Taking the Ferry from Bali to Lombok: Everything You Need to Know

If you are looking to take the ferry from Bali to Lombok, I’m here to help you with ALL the info you need. We took this public ferry upwards of 5+ times during a stint in Bali where we, for some reason, decided to do our visa extensions in Lombok. It saved us heaps of money on Bali agents, but definitely did not save us trips on this extremely mediocre ferry ride.

I am honestly very glad I had the experience of taking this ferry – it has beautiful views and is definitely a more local experience. I have taken the Bali to Lombok ferry with a scooter and without a scooter, and I’ll elaborate on both experiences.

All of the different ways to get to Lombok have their benefits, and this one is especially great to bring a scooter over or to save money (in most situations).

Getting to Lombok from Bali

Ferry from Bali to Lombok: The Bali to Lombok ferry is definitely the cheapest way to get to Lombok. It will set you back only about 62k rp ($3.50ishUSD) for a one-way trip, and about 161k rp ($9.08ishUSD) for two people WITH a scooter (or one person – essentially for a scooter and whatever fits on it). For tariffs of cars and trucks, check here.

The trip is about 5-6 hours, and ferries leave nearly every hour (some resources will say 4-5 hours and they are lying, lol). This is the best way if you want to be able to get around Lombok on your scooter without renting another one or getting taxis, both of which are more expensive there.

Flying from Bali to Lombok: flying to Lombok from Bali is extremely cheap as far as flights go. The cheapest flights with LionAir or similar will cost you only 550k rp ($32ishUSD) for a 30-40 minute ride. But then, of course, you will need to organize taxis and transport from the airport which could cost more than the flight itself.

Speedboat to Gili Islands from Bali: Taking a speedboat to the Gili Islands is a bit pricier for a boat, which generally includes pickup or dropoff top the Bali tourist areas but will cost you upwards of 600k rp ($34). I always recommend Eka Jaya as the most trustworthy company to get to the Gilis.

Other Boats from Bali to Lombok: There are a few other speedboat connections to Lombok from Bali. Check Directferries for all the times and departure points – these are MUCH more expensive than the slow/public ferry but get you there quicker.

So, clearly, the ferry from Bali to Lombok is the best price. Make sure you apply for Bali tourist visa online before arriving, but that goes without saying!

Before you leave Bali, Check Out Some More Resources I Created:

• Scuba Diving in Bali: A Guide to Dive Sites + Shops
• Bali Bamboo House Rentals You Need to Know About
• West Bali Road Trip + Things to Do
• Unique Places to Stay in Bali: My FAVES!
• 12 Bali Net Bed Hotels (The Ones you see on IG)
• and more!

What to Consider before taking the Ferry from Bali to Lombok

The slow ferry leaves from Padang Bai Port on Bali and arrives in Lembar, Southwest Lombok. Both of these ports are industrial and have a big quantity of shipments moving around the Indonesian Islands and not many tourists.

Padang Bai is Bali’s main port town for Nusa Penida and Lombok. It’s on the southeast corner of Bali, and has a few hotels and beaches but not too much around it. It’s a great place for Bali scuba diving but you can access the dive sites from other places like Sanur. To be honest, we don’t recommend staying here if you can help it.

Lembar is Lombok’s port town – and it’s really not much more than that. I honestly would spend as little time as possible in both towns – they might be my least favorite places in all of Bali and Lombok combined, haha. They are full of grime, people trying to hassle you to buy things or scam you for taxis (which is rare espesically in Bali).

Getting to Padang Bai for the Ferry

To get to Padang Bai you must either rent a scooter or get a Gojek/taxi.

If you bring a scooter to Lombok from Bali, make sure that it has current registration papers, as you will often need to stop and show these to the police while getting off or on the ferry. Most scooter rentals include papers, but we had a sketchy experience without them once, which we wouldn’t recommend.

If you won’t be taking a scooter, you will have to get a ride to Padang Bai. I recommend ordering a Gojek as these are the cheapest ways to get around in Bali.

Different Bali/Lombok Ferry Boats

There are actually quite a few different kinds of ferry boats that move between Lombok and Bali. Some have TV’s that play movies, some have more plugs than others, and some have more outdoor space than others or even rooftops.

Some have tables, while others have rows of seats, and some are cleaner than others (but most haven’t been cleaned in… years). There’s no way to tell what kind of boat you will get, but be prepared for the worst.

What to Bring/Pack for the Ferry Bali to Lombok

The ferry trip is 5-6 hours long, so make sure you have something to keep yourself occupied or are tired enough to fall asleep.

If you want food, it’s smarter to bring it with you, as food is more expensive to buy on the ferry than on land… but they do have food available (keep reading).

Make sure to bring some sanitizer/wipes and maybe a sarong to sit on for dirtier ferries.

Charge Everything: There aren’t many power outlets (see below), so come with a charged phone, computer, headphones, and anything else, as well as a charged power bank. Maybe download a movie or two or get some work tabs open on your computer, because there’s definitely no wifi on these old ships.

