the clock. Cars are hard to find in the middle of the night, so arrange your pickup in advance.
- Do not use it the day before your flight home: crossings can run long in rough seas. Avoid any boat leg on the day you take an international flight.
The fast boat to Gili Gede: when it runs and what it costs
On 11 October 2026, the only fast boat from Bali to the Sekotong side (Gili Gede) listed on the booking site Ferryhopper was Gili Getaway. As our Gili Gede guide notes, services change with the season. The boat leaves Serangan in south Bali and takes about 2 hours to Gili Gede, with one-way fares of €49 to €57.60.
The thing to watch is how often it runs. The same page says “3 to 4 days a week” in one place and “up to 6 sailings a week in peak season” in another, so it contradicts itself. We could not confirm which days of the week it sails. Unlike the flights and the ferry, it does not run every day, so check the sailing days first and then fit your nights in Bali around them.
Figure: Days a week each route runs (the three routes compared)
Once on Gili Gede, you reach mainland Sekotong by small boat (about 10 to 30 minutes) between the island and Tembowong harbour in the Pelangan area of Sekotong. There are shared and private boats, and the fare and time vary with the season and with negotiation. There is no ATM on the island, and meals are mostly at your accommodation’s restaurant. The boats can stop in strong wind or high waves. For the island itself, see our Gili Gede guide.
This route makes sense if you plan to stay on Gili Gede first and then move to mainland Sekotong. We could not confirm the drive time from Tembowong harbour to our village, so if you are heading to accommodation on the mainland, ask your accommodation about it when you arrange your pickup.
How do I arrange the last stretch from the airport or port to Sekotong?
Whichever route you take, the basic rule is to book a car for the last stretch in advance. Ride-hailing cars can be hard to find in Sekotong, and a car that shows on the app may not turn up. The airport’s official taxi counter is said to open from 07:00 to 17:00, so you may not be able to use it on a late-evening or early-morning flight.
Book either the transfer offered by your accommodation or a chartered car with a driver. As a rough guide for Lombok as a whole, a chartered car for 10 to 12 hours, fuel included, starts at about Rp500,000 to 700,000 (about US$28 to 39).
The usual road to Sekotong first heads north towards Mataram and then turns west. Some sections closer to Sekotong are said to be less well maintained, so avoid driving after dark and choose a flight or sailing that gets you there in daylight. In the rainy season, downpours can slow the journey, so allow 10 to 20 percent more than the usual time.
Can I fly into Lombok without going through Bali?
Yes. Scoot flies direct from Singapore to Lombok International Airport. In an announcement dated 9 April 2026, Scoot said it would increase its Singapore to Lombok service from 4 to 10 flights a week from June 2026, and Indonesia’s public broadcaster RRI reported the same increase in June 2026. The flight from Singapore to Lombok takes about 2 hours 45 minutes.
Once you land at Lombok International Airport, it is about 1 hour 10 minutes to Sekotong by car. The advantage is that there is no domestic connection in Bali and no sea crossing. We could not confirm how much time you need to connect in Singapore.
If you also want to spend time in Bali, go via Bali. If Sekotong is your only destination, the Singapore route is worth comparing as well. For airlines, fares and baggage on flights into Lombok, see our Lombok flights and tickets guide.
Figure: Two ways to reach Sekotong by air
Which route to choose: luggage, weather, day of the week and arrival time
If in doubt, start from the plane and car, and then check whether luggage, weather, the day of the week or your arrival time gives you a reason to take another route.
With a lot of luggage, check the checked baggage allowance on the domestic flight (some fares include 0kg) and the weight limit on the fast boat (around 25kg as a guide, with a possible charge above that). Going via Gili Gede also means getting in and out of a small boat.
On weather: in the rainy season (November to March), the two boat routes are more likely to be cancelled or delayed, so it is safer not to put a boat leg on the day before you fly home or on the day of an international flight. On the day of the week: the more fixed your dates are, the harder it is to fit in the fast boat to Gili Gede. On arrival time: arrive in the evening and the airport taxi counter will be closed, and you will be driving to Sekotong on dark roads.
