How to Get to Lombok from Bali: A Local’s Guide (2026)

Getting to Lombok has never been easier, whether you’re flying directly to the island or taking the scenic route across the water.

Most people land and head straight for the south coast. Our Kuta Lombok guide covers the town once you get there.

While Lombok has its own international airport, many travelers choose to arrive by boat. With a well-connected network of fast boats and ferries from Bali and the nearby Gili Islands, you can reach Lombok’s shores quickly.

The thing is, in 2026, the corridor between Bali and Lombok is a bit of a “Wild West.” Between maritime price shifts and the chaotic “porter mafias” at the ports, showing up without a plan is a recipe for a lighter wallet and a heavy headache.

Below, we’ll walk you through the best options for getting to Lombok so that you can join us on the Lombok Loop from Senggigi, or explore on your own!

Getting to Lombok: Overview

We update this guide every year to make it easy for our guests (and readers) to get to our island. Everything below was checked again in August 2026. Here is what has changed and what will cost you if you get it wrong:

• We no longer recommend buying fast boat tickets at the harbor. In 2026, “walk-up” prices at Padang Bai are often 2x the online rate due to local scalpers. Book via 12Go or directly with the boat company. We’ll give links to the companies we use below.
• The Airport changes: Since the Mandalika Bypass finished, the airport (LOP) is now only 20-30 minutes from Kuta. If you’re staying South, fly. If you’re coming via Gili Islands or want to climb Rinjani, then go via boat.
• Singapore flights: Flying in from SG? Scoot went from four flights a week to 10 a week on 1 June 2026, so there is now at least one departure every day, Saturday included. The old four-day schedule is gone and any guide still quoting it is out of date.
• The public ferry is online-only now. ASDP closed the ticket windows at Padang Bai and Lembar and moved everything to the Ferizy app. There is no counter to queue at. Book before you leave for the port and bring the ID you booked with.
• Scooter changes: Bringing a Bali rental on the ferry? We don’t recommend it. If you do, you must have the original STNK (Registration). A photocopy will get you turned away at the port or cost you a massive “fine” – purposely in quotation marks as this is Indonesia.

Three ways across, and the right one depends almost entirely on where you are starting in Bali and where you are heading in Lombok. Here is how they compare before we go into each in detail.

Option	Door to door	Cost per person	Arrives at	Pick this if
Fast boat	2 hours to 3 hours 35 minutes on the water, depending on which Bali port you leave from	From 300,000 IDR, most sit between 420,000 and 830,000 IDR	Bangsal or Senggigi Pier, northwest Lombok	You are heading to Senggigi, the Gilis or the north, or you are joining the Lombok Loop
Flight	50 minutes in the air, plus airport time both ends	From 775,000 IDR one way	Lombok International Airport (LOP), south Lombok	You are staying in Kuta or Mandalika. The bypass puts you at your hotel in 20 to 30 minutes
Public ferry	4 to 5 hours scheduled, realistically closer to six	65,300 IDR on foot, plus 169,400 IDR if you are bringing a scooter	Lembar, west Lombok, an hour from both Senggigi and Kuta	You are on a tight budget, bringing a vehicle, or you actively want the slow crossing

1. Flight

The fastest way to get to Lombok is by air, with several daily direct flights.

• Arrival Point: Lombok International Airport (LOP)
• Travel Times:
  • Bali (Denpasar): 50 minutes in the air
  • Surabaya: 1 hour
  • Jakarta: 2 hours
  • Kuala Lumpur, Singapore: 3 hours
• Transfer to Senggigi: 1.5 hours from the airport by car, with pick-up services often included by hotels.
• Transfer to Kuta Lombok: Just 20 minutes from the airport by car now that the Mandalika bypass is finished.
• Airlines: TransNusa and Wings Air are the only airlines flying Denpasar to Lombok direct in 2026, with roughly 11 departures a day between them. Garuda, Lion Air, Batik Air and AirAsia have all dropped the route

Note: This is the fastest option if you’re flying from another Indonesian city or internationally but fast boats are the more convenient way of getting to Lombok from Bali or the Gili Islands.

