Getting to the Gili Islands: boats from Bali and Lombok

There are no airports on the Gili Islands, so every visitor arrives the same way: by boat. The Gilis sit off the northwest coast of Lombok, and you can reach them from either Bali or the Lombok mainland.

From Bali, fast boats are the usual choice. Most leave from Padangbai or Serangan near Sanur, with a few from Amed in the northeast. The crossing takes roughly two to three hours depending on the operator, the sea, and how many stops the boat makes. In high season and rough weather, schedules slip, so build in a buffer day before any onward flight out of Bali.

From Lombok, the trip is shorter and cheaper. Public boats run from Bangsal harbour in the north, just a 10 to 15 minute hop to Gili Air or Gili Trawangan. If you fly into Lombok International Airport in the south, it is a 1.5 to 2 hour drive up to Bangsal, then the short crossing.

A few things worth knowing before you book. Fast-boat safety varies between operators, so choose an established company rather than the cheapest ticket. Boats land on the beach, not at a pier, so you wade the last few metres; pack a dry bag and shoes you do not mind getting wet. A small harbour or eco tax is collected on arrival on each island.

Once you are on an island, getting around is simple because there are no cars or motorbikes. You walk, hire a bicycle, or take a cidomo, the small pony-drawn cart that serves as the local taxi. Island-hopping between Trawangan, Meno and Air is done on the public shuttle boat, which runs a couple of times a day on a fixed loop.

Plan your return the same way you arrive: book the boat back at least a day ahead in busy periods, and never cut it fine with a same-day connection to an international flight.