Helicopter Gili Islands
From $2,700 one-way · whole helicopter
Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air by private helicopter, over the reef or onto an approved site. Landing is limited and checked before you pay.
Bali to Gili · landing by approval
Bali to Gili Islands by Helicopter: 30–40 min From Sanur
A Bali to Gili Islands helicopter flight takes 30–40 min from Sanur to Gili Trawangan, against about 2–2.5 hours at sea on a fast boat plus the drive to the harbour. The whole helicopter, up to 4 guests, is $2,700 one-way. The catch is the landing: sites on the Gilis are limited and need prior approval, so the plan is either an approved site on your island or Lombok's north-west coast with a short boat to finish. We settle that with you on WhatsApp before you pay.
- Air time30–40 min
- Distance93 km Sanur to Gili T
- One-way from$2,700
- Landingapproved sites only
Compared
Bali to the Gili Islands: Helicopter, Fast Boat, Plane and Ferry Compared
Times are estimates from a south Bali start to the Gili side. They move with traffic, queues and the sea, so read them as ranges, not promises.
| Option | Time on the move | Extras to plan for | Cost basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private helicopter | 30–40 min airborne | Pick-up at the pad, a short briefing, then an approved landing site on a Gili or on Lombok's north-west coast with a short boat to finish | One price for the aircraft: $2,700 one-way, about $675 each for 4 guests |
| Fast boat | About 2–2.5 hours at sea from Serangan or Padang Bai | The drive to the harbour, check-in, a boat that can run late or be cancelled in a swell, bags carried to the beach | Fare per person |
| Scheduled flight, road and boat | About 40 minutes in the air to Lombok | Airport time at both ends, then a long drive across Lombok to the harbour and a short boat from Bangsal | Fares per person, plus the car and the boat |
| Public ferry, road and boat | About 4–5 hours from Padang Bai to Lembar | The same drive and boat on the Lombok side | Lowest fare per person |
On price alone a fast boat wins for one or two people. The helicopter pays off when time, nerves about the sea or a fixed schedule decide the trip. Our guide to the five ways to reach the Gilis and the helicopter vs fast boat comparison put all of them side by side.
The flight
What You See on the Way From Sanur to the Gilis
The helicopter lifts off from a pad on the Sanur side, climbs east over the reef flat and the fishing boats, and leaves Bali behind. Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida slide past on your right, their pale lagoons ringed by cliffs. Then comes the open water of the Lombok Strait: deep, dark blue and empty for several minutes, with the tide lines of the currents showing as streaks on the surface.
On a clear morning Mount Agung stays behind your left shoulder. Ahead, Mount Rinjani rises to 3,726 m above the Lombok coast, and the three Gili islands appear as low green coins with white reef edges and turquoise shallows. Trawangan is the largest, Meno sits in the middle and Gili Air lies closest to the Lombok mainland. The pilot picks the height for the crossing and briefs you before you leave the coast.
Fly before 10:00 if you can. The strait is usually calmer in the morning, Rinjani is clear of cloud, and the afternoon wind that slows boats and adds minutes to a helicopter has not started. In the wet season, November to March, ask for the earliest slot.
Which island
Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno or Gili Air: Which to Aim For
All three sit within a few minutes of each other by air, so the price on this page applies to each of them. What changes is the landing question.
| Island | Feel | Getting around | Landing outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gili Trawangan | The largest and liveliest: dive shops, beach bars, the most visitors | Bicycles, horse carts and walking | Most requests come here. It is a busy island, so the hard part is a clear, quiet area for the helicopter |
| Gili Meno | The smallest and quietest, with a handful of resorts | Bicycles and walking | Quiet shores mean fewer people to keep clear, but a landing still needs the site owner's and the operator's approval |
| Gili Air | Closest to the Lombok mainland, with local villages, cafes and a relaxed pace | Bicycles, horse carts and walking | Approval needed, as on the others; send us the name of your stay and we start there |
No motorised vehicles run on any of the Gilis, so after landing your bags travel by horse cart, bicycle or on foot. Pack soft bags and keep them light.
Flight times
Flight Times and One-Way Prices From Sanur Toward the Gilis
Straight-line figures from the Sanur side. The Gilis and the Lombok coast are the two realistic ends of this route.
| Destination | Distance | Air time | One-way helicopter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gili Trawangan | 93 km | 30–40 min | from $2,700 |
| Gili Meno | 95 km | 30–40 min | from $2,700 |
| Gili Air | 98 km | 30–40 min | from $2,700 |
| Senggigi | 89 km | 30–40 min | from $2,700 |
| Mataram | 95 km | 30–40 min | from $2,700 |
| Lombok International Airport | 112 km | 35–45 min | from $3,050 |
Every one-way price already pays for the helicopter's empty flight home. A same-day return with a one-hour wait is the one-way price plus $300, so Sanur to Gili Trawangan with a wait is about $3,000. A wait only works where the helicopter can stay on the ground, which is one more reason to settle the landing site first. The build-up of each price sits on the price page.
Landing
Where the Helicopter Can Land Near the Gilis
Landing is the part that decides the whole trip. The islands are small, their shores are lined with guesthouses and beach bars, and the beaches are public. A helicopter does not land on a public beach. It lands on an approved site: a resort or private plot with a flat, cleared area of roughly 25–30 m across, no loose items and no overhead lines or tall trees close, where the owner agrees and the operator has cleared the landing.
Three realistic plans
- An approved site on your island. Send us the name of your stay. If it or a neighbour has the space and agrees, we ask the operator to clear it. Approval can take days, so ask early.
