How to get to Gili Air
How to get to Gili Air
You might have heard of the Gili Islands and are planning to visit there, but you are still wondering where exactly they are and what the best way to get there is.
Hani Hideaway is located on the idyllic island of Gili Air, just off the coast of Lombok, and a short boat ride away from Bali.
We have explained below the most convenient ways to reach Gili Air. To ensure an even more seamless journey to Hani Hideaway, just reach out to us! Our team will gladly arrange your private car and boat tickets, meeting you at the Gili Air harbor upon your arrival to escort you to our retreat
The easiest way to get to the Gili Islands is flying in either to Bali or Lombok and crossing over with a boat. You can also get to the Gili Islands from Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida with a fast boat.
Bali to Gili Air
If you are traveling from Bali to Gili Air, you have a few different options. You can either catch the fast boat from Serangan or Padang Bai. There are various boat companies offering their services, so the prices and quality of service also differ. The price range for the fast boat tickets is usually in between 350,000 and 700,000 IDR. The fast boats are medium-sized passenger boats that go fairly fast, and the duration of the trip varies from around 2-2,5 hours.
Blue Water Express is one of the most reputable companies to book with. You can check the schedules and book the tickets online. If you are travelling to Hani’s, you can also contact us via email or WhatsApp, and we are glad to help with the process and book the boat ticket for you.
Most passengers opt for leaving from Padang Bai, as the harbor is closer to the Gili Islands and the boat ride is shorter. Please note that the drive from both Denpasar area and Ubud to Padang Bai takes around 1,5 hours by car, and you need to be at the harbor to do your check-in one hour before the departure.
The boat offices are right in front of the pier. You need to go there to confirm your booking and the staff will assist you with the check-in process and escort you to the boat upon the departure. Please note that you will need to pay a harbor tax on arrival and departure (10,000 IDR). Remember to keep your receipts.
The boat will stop first on Gili Trawangan, second on Gili Air and lastly in Bangsal, Lombok. Please pay attention that you get off the right place. Your luggage will be marked with tags according to your destination, and the staff will take care that the luggage gets off on the right destination.
Sea conditions vary a lot throughout the year, and sometimes these crossings are known for occasional swells and rough seas. Please don’t let this put off your trip to the Gili Islands – the trip is more than worth it! Our tip is to always travel in the morning if possible, that’s when the sea is at its calmest.
Lombok to Gili Air
If you don’t feel like taking the sea journey, but you are already in Bali, you can take a short 30 minute flight from Bali (Ngurah Rai Airport) to Lombok (Praya Lombok, LOP).
From Lombok Airport it can take around 1-2 hours to travel by car to the port of Bangsal. From Bangsal you can easily organize to catch a fast boat, a private boat or a public ferry across to Gili Air.
Fast boat from Bangsal, Lombok
The fast boat ride from Bangsal, Lombok to Gili Air is only a short 10 minute boat ride. It’s mostly same companies that serve the Bali/Gili route that stop in Lombok. None of them seem to allow you to buy Lombok to Gili Islands tickets online, most likely because the cost is so small and it’s not worth their time to sell them online. The best way is simply to show up at Bangsal port and ask when the next available boat to Gili Air is. The last fast boat is usually around 4:30pm.
Public boat from Bangsal, Lombok
The bublic boat from Bangsal runs at irregular intervals from around 7:30am to 4:30pm. You will need to buy a ticket at the harbor and then wait until there is enough passengers to run the ferry. If you are unpatient, this might not be the best way for you, as you most likely will have to wait some time for the departure! The journey to Gili Air only takes around 10 minutes.
Chartering a private boat
Flying in late and missed all the boat schedules for the day? Don’t worry! We can fix you a private boat at almost any time. However, the private boat is best to book in advance. You can expect to pay around 500,000 IDR for your own charter boat from Bangsal to Gili Air.
Please reach out to us for any inquiries or assistance with your boat ticket booking. We are looking forward to helping you in making your journey as smooth as possible.
