Lombok

What to expect from Lombok?

Unlike its busy neighbour Bali, Lombok has a more laid back vibe.

This is the island 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 is 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 20 min 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.

How to get from Bali to Lombok?

When coming from Bali, taking the flight to Lombok only takes 20 minutes with airfares starting at 250,000 IDR ($17) – excluding luggage.

However, this doesn’t mean flying is the easiest way to reach neighbour island Lombok. When adding the minimum check-in time and the hassle of making your own way to and from the airport.

A far more sustainable way to travel from Bali to Lombok is by taking the ferry or fast boat service, starting from 300,000 IDR ($21) –  including pick-up from your hotel. Ferries to Lombok take about 1:30 hour and on the way to Lombok, you will be rewarded with great ocean views and even get a sneak peak from the Gili islands, where the boats will shortly stop to drop off passengers.

Quick answer on Bali to Lombok by Ferry

You may need to take a taxi to the ferry port in Bali, but we strongly recommend to book one including pick-up. Pick up is provided for the most popular destination in Bali, including Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and Jimbaran. Hotel pickups are also available from Sanur and Ubud.

See here our two favourite options which both include pick up, both from Padang Bai:

• Arriving at Senggigi with Golden Queen (2h) – 450.000 IDR ($31) – incl. free hotel pick up
• Arriving at Bangsal Harbour with Wahana Gili Ocean (1hr 30min) – 300,000 IDR ($21) – incl. free hotel pick up

If you are not staying around Bangsal Harbour, we recommend to go for the first option as this ferry arrives at the most convenient arrival point in Lombok (Senggigi). There are many hotels located in this area and it’s also a shorter drive to the South of Lombok from Senggigi (1 hour compared to almost 2 hours).

Adding the extra 30min travel time, we can conclude that Golden Queen is the best option when you are staying in Senggigi or in the South of Lombok.

Bali to Lombok by Flight

Duration: 30-45 minutes
Costs: from 250,000 IDR ($17)

All flights from Bali depart from Denpasar Airport and land on Praya, Lombok international 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 and is just 20 minutes away by car.

After a short 25-45 minute flight, the plane will touch down at Lombok International Airport near the south of Lombok.

The flight takes 20mins and fares start from 250,000 IDR ($17). Airlines serving the route include Garuda Indonesia, AirAsia, Lion Air and Wings Air.

Check Flights on Skyscanner

Getting to Denpasar airport

Depending on your departure point, the easiest way to get to Denpasar airport in Bali is to order a Grab or Go-Jek ride via their respective apps.

However be aware that these taxi apps are not allowed in some areas, such as parts of Jimbaran and Ubud. In that case, you can take a BlueBird taxi (they also have an app which can be booked in advance) or ask your hotel for assistance.

From Lombok (Praya) airport to Kuta, Sengigi or Mataram

When you arrive at Lombok Airport you have two main options to get to your accommodation, either a taxi or airport shuttle bus. Taxi fares range from about 100,000 IDR ($7) to Kuta Lombok and from 225,000 IDR ($15) to Mataram and Senggigi.

At Praya airport, there are also 2 main airport shuttle lines operated by Damri bus company. They run to Mataram-Ampenan-Senggigi and there is a second route to Selong in East Lombok. Unfortunately, there is no shuttle service to Kuta yet.

The Damri shuttle buses depart every hour from 07:00 to 22:00. Tickets can be bought at the Damri counter in the outdoor arrivals concourse or on the bus itself. Fares are only about 25.000-35.000 IDR ($2).

Note that there are no ride-hailing companies such as Grab and Go-Jek are allowed to pick up at Praya airport.

If you’re travelling to Kuta, you can also check with your hotel as most accommodations also offer airport transfers.

Bali to Lombok by Ferry

When travelling by ferry to the Lombok mainland, there are 2 arrival ports you can choose: Senggigi Pier and Bangsal Pier.

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.

Bangsal Pier on the other hand, connects with more ferry companies. Keep in mind though that Bangsal’s location in the north of Lombok means you have to take another 40-minute drive to Senggigi.

So which ferry port to leave from? Again, two options: Padang Bai or Serangan.

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 and all ferries have higher prices compared to Padang Bai. Also, the journey might even take double the time when leaving from Serangan compared to Padang Bai.

Bali to Senggigi by Ferry

Senggigi is the gateway to Lombok’s main tourist spots. Not only is it the best place to organise Mt Rinjaini trekking, Senggigi is also Lombok’s most developed tourist town with the highest concentration of bars and restaurants.

Due to dozens of tour companies based here, it is the island’s main gateway to the abundant natural attractions in the west and central areas. These activities include trekking in the Monkey Forest of Tete Batu, the ‘Secret Gili’ offshore islands in the southwest, as well as one of the world’s legendary surfing breaks at Desert Point (also known as Bangko Bangko).

TOP-TIP: If you are not planning to climb the Rinjani or do one of these activities below, we recommend to travel down south to Kuta, Lombok. South Lombok offers a more laidback vibe and the beaches surrounded by cliffs are simply stunning.

Schedule from Bali to Lombok, Senggigi

Check Available Ferry Tickets 

All ferries from Bali to Senggigi depart from Padangbai in the south-east of Bali. This is also the shorter travel distance from Bali to Lombok compared to the other ports in Bali.

Senggigi to Kuta, Lombok?