2. Fast Boat

Our recommended way across, and the one we point Lombok Loop guests at, because the boat lands you near Senggigi where the trip starts. It suits anyone coming from Bali or the Gili Islands who wants the scenic route rather than the airport.

• Arrival Point: Bangsal Harbour or Senggigi Pier, depending on the operator. Eka Jaya, the one we use, runs into Senggigi
• Travel Times:
  • From Gili Islands: 15 minutes
  • From Bali (Padang Bai): 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes depending on the operator
  • From Bali (Serangan): Approximately 3 hours
• Transfer to Senggigi: About 30 minutes by car/taxi from Bangsal. Private pick-up is available for around 400,000 IDR.
• Transfer to Kuta Lombok: Around 1 hour 45 minutes by car/taxi from Bangsal.
• Boat Operators: Eka Jaya, Gili Gili Fastboat, Wijaya Perkasa, Gili Getaway, Blue Water Express, Wahana Virendra and a long tail of smaller boats. We recommend and use Eka Jaya.

Tip: Fastboats are the quickest water option, with frequent departures from multiple ports (suggestions below). Book in advance during peak season. We always recommend “Eka Jaya” because of their “aluminum” hulls that cut through the water and are much safer.

Who actually runs what, pulled from live 12Go availability in August 2026. Departure times shift by season, so use this to pick an operator and a port, then check the day you are travelling.

Operator	From	To	Duration	Fare per adult
Eka Jaya	Padang Bai	Senggigi Pier	2h 30m	From 832,500 IDR on 12Go, around 550,000 IDR direct
Eka Jaya	Padang Bai	Gili Trawangan	1h 30m	From 832,500 IDR on 12Go
Eka Jaya	Nusa Dua	Bangsal Pier	5h 20m	From 1,072,500 IDR on 12Go
Gili Gili Fastboat	Padang Bai	Bangsal Pier	2h 30m	519,000 IDR
Wijaya Perkasa	Padang Bai	Bangsal Indah	2h	424,000 IDR
Wahana Virendra	Padang Bai	Gili Trawangan	1h 30m	497,975 IDR
Gili Getaway	Serangan	Bangsal and Senggigi	3h 30m	Around 735,000 IDR
Cheapest on the route	Padang Bai	Bangsal	2h to 2h 30m	From 285,000 IDR

Local Tip: The 5 hour 20 minute Nusa Dua run to Bangsal catches people out every season. It reads as the easy option because the pick-up is close to the airport, and then you lose a day. If you are landing in Bali and heading straight for Lombok, the flight to Lombok International is almost always the better call.

3. Public Ferry

This is the most budget-friendly way to reach Lombok, ideal for adventurous travelers who don’t mind the extended journey.

• Arrival Point: Lembar Harbour
• Travel Time: From Bali (Padang Bai), 4 to 5 hours scheduled and realistically closer to six
• Transfer to Senggigi: 1 hour by car from Lembar.
• Transfer to Kuta: 1 hour by car from Lembar.
• Transfer to Sekotong: Lembar is the closest arrival point on the island to Sekotong Harbour, which is where boats leave for the secret Gili Islands and Gili Asahan. If the quiet Gilis are why you are coming, the ferry drops you nearer than any fast boat does.
• Best For: Travelers on a budget or those bringing their scooter from Bali.

Note: While affordable, the ferry is a slower option. It’s a great choice if you have extra time and want to save on travel costs. You can also book an overnight ferry but it’s not a full night.

Our Recommended route: Fast Boat to Lombok from Bali via Padang Bai Harbor

We recommend the Eka Jaya Fast Boat the most ideal choice for travelers heading from Bali to Lombok.

It’s popular for being easy, convenient, and affordable, making it a top pick among our travelers looking for an easy, safe, and affordable boat transfer.

The boat leaves from Padang Bai and runs straight into Senggigi Pier in 2 hours 30 minutes. That is the part most guides get wrong: Eka Jaya’s Padang Bai service does not stop at Bangsal, it drops you in Senggigi, which is where the Lombok Loop starts. The same boat also runs Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan in 1 hour 30 minutes if the Gilis are your first stop.

