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.
Home›Charter & Services›Inter-Island Charter
Bali · Penida · Lombok · Gilis
Island Hopping by Helicopter From Bali: Penida, Lombok and the Gilis
Island hopping by helicopter from Bali means a private aircraft, one price for the whole cabin and no harbour queue. Nusa Penida is 14–20 min away from $1,300, Lombok is 35–50 min from $3,250 and the Gili Islands are 30–40 min from $2,700, one-way. Up to 4 guests fly in the standard class and up to 6 in the larger one. Longer or multi-stop trips such as Komodo are quoted leg by leg on WhatsApp.
- Nusa Penida14–20 min · from $1,300
- Lombok35–50 min · from $3,250
- Gili Islands30–40 min · from $2,700
- Komodo and beyondby quote, multi-leg
Compared
Island Hopping by Helicopter or Boat: Times and Costs
Boat and plane times are the crossing only. Helicopter times are airborne minutes from the pad in each row, so add 15–20 minutes at the pad for pick-up, briefing and shutdown. Helicopter prices are one-way for the whole aircraft, up to 4 guests.
| Destination | Boat or scheduled plane | Helicopter in the air | One-way helicopter | Where the helicopter wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nusa Lembongan, from Sanur | Fast boat about 30–45 minutes | 11–15 min | $1,000 | Rough sea, heavy bags, a tight day |
| Nusa Penida, from the Bukit | Fast boat about 30–45 minutes from Sanur, plus the drive there | 14–20 min | $1,300 | No drive to Sanur, and the cliffs seen from above |
| Gili Trawangan, from Sanur | Fast boat about 2–2.5 hours | 30–40 min | $2,700 | Saves well over an hour each way |
| Lombok, from the airport area | Plane about 40 minutes plus airport time; ferry 4–5 hours | 35–50 min | $3,250 | No check-in, and a landing at an approved coastal site |
| Komodo, from Bali | Scheduled flight about 1 h 10 min | 2.2–3 hours, plus a fuel stop | By quote | Only for a private multi-stop trip; for a single hop the plane is quicker |
Penida and Lembongan by boat cost a fraction of a helicopter per person. The helicopter earns its price when time, sea state, luggage or a tight schedule decide. Our helicopter vs fast boat guide runs the numbers.
Helicopter or boat
How a Helicopter Differs From a Boat Between Islands
Your timetable, not the harbour's
Boats leave Sanur, Serangan and Padang Bai at set times. The helicopter leaves when you are ready, from a pad near your hotel or the airport, at any time between sunrise and sunset.
Swell versus wind
Boat crossings depend on swell and tide at both ends. A helicopter depends on wind, cloud and visibility. Mornings are the most stable for both, and in the wet season, November to March, a morning departure is the safer bet for a helicopter as well.
One price for the cabin
A boat sells seats. A helicopter sells the aircraft, so four or six guests split one price. One-way fares include the helicopter's flight home, so a one-way trip costs nearly as much as a return. A same-day return adds only the waiting time at $300 per hour.
A landing site, not a harbour
A boat takes you to a jetty or a beach. A helicopter lands only on an approved site: an airport, a hotel or resort helipad, or private land where the owner agrees and the operator has cleared the landing. The landing site is chosen with you before you pay.
Ask about the water crossing
Flights across the Lombok Strait and to the Gilis are over deep water. Ask the operator which aircraft will fly the crossing, what equipment it carries for it and for the operator's licence number. Our guide to what to ask an operator lists the questions.
Islands
Seven Island Destinations You Can Reach From Bali
Each island has its own page with flight times from several Bali starts, landing options and the best season.
Gili Islands
Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air lie off Lombok's north-west coast, with no motorised vehicles. Landing sites are limited and need prior approval.
Nusa Penida
Kelingking, Angel's Billabong, Broken Beach, Diamond Beach and Crystal Bay from the air. Landing needs an approved private or resort site.
Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan
Mushroom Bay, Devil's Tear, the seaweed farms and the Yellow Bridge, 11–15 min from Sanur.
Komodo and Flores
Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with Rinca, Padar and Pink Beach, based at Labuan Bajo. About 520 km from Bali and quoted by leg.
