Fast boats from Padang Bai to Gili Air take 1h 45m. 1 boat runs daily, departing at 09:00, from IDR 450,000 (≈US$28) per adult one way, with no booking fee. Boarding is from a jetty, so your feet stay dry.
Good to know
Boats usually stop at Gili Trawangan first
Beach landing on Gili Air: expect wet ankles
Harbour fees in cash at Padang Bai and on the Gilis
Gili Air is quieter than Trawangan and closest to Lombok
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.
Usually not. Most fast boats from Padang Bai call at Gili Trawangan first and then continue to Gili Air, so stay on board until the crew calls Gili Air. The stop is short, usually 10 to 20 minutes, and the timetable above shows when each boat arrives. Padang Bai is about 1.5 to 2 hours by road from Kuta or Seminyak and 1 to 1.25 hours from Ubud, so most travellers start early. At the harbour, buy and check in only at your operator's counter, 30 to 45 minutes before departure, and pay the harbour fee of about IDR 10,000 in cash. Touts in the car park sometimes sell invalid tickets or ask for extra "port fees". Many fares include a hotel transfer, marked in the timetable.
Will my feet get wet on Gili Air?
Yes, a little. Gili Air has a beach landing on the south-east coast, so expect to step off into ankle-deep water. Wear sandals, roll up your trousers and keep your phone and passport in a dry bag. Porters carry suitcases up the beach for a small tip. There are no cars or motorbikes on the island: you walk, cycle or take a cidomo (horse cart), and most hotels are a short walk or ride away. A harbour fee of about IDR 10,000 to 20,000 is paid in cash. Gili Air is the quietest of the two main Gilis, with calm swimming beaches, village cafés and good snorkelling off the east coast. For your return, check in at your operator's office near the harbour 30 minutes before departure.
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: Bernard Hermant