Field note · Indonesia · North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara

Gili Islands

Everything to the three Gilis is a boat, and on Lombok almost all of it funnels through one small beach at Bangsal. A sea transport cooperative, Koperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari, holds the monopoly there and runs four things: the cheap public boat that leaves when it is full, a faster shuttle boat, two island-hopping runs a day between the islands, and official charters. Tickets come from one counter inside the building on the Bangsal foreshore and nowhere else, which matters because the touts outside make a living from people who do not know that. Fast boats from Bali are a separate business, sold by agents and online resellers, and they bypass Bangsal for Teluk Nare or the islands directly. On the islands themselves there are no engines: you walk, cycle, or take a cidomo horse cart. The sea is calmest in the morning and everything stops well before dark.

Researched: 21 September 2026
Reviewed: not yet
Ways of moving: 8, 29 sources
Not confirmed: 7
Fares seen: 2024–2026

The place

The Gili Islands (Indonesian: Tiga Gili, Kepulauan Gili are an archipelago of three small islands or Gili island triplets — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. The local name of these three islands is Gili Indah which means "small beautiful islands". They were previously administered under West Lombok Regency along with Senggigi until 2010 when the Gili islands came under the jurisdiction of the new North Lombok Regency ; together they form an administrative village within the Pemenang District of North Lombok Regency.

Adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. The place page has what to see, do and eat, and every way there from the planner.

How transport works here

8 ways of moving, each with its rule

We confirmed eight ways of moving to, from or around Gili Islands: five by water, one by road, one hired or on demand and one under your own steam, from 29 sources. Three of them run only on demand or when the seats are full, so there is no timetable to show; the rule is written where the timetable would be.

The fares were seen in 2024 to 2026; a fare from an older year is a floor, not a price. We rate 3 of the 8 high confidence, our own judgement of the sources. The entry was checked on 21 September 2026, and ends with seven things we could not confirm.

5 ways

By water

boat

Koperasi public boat, Bangsal to Gili Air, Meno and Trawangan

Bangsal beach, North Lombok, to each of the three islands

Come off the Pemenang–Bangsal access road; the last stretch is closed to vehicles so you walk or take a cidomo from the car park. The ticket counter is inside the main building on the foreshore, to your left as you reach the beach, in the north-eastern corner. Prices are printed on the ticket. Buy only from staff behind that counter, ignore anyone who intercepts you on the approach road or offers to show you the 'real' office. The boat leaves from the beach, not the wharf, so expect to wade.

When: No timetable. Boats go when full, 15 to 20 passengers on some counts and up to about 40 on others. Services run roughly 08:00 to 17:00 but rarely later than 16:00, and the Bangsal office closes around 16:30. Morning is much quicker; Gili Meno boats often stop by 14:00
Takes: About 15 minutes to Gili Air, 30 to Gili Meno, 30–45 to Gili Trawangan
Fare 2024: Bangsal to Gili Air Rp 18,000, Gili Meno Rp 21,000, Gili Trawangan Rp 23,000 per person one way (June 2024). The official Trawangan tariff is also quoted as Rp 22,500. Return legs from the islands are cheaper on the cooperative's own list, around Rp 12,000–15,000

SeasonYear-round, but crossings are cancelled in heavy swell. July and August bring southerly winds and a wet, bumpy ride; put electronics in a dry bag. BookingNone. Buy at the counter on the day, at Bangsal or at the ticket office next to the landing on each island. Run byKoperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari.

boat

Koperasi island-hopping boat

A loop between Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, run twice a day

Tickets from the same cooperative office on each island, next to the landing. There is no need to pre-book. The formal alternative is to go back to Bangsal and out again, which is slower and means dealing with Bangsal twice. Crews on the Bangsal-bound public boats will sometimes drop you at another island for around Rp 25,000, but that is an informal arrangement and not sanctioned.

When: Two departures a day. Morning: Gili Air 08:30, Gili Meno 08:50, Gili Trawangan 09:30, back at Gili Meno about 10:15. Afternoon: Gili Air 15:00, Gili Meno about 15:15, Gili Trawangan 16:00, Gili Meno 16:20. Times slip with loading
Takes: 10–20 minutes between neighbouring islands
Fare 2024: Rp 20,000 between adjacent islands, Rp 23,000–40,000 Air to Trawangan depending on which tariff you are quoted. One source prices the whole hop at a flat Rp 40,000

SeasonYear-round, weather permitting; nothing runs after late afternoon. BookingNone, buy at the island ticket office on the day. Run byKoperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari.

speedboat

Koperasi shuttle boat

Bangsal to and from each island, supplementing the public boat

Same cooperative counter. This is the service the touts at Bangsal tell late arrivals does not exist. It is guaranteed to leave whether or not the boat fills, which is the point of it.

