How to Visit the Pescaderito in Curiti (Near San Gil)
April 19, 2024
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Bali and Lombok are magnificent islands each with their own culture and heritage which are quite different from one another. It is definitely worth visiting them both when you are traveling to Indonesia. While Bali gets many visitors a year and has become a tourist hotspot, Lombok still remains quite untouched, except for Kuta and Senggigi. Most tourists take a speed boat to get from Bali to Lombok. But in this post, I will explain to you how to take the slow ferry from Bali to Lombok. This is how the locals travel and it provides a more authentic experience.
Sembalun Valley, Lombok, Indonesia
If you want to travel from Bali to Lombok, there are various ways to do it. The fastest option is booking a domestic flight from Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali to Lombok International Airport. This is the quickest option but may be more expensive and also not very eco-friendly.
The option that most people go for is booking the fast boat from Bali to Lombok which can easily be booked online through 12GoAsia. From Bali, you can catch a ferry to Lombok from Padang Bai, Sanur, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Serangan.
It takes about two hours to get from Padang Bai and the Nusa Islands to Lombok and four to five hours from Sanur. Prices vary depending on the location but expect to pay around 15 to 40 $ per person.
Lastly, the slow boat from Bali to Lombok is the third and, in my opinion, the most authentic option to travel from Bali to Lombok. It is the perfect choice for conscious travelers who prioritize an immersive and local experience above fast bucket list travel!
Black beaches of Amed near Padai Bai
Taking the ferry is a whole other experience than taking the fast boat. The ferry is a slow, local way of traveling. On the ferry you can connect with locals and, although most of them won’t speak a lot of English, they will be curious about who you are and where you are from.
In my case, the Sasak men were proud to sum up all the Belgian soccer players they knew. Also, be ready to have your picture taken a lot by the women!
In Bali, you first have to make your way to Padangbai. This is the departure point for the ferries from Bali to Lombok. Padangbai is a harbor town located in East Bali.
It is worth spending a day or two here to relax but there is not that much to see. There are two pretty white sand beaches close by (Blue Lagoon beach and Bias Tugel beach) and there’s a cool yoga school called Yoga Balé.
The best food I had in town was at Ozone Café. They have a few plant-based options on the menu and the classic rock music they play makes for a nice laidback vibe. Padangbai does not have plenty of accommodations to choose from. Tirta Yoga Inn is a clean and comfortable place to stay.
The public ferry from Bali to Lombok has no fixed schedule. That said, the Padangbai to Lombok ferry runs every hour and they go up and down all the time from Bali to Lombok and back.
When you arrive at the pier you will see if there’s one waiting for boarding. If not you will have to wait around a bit.
The slow ferry from Bali to Lombok takes approximately four hours to get from Padangbai to Lembar in Lombok but this can be longer due to bad weather circumstances.
The public ferry to Lombok I was on took five hours to get to Lembar Port. It also takes a while to load the ferry before departure and to unload once you arrive.
Expect the public ferry to Lombok to take at least four hours and, worst case, the trip can last up to eight hours.
Ticket booth ferry from Bali to Lombok, Padang Bai, Bali
A ticket for the ferry can be bought at the ticket booth at Padangbai Port. The system is a bit weird. You first need to buy a card with credit for 93.000 IDR. You need to buy this card a few meters from the brick building where the ticket office is.
After that, they will charge you 60.200 IDR for the boat ticket and, if you want this, 2000 IDR more for “asuransi”. Don’t listen to shady people who hang around the boat dock and want to sell you a card. The price will be much more expensive and maybe the card isn’t valid anymore.
The slow boat also allows you to take a motorbike or car with you from Padangbai to Lembar. If you want to take a motorbike with you the fee is IDR 148.000 ($/€ 10) and you will be charged IDR 285.000 ($/€ 19.50) for a car.
Ferry to Lombok from Bali
Whether you decide to stay overnight in Padangbai or not, the ferries run 24/7, so make your way to Padangbai port from your accommodation or taxi or bus stop. Buy your ticket at the ticket booth. There will be some men trying to push you to take a cheap fast boat. Just ignore them.
Now go to the pier and check if you see a ferry. If so, get in line to board. If not, wait around at the pier. After the ticket booth, you will also notice a waiting area. I sat down there to wait for the ferry but was hassled by three men. I’m pretty sure one man was trying to distract me so another one could steal my bag, backpack or wallet. Watch your belongings!
