The crossing time printed on a ticket is only part of the journey. Add the hotel pick-up (often shared, with several stops), check-in at the harbour, the usual late departure, and intermediate calls at Lombok or another Gili. A “90-minute” crossing from Padang Bai is typically four to five hours from a Seminyak hotel to Gili Trawangan’s sand.
The table gives realistic ranges. Fares are the lowest prices shown online for the listings on our tours page in October 2026 and will vary with season, operator and whether transfers are included. For operator names, safety and what to do when boats are cancelled, see fast boats & getting there.
Routes at a glance
| From | Route | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminyak / Canggu / Kuta | Road to Padang Bai, then fast boat | About 1.5–2 hours by road plus 1.5–2.5 hours at sea | From roughly €21–26 online for the boat; pick-up often extra |
| Ubud | Road to Padang Bai, then fast boat | About 1–1.5 hours by road plus 1.5–2.5 hours at sea | As above |
| Seminyak / Kuta / Sanur | Fast boat from Serangan or Sanur | 20–40 minutes by road plus about 2.5–4 hours at sea | Around €30 and up |
| Amed / Tulamben | Fast boat from Amed | About 1–1.5 hours at sea | Around €65 online with pick-up; ask locally for boat-only fares |
| Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan | Direct fast boat | About 2–2.5 hours | From around €21–28 online |
| Bali airport (DPS) | Flight to Lombok, then car and boat | About 30–40 minutes in the air plus 2–2.5 hours on Lombok | Varies; a good choice in rough-sea months |
| Padang Bai | Public car ferry to Lembar, car to Bangsal, boat | About 7–9 hours in all | The cheapest route by a wide margin |
Getting around the Bali Gateways
Hotel pick-ups. Most fast-boat tickets can include a shared minibus from the main resort areas. Pick-up is early — often between 6 and 7.30 am — and the van collects several parties. A private car costs more and saves up to an hour.
At Padang Bai. Operators have offices on the streets behind the harbour, where you exchange your voucher for a boarding pass and a coloured sticker. Porters will offer to carry bags down the jetty for a tip; it is optional. Keep your sticker visible and listen for your boat’s name.
On arrival in the Gilis. Boats land on the beach or at a jetty on each island’s harbour side. A small local arrival fee is commonly collected in cash. From there you walk, cycle or arrange a porter — see each island’s own getting-there page.
Going back. Reconfirm your return the day before at the operator’s office on the island. On windy days the harbourmaster may suspend sailings with only a few hours’ notice.
