Bali to Gili Islands by Ferry: 2026 Prices, Schedules & Best Fast Boats
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-18
The ferry from Bali to Gili Trawangan price in 2026 ranges from roughly ₹804 (~$8.34) to ₹3,215 (~$33.35) one-way. This guide covers what each route costs, which operator is the least painful at sea, and how to avoid the three scams that catch Indian backpackers every week.
For a broader Bali transport picture (scooters, Grab/Gojek, airport transfers), our Bali transport guide for Indian travellers covers everything else. For the “which island is worth the detour” question, see Bali vs Lombok vs Gili Islands.
For fast boats to Lombok directly, see Bali to Lombok fast boat: real prices, timings, honest 2026 review. Planning the broader Indonesian ferry journey? Our Indonesia ferry network: routes, prices and how to book 2026 map covers every route.
For getting around Indonesia beyond ferries, see Getting around Indonesia: transport options, real costs, tips. Planning the wider Southeast Asia trip? Our Southeast Asia backpacking hub covers the full multi-country route.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Bali to Gili Trawangan fast boat (booked at harbour) | Eka Jaya or Gili Getaway from Padang Bai, one-way, no transfer | ₹800-1,300 (~150,000-250,000 IDR) |
| Same trip with hotel pickup from Kuta/Seminyak/Ubud | Most operators bundle transfers, book on 12go or direct | ₹1,600-2,600 (~300,000-500,000 IDR) |
| Total door-to-door from Ubud to Gili Trawangan | 4.5-6 hours including transfer and harbour wait | ₹1,900-3,200 (~350,000-600,000 IDR all-in) |
| Fastest crossing time | Gili Getaway or BlueWater Express, Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan | 1.5-2 hours at sea |
| Cheapest “ferry” if you count the public RORO via Lombok | Padang Bai to Lembar (Lombok), then bus+boat to Gili | ₹750-1,100 (~140,000-200,000 IDR) but takes 6-7 hours |
The Two Real Departure Points
Most “Bali to Gili ferry” results show six departure points. Only two matter.
Padang Bai (1.5-2 hours east of Ubud, 2 hours from Kuta/Seminyak) is where almost every fast boat leaves from. It’s the smaller harbour, mostly fishing boats and tourist speedboats, no ferry terminal building, just a row of operator desks along the wharf. Public transport here is a bemo from Ubud’s Batubulan terminal (~75-90 minutes, around 25,000-40,000 IDR) or a Grab/Gojek ride for ~₹1,340-₹1,875 (~250,000-350,000 IDR or ~$13.89-$19.45) from south Bali. The harbour is well signed for “Fast Boat to Gili” so you won’t miss it, but there’s no shelter, bring water and a hat.
Sanur/Benoa is the alternative pickup point. Sanur boats are almost exclusively package deals with hotel transfer from Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, or Nusa Dua. The crossing itself is the same (sometimes a touch slower because Sanur is further from the Gili current), but the pickup convenience means you pay ₹536-₹1,072 (~100,000-200,000 IDR or ~$5.56-$11.12) more. For Ubud, Padang Bai remains the logical start.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: If you’re staying in Ubud, Padang Bai is closer than Sanur. If you’re staying in Kuta/Seminyak/Canggu, the Sanur package beats a Grab to Padang Bai on total time, stress and price. The maths flips by location, do the maths first.
Operators, Schedules, and 2026 Prices
There are seven named operators you’ll see when you search. Three run daily, consistently, with proper boats. The rest are resellers, broker sites, or seasonal.
Eka Jaya Fast Boat
Eka Jaya runs two fast boats a day from Padang Bai, both year-round, with a third during peak season (July-September). The 9:15 AM departure and the 1:15 PM departure are the workhorses, they’re the boats most travellers end up on. The boat is older than the competition but Eka Jaya runs a clean operation: life jackets under every seat, a covered cabin, no interior smoking. They stop at Gili Trawangan (the main pier) then continue to Gili Air and Bangsal (Lombok). One-way adult ticket booked at the harbour: ₹804 (~150,000 IDR or ~$8.34). Online with Kuta/Seminyak hotel transfer: ₹1,607-₹2,411 (~300,000-450,000 IDR or ~$16.67-$25.01).
