How to get to Gili islands

gili indonesia gili air gili meno gili tranwangan

This guide describes how to get to the Gili islands from Lombok or Bali in Indonesia. Given the islands are small, you will come on a boat. However, there are a few different kinds with vastly dissimilar prices.

Secondly, there are three three islands next to Lombok: Gili Air (closest to Lombok), Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan (Gili T).

Which Gili island is right for you?

They all have a distinct personality, so the question is which Gili island in Indonesia is right for you. I definitely did not know so our thought process below.

One guide summarized it succinctly: Gili T is for people in their 20-30s, Air for 30-40s and Meno for, and here he waved his hand in respect.

Gili T is definitely the party island similar to Ibiza or Majorca in the Mediterranean. The parties are legendary and can be well heard across the water in Meno. Days might start well past noon but the energy of the place is sometimes incredible.

Meno, on the other hand, has a reputation as a “honeymoon island” with the smallest size, less development and secluded luxury accommodations. However, a local warung (local restaurant) owner said that those honeymooners had been into some noisy parties lately.

Air is the mix between those two with many homestays and restaurants and many tourists there. However, Air is still ticking according to its own clock with most shops closing at 5-6pm. The atmospheric restaurants on the beach have only a few tourists each, who can enjoy their ocean breeze without any distraction. Tranquility, soothing music or a single guitar playing, and the sound of waves. All under a million stars. Blissful.

How to get there?

You can get to all Gili islands from (1) Lombok or (2) Bali. Schedules and prices for both below.

(1) Lombok – Gili (Air, Meno or Trawangan)

Step (1a) Go to Bangsal

Bangsal is the Lombok entry point to all Gili islands. When you approach the harbor, the main building with the waiting area is ahead of you. Disregard all the touts selling tickets at inflated prices, disregard their helpful comments (“I have the last two tickets”) and continue. If coming in a (shared) taxi, you will go through the security gate and park in the small parking lot on the right hand side.

Step (1b) Fast or slow boat?

In general, you will have to decide if you want to go to your Gili island on a fast or a slow boat. Your last homestay, guides and touts will try to convince you that the best, fastest, safest and whatever other adjective they can come up with, is the fast boat. You will hear that it only takes 5 minutes to Gili Air (in reality 7-10 depending on the waves). And it is only IDR 85,000 ($6) for a one-way ticket. And that is the lowest direct price. You will pay IDR 100,000 from any touts with the initial prices quoted even higher.

In theory it is a relative bargain if you compare this with a PATH ticket across the Hudson river in New York or the tube and the Thames in London.

However, the slow boat takes only 15 minutes to Gili Air and is only IDR 20,000 ($1.40). True, you will not depart from the shiny modern terminal, where all the tourists are waiting. If you decide to catch the slow boat, you will board your boat beyond the parking lot, where you arrived. You will buy a ticket at the white office and receive a paper ticket.

The slow boat is not departing on fixed schedule. It is departing when full (30 passengers). During the busy morning and noon timeframes, even if you have ticket #6, you will probably wait no longer than 15-20 minutes.

Finally, You will ride with the locals who will immediately offer you a smile and a good seat.

Step (1c) Gili Air arrival

The first stop for all boats is Gili Air. All boats arrive at the same harbor. There will probably be a mad rush among the local residents to disembark when the boat is still bouncing. A better idea to wait an extra minute.

Step (1d) Continue to Gili Meno or Gili Trawangan

After staying in Gili Air if you want to continue to Gili Meno or Gili T, there are again two options.

(1) Slowboats at 8:30 and 15:00 daily for IDR 40,000-45,000 ($3) one way. Departure from the same harbor where you arrived.

Gili slowboat timetable
All Gili slowboat departure times.

(2) Fastboats approximately every hour as per the schedule below for IDR 85,000 ($5.70) one way. Departure from the same harbor where you arrived.

Gili boat timetable
All Gili fastboat departure times.

(1e) Continue to Bali

If you want to go to Bali, the departure times are 11:30, 11:45 and 15:00 daily for IDR 300,000 one way. Departure from the same harbor where you arrived.

(2) Bali (Padangbai) – Gili (any)

Step (2a) Go to Padangbai

1.5 hours from Amed (IDR 150,000 shuttle bus per person one way)

1 hour from Ubud or Sanur (IDR 70,000 shuttle bus per person one way)

Step (2b) Fast or slow ferry?

Decide if you want to travel by fast (1 hour) or slow ferry (5 hours). Schedules and prices below.

Padangbai Gili ferry times
Padangbai – Gili and Gili – Padangbai ferry schedule.
Padangbai Gili ferry
Padanbai to Gili and Lombok ferry schedule and prices (1).
Padangbai Gili ferry prices
Padangbai to Gili and Lombok schedule and prices (2).

Covid certificates

NO covid certificates or the Peduli Lindungi were requested on any of my crossings, either on slow or fast boats on any connection Bali-Gili-Lombok.

No request when purchasing tickets, boarding or leaving on any of the boats.

Where to go next?

If you are going to Lombok, Tetebatu (Lombok) is a beautiful traditional Indonesian village with rice fields, wild monkeys in the forest, waterfall, and amazing food.

Mt Rinjani is one of the biggest volcanoes in Indonesia. A Mt Rinjani (Lombok) Hike will be a tougher but hugely rewarding experience.

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