The best private-yacht route from Bali to Lombok and the Gilis is a five-day eastbound loop: depart Padangbai at first light, cross the Lombok Strait while calmest, spend two nights in the northern Gilis (Air, Meno, Trawangan), one night near Medana Bay, one night in the quieter Gilis off Sekotong, then cross back via Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida. It matches real distances and currents, not a rushed two-day version.
The key decision is departure time, not date. The strait is a genuine 35-nautical-mile passage carrying one of Indonesia’s strongest currents. Leave at 6:00–6:30am for a flat, fast crossing; leave after lunch and expect four hours punching into wind and current. This guide is the planning companion to our Bali to Lombok and Gili Islands yacht charter page, covering vessels and booking.
Why the strait sets the schedule
The strait funnels the Indonesian Throughflow into the Indian Ocean and marks the Wallace Line dividing Asian and Australasian wildlife. A sailing yacht at 7–8 knots crosses in four to five hours; a motor yacht in under two, both calmer before the sea breeze builds against the current. Eastbound puts the longest leg on day one, when everyone is fresh, and keeps later days to one to three hours.
The day-by-day plan
Day 1: Padangbai to Gili Air
Board in Padangbai, 1.5–2 hours by car from Sanur or Ubud. Cast off by 6:30am; anchor off Gili Air by late morning (motor yacht) or early afternoon (sail). Gili Air is closest to Lombok: good holding, a relaxed beach-restaurant scene, snorkelling off the boat. Spend the afternoon in the water and sleep at anchor. No cars or motorbikes on any Gili; transport ashore is by bicycle or cidomo cart.
Day 2: Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan
Islands sit minutes apart, so this is the slowest, best day. Start at Gili Meno, the smallest and quietest, where turtles graze the seagrass and an underwater statue trail is one of Lombok’s most photographed dive sites. Move to Trawangan for the evening if the group wants restaurants and bars, or stay moored off Meno if not. Trawangan’s sunset side, facing Bali across the strait, is the classic cocktail-hour anchorage.
Day 3: Medana Bay and Lombok’s interior
A short leg, under an hour, brings you to Medana Bay near Tanjung, Lombok’s main small-boat marina. From here, drive to Senaru on Mount Rinjani’s slopes and walk to the Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls; allow ninety minutes each way by car plus two to three hours on foot, a committed half-day. A gentler option: the pearl farms and markets around Tanjung, or staying aboard.
Day 4: The southwest Gilis, Sekotong
Run down Lombok’s west coast past Senggigi, three to four hours cruising, to Sekotong: a second, quieter island group, Gili Gede, Gili Asahan, Gili Layar and neighbours. Most day-trippers never reach this stretch. Expect empty sand spits, calm anchorages, low-key resorts, and the clearest water of the trip: the right final night before the crossing.
Day 5: The return crossing via Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida
Depart early for the westbound crossing; from Sekotong the distance back is similar, and the morning rule still applies. Break the passage at Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida for a final swim and lunch, then continue to Benoa or Serangan, arriving mid-to-late afternoon. Disembarking in the south rather than Padangbai saves most guests an hour or more getting home.
What a five-day charter costs
Rates for private crewed charter vary with vessel type and season. As broad 2026 guidance: well-kept sailing yachts and smaller catamarans run around US$1,500–3,000 per day all-crewed; larger catamarans and motor yachts around US$3,000–6,000; larger motor yachts above that. For the full five days, budget US$8,000–30,000 depending on the boat, with fuel a meaningful cost on motor yachts. Food, crew, and water toys are usually included; park and harbour fees are modest. These are planning ranges; we confirm exact pricing before you commit.
Practical notes
- Season: May–October is the reliable dry window; November–March brings rain and a rougher strait, so build in a flexible day.
- Anchorages: the Gilis have no marina; yachts moor or anchor in sand. Medana Bay is the one true sheltered stop.
- Provisioning: load fully in Bali. The Gilis top up basics, but specific requests should be arranged in advance.
- Time on board: roughly 14–18 hours underway on a sailing yacht, less on a motor yacht; no day after day one exceeds four hours.
- Paperwork: port clearances between Bali and Lombok are handled by the operator’s crew and agent.
Extending the route, or booking
This itinerary joins up at both ends. Sailing east toward Sumbawa and Komodo National Park is the logical next chapter; see the Komodo to Lombok itineraries at Komodo Luxury. To stay in Balinese waters instead, our 7-night Bali itinerary keeps the same pace, short legs and long swims, without the strait crossings.
We are a charter curation desk, not a fleet owner: we match your group, dates, and budget to the right vessel among the operators we have worked with since 2015. To check availability, start at the charter page, message us on WhatsApp at +62 811-3941-4563, or email bd@juaraholding.com with your dates and group size; we will come back with two or three concrete vessel options.