- Lombok's north-west coast, then a short boat. The helicopter lands on an approved site on the coast facing the Gilis and a boat covers the last crossing. This is the plan when no island site is approved. Tell us if you want the boat priced with the flight.
- Lombok International Airport. Useful when a Lombok stay comes first. The Gili leg from the airport is covered in Lombok airport to Gili by helicopter.
Not on the beach
We do not land on public beaches, in temple grounds or in national parks, and we confirm the exact site before you pay anything. If a landing on your island is not approved, you hear that in the quote, not at the pad.
Good uses
Who Flies Bali to the Gilis by Helicopter
Short stays
Two nights on Trawangan can lose most of two days to boats if each leg takes a morning. The helicopter turns each leg into 30–40 min, and a morning flight home puts you back in Bali for lunch.
Guests who dislike the sea
The strait is deep with strong currents, and a fast boat can be bumpy in a swell. The helicopter flies above it. It has its own limit, wind, and if the pilot is not happy the flight moves to a better slot.
Groups of four to six
The price covers the whole aircraft, so 4 guests share it at about $675 each. The 6-seat class (see helicopter classes) takes up to 6 guests at about 1.4 times the 4-seat rate.
Couples marking a milestone
An arrival from the air at a resort with an approved site is a big gesture on an island of bicycles. Ideas for the day are on the honeymoon flight page.
Booking
How to Book Bali to the Gilis
Send the date, guests, bags and the island
For example: Sanur hotel to Gili Trawangan, 3 adults, 3 soft bags, 18 September, morning. Add the name of your Gili stay.
We check the landing before the price
The first answer is whether a site is approved, on your island or on Lombok's north-west coast. Then the quote names the aircraft class, the pads, the arrival time and the fixed price.
A deposit holds the slot
Payment details come with the quote. Nothing is paid on this website.
Weather and weights the day before
We check wind and the strait forecast, and ask for final weights of guests and bags.
Fly
Be at the pad 20 minutes before take-off. The pilot weighs the bags, briefs you on the crossing and hands out headsets.
More routes
Other Island Flights From Bali
Lombok airport → Gili T
Skip the cross-island drive to Bangsal harbour. Lombok International Airport to Gili Trawangan by air, with the landing agreed in advance.
Air time20–25 min · 52 km
One-wayfrom $1,750
Bali → Lombok
Across the Lombok Strait in about 35–50 min instead of a half-day by boat or ferry.
Air time35–50 min · 122 km
One-wayfrom $3,250
Sanur → Lembongan
Over the reef and the seaweed farms to a resort landing on Lembongan, with the Yellow Bridge to Ceningan in view. Site approved before you pay.
Air time11–15 min · 21 km
One-wayfrom $1,000
Bali → Rinjani
Across the Lombok Strait to Rinjani's crater and Segara Anak lake and back to Bali the same day. Priced by quote.
Air time40–60 min · 149 km
One-wayby quote
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does a helicopter take from Bali to the Gili Islands?
About 30–40 min in the air from Sanur to Gili Trawangan, with Meno and Air in the same range. Add 15–20 minutes at the pad for the briefing, plus the boat time if you land on the Lombok coast.
How much is a helicopter from Bali to Gili Trawangan?
From $2,700 one-way for the whole helicopter, up to 4 guests, which is about $675 each. That covers the empty flight home as well. A same-day return with a one-hour wait starts at about $3,000.
Can the helicopter land on Gili Trawangan?
Only on an approved site. Landing sites on the Gilis are limited and need prior approval from the owner and the operator, and beaches and temple grounds are never used. If no island site is approved we land on Lombok's north-west coast and you finish by a short boat.
Is the helicopter really faster than the fast boat?
In the air, yes: 30–40 min against about 2–2.5 hours at sea. Door to door the gap narrows if you land on the Lombok coast and need a boat. We give you the real total when we quote.
Can we bring luggage to the Gilis?
Soft bags, yes. The hold is small and weight is the limit in Bali heat, so send the number of bags and rough weights. There are no cars on the Gilis, so lighter bags are easier on the horse cart or the walk.
What if the weather or the sea is bad?
The pilot decides. A strong wind or low cloud over the strait moves the flight to the next suitable slot, often the next morning, or we refund the part not flown. Our guide on what to ask an operator lists the safety questions.
Bali to the Gilis by Air: Send the Date and Your Gili Stay
Tell us the date, guests, bags and where you are staying on Trawangan, Meno or Air. Our same-day reply covers the landing options, the aircraft class and one fixed price.
Get My Quote on WhatsAppRelated
Plan the Gili Trip
Bali to the Gili Islands: Five Ways
Fast boat, ferry plus boat, plane plus transfer, charter boat or helicopter: times, effort and a decision table.
Helicopter vs Fast Boat: Bali to Gili and Lombok
Time, cost per person for 2 and 4 guests, luggage, sea conditions and arrival logistics, and when the boat is the better choice.
Inter-Island Helicopter Charter
Penida from $1,300 · Lombok from $3,250
Fly from Bali to Lombok, the Gilis, Nusa Penida or Lembongan in one private hop. Whole helicopter, your timetable, multi-leg trips by quote.
Bali to Lombok by Helicopter
Across the Lombok Strait in about 35–50 min instead of a half-day by boat or ferry.
Helicopter Lombok
From $2,700 one-way · whole helicopter
Senggigi, Mandalika and Mount Rinjani by private helicopter from Bali. Flights based on Lombok are by quote. Approved landing sites only.