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Bali has long been a well-known holiday destination for travellers. The beaches of Uluwatu, the temples of Ubud and the energy of Canggu draw tourists from around the world. Some neighbouring small islands, such as Gili Trawangan, are often included in itineraries.
Now Bali’s little sister, Lombok, is growing in popularity with a wider variety of travellers. This island offers plenty of gorgeous white-sand beaches, crystal-clear water for snorkelling, rice paddies, surf breaks, and Indonesia’s second-highest volcano. Fun fact: the Gili Islands are actually a part of Lombok, not Bali!
There are more ways to make this crossing than most guides let on, and many operators have different boats depending on which route you take. We've made this journey enough times, and swapped enough notes with friends, to map out the real routes, the real boats, and which combinations are actually worth booking.
If you’re looking to create a Bali-Lombok itinerary, here are all the ways to travel between Bali and Lombok.
Routes at a Glance
| Route | Operator(s) | Boat Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padang Bai ↔ Gili Islands / Bangsal / Senggigi | Wahana Virendra & others | Large aluminium boat | Comfortable, in-boat movie; a transfer boat is needed to reach Gili Air |
| Padang Bai ↔ Lembar | Public ferry operators | Slow public ferry | Cheapest option, 5–10 hours, carries vehicles |
| Sanur ↔ Gili Islands / Bangsal / Senggigi | Multiple operators | Fast boat | May include stops at several other islands, depending on where you board/depart |
| Nusa Dua ↔ Senggigi | Eka Jaya | Large aluminium boat | Easiest Bali-side departure if you're staying in Uluwatu or Nusa Dua |
| Denpasar ↔ Lombok | Multiple airlines | Flight, ~45 minutes | Fewer delays than in previous years, still worth a buffer |
The Fast Boats
There are multiple departure and arrival points for these journeys, run by a handful of different operators. What surprised us most, going in, is that booking the same company twice doesn't mean the same boat twice. More on that below.
Padang Bai to the Gili Islands and Senggigi
We travelled with Wahana Virendra through 12go.com from Padang Bai to Gili Air. We'd originally booked out of Sanur, but they switched us to Padang Bai a few days before departure. Since we were coming from Ubud, we were happy to make the change, and the drive to the harbour ended up shorter too, even though they still picked us up early.
At this point, we didn't realise boats this size were making the crossing, so we were genuinely stoked when we saw it at the harbour. It's a big, comfortable boat. It's stable, and you don't really notice the waves, making it easy to walk around inside. They even play a movie during the crossing.
We stopped at Gili Trawangan first. Then we met a small transfer boat on our way towards Bangsal, which took us to Gili Air, since the big ones can't dock there. The team handles all the luggage during the transfer, so it's seamless even with the extra step. There is no stop at Bangsal on this route.
This boat then looped down to Senggigi (no stop in Bangsal) before heading back to Padang Bai. No extra Nusa Penida/Nusa Lembongan stops, and a comfortable ride. I'd definitely recommend this journey if you're travelling between Lombok and Ubud, Amed or Candidasa.
Ferry Time: ~2 hrs
Ferry Cost: $50 USD
Bali Harbour: Padang Bai
Lombok Harbours: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, Senggigi
Sanur to the Gili Islands, Bangsal and Senggigi
The next port in Bali that we've travelled through is Sanur in the south. Many operators depart from here, with many destinations, so check 12go.com to compare.
Some companies include a transfer from your hotel to Sanur. We've used this service from Ubud, and they wouldn't pick us up from our hotel, so they picked us up from a nearby convenience store instead. This was totally fine; taxis are cheap, and it gave us a chance to grab snacks for the journey.
At Sanur, it's a slow process before boarding even starts. You check in at your boat company's desk; they take your luggage and give you a lanyard so attendants can make sure you board the right boat. There's now a proper ferry building in Sanur, an upgrade from a few years ago when you had to wade into the water to reach the boat. Departure boards inside show which boats are loading next.
Boarding itself is chaotic; every boat is run by a private company, so the docks are busy with people coming and going. Keep an eye out for your branded boat.
Coming from Lombok, we've done Senggigi to Sanur. We'd booked with Wahana Virendra again and assumed it was the same boat we'd taken to get from Padang Bai to Lombok. We were very wrong. It wasn't direct, it wasn't a big, comfortable boat, and we got delayed at the dock for two hours. Someone told us the harbour master hadn't given permission to leave; someone else said we were waiting for another passenger. We never got a straight answer. When we finally left, we headed north, the wrong direction for Sanur. We stopped at Gili Air, then Gili Trawangan, then travelled all the way south to Nusa Penida before finally reaching Sanur. It made for a very long day.