Gili Getaway
Gili Getaway is the boat most Bali-based blogs recommend. The boat is newer, the seats are cushioned, and they run a 9:00 AM and a 2:00 PM departure from Padang Bai with a third at 11:00 AM during dry season. Their stop sequence is Gili Trawangan first (everyone gets off), then Gili Air, then Bangsal, so they suit backpackers heading straight to Trawangan. One-way ticket at the harbour: ₹938-₹1,072 (~175,000-200,000 IDR or ~$9.73-$11.12). With transfer: ₹2,143-₹2,679 (~400,000-500,000 IDR or ~$22.23-$27.79). Travellers report the 9:00 AM boat feels steadier than the 2:00 PM cut because the morning Lombok Strait is calmer.
BlueWater Express
BlueWater Express is the premium option. It runs once a day from Benoa (south Bali, near Sanur), picks up passengers from Kuta/Seminyak hotels, and the boat has padded airline-style seats. Tickets are ₹2,679-₹3,215 (~500,000-600,000 IDR or ~$27.79-$33.35) one-way including hotel transfer. Slower at sea because the Benoa crossing route is longer, 2-2.5 hours, but the boat ride is the smoothest of the three. Worth it if you get seasick easily; not worth it for everyone else.
Semaya One, Gili Gili, Ocean Star, Wahana, and the Resellers
Semaya One, Ocean Star, and Wahana are smaller operators, some run only in dry season, some run only from one harbour. Wahana in particular has a 10:00 AM departure from Padang Bai but smaller boats. The rest of the names you’ll see on booking sites (Asia-Kar, GiliTransfers, “Cheap Ferry Bali Gili”) are resellers rather than boat owners. They book you on Eka Jaya or Gili Getaway with a transfer bolted on, often for ₹268-₹536 (~50,000-100,000 IDR or ~$2.78-$5.56) more than the boat company itself charges. Compare their price against the operator’s own site before paying.
The Public RORO to Lombok (Cheapest, Slowest)
The cheapest possible Bali to Gili route is the public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar (Lombok) then a slow land journey to Bangsal (north Lombok) and a cheap local boat to Gili Trawangan. Tickets:
- Padang Bai to Lembar ferry (RORO, takes 4-5 hours): ₹321-₹375 (~60,000-70,000 IDR or ~$3.33-$3.89) for a foot passenger, on-the-day cash at the harbour.
- Lembar to Bangsal by shared bemo/taxi (3-4 hours, waits for passengers to fill): ₹804-₹1,072 (~150,000-200,000 IDR or ~$8.34-$11.12) bargaining required.
- Bangsal to Gili Trawangan by public boat (15 minutes): ₹134-₹188 (~25,000-35,000 IDR or ~$1.39-$1.95).
Total: ₹1,259-₹1,634 (~235,000-305,000 IDR or ~$13.06-$16.95). Door-to-door time: 6-8 hours minimum, often 9-10 if bemo doesn’t fill fast. Travellers report this route feels like an adventure, not a transfer. Worth knowing about, recommend it only if you’re on a hard budget.
Safety Alert: Bangsal harbour on Lombok runs a scam where touts push you onto “the boat to Gili” at inflated prices. Always walk to the PT BlueWater desk inside the terminal building and book the official fast boat ticket. Travellers report paying ₹536 (~100,000 IDR or ~$5.56) at the harbour when the actual fare is 25,000 IDR.
Real Door-to-Door Cost from Each Bali Hub
From Ubud (your source location looks like Ubud is the most common Bali base for Indian travellers):
- Budget all-in with hotel transfer sold online = ₹2,411-₹3,215 (~450,000-600,000 IDR or ~$25.01-$33.35)
- Door-to-door time: 4-5 hours (Grab 75 min + waiting 30 min + crossing 1.5-2 hours + drop-off 15 min)
From Kuta / Seminyak / Legian / Canggu:
- Cheapest: Grab to Padang Bai (~250,000-350,000 IDR) + harbour fast boat
- With Sanur pickup package sold online: ₹2,143-₹2,947 (~400,000-550,000 IDR or ~$22.23-$30.57)
- Door-to-door time: 5-6 hours via Padang Bai, 4-5 hours via Sanur package
From Uluwatu / Nusa Dua:
- Cheapest: Grab to Padang Bai (~350,000 IDR) + harbour fast boat
- Sanur pickup package: ₹2,411-₹3,215 (~450,000-600,000 IDR or ~$25.01-$33.35)
- Door-to-door time: 6 hours via Padang Bai, 4 hours via Sanur
Booking in 2026: Agent, Operator, or 12go
Three ways to buy the ticket, ordered by what we recommend.
