Bali Fast Boat Travel Guide

Harbors in Bali

Bali has 7 main harbors that act as a departure and arrival point to a lot of ferry and speedboat trips. 4 of these harbors almost exclusively offer speedboat and fast boat trips to a collection of beautiful locations around Bali as well as accept many boat trips to Bali.

These 4 harbors are:

• » Sanur Harbor: This harbor offers fast boat or speed boat rides to the Gili islands, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Penida.
• » Serangan Harbor: This harbor offers fast boat or speed boat rides to the Gili Islands, Nusa Lembongan, Gili Gede, and Lombok.
• » Benoa Harbor: This harbor offers fast boat or speed boat rides to the Gili Islands and Lombok.
• » Amed Harbor: This harbor offers fast boat or speed boat rides to the Gili Islands and Lombok.

Both the fast boat and ferry harbors:

• » Padangbai Harbor: This harbor offers both public ferry and fast boat rides the Gili Islands, Lombok and Nusa Penida.
• » Kusumba Harbor: This harbor offers both fast boat and local boat rides to Nusa Penida.

Many gorgeous locations surround the amazing island of Bali, let’s begin to go through these locations and their fast boat connections with Bali.

Nusa Lembongan

The simple but gorgeous Nusa Lembongan Island is a wonderful location that makes up one of 3 islands called the Nusa Penida. Nusa Lembongan is the celebrity among those 3 islands and has the most visitors. Many travel to this island for a tranquil atmosphere with an incredible view, while others visit to participate in several water activities that the island has to offer including diving, snorkeling, and surfing.

From Nusa Lembongan to Bali

2 harbors in Nusa Lembongan offer fast boat trips to Bali.

• » From Telatak Harbor (Lembongan) to Serangan (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 30 mins.
• » From Jungut Batu Bay (Lembongan) to Kodang Sesetan/Pemelisan (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 30 mins.
• » From Jungut Batu Bay (Lembongan) to Serangan (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 30 mins.
• » From Jungut Batu Bay (Lembongan) to Sanur Beach (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 40 to 45 mins.

From Bali to Nusa Lembongan

• » From Serangan (Bali) to Telatak Harbor (Lembongan): This fast boat trip is approximately 30 mins.
• » From Kodang Sesetan/Pemelisan (Bali) to Jungut Batu Bay (Lembongan): This fast boat trip is also approximately 30 mins.
• » From Serangan (Bali) to Jungut Batu Bay (Lembongan): This fast boat trip is approximately 30 mins.
• » From Sanur Beach (Bali) to Jungut Batu Bay (Lembongan): This fast boat trip is approximately 40 to 45 mins.

Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida is what every itinerary needs to have. It is perhaps the closest version of what Bali would be like if it wasn’t such a worldwide mega tourist attraction. You could say that Nusa Penida is the mother island to both Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan as it the largest one. It’s spectacular for diving, swimming and enjoying the ultimate beach life. Nusa Penida along with Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan is also a bird sanctuary with species like Mitchell's Lorikeet, Java Sparrow, and Sulphur Crested Cockatoo.

From Nusa Penida to Bali

• » From Banjar Nyuh (Nusa Penida) to Kodang Sesetan/Pemelisan (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 1 hour.
• » From Buyuk Harbor (Nusa Penida) to Serangan (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 1 hour.
• » From Nusa Penida to Sanur (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 1 hour.

From Bali to Nusa Penida

• » From Kodang Sesetan/Pemelisan (Bali) to Banjar Nyuh (Nusa Penida): This fast boat trip is approximately 1 hour.
• » From Serangan (Bali) to Buyuk Harbor (Nusa Penida): This fast boat trip is approximately 1 hour.
• » From Sanur (Bali) to Nusa Penida: This fast boat trip is approximately 1 hour.

You can also catch a fast boat to Nusa Penida from Kusumba, Serangan Harbor and Sanur.

Lombok

Lombok is a beautiful Indonesian island located west of Sumbawa and east of Bali. A plethora of blessings is what we can call Lombok. From swimming in its crystal blue water, surfing its fantastic waves, and snorkeling or scuba diving the deep underwater to hiking Rinjani, Lombok is full of possibilities. Lombok still maintains its laid-back vibe that can be most felt at its beautiful beaches.