When it’s time to board, you need to show your ticket again so don’t lose it. Make your way up to the deck and find yourself a seat.
Ferry from Bali to Lombok
As said before, it will normally take around four to five hours to reach Lembar depending on the weather conditions. Be aware that the weather can get nasty crossing Lombok Strait. The ferry I took was caught in a storm.
I asked around and bad weather conditions are pretty frequent crossing Lombok Strait. Don’t let it stop you from taking the ferry though. Check emergency exits and locate life vests if you don’t feel safe.
But generally speaking, you should be very safe.
Lombok, Indonesia
After four to five hours you will arrive at Lembar Port. It will take a while now to unload the ferry before you can disembark. When you disembark there will be local porters trying to take your luggage for you. Kindly decline their offer, because they will ask you to pay them for their services afterward.
Walking out of the port you can find local bemos and taxis to take you where you need to be. It will take around:
It’s a good idea to connect with fellow travelers on the ferry and to ask them where they are going upon arrival in Lembar. Maybe you can share transport which will cut the costs.
The taxis and bemo drivers will surely try to overcharge you. I paid $ 7 for a shared taxi to Mataram which is way too much but it was getting dark and I was out of other options.
An Italian couple I met on the boat bought their transport tickets at a tourist office in Ubud. They paid $ 13 for a transfer from Ubud to Padangbai, the ferry and a transfer from Lembar to Senggigi which I think is a very good price so ask around if you are in Ubud and are planning this trip.
To take the ferry from Lombok to Bali, make your way back again to Lembar Port, buy your ticket at the ticket booth, and board the ferry. If you’re staying in Kuta or Senggigi ask around for prices at tourist offices. Maybe you can find a good deal including transfers to Lembar and from Padangbai to your destination in Bali.
If you tend to “hangry” easily, note that you can’t buy decent food on the ferry, only some snacks. I can get pretty angry when I’m hungry so I bought some fried noodles at a food stall in the town center just before departure.
There are also some local women hanging around the pier and in the waiting area selling fruit, coffee, and fresh rice dishes in banana leaves (I don’t think the rice dish was veg though). But be sure to stock up before you get on the ferry!
Secondly, the aircon can get really cold on the ferry from Bali to Lombok. It’s a good idea to put a sweater in your day bag, that way you don’t have to open up your backpack when getting cold.
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this guide on how to get from Bali to Lombok by public ferry. It’s a great slow travel experience that will surely stay with you for a long time.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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Amy Aed
This is such a helpful post! I was hoping to go to Bali this year, but with Covid its been hard… One day!!
annelies_degelas
Yep, can’t wait to travel again! ♥️
Aimee
Very helpful post, I went to Bali a couple years ago and can’t wait to return. Although I hear its a lot different now.
annelies_degelas
How different? I always skip the south but the north is still beautiful and authentic! ♥️
Jan
I have not been to Indonesia yet, but am adding Lombok and Bali to my list. It’s a good tip to bring snacks on the ferry and be watchful for bag snatchers! Yes, taking the slow ferry enjoying the ride is much better than taking a fast boat. 🙂
annelies_degelas
Yep, it’s great experience! 🙌
simplyjolayne
Great tips. I love to gather information from other people’s travel experiences. There are just some things you would not know otherwise and perhaps you would end up overpaying.
annelies_degelas
Yep, happens so quickly! The best thing is to travel like the locals do! ♥️
Ashlee Fechino
I have been dreaming of visiting Bali since I read the book, “Eat, Pray, Love” many years ago. We enjoy a ferry ride between islands on any trip. Thanks for the details.
annelies_degelas
You’re welcome! 🙏
Jana
I’ve read the public ferries are not always very safe. Should I be worried? My lonely planet says “boats have even caught on fire and run aground”… Thanks in advance for your reply and thank you for all the information on your website!
annelies_degelas
Hey Jana,
Yes, I had the same Lonely Planet when I was traveling through Indonesia. I have to say that I found the ferry to be safe overall. The only thing that is a fact, is that the sea can get pretty rough on the route between Padangbai and Lembar. I was scared for 5 minutes. After that, it was okay again. So just be aware of this. I think you will be fine and just be prepared to have your picture taken with half of the locals on board! 😉