How to get from Bali to Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, also known as Gili T, is one-third of the Gili Islands along with Gili Air and Gili Meno. Situated off the coast of Lombok in southern Indonesia, Gili T is actually more commonly associated with the island of Bali, a notorious hotspot for travelers and holidaymakers alike. Gili Trawangan is known for much more than being picturesque and there are tons of things to do on the island. As a result, hundreds of tourists make the journey every day between Bali and Gili T. That is why we’ve created the perfect guide on how to get from Bali to Gili Trawangan so you know the best method of getting between the islands!
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How to book the boat from Bali to Gili Trawangan
As there’s no airport on the Gili Islands, the only way of getting to Gili T is by boat. That said, there are multiple ways of booking your trip across the Bali Sea so stay tuned!
12go Asia
Intro to 12go Asia with links
As we’ve mentioned in our other guides to travelling South East Asia, we relied heavily on 12Go Asia and it never let us down. The site is so easy to use as it pinpoints both your pick-up and drop-off locations, allowing you to plan when to arrive and your onward travel. In addition, it either provides you with your ticket electronically or tells you where to pick it up from. The site also provides a variety of fast boat companies such as Blue Water Express and Eka Jaya fastboat.
Through your accommodation
This option is both likely no matter if you’re staying in a hotel or hostel. Simply speak to reception or the owner of your accommodation as they’re bound to know a driver or a company that will help you book a boat.
This is especially the case in east Bali but do be cautious as some may try to add a little fee to the overall price. Do make sure to know how much the ticket actually costs, as we’ve highlighted below, so you don’t get scammed.
At the ferry port
At the ferry ports that depart to Gili T, Padang Bai Port or Serangan Pier, there are multiple company offices in the immediate vicinity. Simply rock up and you can buy a ticket over the counter.
The price of the ticket will also be a lot less as you’re going direct to the supplier and cutting out everything in between. If you’re very relaxed about timing and want to keep it as cheap as possible, this is definitely the option for you.
With a tour company
If you’d rather not deal with the stress of booking through your accommodation or at the ferry port, why not book through a tour company that will sort everything for you? This is an extremely popular method for those wishing to get from Bali to Gili Trawangan without the stress of organising it themselves.
This Viator tour takes you from Bali (Serangan or Padang Bai) to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air or Lombok, and vice versa for $65 per person.
Do bear in mind that a tour company’s prices will be much larger than the options above so companies can make a profit.
Overall, our recommended approach would be to book through 12Go Asia. They have a combination of low prices and provide you with all the information that you need. It also eliminates the stress of booking hours ahead of your intended travel time in case there are no tickets available.
Bali to Gili Islands routes
Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan
Arguably the most popular port for travel to the Gili Islands thanks to its close proximity to the islands and the popular town of Ubud. However, getting to Padang Bai does take just over an hour from Kuta but it does mean you’ll spend less time on the boat. Choose whichever method of transport you prefer!
Serangan Pier to Gili Trawangan
Naturally, being further away geographically from the Gili Islands and Gili T, leaving from Serangan Pier will make your boat journey longer. That being said, it’s far closer to other popular locations in Bali such as Seminyak, Seminyak, Uluwatu and Kuta and its super easy to get to being in South Bali.
Amed to Gili Trawangan
Situated in East Bali, Amed is the least busiest port out of the three as it’s neighbouring regions has no way near of a high population density as other areas. Nevertheless, its still a great option if you’re in the northern part of Bali and just finished dolphin watching!
Schedule and prices for the ferry from Bali to Gili Trawangan
Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan
Timings: Ferries leave from Padang Bai at 8:30am, 09:00am, 09:30am, 10:30am and 13:30pm.
Travel time: can take anywhere between 1 and 3 hours.
Operators: Eka Jaya Fast Boat, Gili Gili Fastboat, Wahana Virendra, DPrabu Fast Boat, Ganggari Fastboat, Golden Queen Fastboat, Inami Luxury Fastboat, Manta Express, Ostina Fastboat and Semaya One.
