Transport guide · How to get from Bali (cheapest) to Lombok
The absolute cheapest way from Bali to Lombok is the public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar at 70-110k IDR (4-5 hours). For tourists prioritizing time-to-cost ratio, Lion Air domestic flight DPS-LOP at IDR 350-700k one-way is the cheapest practical option (30 min flight, 3 hours total). For Gili Islands specifically, Bangsal slow boat after reaching Lombok mainland adds another 25k IDR per person.
| Method | Time | Cost | Comfort | Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public ferry Padang Bai → Lembar (cheapest) | 4-5 hours crossing, 6-7 hours total | 70-110k IDR foot passenger | Multiple daily | Extreme budget backpackers, vehicle transport | |
| Lion Air flight DPS → LOP | 30 min flight, 3 hours total | IDR 350-700k one-way | Multiple daily | Budget-conscious tourists | |
| Wings Air flight DPS → LOP | 30 min flight | IDR 400-800k one-way | Multiple daily | Travelers wanting LCC pricing with better reliability |
4-5 hours crossing, 6-7 hours total · 70-110k IDR foot passenger
Tip: Cheapest option but slow. Used by vehicle transport and extreme budget travelers.
30 min flight, 3 hours total · IDR 350-700k one-way
Tip: Cheapest practical option for time-conscious travelers. Expect Lion Air delays.
30 min flight · IDR 400-800k one-way
Tip: Slightly more expensive than Lion but better reliability.
For most budget tourists, Lion Air or Wings Air domestic flight DPS-LOP at IDR 350-700k one-way is the cheapest practical option. The public ferry saves money (70-110k IDR) but loses 4-5 hours each way, which rarely justifies the savings on a typical 7-10 day trip. Use the public ferry only for vehicle transport or extreme budget travel.
# The Cheapest Way from Bali to Lombok
For budget travelers, "cheapest" depends on whether you optimize for absolute lowest cost or for cost-per-time-spent. The public ferry is dramatically cheaper but slower; budget LCC flights are slightly more expensive but save 4-5 hours. The right choice depends on your trip length and priorities.
The Padang Bai to Lembar public ferry costs just 70-110k IDR for foot passengers. The 4-5 hour crossing on a basic Indonesian inter-island ferry is the absolute cheapest way to get from Bali to Lombok mainland.
Total cheapest journey (single foot passenger):
For two travelers sharing: ~280-330k IDR per person.
This is dramatically cheaper than fast boats but takes 6-7 hours total vs 3 hours for a flight. The 100-200k savings per person comes at a real time cost.
For travelers who value time, the cheapest practical option is a budget LCC domestic flight:
Lion Air DPS-LOP: IDR 350-700k one-way. 30-minute flight. Notorious for delays (60-120 min common) but functionally cheap.
Wings Air DPS-LOP: IDR 400-800k one-way. Same flight time, slightly better reliability than Lion Air.
Citilink DPS-LOP: IDR 500-900k one-way. Garuda LCC, decent reliability.
Total practical cheapest journey (with budget LCC):
About 200-300k IDR more expensive than the public ferry but 3-4 hours faster.
Going to Kuta Lombok: Lion Air to LOP + driver = ~750k IDR per person
Going to Senggigi: Lion Air to LOP + driver = ~850k IDR per person
Going to Gili Trawangan:
For Gili Trawangan specifically, the direct fast boat from Padang Bai is often comparable or cheaper than the flight + driver + Bangsal route, with the advantage of landing directly on the island.
Real "cheap" travel includes hidden costs:
For budget backpackers on multi-month trips with infinite time, public ferry savings add up. For 7-10 day vacations, the time cost usually outweighs the money savings.
Three legitimate reasons:
1. Vehicle transport: Only way to move motorbikes or cars between islands
2. Hard backpacker budget: Multi-month travelers tracking every dollar
3. Authentic experience: Travelers wanting genuine Indonesian inter-island travel
For everyone else, budget LCC flights deliver the cheapest practical option.
If you're going to Gili Islands directly from Bali, the cheapest fast boats are:
Avoid the cheapest no-name operators (200-300k IDR) due to safety issues. The slight savings aren't worth the risk on open water crossings.
For typical tourists balancing cost and practicality:
1st choice: Lion Air or Wings Air domestic flight (~700-1,000k IDR per person all-in)
2nd choice: Budget direct fast boat from Padang Bai (~500-700k IDR for Gili-bound travelers)
3rd choice: Public ferry only for vehicle transport or extreme budget
For absolute cheapest: Public ferry + minimal Lombok ground transport (~300-500k IDR per person but 8+ hours).