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What to expect when visiting Lombok
Unlike its busy neighbour Bali, Lombok has a more laid-back vibe.
This island is where you’ll find long, often near-deserted stretches of white sand beaches, amazing swells, beguiling waterfalls, and the majestic Mt. Rinjani, one of Indonesia’s highest volcanoes.
Soaring cliffs, beaches and crashing surf makes up much of the South Lombok coastline and is a true surfing mecca. The main tourist hub is Kuta, which is more peaceful than its hectic namesake in Bali. Expect a vibrant traveller’s scene in Kuta, providing a perfect base for exploring the region and the many world-class surf breaks.
Senggigi on the west coast is the most developed area and makes a great base for organising the Mount Rinjani trekking. Lombok’s capital Mataram is just a short drive away, while much of Lombok’s rural interior of artisan villages, waterfalls, and hiking can be easily reached from Senggigi.
If you travel to the northern part of the island, you’ll see the heavenly Gili Islands, a group of 3 small islands that you can easily reach via a 30-minute boat ride from Lombok. Ferries coming from Bali also stop first at the Gili Islands before arriving on the Lombok mainland.
Want to get off on the Gili Islands first? Check out our guide to find the best ferry from Bali to the Gili Islands.
Before you go to Lombok
- Accommodation in Lombok is limited. It’s best to book your accommodation early.
- Want a surf lesson? I can highly recommend taking a surf class with Bibi. From beginner to intermediate, he is an amazing teacher for all levels. You can contact him here via his Instagram page.
How to get from Bali to Lombok
There are 3 ways to get from Bali to Lombok: by flight (40 minutes), by ferry (1.5-3 hours) and by slow boat (4-8 hours). Tickets range between 60,000 IDR ($3.85) and 1,000,000 IDR ($64).
Which option to take all depends on where you are staying in Lombok. As most visitors will either stay in Senggigi or in Kuta Lombok, we will focus on these two destinations.
3 ways to travel from Bali to Lombok
When coming from Bali, taking the flight to Lombok only takes 40 minutes, with airfares starting from 1,000,000 IDR ($64) – excluding luggage.
Ferries to Lombok take about 1.5 hours to Senggigi Pier and about 2-3 hours to Bangsal Pier. We recommend taking the ferry to Senggigi Pier because of its shorter travel time. It is also closer to Kuta, with just a 1.5-hour travel time by taxi or minivan.
PRO TIP: If you take the ferry to Bangsal Pier, consider spending a few nights in the Gili Islands before you head to Lombok. From the Gili Islands, public ferries to Lombok operate from 07:45 to 17:00. Note that there is no schedule since ferries usually depart when the ferry is full. Travel time is just 30 minutes from Gili Islands to Lombok.
As an alternative to the fast ferry, you can also take the 4-8 hour slow ferry from Bali to Lombok. However, we would only recommend this ferry if you want to bring your motorbike or car.
Flight or ferry to Lombok?
Most travellers visiting Lombok either stay in Senggigi or Kuta, Lombok. Senggigi is a port town in West Lombok and is a popular choice to stay in if you want to trek the Rinjani volcano. Kuta, in the south of Lombok, is more popular with surfers and travellers who want to enjoy Lombok’s beautiful beaches.
Where you can stay can make an important difference in which transport option to take.
Staying in Senggigi: Take the ferry
If you stay in Senggigi, we recommend taking the ferry from Bali instead of flying.
The drive from Praya Airport to Senggigi still takes more than an hour. Including the 40-minute flight and the extra time you need to reserve for the airport, this trip will easily take more than 2 hours.
With the fast ferry, you can get from Bali to Senggigi in just 1.5 hours.
There used to be several daily trips from Bali to Senggigi. But during the pandemic, almost all boats go from Bali to Bangsal Pier in the north of Lombok.
The good news is that as of August 2022, Eka Jaya has resumed its trips from Padang Bai to Senggigi Pier with one trip daily.
It’s best to book this trip in advance. If the ferry is fully booked, you will need to get a ferry to Bangsal Pier which is 40 minutes north of Senggigi.
Staying in Kuta Lombok: Flying is faster
Thanks to a new expressway, the drive from Praya Airport to Kuta Lombok takes only about 30 minutes. With a flight time of only 40 minutes, this is by far the fastest option to get from Bali to Lombok if you stay in Kuta.
If you take the ferry from Bali to Senggigi, it will take another 1.5 hours to reach Kuta in south Lombok.
