How long is the private crossing from Teluk Nara to Gili Trawangan?

It is one of the shortest hops in Indonesian island travel — the Gilis sit just off the North Lombok coast. By private speedboat the crossing typically takes well under an hour, and with no harbour queue or boarding delay, your door-to-island time is usually dictated by the road transfer, not the sea leg.

Is a private boat really worth it over the public fast boat?

For one or two light-packing travellers on a flexible schedule, usually not — the public boat is cheaper. For groups of four or more, families with children, anyone carrying dive or surf gear, or travellers with a fixed schedule to protect, the per-boat pricing and guaranteed departure time typically justify the difference. Split six ways, a private speedboat is closer in cost to premium public tickets than most people assume.

Can we add Gili Meno and Gili Air to the same hire?

Yes. The simplest upgrade is a snorkel stop off Meno on your Trawangan run. For the full three-island circuit with multiple stops and a lunch break, book the dedicated full-day Gili Islands charter instead — it is designed around that 6–8 hour loop and priced accordingly.

Do you pick up from hotels in Senggigi or Kuta Lombok?

Yes. Senggigi is the shortest transfer to our North Lombok departure points; Kuta Lombok is further but entirely workable with an earlier start. The boat never leaves without you, and both legs appear on one quote.

Is the price per person or per boat?

Per boat, always. The indicative rates above cover the whole vessel, captain, crew and fuel for the stated route. Your per-person cost is simply the boat rate divided by your group size, which is why private hire becomes progressively better value as the group grows.

What happens if the weather turns on the day?

The captain has final say on safety. If conditions on the crossing are marginal, we will offer an earlier or later departure window, an alternative sheltered route, or a free reschedule. We would rather move your trip than deliver a rough, wet crossing that spoils the day.

Teluk Nara · Bangsal · Trawangan

Private boat hire to Trawangan

Your own vessel, your own departure time, a direct crossing from North Lombok. No ticket counters, no shared benches, no waiting for a half-empty public boat to fill.

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The beach and boat moorings on Gili Trawangan

00 Queue Time

The honest comparison

When private actually wins

The public fast boat network is functional and cheap, and for a solo backpacker with one rucksack it is often the right call. We will say so.

The calculation changes quickly for couples, families and groups of four or more — especially anyone carrying dive gear, surfboards or more than cabin luggage. Private hire rarely beats a public ticket on raw price for one or two people. Where it wins is certainty.

30
Minutes, motor yacht: 4+
Guests, where it pays: 1
Price, per boat

Six differences

What you actually save

Departure Time

Public: a fixed schedule, and boats that may hold until they fill. Private: you choose, from early morning to late afternoon.

Queue And Check-In

Public: ticket counter, harbour queue, porter negotiation. Private: walk to the jetty and board.

Luggage

Public: limited space, bags stacked communally. Private: the whole deck to yourselves — dive gear and boards welcome.

Route

Public: set stops only. Private: Trawangan direct, or add Meno and Air as you wish.

Drop-Off

Public: the main jetty, wherever that leaves you. Private: the closest safe landing to your side of the island.

Pricing Model

Public: per person. Private: per boat — so the cost per head falls as your group grows.

What to hire

Three ways across

6–8 guests

Speedboat

Fastest across, and the cheapest entry point for a short transfer.

By the hour

Up to 14

Sail Catamaran

Slower and quieter, with far more deck once you arrive.

From USD 1,330 / day

Up to 12

Motor Yacht

Thirty minutes across with room to sit inside if the chop is up.

From USD 1,880 / day

Full day

Add Meno & Air

Turn a transfer into the full three-island day for very little more.

Loop

Optional

Hotel Pickup

From Senggigi, Mataram or Kuta Lombok, timed to the boat.

Add-on

+2 hours

Sunset Return

Come back the long way, through the golden hour in the channel.

Evening

Questions

Before you commit

Ask us directly

Is private boat hire worth it over the public fast boat?

For one or two people with light luggage, usually not on price alone. For four or more, or anyone with dive gear, surfboards or small children, it usually is — you gain your own departure time, no queue, the whole deck, and a drop-off on the right side of the island.

How long is the crossing?

About thirty minutes on a motor yacht or power catamaran from Teluk Nara, and forty-five to sixty on a sail catamaran, depending on conditions.

Where does the boat leave from?

Teluk Nara or Bangsal on Lombok's northwest coast. Pickup from hotels in Senggigi, Mataram and Kuta Lombok can be added and timed to the departure.

How is it priced?

Per boat, not per person. That is the structural difference from a public ticket, and why the maths flips in favour of private hire once you are four or more.

Phinisi silhouetted at sunset off Kalong Island

Reservations

Name a time. The boat is there

Tell us how many of you there are, what you are carrying and when you want to leave. A per-boat price comes back the same day.

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