Fares depend on where you book. Direct with the operator you are looking at around 550,000 IDR per person, while the same seat through 12Go comes in at about 830,000 IDR with the Bali hotel pick-up bundled in. Compare both before you commit, and factor in what a private car to Padang Bai would cost you on its own. Padang Bai is on Bali’s east coast, so factor in the drive: see the port transfer times below before you book a boat you cannot reach in time.

Note: In 2026, several smaller fiberglass operators have had safety suspensions. Sticking to Eka Jaya (aluminum hulls) isn’t just about comfort or speed, but more about making sure you actually arrive!

Note: Bangsal is chaotic the moment a fast boat unloads. Touts will meet you on the jetty, quote three times the going rate for a car to Senggigi and tell you the public boats have stopped for the day. They have not. Know your onward transport before you step off, and read our guide on how to survive Bangsal Harbour before you arrive.

Public Ferry timetables from Bali to Lombok

If you’re traveling from Bali to Lombok on a budget, the public ferry is a solid option. ASDP runs it from Padang Bai in Bali to Lembar in Lombok, with around 12 crossings a day rather than the hourly service most guides still claim. Sailings are spread from midnight through to 22:30, with a long gap between roughly 04:00 and 09:00.

Scheduled crossing time is 4 to 5 hours, and we would plan for longer. Loading, unloading and queuing regularly push it to six, and passengers report seven in bad weather. If you have a flight or a booked room at the other end, do not cut it fine. Facilities on board include basic amenities like a prayer room, canteen, and various seating options, with both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned areas.

You cannot buy a ticket at the counter any more. ASDP switched Padang Bai and Lembar to online-only ticketing through Ferizy back in 2023, and there is no manual sales window. Book at trip.ferizy.com or in the Ferizy app, up to 60 days ahead, and have the passenger name and ID details ready because they are checked against the ticket at the gate. Turning up at Padang Bai without one is the single most common way travellers lose a day on this crossing.

Here are the current fares and the shape of the timetable:

What you are booking	2026 fare	Notes
Adult foot passenger	65,300 IDR	Anyone aged two and over. One integrated fare covering the port fee, the crossing and insurance.
Infant under two	6,100 IDR	Still needs a named ticket on Ferizy.
Motorbike under 500cc (Golongan II)	169,400 IDR	This is what you pay to bring a scooter across.
Car or van under 5m (Golongan IVA)	1,184,100 IDR	Book several days ahead in peak season, vehicle decks sell out first.

Read: Bali Vs Lombok

Alternative Ferry Ports in Bali

For fast boat routes to Lombok, consider these options, which will all have ferry transfer options to Bangsal Pier near Senggigi.

• Padang Bai: Located on Bali’s east coast, 2 to 2 hours 30 minutes to Bangsal, or 2 hours 30 minutes to Senggigi with Eka Jaya. It is the furthest drive from the tourist south and by far the shortest crossing, which is why we use it.
• Serangan Pier: Closer to Kuta and Seminyak, around 40 minutes from Seminyak by car, but the crossing stretches to roughly 3 hours 30 minutes. Gili Getaway and Blue Water Express run from here.
• Sanur: A handful of operators run from Sanur, around 50 minutes from the airport, but the crossing is close to 3 hours 50 minutes. Convenient departure, long day.
• Nusa Dua: Eka Jaya’s southern departure. Easy to reach and 5 hours 20 minutes to Bangsal, so only worth it if you are already staying in Nusa Dua and refuse to drive east.
• From Gili Islands: Just a 15-minute ride to Lombok.

Tip: You can compare prices and book tickets on the 12Go Asia Website. Or, contact us and we can help book your ferry tickets for you.

Getting to Your Departure Port in Bali

Most people book the boat first and work out the drive afterwards, which is how you end up leaving Canggu at 5am. Padang Bai sits on Bali’s east coast and the traffic out of the south is unforgiving, so the transfer is often the longest part of the day.

Starting in	To Padang Bai	To Serangan	To Sanur
Canggu	2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes	1 hour 15 minutes	1 hour 15 minutes
Seminyak	1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes	45 minutes	1 hour
Kuta or the airport	1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes	40 minutes	50 minutes
Sanur	1 hour 30 minutes	25 minutes	On the doorstep
Nusa Dua	2 hours	40 minutes	50 minutes
Ubud	1 hour 15 minutes	1 hour	1 hour

Local Tip: Most fast boat operators include a hotel pick-up in the south of Bali, and it is usually cheaper than arranging a private car yourself. Check whether your fare covers it before you book a separate transfer. Pick-ups from Canggu and Ubud often carry a surcharge because of the distance.

