Here is the main useful information that I had summarized during the preparation of my trip to organize the BALI GILI crossing.
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BALI GILI CROSSING BY FERRY
There is a ferry that is mainly used by locals. It departs daily from Padang Bai in East Bali and goes to the port of Lembar in Southwest Lombok . This crossing takes 5 to 6 hours, sometimes with considerable waiting for loading and unloading.
I read that it was very cheap but the conditions on board were not great. Tickets are sold directly at the ports and cost only IDR 40.000 (just under € 3).
But upon arrival in Lombok , you still have to take another boat (2 hours) to get to the Gili Islands.
BALI GILI CROSSING IN FAST BOAT
There are many fast boat companies that operate the Bali Gili crossing.
Most continue on the main island of Lombok and some of them also pass through Nusa Lembongan.
There are daily departures from Serangan Island in the South , Padang Bai and Sanur in the West and Amed in the East of Bali.
COMPANIES THAT ENSURE THE BALI GILI CROSSING
BlueWater Express : Departures from Serangan and Padang Bai.
Gili Getaway : Daily crossings from Serangan.
Kuda Hitam Services : Departing from Amed on the east coast of Bali. This is the shortest crossing from Bali to the Gili Islands.
Gili Gili : Travel from Serangan and Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan via Teluk Nare (Lombok) and Gili Air.
Wahana Gili Ocean : Daily departures from Padang Bai – Gili T – Gili Meno and Bangsal (Lombok).
Book online tickets for the TRAVERSEE BALI GILI?
You can book online through Gilibookings for the most reliable fast boats or on Gilitickets.com. Prices on Gilibookings are around €150 return, depending on the departure port, route, and carrier. Prices are likely to be slightly lower on Gilitickets.
You should also know that most companies include hotel transfers to the various ports in their price.
There is another cheaper online booking possibility with Lomboksociety. Prices start from € 40 and may include pickup service from Kuta, Ubud, Nusa dua, Sanur, Bali Airport, Candidasa and Jimbaran.
- http://www.lomboksociety.com
- https://www.gilibookings.com/
- https://www.gilitickets.com/
- https://bluewater-express.com/
- https://wahanagiliocean.com/
BALI GILI CROSS-SECURITY
The price differences are significant between the agencies. There are also significant differences in the quality of vessels, their operation, crew experience and certification.
So, it is advisable not to look only at the price. Check the internet for the information given to you and make sure that your ticket indicates the ship requested.
You should also know that the travel times advertised are often misleading and do not reflect reality. So for your circuit, plan ahead in terms of timing!
TRAVERSEE BALI GILI: MY EXPERIENCE
Finally after comparing the prices, I found that online reservations were too expensive.
In addition, with the risk of the AGUNG volcano exploding, I did not want to get involved and not be able to cancel if necessary.
Finally, I knew from friends that there was no problem getting tickets on the spot and that it was therefore possible to negotiate the prices.
Normally (without the Agung risk), I had planned a crossing from Amed. Indeed, I had been told that we could negotiate the return ticket for 30 €. This round trip includes a return with 2 hours by bus to Sanur to bring us closer to the Airport.
But in the end, we made the crossing from Sanur.
I had planned to go through the Scoot Fast Cruises agency (Sanur Kaja - Denpasar Selatan T +62 361 28 22 33). This very serious agency offered us 1 IDR round trips per person! It was impossible to negotiate. So I gave up buying them from this agency.
Finally on Sanur beach, I found a small kiosk from the SEMAYA ONE agency.
There, I was able to negotiate the return trip at IDR 750 (€ 000), ie half the price compared to the other agency.
We left the next morning. They picked us up at the hotel at 7:00 am and dropped us off in a 1.5-hour taxi ride at Padang Bay. From there, we waited at the pier until 10:00 am to leave by fast boat.
Normally the crossing takes 2 hours but the sea was rough, so it took us 4 hours to get to GILI AIR!
If you want more information about Gili Air , discover
on this little paradise island!