GETTING TO THE GILIS
BALI TO LOMBOK BY AIR
Garuda AIrlines now offers fast transfers on board a comfortable 737 jet with a flight time of around 15 minutes. The flight operates every evening to connect with International arrival and departures. www.garuda-indonesia.com
Merpati Airlines flies direct between Bali and Lombok four time a day . www.merpati.co.id
Trans Nusa Air operates three flights between Bali and Lombok daily . www.transnusa.com
Wings Air flies between Bali and Lombok with two flights daily. www.lionair.co.id
Praya (LOP) airport in Lombok currently handles international arrivals and has full Visa on Arrival facilities, with efficient and fast visa processing.
AIR ASIA flies direct from Kuala Lumpur daily . www.airasia.com
Silk Air ( a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines) flies direct between Lombok and SIngapore, three times per week . www.silkair.com
Garuda Airlines flies between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Lombok everyday, with a short stopover in Jakarta www.garuda-indonesia.com
Merpati Airlines also have flight everyday between Lombok and Kuala Kumpur, Malaysia (via Surabaya) . www.merpati.co.id
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
European connection are easy via Jakarta in Java. Direct flights from Jakarta to Lombok are available everyday and are usually timed to connect with european flights. Lombok is easily accessible from Jakarta, Bali, Yogyakarta and Surabaya and is an important connection for travel to the eastern islands, in particular Komodo, Flores and Sumbawa.
Garudua Indonesia has direct flights between Lombok and Jakarta three times a day. www.garuda-indonesia.com
Lion Air has daily flights between Lombok, Jakarta and Surabaya. www.lionair.co.id
Merpati Airlines has flight available between Lombok, Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Sumbawa, Flores, Kupang and may other Indonesian destinations. www.merpati.co.id
Trans Nusa Air flies between Lombok and Sumbawa evey two days , and Bima everyday. www.transnusa.co.id
Batavia Air has flights between Lombok, Surabaya and Jakarta everyday. www.batavia-air.co.id
Padang Bay harbour (Bali) provides the sea link between mainland Bali and Lombok. Lembar Harbour ( Lombok) is approx 1hour and a half far from Bangsal Harbour ( Departure to the Gilis). Arrange your own transfers and buy tickets direct from the harbours, or use a reputable tour company to provide a through service.
Public Ferries depart every two hours for the sea voyage between Padangbai and Lembar. The crossing between the islands costs Rp 32 000 per person and takes aprox . 4 to 5 hours.
Perama Tours offer a complete transfer package, which includes pick up from destination throughout Bali and Lombok, bus transfer to the local harbour, ferry ticket and transfer from the harbour to your destination, on either island. www.peramatour.com
Gili Cat, Island Getaway, Blue Water Express, Marina, Super Scoot, Eka Jaya and many others , offer the cross from Bali ( either Padang Bai or Benoa Harbour) in there safe and fast speed boat.
The package generally include transfer from your hotel in Bali to the speedboat harbors and the drop in Gili Air, only 700m away from Gili Air DIvers Dive Center. The cross by Speed Boat generally takes one hour from Padang Bai and three hours from Benoa Harbor ( closer to the Kuta Area in Bali). Most companies operate morning departures, some of them operates twice daily and offer afternoon departures.
FROM BANGSAL HARBOUR
Catch a taxi or Bemo to Bangsal Harbor, the small harbor on the north-west coast about 30 minutes from Senggigi. Public ferries ( really just large outrigger boats) depart regularly to all three islands, and charters are available, with prices depending on the number of passengers and your bargaining skills.
Unfortunately the area is plagued by touts and scams, so ignore them and head directly to the ticket office on the beachfront. Public ferry and charter boat prices are posted on the wall of the office, public boat leave when there are enough paying passengers to make the trip. Don’t let anyone take your bag or, if they offer to carry baggage, negotiate a price first.
Ignore people who tell you there are no return public transfers... there are. Or that there is no water, mosquito repellent etc. on the islands. All the essential are readily available at shops on all three islands. Bangsal is a pretty area, it’s a shame some of the local touts try to ruin it for everyone.