See here the durations of all options to travel from Bali to Kuta, Lombok:
- by Flight: 40 minutes + 30 minutes
- by Fast ferry: 1.5-3 hours + 1.5 hours
- by Slow ferry: 4-8 hours + 1.5 hours
Bali to Lombok by Flight
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 1,000,000 IDR ($64). Airlines serving the route include Garuda Indonesia, AirAsia, Lion Air, and Wings Air.
Getting to Denpasar Airport
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
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. From Senggigi, it’s a 1.5-hour drive.
Damri shuttle buses used to operate hourly schedules from the airport to the main destinations in Lombok. However, we couldn’t confirm yet if they resumed operations.
Shuttle buses departing from Praya Airport
At Praya airport, there used to be two main airport shuttle lines operated by Damri bus company. One bus was serving the route between Mataram-Ampenan-Senggigi. The other bus service operated between the airport and Selong in East Lombok.
The Damri shuttle buses used to 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. Fares are only about 25,000 IDR ($1.60) – 35,000 IDR ($2.25).
Important note: As we couldn’t confirm whether Damri resumed their operations, we would love to hear any updates in a comment. If you can share their updated schedule, we can update this route and help many travellers with this new information.
An alternative to the shuttle bus is taking a taxi from the airport to your accommodation. You can either hail a taxi from the airport or book one through the taxi applications Gojek or Grab.
Taxi fares range from about 100,000 IDR ($6) to Kuta Lombok, while it’s around 175,000 IDR ($11) to Mataram and 250,000 IDR ($16) to Senggigi.
Bali to Lombok by Fast Ferry
When travelling from Bali to Lombok by fast ferry, you have several options. There are a number of companies operating on this route, but they are not all leaving from the same port in Bali and neither arriving at the same port in Lombok.
Departure ports in Bali
Ferry ports in Bali
From Bali, you can leave from two different ports.
Although the location of Serangan looks more convenient when you are staying in the south of Bali, there are fewer ferry companies operating from this port. These ferries are also more expensive than the ones departing from Padang Bai.
Padang Bai (Northeast of Bali)
Most ferries from Bali to Lombok depart from Padang Bai. Therefore, you can also find the most competitive ticket fares from this port, as well as more regular departures.
Note that you need to pay a terminal fee of 10,000 IDR ($0.60) upon entry at this port.
Serangan (Southeast of Bali)
Serangan Port is closer to Sanur, but ferry tickets are close to double the price compared to ferries leaving from Padang Bai.
Also, the ferry journey might even take double the time when leaving from Serangan compared to Padang Bai.
Arrival ports in Lombok
Ferry ports in Lombok
There are two main arrival ports in Lombok: 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 because it’s right next to some well-maintained beaches and just a short stroll to many of its hotels.
Senggigi is the gateway to Lombok’s main tourist spots. Not only is it the best place to organise a Mount Rinjaini trekking, but Senggigi is also Lombok’s most developed tourist town with the highest concentration of bars and restaurants.
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: Sengigii is a great place to stay if you are planning to climb the Rinjani. On the other hand, South Lombok offers a more laidback vibe and the beaches surrounded by cliffs are simply stunning.
As of August 2022, Eka Jaya has started to operate again on this route. This is your best option if you plan to stay in Senggigi or in Kuta, which is about 1.5 hours away by taxi. Private taxi fares to Kuta are approximately 300,000 IDR ($19).
Bangsal Pier (North Lombok)
Bangsal Pier, also called Teluk Kode, is situated just across the strait from the three offshore Gili Islands where most boats call before reaching the mainland.
This port is the gateway to North Lombok, which is dominated by the awesome Mount Rinjani volcano but also provides a few diving opportunities. If you have already booked a Rinjani trekking online, your company might include free pick-up from Bangsal harbour.
Fast ferry schedule
Ferry schedule from Padang Bai to Senggigi Pier (Recommended)
Ferry schedules from Padang Bai to Bangsal Pier
Ferry schedules from Serangan Port to Bangsal Pier
Bali to Lombok by Slow Ferry
Besides the fast ferries, there is another option to travel from Bali to Lombok by sea, which is the slow ferry.
However, the slow ferry is an extremely time-consuming journey that can take up to 8 hours. The official schedule says it should take 5-6 hours, but more often, it’s closer to 7 or 8 hours.
Considering this long journey, it’s only recommended if you are taking a car or motorbike across to Lombok. It’s the only roll-on-roll-off vehicle ferry connecting the islands. One other reason to take this slow ferry could be because the oceans are too wild for the smaller fast boats.