From Lombok to Bali

• » From Bangsal Harbor (Lombok) to Serangan (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 3 hours and 40 mins.
• » From Bangsal Harbor (Lombok) to Padang Bai (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 2 hours and 40 mins.
• » From Bangsal Harbor (Lombok) to Amed Harbor (Bali).

From Bali to Lombok

• » From Serangan (Bali) to Bangsal Harbor (Lombok): This fast boat trip is approximately 2 hours and 40 mins to 3 hours and 15 mins.
• » From Padang Bai (Bali) to Bangsal Harbor (Lombok): This fast boat trip is approximately 1 hour and 25 mins to 2 hours.
• » From Amed Harbor (Bali) to Bangsal Harbor (Lombok).

Gili Trawangan

One of the marvelous islands of the Gili archipelago and the largest of them all, Gili Trawangan is everything you hope an island could be. It’s known for its beautiful white-sand powdery beaches and its incredible water. Many adventurous backpackers and solo travelers have shown great interest in Gili Trawangan, making it a popular destination for those seeking a solo retreat or even just delightful day trip.

From Gili Trawangan to Bali

Both Padang Bay and Serangan accept fast boat trips from Gili Trawangan.

• » From Beach Jetty (Gili Trawangan) to Serangan (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 2 hours and 35 mins.
• » From Beach Jetty (Gili Trawangan) to Padang Bay (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 1 hour and 15 mins.

From Bali to Gili Trawangan

3 harbors in Bali offer fast boat or speedboat rides to Gili Trawangan.

• » From Serangan (Bali) to Beach Jetty (Gili Trawangan): This fast boat trip takes about 2 hours and 30 mins.
• » From Padang Bai (Bali) to Beach Jetty (Gili Trawangan): This fast boat trip takes about 1 hour and 15 mins.
• » From Amed Harbor (Bali) to Beach Jetty (Gili Trawangan): This fast boat trip takes about 1 hour.

Gili Air

Perhaps the most cultural of the Gili islands, Gili Air is an amazing destination if you want to combine Trawangan's bustling side with Gili Meno's laid back atmosphere. It’s also very popular for its white-sand beaches, they could even be the best beaches in the archipelago. Like all of the Gili Islands, snorkeling and scuba diving are a huge part of Air’s appeal.

From Gili Air to Bali

The Gili Islands don’t have a harbor, there are only a beach and a jetty.

• » From Beach Jetty (Gili Air) to Padang Bai (Bali): This fast boat trip takes about 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 mins.
• » From Beach Jetty (Gili Air) to Serangan (Bali): This fast boat trip takes about 3 hours to 3 hours and 15 mins.
• » From Beach Jetty (Gili Air) to Amed Harbor (Bali): This fast boat trip takes about 2 hours.

From Bali to Gili Air

• » From Padang Bai (Bali) to Beach Jetty (Gili Air): This fast boat trip takes about 1 hour and 45 mins to 2 hours.
• » From Serangan (Bali) to Beach Jetty (Gili Air): This fast boat trip takes about 3 hours to 3 hours and 15 mins.
• » From Amed Harbor (Bali) to Beach Jetty (Gili Air): This fast boat trip takes about 2 hours.

Gili Meno

If you think the aforementioned Gili Islands couldn’t be more tranquil and serene, then you probably haven’t seen Gili Meno. Gili Meno is the smallest island in the archipelago and the least inhibited. It projects a super chill atmosphere that will put you at ease as soon as your feet touch the ravishing white sand. The secluded vibe of the island attracts many honeymooners that want to feel like they are the only ones on the island.

From Gili Meno to Bali

• » From Beach Jetty (Gili Meno) to Padangbai (Bali): This fast boat trip takes about 2 hours.

From Bali to Gili Meno

• » From Padangbai (Bali) to Beach Jetty (Gili Meno): This fast boat trip takes about 2 hours.

Due to the lack of fast boat options from Bali to Gili Meno, some tourists prefer taking a boat to either Gili Trawangan or Gili Air from Bali, then take a fast boat to Gili Meno.

If you want to know more about Bali to the Gili Islands, click here.

Gili Gede

A small and isolated island with a tiny population, Gili Gede is a perfect escape from society. If you are an adventurer who wants to seek asylum for a short period of time, then Gili Gede is worth a visit. You can also enjoy its white-sand beaches and idyllic blue water.

From Gili Gede to Bali

• » From Beach Jetty (Gili Gede) to Serangan (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately 2 hours.

