How to Arrange Transportation from Bali to Gili Trawangan

How to Arrange Transportation from Bali to Gili Trawangan - The easiest way to arrange your transportation from Bali to Gili Trawangan is to book through your accommodation or travel agent. You can find travel agents along the way in every popular city in Bali. Ask around for the best price and negotiate. Prices will fluctuate depending on the season, too. Buying a round-trip ticket will usually cost you less than two one-way tickets and your return ticket is generally open. This ticket usually includes a pick-up from your accommodation. Usually these are minibuses/vans that will make many stops to pick up other tourists around Canggu, Seminyak and Kuta.

Alternatively, you can arrange your own trip to Padang Bai Harbor via taxi, private driver, or ride-sharing apps like GoJek or Grab. It's more convenient, because you don't have to leave early because it's a direct trip, but you'll pay extra. You can even buy your own boat ticket separately at one of the many ship company offices but the prices are not always cheaper (Ekajaya advertises IDR 550,000 one way, Blue Water Express advertises around IDR 630,000 one way).

Cost:

From IDR 250,000 (or $18USD) one way but usually around IDR 350,000 (or $25USD) more for package deals purchased at your accommodation or travel shop.

Best Company & Boat Schedules from Bali to Gili Islands:

We recommend using Ekajaya, as they are the most reliable and on time. The Ekajaya ship is scheduled to depart from Padang Bai at 09.00, 10.30, and 13.00. every day — be sure to be at the dock about half an hour early, although boats sometimes depart half an hour after their scheduled departure. The boat is quite large and comfortable with air conditioning (usually). The upper deck sometimes turns into a party, with blaring music and lots of socializing. This trip takes about an hour and a half.

Other Routes from Bali to Gili Islands

In addition, there are other ports in Bali that you can go to, although Padang Bai will be the fastest boat trip. There are daily boat transfers from Serangan, Sanur and Lembongan (nearest Nusa island off the east coast of Bali). If this port is closer to your accommodation, you may want to consider this route.

Slow Boat to Gili Trawangan from Bali/Lombok to Gili Islands

If the water is too choppy, few or no boat companies will run. In that case, or if you want to take the cheapest transportation option available, you can take a "slow boat". There are local ferries that depart every 60 to 90 minutes daily from Bali to Lombok. The catch is that it's a fairly long journey of about four to six hours each way. It's also not as comfortable (you might not even get a seat), and it's usually busier. Not for the faint of heart but it will probably be quite a challenging story to tell (or perhaps a very long and boring one).

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