1. Walk up at Padang Bai harbour (cheapest, takes the most guts). Reserve nothing, show up, walk along the dock, pick the boat whose schedule fits, pay cash at the desk. You’ll pay ₹804-₹1,072 (~150,000-200,000 IDR or ~$8.34-$11.12) for the crossing itself. This works 350 days a year. The downsides: no transfer, no insurance, and if that boat is full you wait for the next one or pivot to another operator on the dock.
2. Book direct on the operator’s website (mid-price, the safest). Gili Getaway, Eka Jaya, and BlueWater Express all have working websites in 2026, accept international cards and PayPal, and send tickets by email. Add a hotel transfer during checkout for ₹536-₹1,072 (~100,000-200,000 IDR or ~$5.56-$11.12) depending on pickup zone. This is the best balance for solo travellers.
3. Book through 12go (easiest, slight markup). 12go bundles the boat with a transfer, accepts Indian cards (UPI doesn’t work, use Visa/Mastercard), and shows the full door-to-door schedule. Add 10-15% to the operator’s own price, the convenience tax. Book: Book on 12go. If you’re booking the full Bali to Gili leg with transfers, this is the cleanest single search.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Don’t book Bali to Gili Trawangan more than 14 days in advance. Operator schedules shift, and 12go will happily sell you a ticket on a boat that’s been moved. Book 3-7 days out is the sweet spot.
Onboard, Seas, and Picking the Right Boat
The Lombok Strait between Bali and the Gilis is open water, no landmass between. Sea conditions vary day to day. Travellers report most crossings are calm with a mild rocking, but on windy days (June-August peak) the boat can hit 1.5-metre swells. Sit at the back of the boat, that’s where the ride is smoothest. Take motion sickness pills 30 minutes before if you’re nervous; they sell them at any Indonesian pharmacy (Apotek) for ₹27-₹80 (~5,000-15,000 IDR or ~$0.28-$0.83), or pick up Avomine from a Boots in India before flying out.
Luggage allowance on every operator is forgiving: a 60L backpack plus a small carry-on fits under the seat. Anything bigger than a surfboard needs prior arrangement. There is no on-board meal on any operator, just water and sometimes bananas. Eat before you go or pack snacks.
If you want to know which operator is the safest, the Indonesian fast boat industry self-regulates through the Asosiasi Fast Boat Indonesia. Every operator above is a member in 2026. Look for the sticker on the boat, or ask at the desk before paying.
Getting Connected in the Gilis
You’ll have decent 4G on the boats (operators run with mobile signal), but reception on Gili Trawangan itself is patchy between bars. Telkomsel is the most reliable network across all three islands, a SIM at Ngurah Rai airport in Bali on arrival is the cleanest option (~150,000 IDR for 25 GB, tourist pack, 30-day validity). Save your Bali-side Grab/Gojek trips and Grab/Gojek on Lombok island before the ferry. Use a Nomad eSIM if you don’t want to swap physical cards during the Bali leg: Get Nomad eSIM.
Common Mistakes Indian Travellers Make
Booking the round trip a month out. Operator schedules change at least once a month. If your Gili leg is open for the full 30 days, book 3-5 days before, not on day one of your trip. Travellers report losing the full ticket when they book too far in advance.
Paying the “extra speed boat” at Bangsal. When you land on Lombok at Bangsal, you’ll be approached by touts selling expensive direct boats. Walk into the official terminal, the PT BlueWater desk, and book the ₹134-₹188 (~25,000-35,000 IDR or ~$1.39-$1.95) public boat. It’s the same boat.
Misreading the door-to-door time. A “1.5-hour crossing” is not 1.5 hours from your Ubud hotel. Add at least 2 hours of transfer each way and 30 minutes of harbour wait, total door-to-door is 4-5 hours from south Bali and 5-6 hours from Ubud. Budget it as a half-day, not a casual morning.
Leaving valuables in checked bags. Operators don’t lose bags often, but they do hold bags if you’re in the back of the boat. Carry passport, money, and phone on you. The harbour at Gili Trawangan is shallow, the crew wades the bags out to the beach, your dry bag is your friend for anything that can’t get splashed.
