Fast boats from Padang Bai to Lombok take 2h 15m. 1 boat runs daily, departing at 08:30, from IDR 600,000 (≈US$37) per adult one way, with no booking fee. Most land at Bangsal (north Lombok, public boats). Boarding is from a jetty, so your feet stay dry.
Good to know
Boats land at Bangsal in north Lombok, usually via the Gilis
Vehicles stop before Bangsal harbour: walk or take a cidomo
Buy onward transport only at official counters
Harbour fees about IDR 10,000, cash, at Padang Bai and Bangsal
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 Bangsal Harbour in Pemenang, north Lombok, the main port for public boats to the Gili Islands. Fast boats from Padang Bai usually call at Gili Trawangan and/or Gili Air first, so stay on board until the crew calls Bangsal; the timetable above shows the arrival time. Bangsal is about 15 minutes by fast boat from the Gilis, which makes it the easiest landing for north and west Lombok. Some private speedboats use Teluk Nare, a quieter jetty near Senggigi, but this route lands at Bangsal. Check in at Padang Bai 30 to 45 minutes before departure and buy only at your operator's counter: touts work the car park there too. Pay the Padang Bai harbour fee of about IDR 10,000 in cash.
What is Bangsal harbour like?
Busy and a little chaotic. Cars and minibuses stop a few hundred metres before the harbour, so you walk or take a cidomo (horse cart) for the last stretch; agree the price before loading bags. Touts are common and may offer transport or "tickets" you do not need. Buy onward transport at the official office or arrange a driver in advance, and ignore anyone who says your ticket is not valid. A harbour fee of about IDR 10,000 is paid in cash; operator listings quote this amount, and official figures may differ. Landing can be from a jetty or the beach depending on the boat and the tide, so keep sandals on. Keep your bags close and your passport and phone with you, especially while you wait for a cidomo.
How do I get on from Bangsal?
Arrange your transport before you sail if you can. Senggigi and Mataram are the usual next stops, and Lombok International Airport in the south is about 2 hours by road. Drivers wait beyond the vehicle barrier, and many hotels in Senggigi offer pickups if you send your arrival time. If you are heading to the Gilis after all, public boats from Bangsal leave when full and take 20 to 45 minutes, while fast boats take about 15 minutes. For Mount Rinjani treks, most operators collect guests from Senggigi or Mataram the evening before. If you land in the afternoon, plan the drive in daylight: roads in north Lombok are winding and slow after dark, and drivers prefer to know your arrival time in advance. Bring some cash, as card payment is rare at the harbour.
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: Kilian Karger