Bali to the Gili Islands: Fast Boat or Public Ferry, Ports, Prices and Times
Short answer
Most people take a fast boat: about 1.5 hours from Padang Bai or 1.5–2.5 hours from Serangan or Sanur, roughly US$21–45 one-way, often with hotel pickup. The cheap alternative is the public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar on Lombok (Rp65,300, 4–5 hours, tickets only online via Ferizy), then a road transfer and a short boat — a full day.
- Fast boat, Padang Bai
- about 1.5 h
- Fast boat, Serangan/Sanur
- about 1.5–2.5 h
- Fast boat price
- about US$21–45 one-way
- Public ferry to Lombok
- Rp65,300, 4–5 h
Your options
| Fast boat from Padang Bai | Fast boat from Serangan or Sanur | Public ferry via Lombok | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time on the water | about 1.5 h | about 1.5–2.5 h | 4–5 h, plus transfers |
| Door to door from South Bali | 4–5 h (incl. 1.5–2 h drive to Padang Bai) | 3–4 h | 9–11 h |
| Price | about US$21–35 one-way | about US$26–45 one-way | Rp65,300 ferry + transfer + local boat |
| Pickup from hotel | Usually included | Usually included | No |
| Lands at | Gili Trawangan, often also Air and Meno | Gili Trawangan | Lembar (Lombok), then road to Bangsal, then boat |
Door-to-door times are our estimates including pickup and check-in. Sample fares in July 2026: Padang Bai departures around US$23 one-way and US$45 return; Serangan and Sanur departures around US$26–27. Operators include Eka Jaya, BlueWater Express and Gili Getaway; prices rise in July–August and over Christmas.
Departures from Amed in East Bali have been reported as suspended; check with the operator before planning around them.
Choosing between them
Stay in South Bali or Ubud and want it easy: a fast boat with hotel pickup. Serangan departures save the long drive to Padang Bai, at a slightly higher price and longer crossing.
Already in East Bali (Candidasa, Amed, Sidemen): a fast boat from Padang Bai — the shortest crossing.
Tight budget, flexible day, or travelling with a motorbike: the public ferry. It runs around the clock with at least 13 sailings a day (daytime examples: 06:30, 09:00, 11:30, 13:30, 15:00, 16:30, 18:00). From Lembar you still need about 90 minutes by road to Bangsal and a 45-minute public boat to the Gilis, so leave early.
The ferry ticket trap
Tickets for the Padang Bai–Lembar ferry are sold only online, through ASDP’s Ferizy app or website (and partner channels), up to 60 days ahead. There are no ticket counters at the port, and Ferizy uses geofencing: you cannot buy a ticket once you are at or near the harbour. Buy the night before. Whether Ferizy accepts foreign cards is not confirmed; if payment fails, ask your accommodation to book it, or buy through a travel app that resells Ferizy tickets. More in the Indonesia ferry guide.
Before you go
- Cash. ATMs on the islands are few, and cash is the norm for small payments. Bring enough rupiah — see cash and ATMs.
- Sea conditions. Fast boats cross open water in the Lombok Strait. In rough weather crossings are delayed or cancelled; travel insurance with trip-delay cover helps, and do not plan the boat for the morning of your international flight.
- Safety. Pick operators with life jackets visible and a reasonable number of passengers. If a boat looks overloaded, wait for the next one.
- Fees on the island. Port and island fees have been charged on arrival in the past; we could not confirm a current official amount, so keep some small notes.
Sources
- Trvlogue — Bali to Gili Trawangan ferry — sample fares and times, updated October 2026
- Manta Dive Gili — getting to the Gilis — operators, Amed status
- detikBali — ASDP Lembar–Padangbai fares — December 2025: Rp65,300 adult
- JawaPos — Lembar–Padangbai ferry schedule — July 2026
- Ferizy — ASDP online ticketing
- Gridoto — buying ferry tickets officially (geofencing at ports)