How to Get to Gili Islands Fast & Cheaply: Insider’s Guide

Gili Islands consist of three different islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. These islands, even though they are close to each other, offer different vibes and atmospheres. This is perfect for people looking for an island-hopping experience. This reason plus the crystal-clear water, no motorized vehicles and laid-back vibes make Gili Islands the most popular destinations after Bali.

However, not many people realise that they lose time and money simply because they miss to calculate small things that are actually important. For example, choosing the right port to depart can save you a lot of time, transport cost and energy.

This insider’s guide will give you a crystal-clear guide to get to the Gili Islands fast and cheap.

 

Calculate the Cost and Speed by Knowing the Distance to the Nearest Port

Most people will choose to depart from the port that offers the fastest route from Bali to Gili Islands. But travelling fast from to Gili Islands is not only about the sea trip but also the land transport.

If you don’t choose the departure point wisely, you might have to start the trip 3 hours before the boat departs from the port. There are two most common harbour used as the departure points from Bali to Gili Islands:

1. Sanur Harbour: sea crossing time around 2,5 – 3 hours.
2. Padang Bai harbour: sea crossing time 1,5 – 2 hours.

At first glance, Padang Bai seems like the ideal choice because it has shorter travel time. But it is not always the case. You have to consider where you stay before choosing which harbour to go to Gili Islands from Bali because:

1. If you start the trip from the Southern part of Bali like Canggu, Kuta, Seminyak or even Nusa Dua, choosing the Sanur Harbour makes a lot of sense since it only takes 30 – 45 minutes of driving. The trip to Padang Bai from these areas can take up to 2 hours.
2. Going to Padang Bai is the best option for people who stay in Ubud. Even though the travel time to Padang Bai and Sanur Harbour are similar, around 1,5 hours, the sea travel time from Padang Bai harbour is significantly shorter compared to Sanur Harbour.

The wisest route is always the combination of short land transfer and reasonable sea time.

 

Lowest Cost = Ticket Type, Moment, and Direct Booking

Getting to the Gili Islands cheaply is about strategy, such as:

1. Direct Booking Strategy
   Doing online booking through an official platform like Gili Voyages can help you save more money by: avoiding marked up price from middlemen in the ports, more transparent pricing, and securing seats in advance, especially in busy seasons.
2. Choose a round-trip ticket
   Buying a round-trip fast boat ticket from Bali to Gili Islands can save up to IDR 200,000. A round-trip ticket also helps you to schedule your activities and accommodation properly. Giving you a clearer financial plan for your vacation.
3. Use the Low vs High Season moment
   During the high season (Juli-Agustus, Des-Jan), the price is constantly higher. The best you can do is to book your trip in advance for a cheaper price and secure availability. Meanwhile in low Season (Feb-Mei, Okt-Nov), a lot of operators put a promo or discount up to 25% to fill up the boat capacity. This is the best time to enjoy the Gili Island trip in a cheaper price.

 

Final Thought: Fast and Cheap Travel to Gili Islands

The fastest way to go to Gili Islands from Bali is not only about the sea crossing time but also choosing the right departure point to save the land transport time and money.

And the cheapest way to get to the Gili Islands comes down to booking the round-trip ticket, travel during the low season and book directly through trusted operators such as Gili Voyages.

Choosing Gili Voyages not only secures your travel cost but also to ensure that you arrive in Gili refreshed, relaxed and ready to enjoy the island’s vibes.

Check the latest schedule and promotional fares directly on the Gili Voyages website and get the best deal from us!

 

FAQ

1. How do you get to the Gili Islands cheaply?
   The best way to save money is to do the trip during the low season and book a round-trip ticket online. Avoid the last-minute purchase at the harbour.
2. How do you get to the Gili Islands fast?
   Choose the harbour that is closest to your accommodation to save the land transport time. Sanur Harbour is ideal for people staying in South Bali while Padang Bai is suitable for people around Ubud.
3. How far is Bali from the Gili Islands?
   The travel time with a fast boat from Bali to Gili Islands varies by the departure point. From Padang Bai, it takes around 1,5 – 2 hours with a fast boat, meanwhile from Sanur harbour, it can take from 2,5 – 3 hours by a fast boat from Bali to Gili Islands.

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