East Java: Ijen and Bromo
Across the Bali Strait to the Ijen crater lake near Banyuwangi and Bromo. No landing inside protected areas; flights follow approved routes.
Sumba and Sumbawa
Savanna hills and Weekuri lagoon on Sumba, Moyo Island and Tambora on Sumbawa. Far islands are multi-leg trips by quote.
Landing limits
Where a Helicopter Can and Cannot Land on the Islands
A landing needs flat ground of roughly 25–30 m across with nothing loose on it and no overhead lines or tall trees close by. The site also needs the owner's or the operator's approval.
| Island | Usual landing options | Limits to know |
|---|---|---|
| Lombok | Lombok International Airport; resort helipads and private land | Every coastal site is cleared before you pay. |
| Gili Islands | A small number of approved sites | Prior approval is needed. There are no motorised vehicles on the Gilis, so plan the walk, bike or horse cart after landing. |
| Nusa Penida and Lembongan | Approved resort or private sites | No landing on public beaches or in temple grounds. Public cliff viewpoints such as Kelingking are flown over, not landed on. |
| Komodo and Flores | Komodo Airport at Labuan Bajo; other sites by quote | No landing inside Komodo National Park. Flights follow approved routes. |
| East Java | Banyuwangi area, by quote | No landing inside protected areas such as Ijen or Bromo–Tengger–Semeru National Park. |
| Sumba and Sumbawa | Tambolaka airport and approved sites, by quote | Far islands are multi-leg, with fuel planning for each leg. |
The exact landing site is written into the quote. If we cannot clear a site, we say so before you pay and offer the nearest airport or a flight-over instead.
Multi-leg trips
Multi-Leg Island Trips: How We Quote Them
A trip with several landings is not the sum of the one-way prices above, because the helicopter does not fly home empty between legs. We price it from the minutes flown on each leg, plus standby where it waits ($300 per hour). The structure is the same as for helicopter charter by the hour, and it covers any helicopter charter between islands in Indonesia, from Penida to Sumba.
- Penida and Lembongan loop. Bukit pad to Nusa Penida 14–20 min, Penida to Nusa Lembongan 8–12 min, Lembongan to Sanur 11–15 min. A morning of cliffs and beaches with a landing for breakfast at an approved site.
- Gilis and Lombok. Sanur to Gili Trawangan 30–40 min, then on to Lombok airport 20–25 min, then home or a connection. Useful when the family splits between a Gili hotel and the south of Lombok.
- Komodo. Bali to Labuan Bajo is about 520 km in a straight line, 2.2–3 hours in the air with a fuel stop. It is a multi-leg trip quoted by hand; read the Komodo reality check before you ask.
Everything must finish by sunset. For a long day with several landings we count the daylight back from the evening, and we tell you if a plan does not fit.
Routes
All Helicopter Routes From Bali, Island Routes First
Each route page has the flight time, the one-way price and the landing options. The airport and east and north Bali transfers at the end are often combined with an island flight.
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
Bali → Gili T
Sanur 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.
Air time30–40 min · 93 km
One-wayfrom $2,700
Bukit → Nusa Penida
From the Bukit pad to an approved site on Penida in 14–20 min, with Kelingking and Crystal Bay in view on the way.
Air time14–20 min · 34 km
One-wayfrom $1,300
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
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 → 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
Bali → Komodo
A multi-leg charter to Labuan Bajo with a fuel stop, planned over two days with aerial time over Komodo National Park.
Air time2.5–3.5 h + fuel stop · 520 km
One-wayby quote
Bali → Ijen / Java
Across the Bali Strait to Banyuwangi and the Ijen crater lake in 35–50 min, with no landing inside the reserve. Priced by quote.
Air time35–50 min · 127 km
One-wayby quote
Airport → Ubud
Skip the Ubud traffic. Ngurah Rai to a pad near Ubud in 13–20 min, with the road time and the landing options laid out honestly.
Air time13–20 min · 29 km
One-wayfrom $1,300
Airport → Uluwatu
Ngurah Rai to the Bukit cliffs in 9–14 min. A short hop with honest advice on when the car is the better buy.
Air time9–14 min · 13 km
One-wayfrom $900
Airport → Canggu
Ngurah Rai to Canggu or Seminyak in minutes, with an approved landing site agreed before you pay.
