Boat hire to Lombok and the Gili Islands is Indonesia’s easiest multi-island charter: a 35 nm crossing from Bali’s Benoa Harbour puts you off Gili Trawangan in four to six hours, with the whole circuit — three Gilis, Senggigi coast, southwest Lombok’s surf coves — workable in two to four days. Catamarans from USD 1,800/day and crewed motor yachts from USD 3,500/day dominate this corridor between May and October.
The three core routes
| Route | Days | Legs | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali–Gili express | 2–3 | Benoa → Gili Trawangan → Gili Air → Benoa | Snorkelling, beach clubs, turtle reefs |
| Gili + Senggigi coast | 3–4 | Gilis → Senggigi → Nusa Tiga (SW Gilis) | Quieter anchorages, mixed reef and coast |
| Southwest surf run | 3–5 | Benoa → Bangko-Bangko (Desert Point) → Gili Gede → Ekas | Surf charter — world-class lefts, empty bays |
The crossing itself is the one leg that needs respect: the Lombok Strait runs strong tidal current (2–4 knots), so departures are timed to the tide, not the clock. Once east of the strait, everything is short-hop cruising with line-of-sight navigation.
The Gilis by yacht vs by fast boat
Public fast boats reach Gili Trawangan from Bali daily — what a yacht charter to the Gili Islands changes is where you anchor and when: sunrise at Gili Meno’s turtle reef before the day boats arrive, dinner on deck off Gili Air, and the freedom to drop south to Gili Gede where the crowds never reach. The southwest Gilis (Gede, Asahan, Layar) are the corridor’s best-kept anchorages and effectively yacht-only.
Surf charters and the Java extension
Surf yacht charters to Lombok centre on Desert Point at Bangko-Bangko — a wave that rewards boat access because land logistics are grim. May–September south swells are the season. West of Lombok, boat hire toward Java means Karimunjawa’s national-park islands off the north coast, usually as a repositioning leg; it appears in the route planner as part of the Java–Bali chain. Eastward, Lombok links naturally to Sumbawa’s Moyo and Satonda islands — the classic stepping stones on any 5-day itinerary heading toward Komodo.
Season, budget and boats
May–October is prime: dry southeast-monsoon weather, settled anchorages on the Gilis’ north sides. November–March remains sailable with morning windows and lee-shore planning. Catamarans rule this corridor for stability at anchor; small phinisi and motor yachts take the longer Sumbawa extensions — class-by-class bands are on the rates and cost page, and boat-class trade-offs on the boat types comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the boat trip from Bali to the Gili Islands?
By charter yacht the 35 nm Benoa–Gili Trawangan crossing takes 4–6 hours depending on class and tide timing in the Lombok Strait. Most itineraries cross in the morning and anchor by early afternoon.
Can you charter a yacht around the Gili Islands?
Yes — 2–4 day circuits of Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air are the corridor’s standard format, usually on catamarans. Yachts anchor off the reef lines and use tenders for beach clubs and dive shops.
When is the best time for a Lombok yacht charter?
May to October brings dry weather and settled seas; July–August is peak. November–March stays workable with morning departures, and surf charters to Desert Point run on May–September south swells.
Is there a surf charter to Lombok?
Yes — Desert Point (Bangko-Bangko) is the headline wave, best reached by boat. Surf charters combine it with Gili Gede anchorages and Ekas Bay on 3–5 day southwest Lombok runs.
Can I continue from Lombok to Komodo by yacht?
Yes — Lombok is the natural first leg: east via Moyo and Satonda islands to Sumbawa, then Komodo. The full chain needs 5–7 days and is one of the planner’s most-booked routes.
Take the next step with a working desk. Message the Indonesia Yacht Charter desk on WhatsApp +62 811-3941-4563 or email [email protected] for routes, vessels and honest USD quotes within 48 hours.
Corridor briefs
Extend the corridor with the island-hopping route chains and time it with the two-monsoon season guide.