HOW TO GET FROM BALI TO THE GILI ISLANDS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE!
WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET FROM BALI THE THE GILI ISLANDS?
BALI TO THE GILI ISLANDS: DIRECT OPTION
To directly get over from Bali to the Gili Islands, you will need to catch a direct ferry or fast boat service from Bali. There are two options where you can do this from, either Padang Bai port (East coast of Bali) or Amed port (North East coast of Bali):
OPTION 1: BOAT TRANSFER FROM PADANG BAI PORT
The most popular harbour is Padang Bai, located on the East Coast of Bali. It is also the harbour with the furthest distance to travel across the ocean.
The ocean between Bali and the Gili Islands is one of the deepest bodies of water in the world, the open seas from Padang Bai can sometimes be notoriously rough.
Therefore, it is worth paying more for a quality boat service from Padang Bai port. The Blue Water Express is the most recommended and reputable boat transfer service that operates from Padang Bai Harbour.
BLUE WATER EXPRESS PRICES:
The Blue Water Express from Padang Bai port currently charge 830,000 IDR (approx. £43) per person from Bali to Gili Trawangan, but do offer ‘Early Bird’ discounts if booked online in advance.
OPTION 2: BOAT TRANSFER FROM AMED PORT
Another harbour is in Amed on the North coast of Bali. Here, you can catch the reputable Freebird Express fast boat. This is the boat transfer that we personally used. We advise to always book online and secure your spot before you arrive to Bali.
While again the seas can be rough getting across from Bali to the Gili Islands, we purposefully chose this port as the distance to cross the ocean is less than from Padang Bai.
FREEBIRD EXPRESS PRICES:
Freebird Express from Amed charge 500,000 IDR (approx. £25) one-way per person, and 900,000 IDR (approx. £45) for a return trip from Bali to Gili Trawangan.
BALI TO THE GILI ISLANDS: INDIRECT OPTION
If you are afraid of the potentially rough seas you may encounter getting across from Bali to the Gili Islands, there is an alternative yet indirect option that you can take instead:
OPTION 3: FLIGHT TO LOMBOK & TRANSFER
First, board a very short flight from Bali to Lombok Airport. To then get to the Gili Islands, pre-arrange an all inclusive private transfer straight from the airport.
This will include a private driver, who will take you to the quiet mainland Harbour of Teluk Nare (located in North West Lombok). This is then followed by a short 5 to 10 minute private boat ride from Lombok over to the Gili Islands.
As the Gili Islands are located incredibly close to the shore of North West Lombok, this is a brilliant solution for those who are afraid of crossing open ocean as the water is not deep here.
OUR RECOMMENDED ALL-INCLUSIVE PRIVATE TRANSFER COMPANY:
We used Sudin Transport (to get from Gili Air to South Lombok) and they provided an incredible service. They were excellent with their WhatsApp communication, friendly, organised and we felt very safe with them.
If you want to pre-book a reliable Lombok to Gili Island private transfer, we truly would recommend them.
WHICH GILI ISLAND SHOULD I CHOOSE?
The Gili Islands are a cluster of three small islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air – nestled just off the North-West coast of Lombok.
Though modest in size, these islands are packed with palm trees, soft sand-fringed beaches and vibrant coral reefs. Just a stones throw away from each other – every island has their own unique vibe and could not be more different!
Let’s give Goldilocks a run for her money as we discover which is the “just right” island for you to visit!
GILI TRAWANGAN
(THE PARTY ISLAND)
Gili Trawangan (nicknamed “Gili T”) is the closest island to Bali, and the largest of the three islands (though still only 6 square miles)!
You could say its larger size matches it “larger than life” personality – the fun-filled, party animal and socialite – and certainly the loudest of the three islands!
Visit here for a constant buzz of action and noise, off-the-scale and somewhat mental nightlife and revel in its contagious, chaotic energy.
Unsurprisingly, it is the most developed island, packed full of most options for Gili Islands hotels, restaurants, bars, and activities: such as snorkelling, diving, etc. With the island being so incredibly popular, make sure to book your Gili Trawalangan accommodation in advance.
