Gili Air lies about 1.5 km off the north-west coast of Lombok, and around 35–40 km across the Lombok Strait from Bali. There is no airport on the Gilis and no bridge: everyone arrives by boat, either on a fast boat directly from Bali or by crossing to Lombok first and taking the short hop from Bangsal harbour.
Which way is best depends on where you are coming from. Here is how the options compare.
The options, compared
| Route | Time (approx.) | Cost (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast boat Padang Bai → Gili Air | 1.5–2.5 h at sea | from ≈US$25 one way | Most travellers coming from Bali |
| Fast boat Serangan / Sanur → Gili Air | 2.5–3.5 h (some via Nusa Lembongan) | from ≈US$30 one way | Staying in south Bali or Sanur |
| Fly Bali → Lombok, then Bangsal boat | ≈40 min flight + 2 h road + 20 min boat | Flight + transfer + a few dollars for the boat | Rough seas, or arriving on an international flight to Lombok |
| Public boat Bangsal → Gili Air | ≈15–20 min | A few dollars | Travellers already on Lombok |
| Private speedboat from Bangsal or Teluk Nara | ≈10 min | Per boat, agreed in advance | Groups, late arrivals, lots of luggage |
| Public ferry Padang Bai → Lembar, then road | 4–5 h ferry + 2 h road + boat | Cheapest | Very tight budgets, travellers with vehicles |
1. Fast boat from Bali — the usual way
Several companies run fast boats from Bali to the Gilis every day. The main departure point is Padang Bai in east Bali, about 1.5–2 hours by road from Seminyak, Kuta or Ubud; most tickets include a minivan pickup from your hotel. Boats also leave from Serangan and Sanur in the south (longer crossings, some stopping at Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida), and a few from Amed on the north-east coast, the shortest crossing of all.
Most boats call at Gili Trawangan first and then Gili Air; some go to Gili Air first. You land on the beach at the harbour in the south-east of the island. Compare departure times, luggage rules and reviews on the fast boats we recommend.
2. Via Lombok and Bangsal harbour
If you fly into Lombok International Airport (LOP) — from Bali it is a flight of about 40 minutes, and there are direct flights from Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and other cities — the Gilis are around two hours north by car. Pre-book a transfer or take an official airport taxi to Bangsal, the harbour for the Gilis.
At Bangsal, cars stop short of the harbour and you walk (or take a cidomo) the last few hundred metres. Buy your ticket at the official harbour ticket office: public boats leave when they fill up, taking around 15–20 minutes to Gili Air, and there are faster shuttle boats at set times for a little more. Private speedboats can be chartered at Bangsal or from Teluk Nara and Teluk Kodek just to the north — around ten minutes to Gili Air.
Many travellers pair Gili Air with time on the Lombok mainland, whether for the Rinjani treks, the Senaru waterfalls or the south-coast beaches around Kuta. Our Lombok travel guide covers the rest of the island.
3. The slow ferry
Public car ferries cross from Padang Bai to Lembar in south-west Lombok around the clock, taking four to five hours or more. From Lembar it is about two hours by road to Bangsal. It is the cheapest option but by far the slowest — only worth it on a very tight budget or with your own vehicle.
Between the three Gilis
A public island-hopping shuttle links Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, usually once in the morning and once in the afternoon, for a small fixed fare; timetables are posted at each harbour. Outside those times you can charter a boat for an agreed price. Gili Air to Gili Meno takes about 10 minutes; to Gili T around 15–20.
Still deciding where to base yourself? Our comparison of the three Gili Islands weighs up Gili Air against Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.
Getting around Gili Air
- On foot: the island is about 5 km round; nowhere is more than half an hour’s walk from the harbour.
- By bicycle: the most practical option — rent one near the harbour for a few dollars a day. Some paths are sandy.
- By cidomo: horse-drawn carts meet the boats and carry luggage to hotels. Agree the fare first, and choose carts with healthy-looking horses.
- No motor vehicles: there are no cars, scooters or motorbikes on the island.
Arriving in Indonesia
Most visitors need a visa: many nationalities can buy an electronic visa on arrival (e-VOA) online in advance from the official Indonesian immigration website, or a visa on arrival at the airport. Travellers arriving in Bali also pay Bali’s tourist levy (currently IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor), payable online. Rules change — see the practical section of our Gili Air travel guide and always check official sources.
