If you want to land in Bali and reach the Gili Islands on the same day, your flight needs to be on the ground by about 9:00 am. Land later than that and the safer plan is one night in Bali and the morning boat. This guide shows how the timing works, so you can check your own flight before you book a boat ticket.
The short answer
| Your flight lands at DPS | Same-day fast boat? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Before 4:30 am | Yes, the morning boat | Be in the car by about 6:00 am |
| 4:30 am to 9:00 am | Yes, an early afternoon boat leaving at 1:30 pm or later | Be in the car by about 10:30 am |
| 9:00 am to 10:00 am | Risky | Only with hand luggage and a flexible ticket. Have a backup night planned |
| After 10:00 am | No | Sleep in Bali and take the morning boat |
How the timing works
Three things sit between your landing time and the boat:
- Getting out of the airport: 45 to 90 minutes. Immigration, baggage and customs. It is faster with an e-visa and hand luggage, slower when several international flights land together.
- The drive: 1.5 to 2 hours. Padang Bai is about 55 km from Ngurah Rai Airport. In heavy traffic allow up to 2.5 hours.
- Boat check-in: 45 to 60 minutes before departure. Fast boat companies ask you to swap your voucher for a boarding pass at their office in the harbour.
Add those up and you need roughly four to five hours between touchdown and the boat leaving. That is where the 9:00 am cut-off comes from.
Fast boat times from Padang Bai
Most companies run two departures a day to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Lombok: one in the morning, around 8:30 to 9:30 am, and one in the early afternoon, around 1:00 to 2:00 pm. There are no evening fast boats. Exact times differ between companies and change with the season, and crossings are sometimes cancelled when the sea is rough, so confirm your departure time with the boat company before you book the car.
What the transfer costs
Our private transfer from Bali Airport to Padang Bai is a fixed price per car, not per person.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Luggage | Price per car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avanza | 1 to 4 | 4 bags | IDR 600,000 |
| Innova | 1 to 4 | 4 bags | IDR 850,000 |
| Hiace van | 1 to 12 | 10 bags | IDR 1,300,000 |
| Alphard | 1 to 4 | 4 bags | IDR 2,500,000 |
The price includes the driver, fuel, airport parking and tolls. We track your flight and the driver waits up to 90 minutes after landing at no charge. The boat will not wait, though, so tell us your boat time when you book and we will tell you honestly whether the connection is realistic.
Landing too late? Where to spend the night
- Padang Bai. Small guesthouses within walking distance of the harbour. You do the long drive at night, when the roads are quiet, and walk to the boat in the morning.
- Candidasa. A quieter beach town a short drive east of the harbour, with larger hotels. See our airport transfer to Candidasa.
- South Bali. Stay in Kuta or Sanur and leave your hotel by about 6:00 am for the morning boat.
Coming back: Gili to Bali Airport on the same day
The same sums apply in reverse. Morning boats leave the Gilis around 10:30 to 11:30 am and reach Padang Bai in the early afternoon, often later than scheduled. Add up to 2.5 hours of driving and three hours at the airport for an international flight. A flight that leaves after about 8:00 pm is workable. Anything earlier, come back to Bali the day before.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Padang Bai from Bali Airport?
About 55 km. The drive takes 1.5 to 2 hours in normal traffic and up to 2.5 hours at busy times.
What if my flight is delayed and I miss the boat?
Your driver still meets you, because we follow your flight number. Whether your boat ticket can be moved to the next departure depends on the boat company, so check their change policy before you buy.
Is there a harbour closer to the airport?
Some fast boat companies also leave from Serangan, roughly half an hour from the airport. The sea crossing is longer and there are fewer departures. Ask your boat company which harbour your ticket uses.
How do I pay for the transfer?
Cash in rupiah to the driver after drop-off, or by Visa or Mastercard through our online booking page.
Check your connection with us
Send us your flight number and boat time and we will reply with a pickup plan and a fixed price. Message us on WhatsApp.
Last checked: October 2026.