The slow ferry, also called a public ferry, departs from Padang Bai and arrives at Lembar Port in West Lombok. This port is about 1.5 hours south of Senggigi and 1.5 hours west of Kuta, Lombok.
Slow ferry schedule
Schedules of the slow ferry
Pre-pandemic, the public ferry used to operate each hour 24 hours a day. The last time we checked (November 2022), they only operate every 1.5 hours.
The fee is 148,000 IDR ($9.50) for a motorbike and 285,000 IDR ($18) for any vehicle above 500CC (e.g. cars). If you don’t bring a vehicle, it’s 60,000 IDR ($3.85) per passenger. To get your ticket, you’ll have to buy a travel card which can also be used at Bali’s toll way.
The sea crossing takes at least 5 hours, but it can take more, around 7-8 hours. The seating varies a lot per ferry. The large ferries have different compartments including good aircon seats and even resting areas with matrasses. However, the smaller boats only have limited air-conditioned rooms and seating is basic.
We only recommend the slow ferry when you want to travel from Bali to Lombok with a motorbike or car.
Ferry ports in Bali
In Bali, you can choose from two ferry ports to reach Lombok: Padang Bai and Serangan Port.
Luckily, most ferries include (free) pick-up from the main tourist centres in Bali, including Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Sanur and Ubud.
However, if your ticket doesn’t include pick-up, you can use this guide to learn how to get to Padang Bai or Serangan Port in Bali.
Padang Bai Port
Most of the fast boat companies depart from Padang Bai, northwest of Bali. Padang Bai is Bali’s largest port and also the only port from where the slow ferry leaves.
How to get to Padang Bai port
Padang Bai is located in the northwest of Bali and is the most popular ferry port for fast boats departing to the Gili Islands and Lombok. In addition, Padang Bai has a separate pier for large vehicle ferries which allows you to bring a motorbike or car to Lombok or Nusa Penida.
To get to Padang Bai Port, you have two options. You can take a minivan departing from Kuta or Ubud, or more conveniently, a taxi from your hotel.
– Taxi fares and time to Padang Bai
Taxi fares to Padang Bai
You’ll find an estimation of the taxi fares from Bali’s most popular tourist destinations to Padang Bai in the table below. When sharing the costs with your travel buddies, it will be around the same price or cheaper than paying a higher-priced ticket including pickup.
An important advantage compared to a shared pick-up service is that your transfer won’t be delayed by picking up other passengers. This alone could already add 1-hour extra time to get to Padang Bai.
Estimated taxi fares to Padang Bai Port
| Departure point | Travel time | Taxi fares* |
|---|---|---|
| Canggu | 2-2.5 hours | from 280,000 IDR ($18) |
| Ubud | 1.5-2 hours | from 300,000 IDR ($19) |
| Kuta, Seminyak | 1.5-2 hours | from 330,000 IDR ($21) |
| Uluwatu | 2.5-3 hours | from 400,000 IDR ($25.50) |
– Minivan to Padang Bai Port
Minivan to Padang Bai Port
As an alternative, you can also take the minivan operated by Perama Tour & Travel. The minivans depart at 07:00 from their offices in Kuta and Ubud.
See here the costs of the minivan tickets:
- From Kuta 225,000 IDR ($14.50)
- From Ubud 175,000 IDR ($11)
To be fair, the price of this ride is quite high and you’ll be better of sharing a taxi when you are travelling with two or more people.
Serangan Port
Keep in mind that there are more ferries departing from Padang Bai, and travel time is shorter from this port.
If you still want to take a ferry from Serangan, we explain here how to get to Serangan Port in Bali.
How to get to Serangan Port
There is no regular public transport going to Serangan. This means your only options are hailing a taxi or booking a private car via taxi apps like Grab and Gojek. The rates and duration are more or less similar to the ones going to Sanur Port.
See here the travel time and taxi fares when going to Serangan Port:
– Taxi fares and time to Serangan Port
Taxi fares to Serangan Port
| Departure point | Travel time | Taxi fares* |
|---|---|---|
| Canggu | 1-1.5 hours | from 100,000 IDR ($6) |
| Kuta, Seminyak | 30 minutes – 1 hour | from 110,000 IDR ($7) |
| Ubud | 1-1.5 hours | from 190,000 IDR ($12) |
| Uluwatu | 1.5-2 hours | from 200,000 IDR ($12.50) |
