I read so many blogs on how to get to Gili and the whole process seemed very confusing so I decided to write about it because I know some ...

Fast boat to Gili!

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I read so many blogs on how to get to Gili and the whole process seemed very confusing so I decided to write about it because I know some of my friends will eventually ask me about it!

First of all you have to deal with all the people in Ubud trying to take advantage of you and selling fast boat tickets as high as Rp 500,000 (~$38) one way! I literally went to at least 15 booths all around Ubud to get the best price but since it is high season the sellers are stubborn because they know they can get more from the tourists.
Also, the problem with the booths around town is that you never know if they are legit and I was not going to give a stranger my money not knowing if they would actually come and pick me up and take me to Gili! (in order to book you have to pay first!)
On my 4th day I finally found somebody that would do Rp500,000 return and then my home stay said they could reserve it for me at that price but somehow I was still a little hesitant.

Friday  night I went out for dinner with Liz and some friends and they said that they found an office with a German guy that was helping them out with tours and Gili fast boat tickets. After dinner we all went to the office and he offered the Gili fast boat for Rp450,000 ( ~$34) with return To Kuta and could pay with credit card!
The staff was so helpful, and most importantly sincere! The owner advised me not to get some tours from him/ Ubud because it was too far away but instead after Gili go to Kuta and do the tours there since it was way closer and therefore cheaper. After dealing with all the street vendors and not knowing if they were taking advantage of me it felt like a breath of fresh air to be talking to somebody who was actually trying to help and make a huge profit off of me!
Since then I literally told everybody about him and encouraged them to get the tickets from him.


... Going to Gili!
I booked a ticket with Wahana Gili Ocean and it was great!

They picked me up at exactly 7am in a comfortable Van and then started picking up other people until the van was full and drove to Pandangbai for about an hour or so.

When we arrived at the port there were literally thousands of people trying to get to their boat. Do not get a ticket here because they know you will pay a high price for it! I saw a one-way fast boat advertised for Rp660,000!!
We were dropped off in front of a restaurant and once they got the luggage out of the van we had to pick up our luggage and get a tag for the Gili you are traveling to.


Then you go upstairs to check in and get a sticker, put it on your shirt and wait for the boat!


While waiting I found the nice couple who gave me a lift back to Ubud from rice field… I had to go and say Hi!... Funny thing, after that I saw them randomly twice in my trip: at the Gili T boat harbor and then again at the airport when we were both leaving Bali! How Funny!

I then waited by the beach with the workers and started talking to them. They asked me about the flags in my bag and taught me a little bit more of Balinese and we talked about their families, how many kids each one had, their work at the pier, etc. I really enjoy to get to know the local people and learn a little bit more about their life. We were in the middle of a conversation when the next bus with tourists came and one of the guys said to me “excuse me, work, wait here" and tapped me on the knee so I waited there and kept talking until it was time for me to go and line up by the harbour.



At the harbour there are many different boat companies taking people to Gili so you have to make sure to stay with your company and wait for the guys to call the name of your boat.


While waiting there are many women selling snacks, some of them carried big containers with fruit on their heads.




Once the boat was close they called the name and we all were allowed to walk in the harbour to wait. Before getting into the boat we had to make sure to hand our bag to the crew and do not go in until you see your bag on the top of the boat!


Of course it’s Bali and they oversell everything! People did not fit on the seating part of the boat so once we started to go people were allowed to go and see on the roof of the boat!

We spent the next 2 hours in a very bouncy boat. People got sea sick so I was really glad I took my sea sickness pills an hour before we left.


At 11:55am we finally made it into Gili Air! Yeay




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About Post Author

Hi! It's me... Andrea! In 2016 I decided to drop everything and take a year to enrich my life and travel around the world. It turns out the world is just too big for 12 months! Still on the road and sharing my experience as a solo female traveler around the globe!

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About me




Hi! It's me... Andrea!

In this blog you can live vicariously through my journey around the world!

Please feel free to share tips or places to go!
Contact me: andreaheartstraveling@gmail.com