Bali to Lombok by Helicopter
Across the Lombok Strait in about 35–50 min instead of a half-day by boat or ferry.
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Bali to Lombok: Ferry, Fast Boat, Plane or Helicopter, Compared
The fastest way from Bali to Lombok is a private helicopter: 35–50 min in the air from the airport area to Lombok International Airport, from $3,250 for the whole helicopter, which is about $815 each for four guests. A scheduled flight takes about 40 minutes in the air, a fast boat about 2.5 hours and the public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar 4–5 hours. Below you get door-to-door times, cost for 2 and 4 guests, luggage rules, seasickness and which option wins for which trip.
In this guide
- Bali to Lombok Compared: Time, Effort and Cost Basis
- Ferry, Fast Boat and Plane: What Each One Is Really Like
- What a Helicopter Costs for 2 Guests and for 4 Guests
- Luggage, Comfort and Seasickness on Each Option
- Which Way Wins: Pick by Your Situation
- How to Book the Helicopter Option
- More Ways to Cross From Bali
Side by side
Bali to Lombok Compared: Time, Effort and Cost Basis
Four ways cross the Lombok Strait. The figures below are for a start in south Bali and a destination on Lombok, and they move with traffic, queues and sea conditions.
| Way to cross | Time on the move | What the day looks like | Cost basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private helicopter | 35–50 min in the air, plus 15–20 min at each end | Pick-up at a pad in south Bali, briefing, lift-off, landing at Lombok airport or an approved site. No queues. | One price for the whole helicopter: $3,250 one-way, $1,625 each for 2 guests, $815 each for 4 |
| Scheduled flight | About 40 min in the air | Drive to Ngurah Rai Airport, check in 60–90 min ahead, collect bags at Praya, then drive on. | Fare per person, plus bag fees on some airlines |
| Fast boat | About 2.5 h from Serangan or Padang Bai to Bangsal | Harbour check-in, a morning departure, a boat ride, then a transfer to wherever you sleep on Lombok. | Fare per person; ask what luggage is included |
| Public ferry | About 4–5 h from Padang Bai to Lembar | Terminal wait, a long crossing on a car ferry, then a road transfer from Lembar. | Lowest fare per person; vehicles can be carried |
The helicopter figure is airborne time. For the full route page, with a flight-time table to Senggigi, Mataram and Kuta Lombok, see Bali to Lombok by helicopter.
The other three
Ferry, Fast Boat and Plane: What Each One Is Really Like
Public ferry
The Padang Bai to Lembar ferry is the slow, low-cost option. Plan 4–5 hours on the water, plus the drive to Padang Bai before and the road from Lembar after. It carries cars and motorbikes, so it suits overlanders and long stays. It is a poor fit if you have a flight to catch or small children to entertain.
Fast boat
Fast boats leave Serangan or Padang Bai in the morning and reach the Gili side of Lombok in about 2.5 hours. The strait is deep and its currents are strong, and swell builds as the day warms up, so the ride can be rough. Keep passports, phones and medication in a bag on your lap, not in the pile on the deck.
Scheduled flight
The plane lands at Lombok International Airport at Praya, in south-central Lombok. The air time is short but the day is not: add the drive to Ngurah Rai, check-in 60–90 minutes ahead and the wait for bags. A hotel on the north-west coast still means a long road transfer after landing.
Helicopter cost
What a Helicopter Costs for 2 Guests and for 4 Guests
The price is for the whole helicopter, pilot and fuel included, so the cost per person falls as the seats fill. A 4-seat helicopter carries up to 4 guests; the 6-seat class takes up to 6 at about 1.4 times the rate.
| From the airport area to | In the air | Whole helicopter, one-way | Each, 2 guests | Each, 4 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lombok International Airport | 35–50 min | $3,250 | $1,625 | $815 |
| Mataram | 30–45 min | $2,850 | $1,425 | $715 |
| Senggigi | 30–40 min | $2,700 | $1,350 | $675 |
| Kuta Lombok | 35–50 min | $3,250 | $1,625 | $815 |
| Gili Trawangan (approved site only) | 30–45 min | $2,850 | $1,425 | $715 |
One-way prices include the helicopter's flight back empty, which is why one-way is close to a return. A same-day return with one hour of standby adds $300: Bali to Lombok airport and back with a wait is about $3,550. These are guide prices; the final quote names the pad, the aircraft and the landing site. The full price logic is on the price page.
Luggage and comfort
Luggage, Comfort and Seasickness on Each Option
Luggage
Boats and the ferry take large bags, and airlines take them for a fee or an allowance. A helicopter takes soft bags in a small baggage compartment, and the limit is combined weight, not just volume. Hard suitcases and surfboards do not fit. Send the number of bags and rough weights with your enquiry; our guide to weight limits and baggage explains how we work out what the aircraft can lift on a hot day.
