Is it worth going from Bali to Lombok?

Absolutely! Adventure seekers will enjoy trekking to the top of Mount Rinjani, surfing some of Indonesia's best waves and exploring the diverse landscapes. Beach lovers will find some of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in Southeast Asia, without the Bali crowds. Whether you're a solo traveller, a couple or a family, Lombok has something to offer for everyone.

What's the cheapest way to get from Bali to Lombok?

The slow ferry is by far the cheapest way to get from Bali to Lombok, costing just under [price 4 USD] (five times less than the fast ferry). But it's also the longest and least comfortable way to travel and can take as long as 8 hours.

What's the fastest way to get from Bali to Lombok?

The fastest way to Lombok depends on the city you're heading to. If you're travelling to Kuta, Lombok it's faster to fly from Bali. For those staying in Senggigi, the fast ferry is a little faster (and much cheaper) than the plane.

Gili Islands or Lombok?

The Gili Islands are just 30 minutes away from Lombok by ferry and we recommend exploring both if you have the time. The Gili Islands are known for their fine beaches, clear waters and coral reefs, making them great for swimming, snorkelling and diving. If you love turtles, you will enjoy the Turtle Sanctuary at Gili Meno. Lombok, on the other hand, is a larger island that offers a bit of everything. On top of its beaches, Lombok also has mountains, forests, and a rich culture. It's a good destination for those who want to explore beyond the beach. Ultimately, both the Gili Islands and Lombok have a lot to offer, so consider what you want to do and see while on vacation before making a decision.

What are the best things to do in Lombok?

Here are some fun things you should do when in Lombok: - Hike Mount Rinjani (the 2nd highest volcano in Indonesia) and see the beauty of the island 3,726 metres high. - Go chasing waterfalls. Tiu Kelep is the most popular, but there are plenty of other waterfalls worth exploring — like Sendang Gile and Mangku Sakti. - Walk the coastline and enjoy the sun. With a number of beautiful beaches, you can go beach-hopping from sunrise 'til sunset. - Catch your own fish. Join one of many fishing tours offered on the island and learn local fishing traditions. You can also get fishing tips from the experts!

Where to surf in Lombok?

Like Bali, Lombok boasts of great swells, sans Bali's crowds. You can find a good surfing spot here all year round. During the dry season (May to September), you can get the best waves at Mawi and Dessert Point. When you're visiting in the rainy season (October to April), the swells at Seger Reef and Are Guling are better. Other popular surfing spots on the island include Ekas, Don-Don and Selong Belanak, among a few others.

How many days should I spend in Lombok?

If you want to experience the highlights, then 3-5 days could be enough. But Lombok is a big island with lots to see and plenty of off-the-beaten-path attractions. You could easily spend two weeks exploring it.

Will I get seasick on the boat from Bali to Lombok?

Unfortunately, the answer is: maybe. Depending on the weather, the sea between Bali and Lombok can get rough. If you struggle with seasickness, make sure to bring motion sickness medication with you. And if you're very concerned about this, it's probably worth considering a flight instead.

GeckoRoutes

3 Ways to Travel from Bali to Lombok - by Flight, Fast Ferry and Slow Ferry

In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 180 kilometre distance from Bali to Lombok. Whether you prefer the scenic overnight train, a convenient bus+ferry combo, or the fastest flight option — we've got all the details you need.

There are 3 ways to get from Bali to Lombok. You can choose between the fast ferry, flight, slow ferry. The most affordable option is by flight, starting from $1. The fastest route is by flight (0h 40m).

COMPARE

Compare Your Options

Click a column header to sort. Click a row to jump to the full guide.

Transport	Duration	Price	Best For
FlightFastestBudget	40m	($1)	--
Fast Ferry	2h	($27)	--
Slow Ferry	6h	($160)	--

Flight

FastestBudget

Duration

40m

Price

Best For

Popularity

Fast Ferry

Duration

Price

$27

Best For

Popularity

Slow Ferry

Duration

Price

$160

Best For

Popularity

Route Overview

BaliLombok180 km

Explore interactive map

Fast Ferry

2hFrom ~$27

When travelling from Bali to Lombok by fast ferry, you have several options. A number of companies operate on this route, but they don’t all leave from the same port in Bali or arrive at the same port in Lombok.

Ferry ports in Bali

From Bali, you can leave from three different ports: Padang Bai, Serangan Port and Sanur Harbour.

Although the locations of Serangan and Sanur look more convenient when you are staying in the south of Bali, there are fewer ferry companies operating from these ports. These ferries also have longer travel times and are generally more expensive than the ones departing from Padang Bai.

