Fast boats from Gili Air to Padang Bai take 1h 45m. 1 boat runs daily, departing at 11:30, from IDR 450,000 (≈US$28) per adult one way, with no booking fee. Boarding is from the beach — expect to wade ankle- to knee-deep.
Good to know
Check in at the operator's office 30 minutes before departure
Beach boarding on Gili Air: wear sandals
Boats may call at Gili Trawangan on the way
Padang Bai to Kuta or Seminyak is 1.5 to 2 hours by road
Times and fares are sample data until the operator confirms them. We show the live price before you pay.
Compare the operators
Boat, luggage allowance and check-in for each operator. We ask every operator for life jackets in adult and child sizes, a marine radio and passenger insurance.
At your operator's office near the harbour on the south-east coast, 30 minutes before departure, with your passport and QR e-ticket. There are no cars on the island, so walk, cycle or take a cidomo with your bags. Pay the harbour fee of about IDR 10,000 to 20,000 in cash. Boarding is from the beach, so expect to wade in ankle-deep water: wear sandals and keep your phone in a dry bag. Porters load suitcases for you. Some boats call at Gili Trawangan before crossing to Bali, and you stay on board during the stop. Give the cidomo driver your operator's name. Arrive early in high season, as the beach is busy when several boats arrive and leave together, and the crew calls boats by operator and destination.
How do I get from Padang Bai to my hotel?
Padang Bai is in east Bali. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours by road to Kuta or Seminyak, a little less to Sanur, and 1 to 1.25 hours to Ubud. If your fare includes a transfer, the driver meets you at the operator's counter after you land. Otherwise use only official taxis or a driver you booked in advance, as touts at the harbour can be pushy. If you have a flight the same day, leave a generous buffer: sea conditions and traffic on the coast road can both cause delays. Padang Bai has guesthouses, warungs and a small beach, so it is an easy place to spend a night if you land late. The public car ferry to Lombok and Nusa Penida uses the same port, so follow the signs for fast boats and transfers.
Is the crossing rough?
It can be. The Lombok Strait is deep and open to the Indian Ocean swell, so it moves more than the short hop to Nusa Penida. The calmest months are usually April, May and October; July and August bring the biggest swell. Morning departures are usually smoother than afternoon ones. If you get seasick, take a tablet 30 to 60 minutes before departure, sit in the middle or rear of the lower deck, look at the horizon and skip a heavy breakfast. Keep a light jacket handy, as air-conditioned cabins can be cold. When the harbour master issues a weather warning, sailings are suspended; if your boat is cancelled, you can move to the next departure for free or get a full refund, and we message you on WhatsApp as soon as we know.
Sea conditions by month
What the crossing is usually like. Not a forecast.
JanModerate
FebModerate
MarModerate
AprCalm
MayCalm
JunModerate
JulRough
AugRough
SepModerate
Oct (this month)Calm
NovModerate
DecModerate
The Lombok Strait is deeper and more exposed than the Badung Strait, so Gili crossings move more. April, May and October are usually the calmest months; July and August bring the biggest swell. Morning sailings are usually smoother, and the harbour master suspends crossings when a weather warning is issued. General guidance, not a forecast.
Closures and local fees
Days with no boats
No closures announced for this route right now.
Every year on Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence (usually in March), all Bali harbours close for 24 hours. Weather closures are announced by the harbour master on the day; we message you on WhatsApp if your boat is affected.
Costs not in your ticket
Paid locally to the government or harbour, not to us. Amounts per person.
Bali tourist levy (Love Bali)IDR 150,000 (≈US$9)
Paid once per entry to Bali by every foreign visitor, online at lovebali.baliprov.go.id (beware of lookalike sites). Not part of your boat ticket.
How long is the fast boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida?
About 40 minutes (30–45 depending on the operator and the sea). Sanur to Nusa Lembongan is about 35 minutes. Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan takes about 1.5 hours, and Sanur or Serangan to the Gilis 2¼–3½ hours with stops.
What time should I check in?
Be at your operator's counter 30–45 minutes before departure with your QR e-ticket and passport. If you added hotel pickup, we send the exact pickup time on WhatsApp the evening before.
How much luggage can I bring?
Usually one bag up to 20–25 kg plus a small hand bag per passenger. Surfboards, bikes, dive gear or extra bags may cost extra — add them as an extra when booking. Porters load bags into the hold or onto the roof, so keep your passport, phone and valuables with you.
Is it safe? Are there life jackets?
We ask every operator we work with for life jackets in adult and child sizes and a radio on board. Check the safety equipment listed on each boat before you book, listen to the crew briefing and wear your life jacket when asked. Crossings are suspended when the harbour master (Syahbandar) issues a weather warning.
I get seasick. Any tips?
Take seasickness tablets 30–60 minutes before departure, sit in the middle or rear of the lower deck, look at the horizon and skip a heavy meal. Morning crossings are usually calmer. The Lombok Strait (Gili routes) is rougher than the Badung Strait (Penida and Lembongan).
What happens if my boat is cancelled because of weather?
If the harbour master or the operator cancels a sailing, we move you to the next available departure free of charge or give you a full refund — your choice. We contact you on WhatsApp as soon as we know.
Are island taxes and harbour fees included in the ticket price?
No — they are paid locally, not to us. Budget for the Bali tourist levy IDR 150,000 (pay at lovebali.baliprov.go.id), the Nusa Penida / Lembongan island fee IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child (cashless), about IDR 25,000 per major Penida attraction, and harbour fees of about IDR 10,000–20,000 in cash at Padang Bai, the Gilis and Bangsal.
Can I go directly from Nusa Penida or Lembongan to the Gili Islands?
Yes. Operators such as Eka Jaya, BlueWater Express, Semaya One and The Tanis run direct island-to-island boats in about 1¾–2¾ hours, so you don't need to go back to Bali.
Photo: Galih Jelih