Might be for you if you love the party scene, the bustle and hustle, you’re a solo traveller or group of friends looking for a great time with a few crazy nights out!
Might not be for you if you want a quiet, subdued island escape!
GILI MENO
(THE QUIET ISLAND)
Gili Meno, the middle island, is also the smallest of the three! Dubbed the ‘quiet sister’ of its more livelier siblings, Gili Meno remains barely touched by tourism, hosting just a handful of scattered low-key restaurants and charming accommodation.
We recommend staying at the idyllic Les Villas Ottalia Gili Meno accommodation when visiting Gili Meno!
Enjoy arguably the best, most unspoilt beaches of the Gili Islands on this tranquil desert island. Inland is delightfully frozen in time. Find scattered wood homesteads, piles of coconuts, fields of chickens and brown cows – you’ll probably be the only tourists there!
Be sure to do a snorkel tour (arrange with one of the beach vendors) to visit the best snorkelling spots to see turtles, the mesmerising Gili Meno statues and a shipwreck!
Might be for you if you’re on your Honeymoon, travelling as a couple, family or anyone just seeking out a tranquil spot to fully relax and unwind.
Might not be for you if you get bored easily or want a more lively vibe!
GILI AIR
(THE CHILLED ISLAND)
Gili Air, is the final island and closest to mainland Lombok, and in the words of our girl Goldilocks – Our “just right” island! Gili Air has an indescribable quirk of being chilled, calming, yet still full of charisma and character.
We recommend staying at the bold and quirky Pink Coco Gili Air hotel when on Gili Air island!
Take your pick of snorkelling the East Coast reefs in search of clownfish and turtles, hire a bike and explore the island, grab a smoothie bowl from a quirky cafe, snuggle on beach beanbags at an open air movie night or watch sunset at a beach bar. Look out for unspoilt, white sand beaches on the West side.
Might be for you if you’re looking for a chilled getaway with a more intimate feel, mixed in with choices of eateries, bars and evening entertainment.
Might not be for you if you’re after Gili T ‘wild’ nights out. Gili Air does provide the fun – but in a more sophisticated way!
TRAVELLING BETWEEN GILI ISLANDS
PUBLIC BOAT TRANSFERS
Before we visited the Gili Islands, all research we did suggested the only option to travel between Gili Islands was to take a scheduled public boat service.
These services depart 2 to 3 times a day from a specific port on each island. Though it is incredibly cheap (it was around £2 a person), the limited time options and logistics of getting to the port (if you are based on the other side of the island, for example) wasn’t great.
Of course, these are the only public boat transfer servicing the whole of that island, so queues can get pretty long too especially during peak seasons.
PRIVATE BOAT TRANSFERS
It wasn’t until we personally visited the Gili Islands that we realised there was a much easier way to travel between Gili Islands – private boat transfers!
There are many locals who provide private boat transfers. When we first approached Gili Trawangan from our Freebird Express service from Bali, on approach we saw the public transfer boat with about 30-40 people waiting, it was hectic.
However, there were also a couple of other boats hanging around offering a private transfer. We decided to opt for this option, and though slightly more expensive at 300,000 IDR (approximately £7.50 each).
It was worth every penny as we were seamlessly taken across to Gili Meno and dropped off along the beach as close to our hotel as they could possibly get. They even helped us carry our bags to the beach!
When you are on an island and want to arrange another private transfer for the next day (for example, Gili Meno to Gili Air as we did), all you have to do is walk along the beachfronts.
You will see countless ‘private boat transfer’ stalls along the beachfronts, just book with them for whenever you want. The signs will say something like this:
The benefits of these services are they don’t operate on a set time, they will leave whenever you want. The only exception is in the evening, as the tide will be far too low between Gili Islands for them to physically get across. A morning or early afternoon time is perfect to travel between Gili Islands, as this is when high tide is.
We would highly recommend using these private boat transfer options to travel between Gili Islands. They are a seamless experience that drop you right at the foot of your next hotel.