If you plan to stay in Kuta in southern Lombok, you can take a taxi ride of about 1 hour. The journey costs around 270,000 IDR ($18). Ride hailing apps Grab and Go-Jek are available for rides from Senggigi.

Bali to Bangsal Harbour/Teluk Kode by Ferry

Bangsal is situated just across the strait from the three offshore Gili Islands where most boats call at before reaching the mainland.

It 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.

If you want to continue to Senggigi, it takes a 40-minute drive to Senggigi or a 2-hour drive to Kuta in the south of Lombok. Private taxi fares to Kuta are approximately 400,000 IDR ($26).

When going to Bangsal harbour, you can choose to depart from either Padangbai or Serangan Port in Bali.

Do you prefer to arrive at Bangsal harbour instead of Senggigi? In that case we recommend booking with Wahana Gili Ocean. Tickets cost only 300,000 IDR ($21) and this fee includes free pick-up from most popular locations in Bali, or for a little fee of $4 for areas like Canggu, Uluwatu or the outskirts of Ubud.

Padang Bai to Bangsal Harbour/Teluk Kode

Check Available Ferry Tickets 

Serangan Port to Bangsal Harbour/Teluk Kode

Check Available Ferry Tickets 

Bali to Lombok by Slow Ferry

Besides the fast ferries, there is another option to travel from Bali to Lombok over sea, which is the slow ferry.

However, the slow ferry is an extremely time-consuming journey that can take up to 8 hours, with a minimum of 4 hours.

It is only really recommended if taking a car or motorbike across to Lombok (it is the only roll on-roll off vehicle ferry connecting the islands) or if the seas are too choppy for the smaller fast boats.

The slow ferry, are also called public ferry departs from Padangbai and arrives at Lembar Port in West Lombok. This port is about 1.5 hours south of Senggigi ad 1.5 hour west of Kuta.

The public ferry operates each hour, 24 hours a day and costs only 40,000 IDR ($2.60). The sea crossing takes at least four hours (often longer) and onboard comforts are very basic.

It is possible to book the slow ferry/bus inclusive ticket from many tourist areas in Bali. However, these pick up services tend to make multiple stops to pick up passengers on the way to the port at Padangbai, adding even more time to an already long journey.

Again, we only recommend the slow ferry when you want to travel from Bali to Lombok by motorbike or car.

How to reach the ferry ports in Bali?

In Bali, you can choose from 2 ferry ports to reach Lombok. These are Padangbai 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.

From Canggu, Seminyak or Kuta

From Canggu, Seminyak or Kuta to Padang Bai

If you need to make your own way to Padangbai from Canggu, Seminyak or Kuta, there are 2 options: take a taxi for around 1.5 hours ($30) or a minibus ride which takes up to 2 hours ($6).

Note that with the minibus, you may need an additional taxi transfer from Canggu and Seminyak as the departure point is in central Kuta.

Travelling by taxi from Canggu, Seminyak or Kuta to Padangbai costs around 423,000 IDR ($30). It’s a great option if you’re travelling with a small group. We recommend booking a taxi with Grab as they are often more affordable, although Gojek is also a good alternative.

The minibus is the cheaper option at only 85,000 IDR ($6), but the departure is located in Kuta. If you’re coming from Seminyak, you will need to take a short taxi ride to Perama Tour Office at No. 39 Jalan Legian in the centre of Kuta. If coming from Canggu, a 30-min taxi ride costs about 141,000 IDR ($10).

Punctuality of the minibus service can be erratic, and the traffic in downtown Kuta may also impact your journey. Aim to take the earlier departures so that you can reach Padangbai in time for your boat.

Check Available Minibus Tickets

From Canggu, Seminyak or Kuta to Serangan Port

If you are leaving from the Kuta area, a boat from Serangan Port is the best bet as Kuta is only 20 mins away by taxi. Fares start at 113,000 IDR ($8).

From Canggu or Seminyak, Serangan Port is 40 to 50mins away and a ride costs about 212,000 IDR ($15).

From Uluwatu

From Uluwatu to Padang Bai

None of the fast boat ferry operators provide free transport from hotels in the Uluwatu area, so you will have to make your own transport arrangements. Padang Bai is at least 2 hours away from Uluwatu if you take a taxi. Taxi fares cost around 674,000 IDR ($45).

You can also take a combined taxi and minibus ride via Kuta. First, hop in a taxi direct to Perama Tour Office at No. 39 Jalan Legian Road in Kuta for 225,000 IDR ($15). From here, transfer to a minibus bound for Padangbai. A minibus ticket costs 85,000 ($6). Check the table above for schedules.

From Uluwatu to Serangan Port

Taking the boat from Serangan Port is more convenient (and cheaper) if leaving from Uluwatu. A taxi ride only takes about 30-45 mins and costs around 300,000 IDR ($20).

From Ubud

From Ubud to Padang Bai

If you do not have the opportunity of a hotel pickup from Ubud, there are 2 ways to reach Padangbai: either by minibus or by taxi.

The minibus is the cheaper option at only 85,000 IDR ($6). Travel time is at least 1.5 hours and the minibus departs from the Perama Ubud Office at Pengosekan Street. You can book your ticket through the link below.

Check Available Minibus Tickets

If you’re traveling with a group, you can also opt to take a taxi for a little over an hour. Fares start at 345,000 IDR ($23).

From Ubud to Serangan Port

Serangan Port is about 1 hour away by taxi from Ubud. A trip costs about 345,000 IDR ($23).

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