Indonesia - Getting from Bali to the Gili Islands 2015/16

We weren't sure how long or easy it would be to get from Bali to the Gili Islands, but it was much easier than expected. There are many boats available, some at very low rates, but be careful as there are reports that the cheap boats can get overcrowded and if you get into trouble in the Lombok straight, which can be very rough, you will be in serious trouble.

Checking in

We decided to spend a little more money and going with one of the most recommended boats. The benefits are not only peace of mind, but also saved a lot of potential hassle. Chris has tried cheap boats/transport before in other countries and has come to the opinion that in some cases, your budget needs to ease a little, to ensure not only your safety, but also comfort and stress.

The boat company we used was Blue Water Express and is number one on trip advisor. I must say from when we got picked up (included in price) at our hotel to stepping off the boat onto the sand of Gili Air, the journey was perfect.

The boat

We booked direct, cutting out the middleman and they charged us 650,000 pp (100,000 less than RRP). Now this is a lot (£30) for Indonesia and many would say outrageous, but we thought it was worth it. They called us the day before to reconfirm all details, picked us up at about 6.30-7am in a nice spacious AC van, sorted our bags in a water tight hold on the boat and we were able to sit on the roof in the sun on a comfy cushion (alternatively you could sit downstairs on padded seats, but we thought it would be nicer in the fresh air). The boat was not over crowed, clean and the staff were friendly and did their job well.

The boat stops at Gili T followed by Lombok and then Gili Air. This wasn't a problem as we got an extra ride with hardly anyone on the boat as most had got off on Gili T.

Sit back and relax

We would recommend Blue Water Express, but appreciate it is sometimes outside of travelers' budgets. There are many other operators, but be careful and make sure you know for sure what boat you are going to be on. Sometimes its just not worth going cheap cheap cheap.