When: Bangsal to the islands at 17:00; islands to Bangsal at 08:15
Takes: 15–30 minutes
Fare 2024: Published tariffs are inconsistent: Rp 85,000 per person for Gili Air, Rp 28,000 for Gili Trawangan, Rp 20,000 for Gili Meno. One Lombok operator lists a flat Rp 85,000 per leg across a chain of eight daily departures

SeasonYear-round, weather permitting. BookingNone, buy at the counter. Run byKoperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari.

speedboat

Fast boats from Bali

Padang Bai and Amed in East Bali, and Serangan, Sanur and Benoa in South Bali, to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno, most continuing to Teluk Nare or Bangsal on Lombok

Padang Bai is the busiest departure point and the shortest common crossing; Amed is shorter still but only makes sense if you are already on the north-east coast. Tickets are sold by hotel and agent desks all over Bali, by the operators themselves, and by online resellers. Gilibookings and its budget sister Gilitickets are the longest established; 12Go, Bookaway, Klook and Ferryhopper sell the same boats. Some agents take money for a premium boat and put you on a cheaper one, so make sure the ticket names the vessel you asked for.

When: Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan has nine operators and about 49 sailings a week, first boat around 08:00 and last around 13:30. Amed Sea Express runs twice daily at 10:00 and 15:30
Takes: 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours from Padang Bai; about 1 hour 30 minutes from Amed; about 2 hours 30 minutes from Serangan
Fare 2026: From about US$24 one way on the cheapest Padang Bai operators, with an average nearer US$100 across all fare classes. Amed Sea Express Rp 600,000 one way, Rp 1,100,000 return. Gilibookings quotes US$50–70 one way and US$98–136 return for the better operators, with budget boats around 30 percent less

SeasonYear-round but weather-dependent. Crossings are suspended outright in big swell, which happens most often around January and February and again with heavy August swells. In August 2025 more than 100 services from Sanur and Padang Bai were cancelled with waves around 4 m, and in January 2026 all Bali–Gili–Lombok fast boats were stopped for a day on a BMKG forecast of 2.5–4 m. BookingOnline in advance through Gilibookings, Gilitickets, 12Go, Bookaway, Klook or the operator, or at any agent in Bali. Most fares include hotel pickup within a set zone. Run byBlue Water Express, Eka Jaya, Gili Getaway, Gili Gili, Semaya One, Wahana, D'Camel, Golden Queen, Amed Sea Express, Patagonia Xpress and others.

boat

Charter boats, official and private

Bangsal, Teluk Nare, Teluk Kode, Senggigi or Mangsit to any of the islands, and between the islands

The cooperative sells official charters from the same Bangsal counter, capped at 12 passengers, with printed prices. That is the honest baseline before you negotiate with anyone else. Private outrigger (perahu) charters wait on the beaches at Senggigi and Mangsit, most of the Mangsit ones between Qunci Villas and the Holiday Resort Lombok. Speedboat pickups from Teluk Nare are arranged by hotels and dive shops on Trawangan and skip Bangsal entirely. Negotiate with the boat owner rather than a tout, and check for life jackets yourself; some perahu operators cannot swim.

When: On demand, daylight only
Takes: 15–30 minutes from Bangsal or Teluk Nare; 1–2 hours from Senggigi or Mangsit
Fare 2024: Official Koperasi charter from Bangsal: Rp 560,000 to Gili Air, Rp 650,000 to Gili Meno, Rp 750,000 to Gili Trawangan one way, roughly double for return (June 2024). Between islands Rp 170,000–195,000 one way. Private perahu from Senggigi or Mangsit Rp 500,000–600,000; Teluk Nare speedboat for up to three people about Rp 450,000–500,000

SeasonYear-round in calm weather; nothing goes out in heavy swell and everything is back before dusk. BookingOfficial charters at the counter. Speedboat pickups through your hotel or dive shop, usually a day ahead. Perahu charters on the beach, agree everything including fuel and return time first. Run byKoperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari for official charters; independent perahu and speedboat owners otherwise.

One way

By road

minibus

Getting to Bangsal and Teluk Nare from Lombok airport

Lombok International Airport (LOP) at Praya to Bangsal, Teluk Nare and Teluk Kode, via Mataram or Senggigi

The DAMRI bus counter is a free-standing kiosk at the far end of the airport forecourt, staffed by people in DAMRI uniform; anyone not in uniform is not DAMRI. DAMRI runs to Mataram's Mandalika terminal and to Senggigi, and a separate DAMRI service links Mataram to Bangsal. Grab and Gojek now work from the airport, with pickup a short walk from the terminal. Metered airport taxis (Bluebird, Express and others) go direct. Perama runs a shuttle from Senggigi that continues by boat to the islands, bypassing Bangsal altogether. At Bangsal, vehicles must stop at the car park before the control gate; the official entry ticket for a tourism vehicle is Rp 1,000 and parking Rp 5,000, and anyone not in DISHUB uniform collecting money there is not official.