Forgetting the Bali tourist tax. Since February 2024, Bali charges a ₹1,051 (~150,000 IDR or ~$8.34) tourism levy per visitor on first entry, paid on arrival at the airport (at https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id online). It’s separate from your visa-on-arrival. You’ll pay ₹2,918 (~$35 USD) for the VoA and ₹1,051 (~150,000 IDR or ~$8.34) for the levy. Both are cash or card on arrival.
FAQ
Is there a ferry from Bali to Gili Trawangan?
No large car ferry exists, the Lombok Strait route is served only by fast boats (speedboats) carrying 50-90 passengers. The cheapest Bali-Gili “ferry-like” route is the Padang Bai to Lembar RORO plus slow land travel, which costs ₹1,259-₹1,634 (~235,000-305,000 IDR or ~$13.06-$16.95) all-in but takes 6-8 hours.
How long is the ferry from Bali to Gili Trawangan?
The fast boat crossing takes 1.5-2.5 hours depending on the operator and sea conditions. Total door-to-door time from south Bali is 4-5 hours including the transfers, from Ubud 5-6 hours.
How much does the ferry from Bali to Gili Trawangan cost in 2026?
A one-way fast boat ticket at the harbour starts at ₹804 (~150,000 IDR or ~$8.34). With hotel transfer from Kuta, Seminyak, or Ubud, expect ₹1,607-₹3,215 (~300,000-600,000 IDR or ~$16.67-$33.35) one-way depending on the operator. Online bookings through resellers add another 10-15%.
Which is the cheapest ferry from Bali to the Gili Islands?
The cheapest option is the public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar (Lombok) followed by minivan and a short boat to Gili, around ₹1,259-₹1,634 (~235,000-305,000 IDR or ~$13.06-$16.95) total. The cheapest direct fast boat is Eka Jaya from Padang Bai at ₹804 (~150,000 IDR or ~$8.34) one-way. Some travel agents sell tickets for ₹1,875-₹2,679 (~350,000-500,000 IDR or ~$19.45-$27.79) with transfers, that’s 2x to 3x the harbour price for the same boat.
Can I book online and pay with UPI?
No fast boat operator accepts UPI in 2026. 12go accepts Visa and Mastercard, and so do the operator websites if you book direct. Travellers report using Indian forex cards (HDFC, Niyo, IndusInd) works cleanly at all booking sites. For the on-the-day cash ticket, carry Indonesian rupiah. You’ll get a slight discount paying in IDR versus paying in dollars or rupees.
What’s the best time of day to sail?
The 9:00 AM departures are the calmest, the Lombok Strait is at its most stable before noon. Afternoon boats (1-2 PM) catch more swell, particularly during June-August dry season. If you get seasick easily, take the earliest sailing of the day.
Is the ferry safe?
Three of the seven named operators (Eka Jaya, Gili Getaway, BlueWater Express) run new or near-new boats with proper life jackets for every passenger. Travellers report rough rides in the wet season but no major incidents in 2026. The boats are not built for Indonesian monsoon-class swells; if a weather advisory or seismic warning is active for the Lombok Strait, operators do cancel and refund.
Where to Eat on Gili Trawangan
Once you land on Gili T, the harbour area has plenty of options within walking distance:
- Carpe Diem - Coffee & Restaurant - Gili Trawangan (rated 4.7) — coffee and meals with a laid-back island vibe, right near the port.
- Solara cafe & restaurant Lounge Gili Trawangan Port (rated 5.0) — beachside cafe with local and international dishes and a view of the harbour.
- The Shack Restaurant and Bar - Gili Trawangan (rated 4.9) — chilled beachside spot with drinks and great food.
- Sapori Italian Restaurant Gili Trawangan (rated 4.9) — authentic Italian flavours in a tropical setting.
Subodh’s Take
Padang Bai is the right answer for 90% of Indian backpackers, even those staying in south Bali. The transfer adds time, but you save a lot of money, avoid the Sanur pick-up shuffle, and you see something of Bali’s east coast (Sidemen valley rice terraces are 30 minutes up the road, worth the detour on a tight schedule). Book Eka Jaya or Gili Getaway at the harbour 30 minutes before departure, pay in IDR cash, skip the hotel transfers, the total saving versus a booked package is enough to cover a night in a Gili Trawangan beach bungalow.
Before sailing, check the latest advisory from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs at mea.gov.in for Indonesia, the advisory page is updated whenever Lombok’s seismic or weather situation shifts. Operators cancel and refund when there’s an active warning, never take a fast boat across open water into a posted weather advisory.