Air time8–13 min · 11 km
One-wayfrom $800
Airport → Amed
Skip 2–3 hours of road: east Bali, Mount Agung and the black-sand coast in 25–35 min.
Air time25–35 min · 71 km
One-wayfrom $2,300
Airport → Lovina
Over the Bedugul and Munduk lakes to the north coast in 20–30 min, instead of a 3-hour drive.
Air time20–30 min · 67 km
One-wayfrom $1,900
Booking
How to Book an Island Helicopter Flight
Send the islands, the date and the bags
Say where you start, where you want to land and how many guests and bags. If you have booked a hotel on the island, send its name so we check the landing site first.
The quote names pad, aircraft, legs and price
The quote names the take-off pad, each landing site, the aircraft class, the airborne minutes per leg and the fixed price. Clearing a private site can take a few days.
A deposit holds the slot
The deposit is paid with the details in the quote. The website takes no payment.
Forecast check the day before
We check wind and cloud for the strait and the island, and confirm the pick-up time. Volcano alerts for Agung, Batur or Rinjani can change a route.
Fly, and the pilot decides on the day
If conditions make a leg unsafe, we move the flight to the next suitable slot or refund the part that was not flown.
Before you fly
What to Know Before an Island Flight
- Pack soft bags. The hold is small and weight is the limit in Bali heat. We ask for rough weights of guests and bags.
- Plan for daylight. Flights run from sunrise to sunset, so the last landing has to be well before the sun goes down.
- Book the island hotel first. Send us its name and we check whether it has a helipad or a nearby approved site.
- Expect a walk or a cart on the Gilis. There are no motorised vehicles, so allow for horse carts and bicycles after landing.
- Keep the return flexible. A same-day return needs a wait on the ground. Longer waits are $300 per hour.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much is a helicopter charter from Bali to Lombok?
From $3,250 one-way for the whole helicopter, up to 4 guests, which is about $815 each. Flying back the same day with an hour on the ground starts at about $3,550. Read the Bali to Lombok route page for landing options.
Is there a place to land a helicopter on Gili Trawangan?
Only on a small number of approved sites, and only with prior approval. We confirm the site before you pay, and if none can be cleared for your date we say so and suggest the nearest alternative. See the Bali to the Gilis route.
Is a helicopter faster than a boat to Nusa Penida?
In the air, yes: 14–20 min from the Bukit against a fast boat of about 30–45 minutes from Sanur. Door to door the gap is smaller once you add pad time, and a boat costs far less per person. The helicopter makes sense for luggage, rough sea or a cliff-top sightseeing flight.
Can I visit several islands in one day?
Yes, as a multi-leg trip quoted by the airborne minutes of each leg plus any standby. Everything must finish by sunset. A morning loop of Nusa Penida, Lembongan and back to Sanur is a typical example.
Can I fly from Bali to Komodo by helicopter?
It is possible but long: about 520 km in a straight line, 2.2–3 hours in the air and a fuel stop on the way. It is quoted by hand. For one traveller on a single hop, a scheduled flight of about 1 h 10 min is quicker and far cheaper.
How much luggage can we take between islands?
Soft bags, within the weight limit. Send rough weights with your booking. For heavy luggage use the 6-seat class or send surplus bags ahead by boat or road.
Is it safe to fly over the sea?
Every flight is operated by a licensed Indonesian air operator, and the pilot flies only in acceptable wind, visibility and sea state. Ask for the operator's name and licence number with the quote, and for the aircraft and equipment used on water crossings.
Skip the Harbour: Send Your Islands and Date
Tell us where you start, which islands you want, how many guests and how many bags. We reply today with the pad, the aircraft, each leg and a fixed price.
Get My Quote on WhatsAppRelated
Plan the Island Trip
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.
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.
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.
Nusa Penida Helicopter Tour
From $1,150 · whole helicopter
30 minutes across the strait to Nusa Penida: Crystal Bay, Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong and the Kelingking cliff, seen from the side.
Helicopter Charter by the Hour
From $2,300 per hour · whole helicopter
Hire a private helicopter by the hour. You choose the route and the stops. 4-seat and 6-seat classes, pilot and fuel included.