If you are on the public ferry, Padang Bai is your only option. There is no ferry from Denpasar, Sanur or Benoa to Lombok, whatever a search result tells you. Book a car for around 400,000 to 600,000 IDR from the south of Bali, or take a Grab if you can find a driver willing to make the run.

Getting to Lombok from the Gili Islands

The Gili Islands’ proximity to Lombok makes transfers quick and straightforward. Each island’s main harbor offers several daily options, including affordable public boats that depart once full.

Fast boat services also connect the Gili Islands to Lombok, in fact, most speedboats from Bali will stop at the GIli Islands before arriving in Lombok.

Not sure which Island? Read our guide to Lombok vs Gili Islands.

Key Routes and Travel Times:

• Gili Air to Bangsal or Teluk Nare (Lombok): A brief 10-minute boat ride, with easy access to onward land transfers to Senggigi, Kuta, Senaru, or Lombok Airport.
• Gili Meno to Bangsal or Teluk Nare: Approximately 15 minutes by boat.
• Gili Trawangan to Bangsal or Teluk Nare: About a 20-minute journey.

Each Gili Island has a primary departure point, which makes the process of boarding a boat to Lombok easy. Upon arrival at either Bangsal or Teluk Nare (very close together), you can continue by road to your destination across Lombok, whether you’re staying in Senggigi, staying in Kuta Lombok, or staying in Tetebatu.

We recommend booking your transfer online to avoid local bartering, ensuring a hassle-free start to your Lombok adventure.

Read: Where to Stay in Lombok

Public Boat Prices (as of 2026):

Karya Bahari cooperative runs this and they increase the price tiny bit every year but the locals are really vocal if it goes up too much. This year it’s almost the same as last.

• Gili Air to Lombok: IDR 20,000
• Gili Meno to Lombok: IDR 21,000
• Gili Trawangan to Lombok: IDR 23,000

Note: The boat fare is not the whole cost. Each island charges a harbour fee of 10,000 to 20,000 IDR per person on arrival, collected as you step off the jetty. It is legitimate and it is not a scam, but it catches out almost everyone who budgeted only for the ticket.

These boats leave when they are full, which means roughly 35 to 40 people on board. In high season that is a 20 minute wait. Turn up after about 3pm in low season and you may be waiting for a boat that never fills. The ticket office at Bangsal runs from around 07:00 to 17:00, and the last dependable departure is mid afternoon.

Karya Bahari also runs a speedboat on the same routes for around 100,000 IDR per person on a fixed hourly schedule. If there are two or three of you and the slow boat is half empty, that is usually the better trade.

Important: Contact us if you need a transfer to the Lombok Loop starting point from Bangsal or Teluk Nare. If you’re traveling independently, don’t miss our epic guide to the best things to do in Lombok!

Getting Back to Bali from Lombok

The return runs on the same three options, but the timing is tighter and this is where people miss flights. Almost every fast boat back to Bali leaves in the morning. If you are on an afternoon departure from Lombok and a same-day international flight out of Denpasar, you are relying on the sea behaving.

Leaving from	Option	Typical departure	Arrives in Bali
Bangsal or Senggigi	Fast boat to Padang Bai	Morning, most between 08:00 and 11:00	Padang Bai, then 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes by road to the south
Lembar	Public ferry to Padang Bai	Around 12 sailings a day	Padang Bai, 4 to 6 hours on the water
Lombok Airport (LOP)	Flight to Denpasar	Roughly 11 departures a day, 07:15 to 18:55	Denpasar, 50 minutes in the air

Local Tip: If you have an international flight out of Denpasar, fly back from Lombok rather than taking the boat, or come across a day early. We have watched more than one group lose a flight to a cancelled morning crossing in the wet season. If your dates are still flexible, our guide to the best time to visit Lombok covers which months the sea actually behaves.

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