From Bali to Gili Gede

• » From Serangan (Bali) to Beach Jetty (Gili Gede): This fast boat trip is approximately 2 hours.

Java

A nothing short of amazing island between 2 tourist giants Bali and Sumatra, Java is the land of volcanic bliss. It is known for being the home to Indonesia's capital city Jakarta and that it contains 4 UNESCO world heritage sites including Borobudur Temple and Ujung Kulon National Park, which is half of Indonesia’s heritage sites. Another fact aside from that the island is almost entirely of volcanic origin, is that it is the most populated island in the world with over 145 million inhabitants. You cannot simply visit Indonesia without seeing for yourself how truly amazing Java really is.

From Java to Bali

• » From Java to Gili Manuk (Bali): This fast boat trip is approximately a little less than 1 hour including docking and loading time.

 

From Bali to Java

• » From Gili Manuk (Bali) to Java: This fast boat trip is approximately a little less than 1 hour including docking and loading time.

More Bali to Java? Click Here!

Bali’s Best time to visit

When it comes to the best time to visit Bali, you will find a plethora of different ideas and opinions that come from the projections of tourists’ experiences in Bali. You should listen to these opinions carefully, but try to measure it up to your standards of what you want out of your trip to Bali. In a nutshell, here are a quick rundown of the most popular opinions.

Bali’s Best Weather: By popular opinion, if you travel during the period from April to October, you will experience the best weather in Bali. During this time, the humidity and the rainfall reach their lowest points of the year, making it as sunny as ever. The beach is a very popular location this time of the year.

Bali’s Best Time to Save: A popular question on many traveler's minds is what is the cheapest time to visit Bali? Any month during the low season in Bali would be the cheapest time to visit. These months include March, April, May, and September. What a great time to accomplish getting the most out of your vacation experience in Bali while spending the least.

Bali’s Best Time for Surfing: For anyone who knows the most popular activities in Bali, surfing seems to be a recurring one in that category. It is widely known that the ideal time to catch some of the best waves in Bali is the dry season. Kuta Beach, Uluwatu Beach, and Bingin Beach are only some of the top locations you should seek out when it comes to surfing. However, the dry season could be a bit crowded. So, if you happen to prefer surfing at a calmer pace with fewer people around, you might want to consider visiting during the wet season when it’s more chill and laid-back.

Is it safe to travel to Bali?

Bali’s Volcanic Eruptions

Indonesia is one of the most active volcanic regions in the world, and you might be wondering how safe is it to travel to Bali and the precautions you can take.

When was the last eruption?

The most recent major eruption came from Mount Agung in 2017, which is an active volcano, however, it has been erupting regularly ever since. Many Bali residents were evacuating the area and airplane trips stopped because of 2 eruptions in May 2019.

We recommend that you stay away from the Agung exclusion zone, but you can enjoy the rest of the region.

Eating in Bali

Bali's cuisine is a major attraction all by itself, it has some amazing restaurants that offer the most delicious treats and are considered to be very safe and clean. With that being said, you should always have your best interest at heart and take all the necessary precautions you can.

A few of the top of my head would be:

1. Checking out reviews online of the best places to eat, you’ll definitely find some good recommendations. 2. The more the customers the better. Always keep in mind to go to places that have the largest number of visitors, because safety and cleanliness attract a lot of customers. 3. Avoid all foods that are washed using tap water. 4. Hotels are respectable places to eat as they offer their services to visitors from all around the world and are checked regularly.

Interesting Places in Bali

Bali is filled with some incredibly interesting places that you can visit and will surely put a special touch on your itinerary. No matter where you turn, it’s guaranteed you will find a sight to remember.

Denpasar

Denpasar is Bali’s capital and where you can experience some of the best sandy beaches ever. It also has a pretty great collection of spas and resorts.

Tanah Lot Temple

A truly iconic holy structure, the Tanah Lot Temple is situated on a breathtakingly beautiful rock formation. Its location is incredibly one of a kind and will mesmerize the most jaded souls. It is a must to take photographs of it while you are there because it's a site you would want to remember.

Jatiluwih Rice Terrace

This scenic area is one of the most interesting places to visit in Bali. Jatiluwih Rice Terrace comprises of over 600 hectares of beautiful rice fields. These rice fields are super underrated and subtly stunning.





Want to know more about Bali’s connections to the most amazing places around the island? Take a look at this page!