Another important thing to know is that ferries to Senggigi only depart from Padang Bai and not from Serangan or Sanur.

Padang Bai (Northeast of Bali)

Most ferries from Bali to Lombok depart from Padang Bai. Therefore, you can find the most competitive ticket fares from this port and more regular departures.

Padang Bai is also the best departure port if you’re prone to motion sickness. Many ferries departing from Padang Bai can get you to Lombok in just 1.5-2 hours.

Note that you need to pay a terminal fee of 10,000 IDR upon entry at this port.

Serangan (Southeast of Bali)

Serangan Port is closer to many tourist areas in Bali like Kuta, Seminyak and Bali Airport. However, ferry tickets from Serangan are almost double the price compared to ferries leaving from Padang Bai.

Also, the ferry journey from Serangan can be twice as long as the ferry trip from Padang Bai.

Sanur (Southeast of Bali)

Sanur Harbour is 12 km north of Serangan Port. This new pier is one of the most modern ports in Southeast Asia.

From Sanur, a ferry ride to Lombok takes about 5 hours.

Ferry ports in Lombok

The two main arrival ports in Lombok are Senggigi Pier and Bangsal Pier.

Senggigi Pier (West Lombok)

Senggigi Pier is the most popular port to arrive at in Lombok. Many travellers choose to dock at Senggigi Port as it’s right next to some well-maintained beaches and just a short stroll to many of its hotels.

Senggigi is the perfect base for exploring Lombok. It's the most developed tourist town on the island — packed with bars, restaurants, and beachside spots. If you're planning to trek Mount Rinjani, Senggigi is also the best place to organise your trip.

With dozens of tour companies based here, it is the island’s main gateway to the abundant natural attractions in the west and central areas.

PRO TIP: Senggigi is a great place to stay if you're planning to climb Rinjani. Visiting Lombok for its beaches and relaxation? We recommend staying in its southern towns like Kuta.

Private taxi fares from Senggigi Pier to Kuta cost approximately 300,000 IDR.

Bangsal Pier (North Lombok)

Bangsal Pier, also called Teluk Kode, is just across the strait from the three offshore Gili Islands where most boats call before reaching the mainland. From Bangsal to the Gilis, tickets for the slow ferry start from 20,000 IDR.

This port is the gateway to North Lombok, known for the Mount Rinjani volcano. It also offers a few diving opportunities. If you’ve already booked a Rinjani trek online, your trekking company might include free pick-up from Bangsal Harbour.

If you’re heading to Kuta from Bangsal Pier, taxi fares start from 400,000 IDR. A sort of taxi mafia prevents taxi-hailing apps like Gojek from operating directly at the harbour, but you might be able to book one if you walk to the main street.

Ready to book your fast ferry?

From ~$27 · 2h

Bookaway 12Go Asia

Direct operator sites

Ostinafastboat Bluewater-express Giligetaway

KEY LOCATIONS

Departure & Arrival Stations

Padang Bai, Bali

Frequently Asked Questions

Lombok and Bali are two islands in Indonesia separated by the Lombok Strait. The distance between Bali and Lombok varies depending on the mode of transportation you choose. If you are travelling by air, the flight time between Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport and Lombok International Airport is approximately 40 minutes. If you prefer to travel by sea, there are several fast boat services that operate between Bali and Lombok, with travel times ranging from 1.5 to 3 hours.

Flight

40 minutesFrom ~$1

All flights from Bali depart from Denpasar Airport. The plane lands at Praya Airport in the south of Lombok, also known as Lombok International Airport.

The flight only takes about 40 minutes and fares start from $1. Airlines serving the route include Citilink, Lion Air, and Wings Air.

Getting to Denpasar Airport

Note that the airport in Bali, also known as Ngurah Rai International Airport, is not actually in Denpasar. Ngurah Rai Airport is located just south of the beach resort town of Kuta. It’s about a 30-minute drive away from Kuta or an hour from Canggu.

Depending on your departure point, the easiest way to get to Denpasar Airport in Bali is to book with taxi-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek.

However, be aware that these taxi apps are not allowed in some areas of Bali. We recommend asking your hotel or guesthouse if it’s possible or asking them to arrange the transport.

Arrival at Praya Airport

Lombok (Praya) Airport is only a 30-minute drive from Kuta in the south of Lombok — the main tourist destination in Lombok for most travellers.

Only taxis are available from Lombok Airport to Kuta because buses do not operate on this route. Taxi fares start from 120,000 IDR with Grab and Gojek.