It also saves you the hassle and stress of the public boat services, plus the additional hassle of then making your way to your next hotel from the port.
GETTING AROUND THE GILI ISLANDS
Due to their small size, you are able to loop the full circumference of each Gili Island in just a few hours on foot! In particularly, walking is the best way to explore the beachfronts.
The majority of Gili Island hotels provide bike hire (additional cost) if you fancy getting round a bit quicker!
Note: They’re great for weaving the inland pathways, but some sections of beach are purely sand – so you’ll have to dismount and push in places!
✘ DO NOT USE THE GILI HORSES! ✘
During your time on the Gili Islands, you’ll most probably be offered a ride on a “Cidomo” to get around. These are heavy , traditional Indonesian carriages strapped to a tiny, thirsty and heart wrenchingly exhausted pony.
Please do not use them, get your exercise in and leave the line of ponies in the shade. They are worked to the bone from dusk to dawn carting ridiculously heavy water bottles and imported produce from the mainland.
This is one of the only downside to the Gili Islands, especially if you are an animal lover.
TOP TIPS FOR VISITING THE GILI ISLANDS
Indonesian Rupiah
£1 (GBP) = 19,060 (IDR)
(figures as per 2023)
Vaccinations
Click here for Indonesia vaccination recommendations. We recommend: Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid as standard, and additionally Tetanus and Rabies (because of the stray dogs, cats and wild monkeys on the mainland). We also got Japanese Encephalitis just to be safe from a rare but deadly side effect of an Indonesian mosquito bite. Always consult your local travel nurse for the latest advice.
Plug Adaptors
You will require an adaptor to suit Type C & F (Europlug). Their standard voltage is 230V.
ATM Cash Machines
Though there are a few ATM machines on Gili T and Gili Air (there are no working ATM’s on Gili Meno!), use these as an emergency option only. They are not all 24hrs and withdrawal amounts can be low. Best option is to always bring cash from the mainland.
Gili Islands Weather
Throughout the year, the Gili Islands on the most part experience gloriously hot, sunny weather. Whilst the ‘rainy season’ runs from November-April, the Gili’s micro-climate means it gets far less rain than the mainland!
Peak Season On The Gili Islands
The two peak seasons of (and the best time to visit) the Gili Islands are July – August and December – January. These are the busiest periods for tourism.
GILI ISLAND PACKING LIST
- Loose comfortable clothing, such as tank tops and cotton shorts.
- Your swimsuit.
- Protective beach shoes.
- Comfortable lightweight walking shoes with good grip.
- A microfibre beach towel (fast drying & lightweight).
- A spare waterproof bag to store your wet towel / swimsuit.
- A GoPro / waterproof camera to capture amazing footage!
- Or! A waterproof dry bag (with a lanyard!) to take photos and videos on your smartphone instead.
- High factor sun cream
- After sun moisturising cream.
- Sun protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.
- Hygienic wet wipes for the live aboard boat, the shower on-board is basically a hose pipe!
- A medical pouch / first aid kit.
- Refillable water bottle.
- Powered battery pack (& cable) for your phone.
CONCLUSION: BALI TO THE GILI ISLANDS
In conclusion, there are three main options to choose from when deciding how to get from Bali to the Gili Islands.
If you do not mind an open sea crossing, you can transfer directly from Bali on a fast boat either from Padang Bai port with Bluebird Express, or from Amed port with Freebird Express.
If you are not keen on the idea of an open sea crossing, you can always take a short flight from Bali to Lombok before a private land and short sea transfer to the Gili Islands.
While we personally went directly from Bali to Gili Trawangan from Amed port, if we were to do this experience again, we would absolutely choose the indirect option to fly into Lombok to then have Sudin Transport seamlessly transfer us to the Gili Islands.
Despite the sea distance being smaller from Amed port, the sea crossing we had was still pretty rough, with multiple people being sick at the back of the boat!
This blog post was written by Jordie Flain!
Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com
A travel-obsessed Sagittarius creating honest, easy-to-follow guides. Powered by tea, chocolate and a slightly concerning amount of tomato ketchup.
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