These boats generally loop around many destinations, as operators cover all the nearby islands and combine them into longer crossings (e.g., Sanur to Nusa Penida, or Nusa Lembongan to Gili Trawangan).
When you're comparing different options to get you from Point A to Point B, compare durations, or simply message the operator to see if you're going to have a whole lot of stops, that make the trip longer than necessary.
Overall, the journey is hot, cramped and bouncy. These boats move quickly, but it can be a rough ride.
When you disembark at Bangsal or Senggigi, plenty of drivers will offer you a ride. Pre-book with someone reputable (like our friend Baron, WhatsApp: +62 821 4424 6776), so you're not haggling right after getting off the water.
If you're coming to Bali, one genuine upside is that landing in Sanur is a lovely experience. You're a two-minute walk from a stretch of restaurants facing Sunrise Beach, a good way to end a long day on the water.
Ferry Time: 2.5–5.5 hours, depending on stops, guests, and weather
Ferry Cost: $50 USD, depending on distance
Bali Harbours: Sanur, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida
Lombok Harbours: Bangsal Harbour / the Gili Islands, Senggigi
Same Operator, Different Boat
Booking with a company like Wahana Virendra doesn't guarantee a consistent experience; it depends entirely on the specific route. Our Padang Bai to Gili Air crossing was on a large, stable boat with movies and easy movement on board. Our Senggigi-to-Sanur journey with the same operator was on a fast boat, with a confusing wait and an unplanned island-hopping detour. When you book, check the boat type for your specific leg rather than assuming it'll match a good experience you've had on a different route.
The ferry in Sanur before the dock
The new docks in Sanur
Nusa Dua to Senggigi
A friend took this route with Eka Jaya and had a genuinely smooth experience. He was staying in Uluwatu, so there was next to no traffic getting to the harbour, unheard of in Bali. He already had a scooter, so he drove himself straight to the port in Nusa Dua.
The boat itself was a large, comfortable aluminium boat, similar to the one on our Padang Bai crossing, and by all accounts just as pleasant.
On arrival in Lombok, a scooter was delivered to him right at the port, so he could ride straight down to the south of the island without arranging separate transport.
On the way home, he was delayed a few hours, but spent the wait in a nearby cafe overlooking the sea, getting some work done. Not the worst way to lose an afternoon.
Ferry Time: ~3 hrs
Ferry Cost: $75 USD
Bali Harbour: Nusa Dua
Lombok Harbour: Senggigi
The Slow Boat (a.k.a. The Public Ferry): Padang Bai to Lembar
The cheapest way to travel between Bali and Lombok is to take the public ferry. This boat is a larger vessel that mostly transports locals, goods and vehicles. But it's a great option for tourists too!
If you're bringing your motorbike or scooter, you can bring it on board this boat. There will be a charge for it, but if you've already rented one for the duration of your holiday, you don't have to mess around with getting another vehicle when you arrive.
When people first look at this option, they'll often compare the shown journey times. However, this is not very accurate. Loading and offloading on these boats takes a long time and adds to your journey.
One benefit of this ferry is that it does not make any additional stops. Straight from one island to the other.
You will need to carry your own bags onto this boat. Narrow stairs connect the boarding floor (where the vehicles are) to the seating areas. This is much easier if you have a backpack. If you have several pieces of luggage, it could be a good reason to not choose the ferry.
When we took this boat, it was just about to depart. The first room we entered did have seating available, but most of it was taken. Instead, we were offered mattresses for hire, which meant we could create a comfortable space for ourselves. Another cabin had seating available, but we didn't realise this and just hired the mattresses. They were cheap, and it made the journey pretty comfortable.
There was a small convenience store on board the ferry selling noodles, tea, and coffee. There weren't many options available, and many people chose to purchase a more substantial meal to bring on board. This is your reminder to bring enough food to keep yourself going!
Also, go to the bathroom before you board. As a woman, I tried to use the on-board toilets. They were squat toilets, with a lot of water around, doors that didn't close properly and a swaying boat. I decided not to risk it.
You can move around on this boat, which you can't on the smaller fast boats. Which means you can spend some time outside taking in the view.
We've had friends feel quite seasick from the motion of the fast ferries, but this much larger boat is slower-paced. You will not experience as much bouncing on the waves as you do in smaller boats, so this is a much better option for anyone who experiences seasickness.
