Bali to Gili Trawangan

The easiest way to get from Bali to Gili Trawangan is a 1.5 - 2.5 hr fast boat trip across the Lombok strait. Whether you're departing from South Bali, Padang Bai or Amed (North Bali), there are now a variety of fast boats that can take you from Bali to Gili T, however only a handful offer a truly reliable and high standard of service. Gilibookings only works with the best fast boats from Bali to Gili Trawangan.

How do I get from Bali to Gili Trawangan?

Depending on where in Bali you are staying you have several options to get a fast boat from Bali to Gili Trawangan. South Bali departures leave from Serangan or Sanur harbour (sometimes sailing via Penida on an island hopper route), usually taking around 2,5 hours to reach Gili Trawangan. If you're staying around Ubud/Candidasa we recommend leaving from Padang Bai Harbour (1,5 hours from Bali to Gili Trawangan) - which is also worth considering if you're leaving from South Bali. People staying up North around Amed/Tulamben are currently required to travel to Padang Bai as fast boats are no longer allowed to go to or from Amed beach.

You can also fly into Lombok from Bali and take a private land + sea transfer from Lombok Airport to Gili Trawangan (around 25 minutes by plane and 1,5 hours by car + 20 min by speed boat).

How to get from Ubud to Gili Trawangan?

The best way to travel from Ubud to Gili Trawangan is by fast boat from Padang Bai harbor. Most of the fast boat companies offer a pick up service (for an extra fee) from a central pick-up point in Ubud or from hotels located in Central Ubud.

Padang Bai Harbour is located on the East side of Bali, free of the traffic congestion surrounding Denpasar, which makes it the best harbour to depart from if you're staying in Ubud. The total travel time from Ubud to Gili T is approximately 3 hours.
From Ubud to Padang Bai takes around 1-1,5 hours by car (depending on traffic) and the fast boat transfer from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan takes 1,5 hours depending on the sea conditions.

How long does it take from Bali to Gili Trawangan? 

Depending on where you are staying (and if you need a hotel pick-up), the times can differ. Hotel pick-up is usually between 1-2 hours before your checkin time, with check-in being between 30 mis and 1 hour before departure. South Bali departures often take 2-2,5 hours by boat, Padang Bai departures take around 1,5 hours.

Tip: Make sure to check which harbour is closest to your hotel for the quickest trip. 

Best fast boats from Bali to Gili Trawangan

Blue Water Express

Blue Water Express operate a number of daily fast boats from Bali to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Lombok.They have departures from both Serangan Harbour in South Bali and Padang Bai in East Bali. They usually operate 2 boats, Blue Water Express VII and Blue Water Express IX (though their fleet also includes the Blue Water Express V and III which are sometimes also used, and are similarly designed and maintained).

One of the Serangan departure stops in Padang Bai to pick up passengers coming from Central and East Bali before sailing to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Lombok. NOTE: This boat route has two different ticket prices, one for Serangan and one for Padang Bai. In high season additional direct trips from Bali to Gili Trawangan are added to their schedule making them one of the fastest crossings from Bali to Gili Trawangan.

Harbour Locations

On the maps you can see the departure locations in Serangan, Padang Bai and Gili T. For check-in, please proceed directly to their office at Br. Ponjok, Jl. Tukad Punggawa in Serangan and Central park Silayukti in Padang Bai. On Penida the office is located at Buyuk Harbour, on Gili Trawangan you will arrive and depart in front of the Sama Sama reggae bar (see map), on Gili Air from the local harbor in front of Ocean 5 dive resort and on Lombok from/to Bangsal, North Lombok.

Luggage allowance: The maximum allowance per passenger is 2 pieces of luggage with a total weight of 25kg. Excess luggage will be charged extra.

Hotel transfers

For the Serangan (south Bali) departure, hotel shuttle transfers are available for the following areas: Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Denpasar, Gatsu, Dalung, Airport, Tuban, Kerobokan, Petitenget, Umulas, Berawa, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Benoa, Canggu, Batu Bolong, Pererenan, Sanur.
Private transfers are available from: Pecatu, Balangan, Dreamland, Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Ubud Central, Sayan, Kedewatan, Tegallalang, Taro, Pejeng, Tampaksiring, Payangan, Padma Ubud, Hanging Garden, Sidemen Center, Sanur,  Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Denpasar, Gatsu, Dalung, Denpasar Airport, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Benoa,  Canggu, Batu Bolong, Pererenan.

Hotel pick up time is approximately 1 - 1 1/2 hours before departure time. Exact pickup details will be sent to you by e-mail within 24hrs of booking. A pricelist for hotel transfers from outside the free zones can be found in the boat information page for the Blue Water Express from Serangan to Gili.

For the Padang Bai departure, hotel shuttle transfers are available for the following areas: Central Ubud. Sidemen center, Candidasa, Padang Bai.
Private transfers are available for: Sanur, Denpasar, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Kerobokan, Umulas, Petitenget, Canggu, Airport, Jimbaran, Pecatu, Belangan, Dreamland, Uluwatu, Benoa, Nusa Dua, Tirtagangga, Seraya, Selat, Pejeng, Tampaksiring, Sayan, Kedewatan, Tegallalang, Payangan, Padma Ubud, Hanging Garden, Central Ubud, Sidemen center, Candidasa, Padang Bai, Amed. 

If you are staying in south west Bali areas such as Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, Denpasar, etc., or are arriving at Bali Airport, make sure to select the seperate Serangan departure from the results list when booking.

Check the hotel transfer pricelist for Padang Bai to Gili. A hotel transfer from Kuta and Seminyak areas will be at approx 2 hours before departure. 

If you´re arranging your own transport, then check-in time is1 hour before departure time. Serangan harbour is approximately 30 minutes by taxi from Kuta area, and Padang Bai is approximately 1 hour from Ubud.

Note: It is not recommended for pregnant women, people with heart or back problems, or infants under 2 years, due to the occasional rough sea conditions.

Cancellation & Amendment Policy

Blue Water Express operate the following cancellations and refund policy: The full ticket price will be charged for any cancellation less than 48 hours prior to boat departure. Within a week, but outside 48hrs, you will receive a 50% refund minus any charges applied to make the refund (see the general Terms and Conditions for cancellation charges). Outside 8 Days, you will receive a full refund minus any charges applied to make the refund (see the general Terms and Conditions for cancellation charges).

In cases of unexpected illness etc., exceptions can be considered if doctor's notes/other proof can be provided. Contact Blue Water using their details found on your e-tickets. If you wish to change your travel dates, you can do so for free (subject to availability), up to 48hrs prior to departure. If you need to change your route or boat carrier entirely, please contact us direct for assistance, bearing in mind the above mentioned refund policy.

View maps of all fast boat routes and compare their schedules here.