A private speedboat from Bali to the Gili Islands leaves from Padangbai on Bali's east coast and takes about 1.5–2 hours to Gili Trawangan, depending on sea state. The boat carries only your group — up to about 10–12 guests — leaves at the time you choose and takes your luggage on board with you. The price is by quote, set by distance and group size: send your date, number of guests and which Gili on WhatsApp and we reply the same day.
This guide covers how the trip works door to door, how a private boat compares with the public fast boats, whether you can stop at Nusa Lembongan or Penida on the way, and what moves the price. For shorter runs and day trips, see our private speedboat charters.
Public Fast Boat or Private Speedboat?
Several companies run public fast boats from Padangbai to the Gilis every day, and for a solo traveller with a backpack they are the cheap way across. A private boat is a different product: you pay for the whole boat, so it makes sense for families, groups, divers with gear and anyone on a tight schedule.
| Public fast boat | Private speedboat | |
|---|---|---|
| Departure time | Fixed timetable | When your group is ready |
| Who's on board | Shared with other passengers | Only your group, up to ~10–12 |
| Luggage | Loaded with everyone else's | Rides with you, handled by the crew |
| Stops | Set by the operator's schedule | Agreed with you, e.g. Lembongan or Penida |
| Price | Per seat | Per boat, by quote |
Rule of thumb: the bigger your group and the more luggage you carry, the more a per-boat price makes sense.
How the Trip Works, Door to Door
1. Road transfer to Padangbai
Padangbai is the small port on Bali's east coast used for Gili crossings. Approximate drive times, traffic dependent:
| Staying in | To Padangbai (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Sanur | about 1 hour |
| Ubud | about 1–1.5 hours |
| Seminyak, Kuta, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua | about 1.5–2 hours |
| Canggu, Uluwatu | about 2 hours or more |
Tell us where you're staying and we quote the road transfer and the boat together, so you have one price and one pick-up time.
2. The crossing
From Padangbai the boat crosses the Lombok Strait — open water between Bali and Lombok — to the Gilis. Expect about 1.5–2 hours to Gili Trawangan depending on sea state; Gili Meno and Gili Air are a little further east along the same chain.
Mornings are usually calmer. In the windier dry-season months (roughly June to September) the afternoon sea in the strait can get bumpy, so we plan an early departure. The skipper checks conditions before leaving and won't cross if it is unsafe — if needed we move the time or the date.
3. Arriving on the Gilis
There are no cars or motorbikes on the Gili Islands; you get around on foot, by bicycle or by cidomo, the local horse cart. Boats land on the beach or at the island's harbour, and you may step off into shallow water — wear sandals and keep your phone in a dry bag. The crew helps with the luggage.
- Gili Trawangan — the largest and busiest: bars, dive shops and the most places to stay.
- Gili Meno — the smallest and quietest, popular with couples and for turtle snorkelling.
- Gili Air — between the two in pace, and the closest to Lombok.
Prefer to take it slowly? Multi-day overnight charters can head toward the Gilis, sleeping aboard on the way, conditions permitting.
Stopping at Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida on the Way
Because the boat is private, a stop can be added by agreement — a snorkel at Crystal Bay off Penida, or lunch on Nusa Lembongan. It is a detour from the direct Padangbai–Gili line, so it adds time at sea and fuel, and it is priced into the quote. A stop works best with an early start, so the longer crossing to the Gilis still happens in the calmer part of the day. If what you really want is a full day around the Nusa islands, see private island hopping instead.
What Sets the Price of a Private Gili Speedboat
We quote Gili transfers trip by trip because the main costs change with each booking:
- Distance and fuel — the Gili run is the longest regular crossing we do, far longer than a Nusa Penida transfer.
- Group size and boat — a speedboat takes up to about 10–12 guests; bigger groups need a larger boat or two boats.
- One-way or return — a return on a later day is a second crossing and is priced as one.
- Stops — Lembongan, Penida or a snorkel stop add time and fuel.
- Date — peak months and weekends book up first.
- Road transfer — about an hour to Padangbai from Sanur, closer to two from Canggu or Uluwatu.
For scale: our shortest private run, Sanur to Nusa Penida (about 40 minutes, up to ~10 guests), starts from IDR 4.5M one-way, and a return from IDR 8M. The Gili crossing is two to three times longer at sea, so expect a price well above that. We confirm the exact figure for your date and group in writing before you pay a deposit; all guide rates are on our pricing page.
Who a Private Gili Boat Suits
Families with children and suitcases, groups of six to twelve friends splitting one price, divers carrying their own gear, couples who don't want to plan around a fixed timetable, and anyone with a late check-out who needs to leave when it suits them. If you are travelling alone with a light bag, a public fast boat is usually the better value — and we'll tell you so.
How to Book Your Gili Speedboat
Send us on WhatsApp: the date and preferred departure time, the number of guests and bags, where you're staying in Bali, which Gili, one-way or return, and any stop you want on the way. We reply the same day with the boat, the price and what's included; a deposit holds the date and the balance is settled before departure. More options for getting around by sea are on our speedboat charters page.