Gili Islands
The smallest, quietest Gili
Few direct fast boats stop here. Most travellers transfer by the public island-hopping boat from Gili Trawangan or Gili Air (10–20 minutes).
Photo: Tom BixlerGetting there
Harbours
east coast
Few direct fast boats; most travellers transfer by public boat from Gili Trawangan or Gili Air.
Check-in guideOn the island
West coast
A ring of sculptures on the sea floor, a short swim from the beach.
Gear hire is paid locally.
Inland
A quiet lake in the middle of the island, good for birdwatching at dawn.
Free.
All round
The smallest and quietest Gili. Walk round it in about an hour.
Free.
Not part of your boat ticket. Bring some cash in small notes for harbour fees.
IDR 150,000
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.
Paid locally, not to usCheck locally, amounts can changeSource
IDR 20,000
Paid in cash. Some guides quote IDR 10,000; the amount may change.
Paid locally, not to usCheck locally, amounts can changeSource
Guides
Route planning
Padang Bai has the shortest crossing, Serangan the shortest drive from south Bali, and Sanur lets you stop at Nusa Penida on the way. Door-to-door times, boarding and fees compared.
Updated
Harbour guides
Sanur has the most boats to Nusa Penida and Lembongan, often with a wet beach boarding. Serangan is quieter, boards from a jetty and is faster to the Gilis. Here is how to choose.
Updated
Weather & sea
The Badung Strait to Nusa Penida is usually calmer than the Lombok Strait to the Gilis. A month-by-month guide, what happens when boats are cancelled, and how to avoid feeling sick.
Updated
FAQ
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.
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.
Probably. Sanur's new harbour (opened 2022) has a jetty, but many Penida and Lembongan boats still load from the beach depending on the operator and the tide. Expect to wade ankle- to knee-deep: wear shorts and sandals and keep your phone in a dry bag. Jungut Batu (Lembongan) and Gili Air are beach landings too. Serangan uses a jetty.
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).
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.
Yes, bring some. ATMs on Nusa Penida, Lembongan and the Gilis are few and sometimes run out of cash. Harbour fees are usually cash-only, while the Klungkung island fee is cashless (card or QR). Your booking with us is paid online, by bank transfer, on WhatsApp or at our Sanur office.