**Chartering a private boat from Gili Air means hiring an entire vessel — glass-bottom, speedboat or small catamaran — for your own group to loop Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, snorkel Air’s house reefs, and time a sunset cruise. You pay per boat, not per person, so a family or friend group controls the route, the stops and the pace.** Prices are operator-set and quoted per boat, so the real question is which loop you want, not how many seats you buy.
Gili Air is the closest of the three islands to Lombok’s Bangsal harbour and, in the words of Audley Travel, the more relaxed island — laid-back bars and thriving reefs rather than Trawangan’s full-moon nightlife. That makes it an ideal launch point: calm mornings for snorkelling, quiet afternoons, and an unobstructed western horizon for sunset. Because the Gilis are vehicle-free (Wikipedia notes no motorised transport apart from electric scooters; Audley notes motorised traffic is banned by local order), every charter starts and ends with a short walk or a cidomo ride to the jetty.
Why base a boat charter on Gili Air?
Air sits in the middle of the snorkelling geography. Its own reefs drop off within swimming distance of the beach, while Meno’s turtle grounds and the underwater statue site between Meno and Trawangan are a short hop away. A private charter lets you string those together in one loop instead of queuing for a shared public boat.
The trio — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — sits off the northwest coast of Lombok in the Lombok Strait, known locally as “Gili Indah,” per Wikipedia. Since 2010 they have formed one administrative village inside Pemenang District, North Lombok Regency. Boat-based island-hopping to see turtles, giant clams and coral is a standard offering across all three, but wild sightings are never guaranteed — no operator can promise a turtle.
Where does a Gili Air charter actually stop?
A typical Air-based loop combines Air’s house reefs, Meno for quiet beaches plus turtle and statue snorkelling, and a Trawangan pass for facilities or a drink before the run home. Conditions shift with tide and wind, so a private skipper reorders stops on the day for the best visibility.
| Reef / stop | What you see | Best conditions | Distance from Gili Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air house reef (east & north) | Coral garden, reef fish, occasional turtle | Calm morning, high tide | Off the beach — minutes |
| Meno Wall / turtle point | Green turtles, reef drop-off | Slack tide, low swell | ~10 min by speedboat |
| Underwater statues | Submerged sculpture site, photo stop | Clear water, midday light | ~15–20 min |
| Giant clam & coral gardens (Meno) | Giant clams, hard coral | Low wind, good visibility | ~10–15 min |
| Trawangan sunset side | Open western horizon, sundowner | Late afternoon, dry season | ~15 min |
Visibility and sea state are best in the dry season. Audley Travel notes May–August brings clear skies and warm temperatures, with June and July “quite busy” — book ahead. September stays good with occasional showers and is a quieter, better-value month. October–April is “not recommended,” as regular rainfall can disrupt travel and cut visibility. During Ramadan some shops close and beach parties pause, which makes the islands calmer and sunset cruises more serene.
What boat options can you charter from Gili Air?
The right hull depends on your group size and whether you prioritise speed, shade or snorkel viewing. All figures below are per boat, operator-set, and — as of 2026 — subject to change. For context, the only fixed public fare in the area is the shared slow boat at roughly USD 1 per person; that is a shared ticket, not a private charter, and buys you none of the routing control below.
| Charter type | Typical capacity | Loop duration | How it’s priced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass-bottom boat | 6–10 guests | 3–4 hrs | Per boat, operator-set — quote on request |
| Speedboat | 4–8 guests | 3–5 hrs | Per boat, operator-set — quote on request |
| Small catamaran | 6–12 guests | 4–6 hrs (sunset add-on) | Per boat, operator-set — quote on request |
| Private sunset cruise | 4–10 guests | 1.5–2 hrs | Per boat, operator-set — quote on request |
There is no official government tariff standardising Gili private-charter prices. Any per-boat figure comes from an individual operator or direct negotiation — never an authority — so the honest move is to request a live quote for your date, group size and route rather than trust a fixed rate card.
How does booking a Gili Air charter work?
- Message the concierge. Send your dates, group size and rough itinerary (turtle snorkel, statues, sunset, or a full loop) via WhatsApp.
- Get a per-boat quote. You receive boat options, capacity and an operator-set price for your date — no per-person surcharge games.
- Confirm the boat and time. Lock the hull, departure window and jetty pickup point on Gili Air.
- Meet at the jetty. Since Air is vehicle-free, your skipper meets you at the agreed jetty; walk or take a cidomo from your accommodation.
- Run your loop. The skipper adapts stop order to the day’s tide and wind for the best water.
Book your private Gili Air charter
Ready to loop Air, Meno and Trawangan on your own boat? Bali Premium Trip arranges private Gili Air charters through vetted licensed local operators and handles your date, boat and route directly.
WhatsApp the reservations team: +62 811-2859-0000
Email: sales@balipremiumtrip.com
Send your date, group size and the stops you want (turtles, statues, sunset), and you’ll get a per-boat quote back — operator-set, as of 2026 and subject to change. No fabricated ratings, no guaranteed sightings, just a real boat held for your group.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a private boat charter from Gili Air cost?
Private charters are priced per boat, not per person, and set by individual operators — there is no official government tariff for Gili charters. Costs vary with boat type, loop length and season, so request a live quote for your date. For contrast, the shared public slow boat runs about USD 1 per person, but that buys no private routing.
Can I snorkel with turtles on a Gili Air charter?
Yes — turtle snorkelling is a standard component, usually at Meno’s turtle points a short hop from Air, alongside the underwater statue site between Meno and Trawangan. Green turtles are frequently seen, but wild sightings are never guaranteed. A private skipper times stops for slack tide and calm water to give you the best chance of spotting them.
What’s the best time of year to charter a boat from Gili Air?
The dry season, roughly May to September, is most reliable — Audley Travel reports clear skies and warm temperatures from May to August, with June and July busy enough to book ahead. September is quieter and better value. October to April brings regular rain and is not recommended, as rougher seas cut snorkelling visibility.
How do I get picked up on Gili Air if there are no cars?
Gili Air is vehicle-free — Wikipedia notes no motorised transport beyond electric scooters, and local order bans cars. Your charter skipper meets you at an agreed jetty, and you reach it on foot or by cidomo, the horse-drawn cart. When you book, confirm the exact jetty pickup point near your accommodation so meet-up is simple on the day.