Located off the coast of Lombok, Gili Trawangan is a popular travel destination for people who visit Bali. You can opt for either a fast boat service or a flight to travel to Gili Trawangan from Bali. Fast boat operators normally provide free shuttle services from the Bali hotels to the Pedang Bai harbour. There are sluggish public ferries as well as luxurious private charters that connect Gili Trawangan to various ports in Bali and most travellers book their fast boat tickets through travel agents in Kuta. The fast boat operators make sure that you board the right boat and they use prominent markings. Every boat that heads to the Gili Islands carries a specific stripe on its façade. Those traveling to Gili Trawangan will have a blue stripe on their bows.
Travelers with deep pockets can opt for private helicopter transportation services and notably, Air Bali runs its “Gilicopter” services on Fridays and Sundays. The flights connect Bali to Gili and can accommodate up to 5 passengers. It takes 45 minutes to reach Gili Trawangan from Bali.
Ideas to travel to Gili Trawangan
From Kuta: It takes around 1.5 hours to travel to the Padang Bai harborfrom Kuta. There are fast boat services that offer one-hour direct rides to Gili Trawangan from Pedgang Bai.
Alternatively, visitors can also opt for a 23-minute drive to the nearby Serangan harbor. Gili Cat and Bluewater Express are the two most reputed fast boat operators offering transfers from Kuta to Gili Trawangan. The Bluewater Express boats leave Serangan at 8:00 am.
From Semyniak: The Serangan harbour in Bali is the closest port for people living in Semyniak. The Black Pearl boats depart from the Serangan harbor at 9:00 am and come back from Gili Trawangan at 1:00 pm. The total to-and-fro trip time is 2 ½ hours.
Another option is to go for the Blue Water Express service from the Benoa Harbour, which is located at a distance of 11.4 km from Semyniak. It takes around half-an-hour to reach Benoa harbour from Semyniak via Jl. Sunset Road and Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai. The Bluewater Express boats leave for Gili Trawangan from the Benoa Harbour at 8:00 am.
Beach on Gili T
From Lovina Beach: Amed is the nearest harbor for travellers residing in Lovina. The road from Lovina to Amed along the coast doesn't witness much traffic, however, the drivers normally charge two-way fees to the passengers. This will be a three and a half hours of journey through the east coast road.
From Amed, it only takes 45 minutes to cross the Lombok Strait whereas boats departing from Pedang Bai normally take 1.5 hours to cross this part.
Pacha Express serves travelers twice daily at 9am and 4pm, halting at all the three Gili islands.
From Canggu: The coastal village of Canggu is located in South Bali and lies 14.4 kilometers north of Kuta. Travelers can reach Kuta via JI Sunset road in around 48 minutes. From Kuta, travellers can either access the nearby Pedang Bai harbour or the Serangan harbor to travel to Gili Trawangan. The Gili Gili fast boat service offers free pick-up and drop services to travelers living in Kuta, Sanur, and Padang Bai.
From Ubud: People living in Ubud can reach the Pedang Bai harbour in 1 hour, 15 minutes via Jl. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra. The Gili Gili fast boat service departs from Pedang Bai, connecting passengers to Lombok, Gili Trawangan, and Gili Air. The Gili Cat Island Express boats depart from Pedang Bai twice daily, connecting passengers Gili Trawanganon. The timings are 9:00 am and 14.00 pm in high season and the duration of the journey is around 1 ½ hours.
From Denpasar: Tourists in Denpasar can access the nearest ferry services at Sanur, which can be accessed through a 25-minute drive via Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai. Boats that connect to Gili Trawangan leave at around 9:00 am- 9:30 am. Currently there is just one fast boat operator that connects Bali with the Gili islands and that is Scoot Fast Cruises. It services travellers up to 7 times per week with sea journeys lasting up to 3 hours, 45 minutes.
Alternatively, people can travel to Lombok Praya via flight and then take a 2-hour taxi drive to Bangsal from where they can hire a private boat to travel to Gili Trawangan.
From Denpasar,it takes 1.5 hours to reach Pedang Bai via Jl. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra and from Pedang Bai, people can hire fast boats to reach Gili Trawanagan. Popular operators include Bluewater Express and Gili Cat.
From Singaraja: Visitors normally do not stay in Singaraja and it is a sort of a passing-through town. Singaraja is close to Lovina Beach and it takes about 21 minutes to reach Lovina Beach via Jl. Singaraja-Gilimanuk. Amed is the nearest harbour for people living in Lovina ( we have already discussed this part above).
From Padang Bai: A number of fast boat companies, including BlueWater Express, Mahi Mahi Dewata, Gili Cat, and Eka Jaya Fast Boat, operate in the Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan routes in the morning, between 9:00 am to 9:30 am. Gili is another reputed provider that operates from Serangan as well as Padang Bai, connecting passengers to Gili Trawangan via Lombok and Gili Air. The duration of sea journeys is normally 1 ½ hours.
Sunset on Gili Trawangan