- ✓First visit, or short of time: plane and car (A)
- ✓Keeping costs down, or taking a car or motorbike across: public ferry and car (B)
- ✓Staying on Gili Gede first, with dates that fit the sailing days: fast boat and small boat (C)
- ✓Not staying in Bali, with Sekotong as your only destination: fly into Lombok via Singapore
- ✓Any route: sort out the car for the last stretch first, and check that you will arrive in daylight
A note from Sekotong
When you book a pickup, give more than a flight number or the name of a boat: say clearly which port or airport you will arrive at. Near Sekotong there is Lembar Port for the ferry, Tembowong harbour where small boats leave for the South Gilis, and the jetties around Tawun, and names alone can lead to mix-ups. On days you arrive by boat, the arrival time is hard to predict, so agree that you will call once you land. That way neither side waits as long.
Sekotong is not close, and what lies at the end of the trip
To be honest, Sekotong is not an easy place to reach. From Bali there are one or two changes, and there is no public transport for the last stretch. If you want to get moving as soon as you arrive, or keep travelling to a minimum, an area near the airport or a stay in Bali will suit you better.
People still make the trip because of what is at the end of it: the sea at a fishing village that has seen little tourist development, and the South Gili islands offshore. We run a beach cafe and a market in a fishing village in Sekotong together with local Sasak people. The village is about 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport and about 40 minutes from Lembar Port. The stay programme you can book now includes airport transfers, and you can ask us about getting here when you enquire.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is the shortest time from Bali to Sekotong?
By plane and car. From arriving at Denpasar airport, allow around 2 to 3 hours for the flight leg including airport procedures, plus about 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok airport to our village: about 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes in total, on paper.
Q. Can I buy a ticket for the Padang Bai to Lembar ferry at the port?
The normal way is to buy online through Ferizy (the website or the app), from 60 days before departure up to the day before. According to a July 2024 Antara report, tickets are no longer sold at the port.
Q. Does the fast boat from Bali to Gili Gede run every day?
No. On 11 October 2026 the booking site listed one operator, Gili Getaway, sailing 3 to 4 days a week (the same page also mentions up to 6 sailings a week in peak season). Check the sailing days before you plan your dates.
Q. Will I find a car if I arrive at Lombok airport or Lembar Port at night?
Not necessarily. The airport’s official taxi counter is said to open from 07:00 to 17:00, and ride-hailing cars can be hard to find towards Sekotong. Book a transfer from your accommodation or a chartered car in advance.
Q. Can I reach Sekotong without going through Bali?
Yes, via Singapore. Scoot’s direct Singapore to Lombok service runs 10 flights a week from June 2026, and the flight takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. From Lombok International Airport it is about 1 hour 10 minutes by car.
Summary
There are three routes from Bali to Sekotong. The plane and car is the quickest and has the most departures. The public ferry to Lembar Port, followed by a car, is the cheapest and lets you take a car or motorbike across. If you are staying on Gili Gede first, there is a fast boat that runs 3 to 4 days a week.
Whichever you choose, book the car for the last stretch in advance, pick a flight or sailing that arrives in daylight, and in the rainy season leave slack around any boat leg. You can also fly straight into Lombok via Singapore. Fares, frequencies and sailing days change often, so check each operator’s official site or booking page before you travel.
Related reading
- Bali to Lombok: flights, fast boats and the public ferryThe ways of crossing from Bali to the main island of Lombok, compared
- Getting hereHow to reach our village from the airport and Lembar Port, and transfers
- The South Gili islands off SekotongHow the South Gili islands, including Gili Gede, differ from one another
If your flight from Bali lands at Lombok Airport late at night, see Arriving at Lombok Airport late at night.