Once You Arrive in Padang Bai for the Ferry to Lombok

When you get to Padang Bai, you will want to walk inside and buy your ticket from the counter OR drive through the appropriate lane with your scooter if you have it. Again, you may have to show scooter papers and/or your drivers license to get your ticket.

Once you buy your ticket, you can either board the ferry or wait for the next one to dock. Scooters will park in the middle lane amongst cargo trucks, and humans will have to walk into the bottom cargo portion and go up the stairs.

How the Bali to Lombok Ferry Works

Each ferry fills completely with cars, trucks, and scooters, closes up, and then leaves. Usually there is enough transit between Bali and Lombok to fill ferries all day every day, but if another ferry arrives, the one before it will leave even if not full.

This means that there are no specific ferry times, or need to book a specific ferry time. You honestly just show up and it’s the luck of the draw whether you sail straight away or wait an hour or two… no, it’s not ideal, but hey, this is Indonesia.

There is also no specific seating or seating areas or seat numbers – it’s a free-for-all, and the earlier you board, the more you have to choose from.

What to Know Aboard the Ferry from Bali to Lombok

Cleanliness: The Bali to Lombok ferries are mostly very DIRTY! Some are better than others, but prepare for spaces that are not very enticing and full of crumbs and stains. Bring a sarong and sanitizer spray/wipes for this.

Power Outlets: Most boats have MAYBE one or two accessible power outlets that you will have to SEARCH for. Some have more outlets, but most are out of service. If you want to find a working plug, I suggest looking near any TV’s as there are usually some spare around TV plugs.

Sleeping Space: Most ferries have places that you can sleep – or at least larger couches you can curl up on. Again, bring a blanket or sarong to lie down on.

TV Area: Usually there’s an area with a TV – sometimes they play movies, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes you can score an English-subtitled movie or an English-language movie; other times, not.

Ferry Time: The ride usually takes 4.5-5.5 hours – maybe 6 on a bad day. I would recommend taking an earlier ferry so you have enough time to get to your destination before it’s too late at night, and this is learned from personal eperience too.

Food on the Bali to Lombok Ferry

Food on the boat is available for purchase if you need. They have a stand with some snacks like chips, cups of noodles, tea, cookies, soft drinks, chocolates, and other basic things. If you want to save money, it’s best to buy food cheaper at the stands across from the ferry terminal in Padang Bai.

There are also TONS of vendors who come on the ferries before they leave and try to sell you snacks and hot water, which will also be a bit cheaper. If you bring your own noodles, you can also buy hot water for about 10k.

When You Arrive in Lembar, Lombok

When in Lembar, stay as little time as possible!! It’s not a very ‘happening’ town – I would go as far as to say it’s even a bit sketchy, especially at night. It’s very industrial and hardly even has places to eat. There are a few roadside stands and an Indomaret – that’s about it.

We made the mistake of staying a night in Lembar once (I think there’s only one hotel) and it might have been our worst stay in all of Indonesia. Again, arrive with enough time to get to your destination elsewhere in Lombok.

Traveling from Lembar

If you didn’t bring your scooter, arrange a taxi beforehand if at all possible. Taxis are waiting at the port to take you where you need to go, but make sure they don’t overcharge you – they might try.

Getting to the Gili Islands from Lembar: You should pay 400-500k for a taxi up to Bangsal if you are going to the Gili Islands, where you can get a public boat for only about 30kpp (Prices may have changed, but this was accurate last I checked). Prices are different to places like Kuta, Senggigi, and other Lombok destinations. My suggestion is always to compare prices from at least 3 taxis to understand the going rate.

This taxi is the expensive part of the journey, and if you are taking the Bali to Lombok ferry to save money, you’ll have to weigh the differences between getting a fast boat to Gili for about 450k all-up and doing the ferry from Bali to Lombok, getting a taxi, and then a public boat. It would be cheaper with more people but not AS much cheaper with fewer people (especially with 1). It’s up to you if you’d like to save time or money.

If you have a scooter, you won’t be able to bring it with you to the Gili Islands if you are going there. There are some places in Bangsal that will allow you to leave your scooter for cheap – maybe the equivalent of a few dollars per day. This would be a good idea if you want to spend a few days in Gili and then explore Lombok, but not as much if you’ll be in Gili for a few weeks.

If this all seems too much, check out the other fast ferries from Bali to Lombok that are about the same price as the fast boat (or pricier).

Getting to Kuta Lombok or Sengiggi: The other main places in Lombok that you’d be going from Lembar are Kuta Lombok and Sengiggi, which are both about an hour away. I have not gotten a taxi for this journey, but I would assume you wouldn’t pay too much more than 150-200k if it’s 300-400k to get to Bangsal.

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There you have it – my best tips for taking the ferry from Bali to Lombok. I hope I’ve answered any questions you might have, but if not, leave me a comment below or follow me on IG and I will get back to you!!