How to get there
Lombok to Gili Islands
The public boat from Bangsal harbour reaches the Gilis in 15 to 30 minutes for just a few dollars. It is the cheapest, simplest hop in the area.
Our pick
Use the public boat from Bangsal. Buy your ticket only at the official Karya Bahari counter to avoid touts. The slow boats leave when they fill, so allow a buffer, and note that the last departures are mid-afternoon.
Your options
Public boat from Bangsal
Around $2 to $4 (working estimate)- Duration:
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Frequency:
- Leaves when roughly 20 passengers fill the boat
Buy at the official Karya Bahari counter, not from touts on the approach.
Private speedboat charter
From around $35 per boat (working estimate)- Duration:
- 10 to 15 minutes
- Frequency:
- On demand
Fitting this into a wider budget? See our Indonesia travel costs guide for daily budgets by travel style.
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Common questions
- How long is the boat from Lombok to the Gilis?
- About 15 to 30 minutes on the public boat from Bangsal, and a little less by private speedboat.
- How much does it cost?
- Around $2 to $4 on the public boat, or from about $35 for a private charter that you do not share.
- Is it reliable?
- Very, in daylight. Service thins out after about 4pm, so do not arrive late.
- Anything to watch out for?
- Public boats leave only when full, so there is no fixed timetable. Ignore touts pushing inflated private charters and buy at the official counter.
- How do you get from the Gili Islands to Lombok?
- Take the public boat from the island back to Bangsal harbour on Lombok, about 15 to 30 minutes for a few dollars as a working estimate, then continue by road. It is the same crossing as the outbound trip in reverse, it also leaves when full, and service thins out in the afternoon, so do not schedule it tight against a flight.
- How early should you leave the Gilis to catch a flight from Lombok?
- Cross in the morning and treat the onward road transfer from Bangsal as a long leg, since Lombok's airport is on the other side of the island. Boats leave when full, so leave generous buffer and confirm the current timings locally. For an international departure, sleeping on Lombok the night before is the safer plan.
Itineraries that use this route
See it in a full day-by-day trip you can book.
Plan around the journey
Where to stay, when to go, and what to do at either end.
Prices and schedules are working estimates and change with season and operator. Confirm current fares and departure times before you book. Some links are affiliate links; booking through them helps fund the site at no extra cost to you.