When: DAMRI airport buses hourly from Mandalika terminal, 04:00 to 19:00, and every 90 minutes from Senggigi, 03:30 to 20:00. DAMRI Mataram to Bangsal runs twice a day, one of them at 10:00. Perama Senggigi departure 09:00
Takes: 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours by road from the airport to Bangsal or Teluk Nare
Fare 2024: DAMRI airport to Mataram Rp 30,000, to Senggigi Rp 40,000. DAMRI Mataram to Bangsal Rp 35,000 booked online, around Rp 50,000 asked at the Bangsal end. Metered taxi airport to Bangsal Rp 300,000–400,000; Senggigi to Bangsal about Rp 70,000, to Teluk Nare Rp 100,000–150,000. Perama Senggigi to Gili Trawangan Rp 100,000, Gili Air Rp 90,000

SeasonYear-round. BookingDAMRI at the airport counter in cash, or via the DAMRI app. Perama through their offices in Senggigi and on each island. Aim to be at Bangsal or Teluk Nare by 16:00 at the latest. Run byDAMRI, Perama Tour, Bluebird and other metered taxi firms, Grab and Gojek.

One way

Hired, booked and on demand

horse cart

Cidomo

Harbour to accommodation and around each island; also the last stretch between the Bangsal car park and the beach

Carts wait at the landing on each island for arriving boats, and can be flagged down or booked through your hotel. Gili Meno posts an official price list at the boat landing. On Gili Air the fare is fixed and drivers do not bargain. If you have an early departure with heavy bags, ask your hotel to book one the night before. Cidomo carry passengers; the larger flatbed dongol carts carry cargo.

When: On demand, concentrated around boat arrivals
Takes: A few minutes to about 30 minutes for a full island circuit
Fare 2025: Gili Trawangan short trip about Rp 40,000; reported ranges across the islands are Rp 100,000–200,000 harbour to hotel and Rp 250,000–400,000 for an island tour. Gili Air is a flat Rp 200,000 for any trip with no bargaining (June 2025). Gili Meno Rp 80,000 for a short local run up to Rp 175,000 across the island. At Bangsal, Rp 10,000 is the most you should pay for a short hop

SeasonYear-round. BookingNone, but agree the price before you get in. Run byLocal kusir cooperatives, one per island.

One way

On foot, by bike, or otherwise

bicycle hire

Bicycles and walking

Anywhere on Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno or Gili Air

There are no cars, motorbikes or trucks on any of the three islands. Bicycles rent from hotels, dedicated shops near the harbours and small stands in the tourist strips; the cheapest are usually inland from the waterfront. Take a cruiser with wide tyres, the paths turn to loose sand in places and you will end up pushing. Check the brakes before you leave. Most rentals have no lights, so do not plan on riding after dark.

When: Any time
Takes: A full circuit of any island is about an hour by bike or 90 minutes to 2 hours on foot
Fare 2026: Rp 30,000–50,000 a day is the usual quote; a tiered list gives Rp 20,000–30,000 for one to two hours, Rp 40,000–50,000 half day, Rp 50,000–75,000 full day

SeasonYear-round. Run byIndependent rental shops and hotels.

Not confirmed

What we could not find out

7 things the researcher looked for and did not find, in their own words, with where to ask instead. None of this goes into the planner; it stays here until someone confirms it.

01
Koperasi Karya Bahari does not publish its tariff online. Every figure here comes from travellers and local operators reading the printed counter list, and they disagree: Wikivoyage's June 2024 Bangsal prices (Rp 18,000 / 21,000 / 23,000) do not match the Lombok Network list (Rp 19,500 / 21,500 / 22,500 out, cheaper back), and the shuttle-boat tariff is quoted as both Rp 28,000 and Rp 85,000 for the same kind of trip. The decree that sets these prices was last reported as a 2008 West Lombok regency decree, since transferred to North Lombok. Read the printed price on your own ticket.
02
No official source for the island-hopping timetable could be found. The two published versions differ by 10 to 25 minutes on the Meno and Trawangan legs. Confirm at the island ticket office the day before.
03
Nothing found on whether the Bangsal ticket office now sells online or by app, or whether the cooperative has a website. Assume cash at the counter.
04
The current DAMRI Mataram to Bangsal schedule could not be confirmed beyond a 2024 note of two services a day, one at 10:00. Check damri.co.id or the DAMRI app.
05
Cidomo fares are not consistently regulated across the three islands. Gili Meno and Gili Air have posted or fixed prices, Gili Trawangan appears to be negotiated, and reported figures span Rp 40,000 to Rp 200,000 for similar trips.
06
Fast boat fares move with season and with the reseller. The US$24 figure is a floor from a comparison site's 30-day sample, not a published tariff; check the operator directly.
07
No official rough-sea calendar exists. Suspensions are decided day by day by the harbour master on BMKG forecasts. January to February and the August swell period are the recorded trouble spots but cancellations can happen any time.

In the planner

What the planner can route today

The options above live on the place page, not in the departure board: a boat that comes when you phone has no time to show. What the board can do for Gili Islands is this.

Y: Scheduled flightsMataram (Pujut, Lombok Tengah) (LOP), 52 km
Y: Trains and coachesTransitous carries 1 timetable feed for this country, 0 with real-time
Y: FerriesGili Meno, 0 km; sailings estimated
Y: Driving and taxiOpenStreetMap roads; cab fare from the country band
N: Bike and scooter shareno share feed known
N: Cruisesno open itinerary source anywhere

Y routable now · F found, not yet implemented · N no source known.