Bali to the Gili Islands by Fast Boat: Harbours, Times & Operators
Bali to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Lombok by fast boat: which harbour to use, departure and crossing times, and operators, checked against their timetables.
📋 Essential Pre-Departure Checklist
- ✓Pick your harbour first: Serangan (south Bali, near the airport) or Padang Bai (east coast)
- ✓Check whether your boat sails direct or calls at Nusa Penida, Lembongan or Lombok on the way
- ✓Ask whether hotel transfers to the harbour are included: Gili Getaway offers private cars to Serangan; Angel Billabong’s Sanur tickets do not include pick-up
- ✓Travel light: there are no cars on Gili Trawangan or Gili Air
Which Bali harbour should I leave from?
Fast boats to the Gili Islands leave from two Bali harbours. Serangan, in south Bali near the airport, has the most direct options: Gili Getaway and Eka Jaya Fast Ferry both sail to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Senggigi on Lombok, with morning departures at 07:30 and 08:00 and an Eka Jaya afternoon boat at 14:30 to Gili Trawangan. Padang Bai, on Bali’s east coast, is the departure point for Semaya One (08:30 and 13:20) and an Eka Jaya morning boat (09:00) to Gili Air. Sanur is for the Nusa islands only: Rocky Fast Cruise sails to Nusa Lembongan and Angel Billabong to Nusa Penida.
How long does the crossing take?
From Serangan, Gili Getaway’s direct crossing to Gili Trawangan takes around 2 to 2½ hours, while its island-line sailing that calls at Nusa Penida takes about 3 hours 45 minutes; Eka Jaya takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 35 minutes. Gili Air is further: about 4 hours 15 minutes with Gili Getaway and 4 hours 50 minutes with Eka Jaya from Serangan, or 2 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours from Padang Bai. Times depend on how many stops the boat makes, and sea conditions can add to them.
Island-hopping via Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan
You do not have to go straight from Bali. Eka Jaya, Gili Getaway and Semaya One all run daily boats from Nusa Penida to Gili Trawangan and Gili Air (morning departures at 08:30 and 09:15, and Semaya One at 12:15 from Kutampi), and Eka Jaya and Semaya One sail from Nusa Lembongan (09:00 and 11:15). That makes Bali → Nusa Penida or Lembongan → Gilis an easy two-stop trip. Eka Jaya boards at Banjar Nyuh on Nusa Penida and at the Yellow Bridge on Lembongan.
Arriving on the Gilis and Lombok
Gili Trawangan and Gili Air have no motorised transport: horse carts (cidomo) and bicycles meet the boats, or you walk. Boats to Lombok land at Senggigi Harbour, where operators suggest a hotel shuttle, taxi or ride-hailing app. Gili Getaway also stops at Gili Gede (Ko Ko Mo jetty) in south-west Lombok, about 2 hours 15 minutes from Serangan.
Bali and Nusa islands to the Gilis and Lombok: daily departures
Departures and crossing times as published by each operator (checked 29 September 2026). Timetables change, so confirm on the operator’s site before travelling.
| Route | Operator | Departs | Crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serangan → Gili Trawangan | Eka Jaya Fast Ferry | 07:30, 08:00, 14:30 | 2h 30m – 3h 35m |
| Serangan → Gili Trawangan | Gili Getaway | 08:00 | about 2h – 2h 30m direct; 3h 45m island line |
| Serangan → Gili Air | Eka Jaya Fast Ferry | 07:30 | 4h 50m |
| Serangan → Gili Air | Gili Getaway | 08:00 | about 4h 15m |
| Padang Bai → Gili Air | Eka Jaya Fast Ferry | 09:00 | 2h 10m |
| Padang Bai → Gili Air | Semaya One | 08:30, 13:20 | around 2h – 3h |
| Serangan → Gili Gede | Gili Getaway | 08:00 | about 2h 15m |
| Nusa Penida → Gili Trawangan | Eka Jaya / Gili Getaway / Semaya One | 08:30 / 09:15 / 12:15 | about 2h 30m – 2h 35m |
| Nusa Lembongan → Gili Trawangan | Eka Jaya / Semaya One | 09:00 / 11:15 | about 2h 5m (Eka Jaya) |
| Sanur → Nusa Penida | Angel Billabong | 5 a day | about 30m |
| Sanur → Nusa Lembongan | Rocky Fast Cruise | 4 a day | 35m – 45m |
Checked 2026-09-29 against: Eka Jaya Fast Ferry schedule · Gili Getaway routes · Semaya One schedule · Rocky Fast Cruise timetable · Angel Billabong Fast Boat. Policies change; confirm with the operator before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the fast boat from Bali to Gili Trawangan?
From Serangan, about 2 to 2½ hours on Gili Getaway’s direct sailing, or 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 35 minutes with Eka Jaya, depending on stops (operator timetables, September 2026).
Which harbour in Bali do boats to the Gili Islands leave from?
Serangan in south Bali (Gili Getaway and Eka Jaya) or Padang Bai on the east coast (Semaya One and Eka Jaya). Sanur only has boats to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.
Can I go from Nusa Penida to the Gili Islands?
Yes. Eka Jaya (08:30), Gili Getaway (09:15) and Semaya One (12:15, from Kutampi) run daily boats from Nusa Penida to Gili Trawangan and Gili Air, taking about 2 hours 30 minutes to Gili Trawangan.
Are there cars on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air?
No. Neither island has motorised transport. Horse carts (cidomo) and bicycles meet the boats.