Shuttle buses departing from Praya Airport

At Praya Airport, two main airport shuttle lines are operated by DAMRI bus company. One bus serves the route between Mataram-Ampenan-Senggigi-Bangsal. The other bus service operates between the airport and Selong in East Lombok.

See here the fares from Lombok Airport to these destinations on the island:

3-hour ride to Bangsal Harbour – 50,000 IDR
1.5-hour ride to Senggigi – 50,000 IDR
1-hour ride to Ampenan – 45,000 IDR
1-hour ride to Mataram – 35,000 IDR
1.5-hour ride to Selong – 40,000 IDR

The shuttle buses depart every hour from 07:00 to 22:00. You can buy your tickets at the DAMRI counter in the outdoor arrivals concourse or on the bus itself.

Visit our page on Lombok Airport for more info.

Ready to book your flight?

From ~$1 · 40 minutes

skyscanner

Slow Ferry

4-6 hoursFrom ~$160

Besides the fast ferries, there’s another way to get from Bali to Lombok by sea — the slow ferry.

This isn’t the quickest option out there. The crossing usually takes around , but it can stretch to 8 hours if the sea’s acting up.

We only recommend the slow ferry if you're bringing a car or motorbike across to Lombok. It’s the only roll-on/roll-off vehicle ferry between the two islands. It’s also a safer bet than the fast boats when the ocean gets rough.

The ferry departs from Padang Bai in East Bali and docks at Lembar Port in West Lombok. From there, it’s about 1.5 hours south to Senggigi or 1.5 hours west to Kuta, Lombok.

Schedules of the slow ferry

The slow ferry runs every 1.5 hours during the day and every 2 hours overnight, so there are plenty of options.

Ticket prices start at:

160,000 IDR for a motorbike (includes 2 people)
1,130,000 IDR for cars
Around per passenger if you're not bringing a vehicle

You’ll also pay a small fee of around 10,000 IDR–12,000 IDR for processing.

Where to buy tickets for the slow ferry?

The easiest way is to get your tickets at Padang Bai Port or through one of the nearby vendors. Don’t forget to bring your passport — it's required for booking as you will cross the ocean to a different island.

Locals can also book online through the Ferizy website. Just a heads-up: it’s a bit slow and requires an Indonesian ID number, so it’s not really set up for tourists.

Good to know: Until 2024, you needed a separate travel card to board. That’s no longer the case.

What’s the ferry like?

This really depends on the boat.

Some of the larger ferries have comfy air-conditioned seating and even rest areas with mattresses. But on the older or smaller ferries, seating is basic and AC can be pretty weak.

If comfort matters to you, make sure to check out the ferry in advance. Here’s how…

Pro Tips for Taking the Slow Ferry

Check out this Instagram account — they post updates on ferry schedules and which boats are operating.
Remember: the listed times are boarding times. For example, 00:00–01:30 means you board at midnight, but the ferry leaves at 1:30.
Once you know the ferry name, Google it to find photos, videos or reviews. It’ll give you a good idea of the boat’s condition — especially the AC and comfort levels. Some of the older ones are much slower and not exactly a breeze to ride.

Taking the slow ferry from Bali to Lombok definitely isn’t about speed — but if you’re travelling with a vehicle or just want a more local experience, then it can be a great way to cross the oceans between Bali and Lombok.

Ready to book your slow ferry?

From ~$160 · 4-6 hours

Bookaway

How to Get from Bali to Lombok

Related Routes in Indonesia

Join our Community

Compare Your Options

Fast Ferry

Ferry ports in Bali

Padang Bai (Northeast of Bali)

Serangan (Southeast of Bali)

Sanur (Southeast of Bali)

Ferry ports in Lombok

Senggigi Pier (West Lombok)

Bangsal Pier (North Lombok)

Ready to book your fast ferry?

Departure & Arrival Stations

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Lombok from Bali?

Is it worth going from Bali to Lombok?

What's the cheapest way to get from Bali to Lombok?

What's the fastest way to get from Bali to Lombok?

Gili Islands or Lombok?

What are the best things to do in Lombok?

Where to surf in Lombok?

How many days should I spend in Lombok?

Will I get seasick on the boat from Bali to Lombok?

Flight

Getting to Denpasar Airport

Arrival at Praya Airport

Shuttle buses departing from Praya Airport

Ready to book your flight?

Slow Ferry

Schedules of the slow ferry

Where to buy tickets for the slow ferry?

What’s the ferry like?

Pro Tips for Taking the Slow Ferry

Ready to book your slow ferry?

Where to Stay in Lombok

Rascals Hotel

Why Visit Lombok?

How We Research

Traveller Reviews

Leave a Comment

Sunset Lavinia

Cewin's Homestay