Bali to Lombok Ferry Guide

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Bali has been a well-known holiday destination for travellers for a long time. Some neighbouring small islands like Gili Trawangan have often been included in itineraries.

Now Bali’s little sister, Lombok, is growing in popularity with a wider variety of travellers. This island offers plenty: has gorgeous white sand beaches, crystal-clear water for snorkelling, rice paddies, surf breaks and Indonesia’s second-highest volcano.

There are a few different ways to get from Bali across to Lombok. Depending on where you’re going, how long you have, and your appetite for adventure will help you decide the best option to make the journey as enjoyable as possible.

Here are all the ways to travel from Bali to Lombok.

Bali to Lombok Ferry Guide

There are two main boat types that service the route from Bali to Lombok: the fast boats and the slow boat. The fast boats are what most tourists take. The second option is actually public ferry that goes between the two islands. This is what most locals will take, especially if they are travelling with their own vehicle.

There are multiple departure and arrival points for these journeys, which can dramatically impact your travel time. Keep reading to find the solution that’s right for you.

The Fast Boat

There are two ports in Bali that have speed boat departures, Padang Bai in the centre and Sanur in the south. Boats from both departure points can be booked through 12go.com. This will show you all boats departing allowing you to pick the best time.

We’ve only ever taken the speed boats from Sanur, but the reviews I’ve read online make the options seem fairly similar.

Some ferry companies will include a transfer from your hotels down to Sanur. We were travelling from Ubud and they wouldn’t collect us from our hotel but would pick us up from a nearby convenience store. This was totally fine for us as taxis are cheap and we could pick up some snacks for the journey ahead.

Then when you get to Sanur, it’s a slow process before you even get to boarding. You’ll check in with your chosen boat companies desk. They’ll take your luggage at this point and give you a lanyard or something else visible to help the attendants make sure you get on the right boat.

There is now a ferry building in Sanur, an upgrade from a few years ago when you had to wade into the water to access the boat. So once you’re checked in you’ll move across to this building. There are departure TVs here showing which boats are boarding next so you can see how long you have to wait.

Boarding is chaotic. All boats are operated by private companies, so there are a lot of people coming and going on the docks. Keep an eye out for your branded boat and others around you that are travelling with you. Don’t miss your boat!

The team will load your luggage for you, which is great if you’re carrying a surfboard or large luggage. I’ve only ever travelled with one piece of luggage. If you have more, check any extra charges that you may need to arrange in advance.

Seating is first-come-first served but there’s not a lot of difference in seats. There are windows, but depending on the ocean spray, it may not be possible to have them open.

The boat company may say that the journey is 2 hours, but it will most likely take longer. Almost all boats will stop at Gili Trawagan and possibly Gili Air as well. These small islands are just off the coast of Lombok and are very popular. The process of waiting for space at the dock, disembarking a few passengers then loading more on will take time.

Double check your boat doesn’t also stop at Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan on the way as well. This will just extend the trip even further as they go through disembarking a few passengers and picking up a few more.

Overall the journey is hot, cramped and bouncy. These boats do move quickly when they’re moving but it can make for a very bumpy ride.

Your final destination will be Bangsal Harbour. It’s a bustling place as it’s just next to the Gili Islands and there is a lot of traffic going out to them.

When you disembark in Bangsal, there will be plenty of drivers looking to offer you a ride. Pre-book with a reputable driver (like our friend Baron Whatsapp: +62 821 4424 6776) so you don’t have to haggle whilst adjusting to being back on land again.

Ferry Time: 2.5 - 5.5 hours, depending on stops, number of guests and weather conditions

Ferry Cost: Between $15 and $50 USD depending on departure point

Departure Points: Padang Bai or Sanur

Arrival Point: Bangsal Harbour, North Lombok

The Slow Boat (a.k.a. The Public Ferry)

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 as a tourist too!

If you’re bringing your motorbike or scooter from Bali, 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 these two options, they’ll often compare the shown journey times. However, neither of these are very accurate. The loading and offloading on both of 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. There are narrow stairs to navigate from the boarding floor where the vehicles are up 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. We were instead offered mattresses for hire which meant we could make a comfortable space for ourselves. There was seating available in another cabin 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 onboard the ferry selling noodles, tea and coffee. There weren’t a lot of options available and many people had chosen 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 across the waves as you do with the smaller boats so this is a much better option for anyone who experiences seasickness.

This ferry docks at Lembar Harbour in Lombok. This is just to the 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. Driving time Bangsal to Kuta is 2 hours; from Lembar it is only an hour.

Ferry Time: 5 hours, depending on the weather

Ferry Cost: 80,000 IDR ($5 USD)

Departure Points: Padang Bai

Arrival Point: Lembar Harbour, Central Lombok

Bali to Lombok Ferry Advice

So there are the two options. Both take a similar amount of time, but do take you to different locations. From a comfort level, one is cramped but the other you may end up sitting on the floor.

If I have the choice, I would select the slow ferry. It’s a much more comfortable time on the water and is not much “slower” than the fast boat. It also saves such a long drive to get to Kuta afterwards.

If you’re island hopping, you may spend time on Nusa Lembongan or the Gili Islands before making your way across to Kuta and the fast boats may make more sense.

If none of these options sound great, there’s always flying!

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.

Transfers to and from the Airports

First up, Bali’s traffic is notoriously bad. Getting to and from Denpasar airport can be slow, especially if you’re coming from further afield or need to travel through the busy parts of Kuta or Seminyak. Get on Google Maps and check the estimated travel times from your accommodation.

Conversely, traffic is pretty light in most parts of Lombok. But you may have to travel long distances on small, local roads depending on where you’re going. The airport was recently relocated to the south, so it’s convenient to head to Kuta or anywhere along the south coast. The journey up to Sengigi will take a little longer.

Airline Cancellations

We’ve booked a few flights back and forth to Bali before, especially as Denpasar airport has a lot more international connections to get you further afield.

One thing we’ve experienced a lot is flight cancellations or delays. They’ll often cancel whole flights and move you to a different day or shift you a few hours later.

If you’re connecting with an international flight this can be an absolute nightmare. And getting hold of the airlines is often challenging. If you’re booking international flights, we strongly recommend including the Denpasar-Lombok leg as part of it so that the airline helps make sure you make your connections.

Alternatively, give yourself plenty of time (even overnight) in Bali to allow for last-minute changes. Let’s make travel as stress-free as possible!

Final Note

Bali and Lombok are both wonderful Indonesian islands that are both worth visiting. With Bali’s tourism exploding recently, more people are making the trip across to Lombok. There are a few different ways to get there, but the names are sometimes misleading. The fast boat is not a fast journey! Make sure you do your research before booking and pick the option that fits your holiday the best.