Bali guide › North and east Bali
How do you reach the Gili Islands from Bali?
First, a point that often surprises people: the Gili Islands are not in Bali but in Lombok, the large neighbouring island. You reach them by boat from Padangbai, a small port on the east of Bali, about 1 hour from Ubud and 1.5 to 2 hours from the south of the island.
Three islands, three moods:
- Gili Trawangan: nicknamed Gili T, the liveliest, with a well-known nightlife. It is, in miniature, the local Ibiza.
- Gili Air: much calmer than Gili T but still with a good choice of restaurants, bars and a few shops.
- Gili Meno: far (far) quieter and more remote, a desert-island feel.
There are no cars or scooters on the islands: you walk, cycle or take a horse-drawn cart.
How to get there: by fast boat, directly from Padangbai:
- Journey time: about 1.5 hours to Gili Trawangan and 1 hour 45 minutes to Gili Air.
- Departures: more in the morning (from about 8 am, then roughly hourly), with a few boats in the afternoon.
- Price: about $25 to $40 one way, depending on the company and the season.
- A slow alternative: the ferry to Lembar, in Lombok, takes 4 to 6 hours, and you then still have to reach a port for the Gilis.
The traps: the price of the same journey can range from 250,000 to 1,000,000 IDR ($14 to $56) depending on the middleman. Book in advance with a reputable company or seller, and beware of touts at the harbour. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure. The crossing can be rough, especially in the wet season, with cancellations when the sea is too bad: if you get seasick, take medication before boarding.
Padangbai itself deserves a night if you like snorkelling: Blue Lagoon bay and Bias Tugel beach are two good spots, less well known than those on the east of the island.
Verdict: an easy, popular add-on to a Bali trip, but the crossing is a real journey, so don't schedule it tight against a flight.
Tip: take a morning boat, and leave a safety margin if you have a flight or a transfer the next day. Remember too that Lombok, unlike Bali, is mostly Muslim, as are the Gili Islands, so respect local customs and dress modestly away from the beach.
Prices and times checked in October 2026; confirm before you go.
More landmarks in this section
- What is there to see in north and east Bali, and for how long?
- What is there to do in Munduk?
- Lovina: is the dolphin trip worth doing, and is it ethical?
- Amed and Tulamben: what to do, and can you snorkel the Liberty?
- Are Lempuyang's Gates of Heaven worth it, and when to go?
- Why stay in Sidemen instead of Ubud?
- What is there to do in Candidasa, and should you stay?
- What to do in Pemuteran: snorkelling, Biorock and Menjangan?