Cost: between $16 to $27 (240,000 IDR to 400,000 IDR) per person depending on the time of departure.
Serangan Pier to Gili Trawangan
Timings: Ferries leave from Serangan Pier at 07:30am, 08:00am, 8:30am and 09:00am.
Travel time: can take anywhere between 2 hours and 4 hours.
Due to the distance between Serangan Pier and Gili Trawangan, there will be other stop-offs including Padang Bai and Nusa Penida to Gili.
Operators: include Eka Jaya Fast Boat, Idola Express Banjar Nyuh, Gili Getaway and Starfish Fast Boat,
Cost: between $16 and $28 (240,000 IDR to 420,000 IDR) per person depending on the departure time.
Amed to Gili Trawangan
Timings: Ferries leave from the Amed Ferry Terminal at 09:30am every day
Travel time: usually takes just over 1 hour as there are no other stops on route.
Operators: Freebird Express is the only company that operates between Amed and Gili Trawangan.
Cost: Boat tickets cost $30 (450,000 IDR) per person
Do be aware that many ferry routes will include stop-offs in a variety of locations. This includes the Nusa Islands of Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida as well as Lombok.
Extra tips for getting from Bali to Gili Trawangan
Wear shorts and flip-flops!
While usually you will be fine, between Bali and the Gili Islands, sometimes you might find that the boat will pull up on the sand rather than to a pier and you might have to walk slightly in the sea to get off the boat.
99% of the time you won’t have to but on the odd chance that you do, you’ll be glad to have shoes you can slip off easily.
Be prepared for the ‘enthusiastic’ taxi drivers
When we got off the boat in Bali from Gili T, we were honestly hounded by taxi drivers trying to take us places and they would not leave us alone!! Try to book a driver on the Bali end in advance so there is someone waiting for you to avoid this.
In Gili T, there are no cars so you will likely have to walk or cycle to your accommodation but try to avoid using the horses if you can.
Take sea sickness pills
The crossing from Bali to Gili Trawangan can be VERY rocky so it is always best to take some travel sickness pills before. You can buy these from the ferry ports or pharmacies in Indonesia.
Keep an eye on your luggage
When you get on the ferry, the staff will take your luggage off you and put it in a large pile at the front of the boat. Its a bit of a nightmare but its just how they do things so try to make sure you sit near the pile and put your luggage on the end so you can keep an eye on it during the journey.
FAQs
How long is the ferry from Bali to the Gili Islands?
A typical journey from Bali to the Gili Islands takes between and hour-and-a-half to three hours. Factors will influence the crossing time such as type of boat as well as weather and sea conditions.
How to get to the ferry ports in Bali?
Getting to the ferry ports of Pandang Bai and Serangan Pier. Simply hop in a Grab, Gojek or Uber and you’re there! For a more detailed explanation, make sure to check out our guide on How to Get Around Bali!
What is the cheapest way to get from Bali to Gili Trawangan?
The cheapest method of getting to Gili T from Bali is to go to directly to Padang Bai Port or Serangan Pier. Here you can purchase a ticket directly over the counter with no additional fees. The price can be as low as 200,000 IDR per person ($14) so it’s a great option.
Can I book a tour from Bali to the Gili islands?
Yes, you can!
Check Viator for their full list of options but we would recommend this Bali to Gili Trawangan transfer and then exploring the islands yourself. The Gili islands have so much to offer that you will likely want more than just a day tour to see everything.
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There you have it, everything you need to know about how to get from Bali to Gili Trawangan. Giving you the best port to depart from, the cheapest way to book and when the boats depart. We absolutely loved our trip to Gili T and it was hands down our favourite place in the whole region. The island vibe was incredible, it was so nice and relaxing but there was still tons to do to mix it up.
How did you get from Bali to Gili Trawangan? Let us know in the comments below!
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Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.
