Bali to Gili Islands Fast Boat

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you add the Gili Islands to your Bali Itinerary?

Where are the Gili Islands Located? The Gilis are three small islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. They are not part of Bali unlikely the Nusa’s (Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan), but instead part of Lombok (Bali’s sister island) and located just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia.

So why add them to your Bali itinerary? They’re close enough and have quick access from Bali. It’s about one-half to two hours by fast boat or fast ferry. They can go directly to the islands without going to mainland Lombok.

How to get to the Gili Islands from Bali?

Three popular ports in Bali service boats to the Gili Islands. The first and second ports are Serangan and Sanur located in south Bali, it’s about 30 minutes to 1 hour from the popular tourist areas in the south like Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Bali Ngurah Rai Airport, Sanur, Jimbaran, Uluwatu, Nusa Dua and Benoa. and 1 – 1.5 hours from Ubud the central Bali area. Some excellent boat operators service the Gili Islands from Serangan port like Blue Water Express, Gili Gateway and Ekajaya Fast Ferry. Some boats operating from Sanur port are Wijaya Buyuk, Semayaone Fast Cruise, and Wanderlust Cruise.

The third port is Padang Bai in central east Bali. It takes 1.5 hours from Ubud, 1 hour from Sidemen, 30 minutes from Candi Dasa, and 1.5 hours from Amed East Bali. and you will drive 1.5 – 2 hours from the southern areas. Fast boats/ferries that service Gili Islands from Padang Bai are Eka Jaya, Samaya One, Golden Queen, and Blue Water Express.

Don’t worry about your land transport transfer most fast boat/ferry operators provide shuttle pickup and drop-off to your accommodation. Or pay some fees if you want private car transport or if your pickup/drop-off point is out of shuttle coverage areas. We would suggest some route options for adding your Bali to the Gilis boat trip to your itinerary.

1. Heading out from south Bali (Serangan/Sanur Port) – return to central east Bali (Padang Bai Port).
   When you start to explore Bali from the southern areas (Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Bali Airport, Sanur, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Uluwatu etc. Then insert the trip to Gili Trawangan / Gili Air / Meno by departing from the southern port and returning to central east to continue exploring the Ubud and east Bali like Sidemen, Candi Dasa, Amen, Tulamben, and even to Lovina north Bali.
2. Heading Out from central east Bali (Padang Bai Port) – Return to South Bali (Serangan/Sanur Port)
   If you explore Ubud and the east as a start (Sidemen, Candi Dasa, Amed, Tulamben), departing from Padang Bai is the shortest option. Returning to Serangan to explore the south before you leave.
3. Out and Return to the south
   Serangan and Sanur the south Bali port are usually quieter and better preparable places for tourists. It is not as busy as Padang Bai port but takes a longer journey than Padang Bali. It’s about 2-2.5 hours depending on the sea condition.
4. Out from Padang Bai to The Gilis – Return to Padang Bai
   Some people may not be comfortable having long sea journeys so this could be the best option. It’s only 1-1.5 hours on a single-leg journey. However, the port could be so hectic and crowded in the high tourist season July to August.

As mentioned above taking the fast boat or fast ferry from Bali is the easiest way and shortest time to get to the Gili Islands. It’s 1-1.5 hours from Padang Bai and 2 hours from south Bali. Most Travellers take trips from Bali to Gili Trawangan / Gili T and catch a local boat there to get to Gili Air and Gili Meno. We recommend spending at least two days on the islands, but if you want more time to visit the three Gilis then 3 – 4 days should be best.

Another way to get to Gili Islands from Bali is to take a flight to Lombok mainland and drive to the north to catch a local boat transferring to the islands. The total journey could be more than 4 hours. This could be an alternative only when bad weather on the sea

Which Gili island is the best to visit?

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan or Gili T is the largest island, with only 3 km long and 2 km could access the coast in less than 1 hour by bicycle. There are no motor vehicles only horse carts (locals call them Cidomo). From Bali to Gili Trawangan is also the closest. Gili T has lots of beach bars, restaurants and accommodation options. The fact that receives the most visitors annually, is known for its nightlife that’s why people tend to say the islands are for the young parties and backpackers.

Gili Meno

Gili Meno is a very quiet island, the opposite of Gili Trawangan. If you plan to escape and totally take rest from your last madness or even your daily routine then Meno could be the option. Most fast boat operators don’t provide a direct route to Gili Meno. Instead, you could access via Gili Air or Gili T with local boats which operate 2 – 3 times a day to service transferring between the islands.

Gili Air

Gili Air is a bland of Gili T and Gili Meno. Popular with the best Gili Island for honeymoons, family trips, and travellers who want to chill out mind, not for parties but need more action than in Gili Meno. Gili Air has more restaurants and accommodation options than Meno.