Comfort
A helicopter cabin is compact, with a headset on each guest and a view from every seat. There is no toilet, no cabin service and no standing up, but the flight is short. A fast boat has rows of seats and a toilet, and a ferry has space to walk and eat. On a plane you sit in the smallest seat of all, for the shortest time.
Seasickness and airsickness
The Lombok Strait is deep, its tidal currents are strong and the wind shifts through the day. If you get seasick, the strait is a poor place to test it, and the morning boat is smoother than an afternoon one. A helicopter is not immune: turbulence builds over land as the day heats up, which is why morning flights are the calm ones. If you are prone to motion sickness, say so when you book and we pick an early slot.
Whichever way you go, leave a spare day
Harbour masters, airlines and helicopter pilots all cancel for weather. If a wedding, a race weekend or an international flight sits at the end of the crossing, do not plan it for the same afternoon. Our best time to fly guide shows when the air is calmest.
Which one wins
Which Way Wins: Pick by Your Situation
- Helicopter wins when you land in Bali at midday and need to be in Kuta Lombok or Mandalika by afternoon, travel with children or older parents, carry soft bags only, or are splitting the cost between 4 to 6 people.
- Scheduled flight wins when you travel alone or as a pair, carry a standard suitcase, and your hotel is close to Praya airport in the south of Lombok.
- Fast boat wins when you are heading for the Gili Islands anyway, you are comfortable on the water and a morning departure suits you. For that case read the five ways to reach the Gilis.
- Public ferry wins when you have a free day, want the lowest fare, or take a vehicle across.
- None of them wins when the plan has no buffer. All four can be delayed or cancelled, so keep a night in hand before an onward flight.
Booking the helicopter
How to Book the Helicopter Option
Send date, guests, bags and the two places
For example: Seminyak villa to a hotel in Senggigi, 4 adults, 4 soft bags, 12 November. If you are unsure where to land, ask; the Lombok island guide lists the options.
We confirm pad, aircraft and a fixed price
The quote names the take-off pad, the landing site, the aircraft class and the arrival time. Private landing sites need the owner's agreement and can take a few days to clear.
A deposit holds the slot
Payment details come with the quote. Nothing is paid on this website.
Arrive 20 minutes early
The pilot weighs the bags, briefs you on the headset and the exits, and lifts off. A car on the Lombok side can be added if you tell us the address.
Keep planning
More Ways to Cross From Bali
Bali to Lombok by HelicopterAcross the Lombok Strait in about 35–50 min instead of a half-day by boat or ferry.Bali to the Gili Islands by HelicopterSanur to Gili Trawangan in 30–40 min instead of 2–2.5 hours on a fast boat. Gili landing sites are limited and approved in advance.Inter-Island Helicopter CharterFly from Bali to Lombok, the Gilis, Nusa Penida or Lembongan in one private hop. Whole helicopter, your timetable, multi-leg trips by quote.Helicopter vs Fast Boat: Bali to Gili and LombokTime, cost per person for 2 and 4 guests, luggage, sea conditions and arrival logistics, and when the boat is the better choice.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way from Bali to Lombok?
A private helicopter: 35–50 min in the air from the airport area to Lombok International Airport, against about 40 minutes for a scheduled flight plus check-in, bags and the drive. Once pick-up and shutdown are included, the helicopter is still the shortest day by a clear margin.
How much is a helicopter from Bali to Lombok for 2 people?
The whole helicopter starts at $3,250 one-way, which is about $1,625 each for 2 guests and $815 each for 4 guests. The price includes the pilot, fuel and the helicopter's flight back empty.
How long is the fast boat from Bali to Lombok?
About 2.5 hours from Serangan or Padang Bai to Bangsal on the Gili side of Lombok, and longer if your hotel is elsewhere on the island. Add the drive to the harbour and the transfer on arrival.
Can we take luggage on a Bali to Lombok helicopter?
Yes, soft bags in the baggage compartment. The limit is combined weight and the space available, so tell us the number of bags and rough weights. Hard cases and surfboards do not fit; see our weight and baggage guide.
Which option is best if I get seasick?
The scheduled flight or the helicopter. Both skip the strait swell. If you must take a boat, choose the first departure of the day, when the wind is lightest.
Can a helicopter take us straight to the Gili Islands?
Yes, to an approved landing site. Landing sites on the Gilis are limited and need prior approval, so we confirm the spot before you pay. The flight takes 30–40 min from Sanur; read Bali to the Gili Islands by helicopter.
Bali to Lombok in 35–50 min: Send Us the Date
Tell us where you start, where you want to land, how many guests and how many bags. We reply the same day with the pad, the aircraft and a fixed price. Nothing is paid on this site.
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