**Private boat hire from Gili Trawangan means you charter the whole vessel — glass-bottom, speedboat, or small catamaran — not a seat on a shared harbour boat. You choose the route, the timing, and the stops, and you pay per boat rather than per person. As of 2026, rates are operator-set and confirmed at quote, with a safety briefing before you leave the jetty.**
Tiga Isle Charters arranges these private hires around Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air through Bali Premium Trip, working with vetted licensed boat partners. You are hiring the boat, its crew and its fuel for a fixed window — the opposite of squeezing onto the public slow boat, which is a shared USD 1-per-person hop, not a charter.
What does “private boat hire” actually get you?
When you hire privately, the boat is yours for the booked time. No fixed departure list, no strangers, no waiting for a full load. You tell the crew you want two hours at the turtle reef off Meno, then the underwater statues between Meno and Trawangan, then back before the wind picks up — and that becomes the plan.
This matters on the Gilis specifically because the islands are vehicle-free. Wikipedia notes there is no motorised transport apart from electric scooters, and Audley Travel says motorised traffic is banned by local order, so everything on land moves on foot or by cidomo (horse-drawn cart). A private boat is the fast, flexible way to move between the three islands and their reefs without that constraint.
How much does private hire cost from Gili Trawangan?
There is no government tariff for Gili private charters. No regulation number standardises island-hopping prices — every figure comes from the individual operator or direct negotiation. So treat the table below as indicative operator-set pricing, as of 2026, subject to change, and always confirmed on your actual quote. Boat type, group size, fuel and season all move the number.
| Hire option | Typical duration | Indicative per-boat rate (2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle-snorkel loop | ~3 hours | from IDR 1,800,000 (~USD 110) | Meno reef + statue site |
| Three-island half day | ~5 hours | from IDR 3,200,000 (~USD 195) | Trawangan, Meno, Air combo |
| Full-day charter | ~8 hours | from IDR 5,000,000 (~USD 305) | Slow island-hopping + lunch stop |
| Private sunset cruise | ~2 hours | from IDR 1,500,000 (~USD 92) | Couples, small groups |
For contrast, the only fixed published boat price in this region is the public slow boat from Bangsal, which Audley Travel and Wikipedia sources put at roughly USD 1 per person. That is a shared fare on a set route — useful to know, but not a private charter and not comparable to hiring the whole boat.
What’s included in a private hire?
Inclusions vary by partner, so your quote lists the exact scope. A typical whole-boat hire covers the items below.
| Included as standard | Usually extra / on request |
|---|---|
| Whole boat + captain and crew | Underwater camera / GoPro rental |
| Fuel for the agreed route | Private chef or catered lunch upgrade |
| Snorkel mask, fins and life jackets | Hotel/villa transfer on Bali side |
| Safety briefing before departure | Alcohol and premium drinks |
| Drinking water on board | Extra hours added mid-trip |
| Jetty pickup and drop-off | Dedicated dive guide (certified dives) |
Two honest notes. First, wild sightings are never guaranteed — turtles, mantas and the giant clams near Meno are wild animals, and the underwater statues between Meno and Trawangan depend on visibility. Second, snorkelling gear fit varies, so flag if you need larger sizes or prescription masks when you request the quote.
When is the best time to hire a boat here?
Charters run most reliably in the May–September dry season, when seas are calmer and underwater visibility is best. Audley Travel notes May to August brings clear skies and warm water, with June and July “quite busy” — book well ahead. September still has good weather with occasional showers and is a quieter, better-value month. October to April is “not recommended” because regular rainfall can disrupt travel and cut visibility, so private trips in that window are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled by the crew for safety.
One atmosphere note for sunset cruises: during Ramadan some island shops close and beach parties pause, so the Gilis feel quieter — pleasant if you want a calm sundowner, worth knowing if you were expecting Trawangan’s nightlife straight after.
How does booking a private hire work?
Booking runs through the Bali Premium Trip concierge, not a self-serve cart, because each boat, route and price is confirmed against live availability.
- Send your details. Message the team on WhatsApp with your date, group size, and the boat style you want (glass-bottom, speedboat, or small catamaran).
- Get a per-boat quote. You receive an operator-set price for the whole boat, the route, and what’s included — no per-person maths.
- Confirm the plan. Lock the pickup time and jetty. Because Trawangan is vehicle-free, the crew arranges the walking or cidomo meeting point at the harbour.
- Pay the deposit. A deposit holds the boat; the balance is settled per the terms on your quote.
- Board and brief. On the day, the crew runs a safety briefing — life jackets, entry and exit points, meeting signals — before you leave the jetty.
Because prices are set by the boat operators and change with fuel and season, the quote you confirm is the honest, current figure — not a fixed rate card.
Ready to hire your boat from Gili Trawangan?
Tell the Bali Premium Trip concierge what you have in mind and get a real per-boat quote for your date.
- WhatsApp: 6281128590000
- Email: sales@balipremiumtrip.com
Bali Premium Trip handles the reservation and pairs you with a vetted, licensed boat partner. No fixed schedule, no shared seats — just your boat, your route, and a briefed crew.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a private boat from Gili Trawangan?
There is no official tariff. As of 2026, indicative operator-set rates start around IDR 1,500,000 (~USD 92) for a two-hour sunset cruise and IDR 3,200,000 (~USD 195) for a five-hour three-island half day. Boat type, group size and season change the figure, so confirm your exact price on the quote.
What’s the difference between private hire and the public harbour boat?
The public slow boat from Bangsal is a shared, fixed-route ride at roughly USD 1 per person. Private hire means the whole boat, crew and fuel are yours for the booked time — you set the route, stops and timing, pay per boat, and never wait for the vessel to fill.
Can I hire a private boat for a sunset cruise from Gili Trawangan?
Yes. A private sunset cruise is a common two-hour option, indicatively from IDR 1,500,000 (~USD 92) as of 2026, confirmed at quote. It runs most reliably in the May–September dry season. During Ramadan the islands are quieter and beach parties pause, which suits a calm sundowner.
How many people fit on a private hire boat from Trawangan?
Capacity depends on the vessel — a small glass-bottom or catamaran suits couples and small groups, while a larger speedboat carries bigger parties. Because you pay per boat, not per head, tell the concierge your exact group size when you request a quote so the right-capacity boat is matched to you.