Jimbaran to Gili Trawangan

Sanur or Nusa Dua harbour

Nusa Dua is the shorter drive and its single Eka Jaya departure leaves early. Sanur is further but runs several boats a day, which matters more than the twenty minutes you save on the road: one sailing means one chance, and a sold-out or weather-held boat has no same-day fallback. Take Nusa Dua when its timing suits and you have booked ahead; take Sanur when you want options.

The hill is the slow part

Jimbaran spreads from the beach up into the hills behind, and the villa roads are steep, narrow and slow. Twenty minutes of the transfer can disappear before you reach a main road, so the pickup is set from the property rather than from the area — give the villa name when you book.

The seafood-dinner trap

Jimbaran’s grilled-fish dinners run late and every useful Gili boat is a morning one. If tonight is the seafood night, book the next morning’s departure rather than the earliest — a 05:30 pickup after a long dinner on the sand is the reason people miss boats here.

Bags travel pooled

Luggage is stowed together in the bow rather than under your seat — keep valuables and anything you want on the crossing in a small bag you hold. Each boat’s allowance is shown on its card, typically 20–25 kg plus a day bag.

Via Padang Bai

The shortest crossing to the Gilis at roughly ninety minutes, and the longest drive from here — well over two hours across the south. It earns its place when minimising time at sea is the goal, and not otherwise.

Fly to Lombok

The airport is fifteen minutes away, which makes this genuinely competitive from Jimbaran: a short flight, a road transfer to Bangsal, then a local boat. The most expensive option and the one with the least open water.