Bali To the Gili Islands [Our Step-by-Step Guide]

Just off the coast of Lombok (Bali's neighbour), the three Gili Islands have become a staple on most itineraries.

With their laid-back hippy vibe and vehicle-free roads, they offer something very different to the rest of Indonesia and are worth the few hours it takes to get there.

As seasoned travellers in Bali, we've made the crossing from Bali to the Gili Islands on numerous occasions. In this guide, we'll share exactly what to expect.

Quick Summary

There are no airports on the Gili Islands, but frequent direct ferries mean they're still easy to visit.

The crossing from Bali typically takes around 2 hours, but once you factor in transfers at each end and the inevitable waiting time, it can take the best part of a morning or afternoon to get there.

For this reason, a day trip to the Gili Islands isn't possible. You'll need to stay at least 1 night, although we'd recommend staying for 3 nights to fully appreciate them.

Here are the steps involved to reach the Gili Islands from Bali:

Be mindful that there are several hidden costs in addition to your ticket. You'll need to pay a harbour tax of 20,000 IDR for both the outbound and return journeys, plus an island tax of 10,000 IDR when you arrive on the Gilis. These are cash-only and charged per person.

Getting From Bali To the Gili Islands

Step 1: Pre-book your ferry at 12go.asia

To book a boat, head over to 12go.asia and enter "Padang Bai" to "Gili Islands" (or choose the specific island).

We recommend using the ferry company Eka Jaya. They have bigger boats which are impacted less by choppy seas. It’s worth paying extra as the Lombok Strait can be rough during bad weather - we know from experience.

Most ferries, including Eka Jaya, stop at Gili T first then go to Gili Air. The price is usually the same regardless of which island you disembark at. The photo above shows the full route of most ferries.

Step 2: Go to Padang Bai Port

If you don’t have your own vehicle in Bali, the easiest way to get to Padang Bai Port is by taking a Grab or Gojek. These are online taxis similar to Uber that can be booked via an app.

While online taxis can drop you off at Padang Bai, they cannot pick you up when you return (see alternatives at the end).

Travel times to Padang Bai are dependent on traffic and can be much longer if travelling by car rather than scooter. But here’s a rough guide:

If you have a scooter or motorbike, unfortunately, there’s no official parking area. You'll find plenty of roadside parking on the nearby streets. We've left our scooter here without any problems, but it's at your own risk.

Step 3: Check in at the correct office

Before you can board the ferry, you’ll need to check in at the correct office where you’ll receive lanyards that act as your ticket.

Details of the check-in location should be provided on your booking confirmation. All of the offices are within walking distance of the terminal (5 minutes max.).

Here are the locations for a few of the main companies.

Most ferry companies advise checking in 60 minutes before departure, but this is excessive. We’d suggest around 30 minutes before departure is good.

Step 4: Pay the harbour tax and board via the pier

Wait at the check-in office until the staff tells you to head to the pier for boarding.

Before reaching the pier, you'll need to pay the Padang Bai harbour tax of 20,000 IDR per person (cash only).

When you reach your boat, hand your lanyard to the staff member and stow any larger bags or suitcases in the storage area. Keep smaller bags containing valuables with you inside the boat.

We've always travelled with Eka Jaya and find their boats super comfortable. There's an air-conditioned section downstairs and an open-air top deck where you can sit when the weather is good. They have toilets and an onboard shop selling drinks and snacks (cash only).

From our experience, the journey takes roughly 2 hours from Padang Bai to Gili T, depending on the conditions. It takes a while for everyone to disembark and for new passengers to board, so add 30-40 minutes if continuing to Gili Air.

Step 5: Arrive on the Gili Islands

When you arrive on any of the Gili Islands, you're required to pay the Gili Islands tourist tax (cash only). Note that this is different from the Bali Tourism Levy which all visitors to Bali must pay.

The current prices for the Gili Islands tourist tax are:

Transfers To Your Accommodation

There are no vehicles on the Gili Islands, so the best way to reach your accommodation is on foot or by bicycle (if you don't have too much luggage).

We try to avoid using the horses and carts due to animal welfare concerns, but if your accommodation is a long distance from the port, it may be your only option. Some accommodation will arrange a transfer on your behalf to save you negotiating the price.

Alternative Ways To Get There

The method we’ve suggested is by far the best choice for tourists. But it’s not the only way of getting to the Gili Islands.

Here’s a quick overview of the alternative options and things to keep in mind should you choose them:

Take a ferry from Serangan – You can board the ferry at Serangan, but it then stops at both Nusa Penida and Padang Bai before continuing to the Gilis (as per our map earlier). It’s quicker and cheaper to board at Padang Bai as we suggest.

Take a ferry from Amed – The port in Amed is currently closed so this isn’t an option right now. Even when it's open, only smaller speedboats operate this route which we prefer to avoid as they are more susceptible to choppy waves. If we stay in Amed, we still drive down to Padang Bai to take a bigger ferry.

Take a ferry from Nusa Penida – Eka Jaya, the ferry company we recommended, makes a stop at Nusa Penida before Padang Bai. If you’re already on the Nusa Islands, it makes sense to board here. Some companies offer a connection from Lembongan too.

Fly to Lombok and catch a boat from Bangsal Pier – If you suffer from bad seasickness and are concerned about the crossing, flying to Lombok and catching a shorter boat to the Gili Islands is a viable option. Although the flight is only 40 minutes, when you factor in time for check-in, luggage collection, the 1hr30 drive to Bangsal Pier, and the boat to the Gilis, it’s a pretty long journey and much more expensive.

Getting Back To Bali

The return journey from the Gili Islands to Bali follows almost the same process. Check-in for your boat at the relevant office near the port.

You'll also need to pay the harbour tax at the dedicated counter which can be found at the ports on all three islands. On Gili T, there can be long lines at the counter so allow at least 45 minutes for the whole process of checking in and paying the tax.

A key difference when you arrive back in Bali is that you cannot book a Grab or Gojek to pick you up from Padang Bai. The entire town is a no-Gojek area where local taxi drivers (jokily known as the taxi mafia) will stop online taxis from entering.

Local drivers are aware of this so expect to be swarmed by them immediately after exiting the boat.

It can be quite overwhelming so rather than negotiating with them, we recommend either booking a private driver to pick you up from Padang Bai or opting for a shuttle service. You can find both of these on 12go.asia too by inputting "Padang Bai" to "[your hotel]".