This ferry docks at Lembar Harbour in Lombok. It is just south of Mataram City, the capital. If you are travelling to the south coast, this is much closer than disembarking in Bangsal in the north. The driving time from Bangsal to Kuta is 2 hours; from Lembar, it is only 1 hour.
A friend of ours took this crossing recently and was on the water for ten hours, more than double the advertised time. Their driver waited patiently on the other side, though we suspect he was a little frustrated by the end. What was meant to be a half-day journey became a full day, awkward timing when you've got a long-haul flight the next morning. Build in a generous buffer if you're taking this ferry ahead of any onward travel.
I think it's also important to acknowledge that Indonesia has a pretty poor safety record for ferries. Because it is a large archipelago, many ferries operate every day. The country has questionable safety standards that are difficult for both operators and harbour masters to enforce. Although I have taken this and other local ferries in Indonesia before, I'm not sure I would take this particular route again. Bali to Java or Lombok to Sumbawa are quick journeys, leaving less time for things to go wrong. This crossing has many other options. Make decisions you feel confident in.
Ferry Time: 5–10 hours, depending on weather and conditions
Ferry Cost: 80,000 IDR ($5 USD)
Bali Harbour: Padang Bai
Lombok Harbour: Lembar Harbour, Central Lombok
The slow boat lived up to it’s name
Which Should You Choose?
There are now genuinely more options here than there used to be. On paper, most take a similar amount of time, but in practice, the operator and route you choose can make the difference between very different journeys.
We used to recommend the slow public ferry as the default choice: cheap, comfortable, and it saves the drive from Bangsal. We're more hesitant to say that now. Following the tragic sinking of a ferry travelling between Surabaya and Banjarmasin in September 2026, we've become more cautious about recommending Indonesia's public ferries in general, even on routes with a long, safe history, and delays like the one above only add to that.
So here's how we'd actually choose, based on where you're headed:
Coming to or from the Gili Islands? Book Wahana Virendra from Padang Bai. It's the most comfortable boat of the bunch and reliable for this specific route.
Staying near Uluwatu or Nusa Dua? Take Eka Jaya, Nusa Dua to Senggigi. Least Bali traffic to deal with, and the smoothest experience by any account we've had.
Heading to Kuta, Lombok? Check flights first. With more airlines on the route now and fewer delays than in previous years, it may be the simplest way there without a long drive from Bangsal or Senggigi.
If neither of those fits your route, the slow ferry and the Sanur–Senggigi crossing are still options; just go in with realistic expectations on timing, and check current conditions before you book.
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Flying from Bali to Lombok
The final option for getting between Bali and Lombok is to fly. The journey is only about 45 minutes long, but there are a few things to consider.
More airlines now operate this route than in previous years, and it seems to have largely shaken its reputation for delays and cancellations.
For many travellers, Lombok is the final part of their holiday, but they need to return to Bali for their onward flight. If you're booking your onward flights separately rather than through a single itinerary, there's still some risk of delays or cancellations, though honestly, we'd say the same about the ferries. If you can book your onward international flight from Lombok via Bali on a single ticket, that's the safest bet. Otherwise, build in an overnight in Bali as a buffer rather than cutting it close.
Transfers to and from the Airports
Bali's traffic is notoriously bad; getting to and from I Gusti Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) Airport can be slow, especially from further afield or through busy parts of Kuta or Seminyak. Check estimated travel times on Google Maps before you commit to a departure time.
On our last trip, we decided against the return boat to Lombok and booked a flight instead. We were staying in Uluwatu and flew early to avoid Bali's traffic entirely. We left our Airbnb at 6am and were checked in, through security, and waiting on coffee by just after 7am. Worth considering if your accommodation is anywhere near the airport side of the island.
Traffic is generally lighter in Lombok, though you may travel longer distances on smaller local roads. The airport's southern location makes it convenient for Kuta and the south coast; destinations like Sembalun and Senggigi take a little longer.
Final Note
Bali and Lombok are both wonderful Indonesian islands worth visiting, and there are now more ways to connect them than most guides let on. The names can be misleading; "fast boat" doesn't always mean fast, and the same operator can put you on two completely different boats depending on the leg. Do your research, book the specific route rather than just the company name, and pick what best fits your trip.
Our Sim Local review after ten days testing this Indonesia eSIM in Bali and Lombok, with price, speeds, coverage gaps and how much data you really need.