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
- Semelar Village, guide to getting from Bali to Lombok (Denpasar to Lombok flight time and fare range, fast boat baggage limit, cancellations in the Lombok Strait; August 2026)https://semelarvillage.com/en/bali-to-lombok-all-routes-en/
- Semelar Village, Lembar Port guide (route, crossing time, sailings, fares, Ferizy, distance and time from the port; September 2026)https://semelarvillage.com/en/lembar-port-guide-en/
- Semelar Village, guide to getting from Lombok airport to Sekotong (time from the airport, transfer prices, taxi counter hours, chartered cars; September 2026)https://semelarvillage.com/en/lombok-airport-to-sekotong-en/
- Semelar Village, Gili Gede guide (small boats from Tembowong harbour, ATM, meals, cancellations; August 2026)https://semelarvillage.com/en/gili-gede-guide-en/
- Semelar Village, Lombok flights and tickets guide (airlines, typical flight times, baggage; August 2026)https://semelarvillage.com/en/lombok-flights-tickets-guide-en/
- Semelar Village, guide to getting from Bali to the Gili Islands (ferry suspension for Nyepi; October 2026)https://semelarvillage.com/en/bali-to-gili-islands-en/
- Semelar Village, Sekotong boat charter guide (jetties around Tawun; August 2026)https://semelarvillage.com/en/sekotong-boat-charter-guide-en/
- Times Indonesia, “ASDP Hentikan Sementara Penyeberangan Jawa-Bali-Lombok saat Nyepi” (March 2026; from the sources of our Bali to Gili Islands guide)https://timesindonesia.co.id/peristiwa-daerah/580607/asdp-hentikan-sementara-penyeberangan-jawabalilombok-saat-nyepi-siapkan-skema-lebaran-2026
- Satpel Lembar (BPTD Kelas II NTB) official site (Lembar Port sailings, route distance and average crossing time)https://www.satpellembar.info/
- ASDP Indonesia Ferry, official press release (introduction of online ticketing at Padang Bai and Lembar)https://www.asdp.id/siaran-pers/sukses-go-live-di-pelabuhan-padangbai-asdp-terapkan-online-ticketing-berbasis-website-melalui-tripferizycom-di-pelabuhan-lembar-mulai-besok
- kumparan, “Jadwal Kapal Lembar Padangbai 2026 dan Harga Tiketnya” (sailings and fares)https://kumparan.com/kabar-harian/jadwal-kapal-lembar-padangbai-2026-dan-harga-tiketnya-26rGupnj9LU
- Lombok Network, “Private Shuttle from Lembar Port” (distance from Lembar Port to Sekotong)https://www.lomboknetwork.net/tours-prices/private-shuttle-service/lembar-port-shuttle/
- Lombok Network, “Airport Transfer / Shuttle Service” (price and time from the airport to the village centre of Sekotong)https://www.lomboknetwork.net/tours-prices/private-shuttle-service/lombok-airport/
- Lombok International Airport official site, “Public Transport” (airport bus routes, taxi counter hours)https://www.lombok-airport.co.id/en/public-transport/index
- Lion Group official, “Kebijakan Bagasi Lion Group” (0kg free checked baggage on routes flown only by propeller aircraft)https://www.lionair.co.id/tentang-kami/newsroom/2024/11/28/kebijakan-bagasi-lion-group-praktis-aman-dan-nyaman-untuk-semua-pelanggan
- Scoot official media release (9 April 2026; Singapore to Lombok increased from 4 to 10 flights a week from June 2026)https://cdn.flyscoot.com/prod/docs/default-source/doc-agents/20260409_-media-release_scoot-expands-network-in-indonesia-with-new-flights-to-belitung-and-pontianak.pdf
- Scoot official, “Flights from Singapore to Lombok” (Singapore to Lombok flight time)https://www.flyscoot.com/flights/en/flights-from-singapore-to-lombok
- RRI (10 June 2026), “Singapore-Lombok flights increase as NTB expands global access” (checked 11 October 2026)https://rri.co.id/en/archipelago/2481944/singapore-lombok-flights-increase-as-ntb-expands-global-access
- Ferryhopper, “Gili Gede – Bali” (Gili Getaway crossing time, fares and sailing days; checked 11 October 2026)https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry-routes/direct/gili-gede-bali
- Antara (East Java), “ASDP cegah calo, 28 pelabuhan di Indonesia terapkan tiket online” (8 July 2024; no ticket sales at the port at 28 harbours including Lembar and Padang Bai)https://jatim.antaranews.com/berita/799557/asdp-cegah-calo-28-pelabuhan-di-indonesia-terapkan-tiket-online
