Your clock
The boat leaves when your group is ready and returns when you say.
The whole vessel, for a fixed window
Hire the boat, not a seat
Glass-bottom, speedboat or small catamaran — yours for the booked time, with the crew and the fuel. You choose the route, the timing and the stops, and you pay per boat.
Private boat hire from Gili Trawangan means you charter the whole vessel — not a seat on a shared harbour boat — and pay per boat rather than per person.
- No fixed departure list, no strangers, no waiting for the boat to fill.
- Two hours at the Meno turtle reef, then the statues, then back before the wind — that becomes the plan.
- A safety briefing runs before you leave the jetty: life jackets, entry points, meeting signals.
- Arranged through vetted licensed boat partners. Rates are operator-set and confirmed at quote.
What hiring privately buys
The boat is yours for the window
This matters on the Gilis specifically, because the islands are vehicle-free. A private boat is the fast, flexible way to move between the three and their reefs.
Your route
Tell the crew the order you want and how long at each reef.
Your group only
Nobody else aboard, and no seats resold to fill the hull.
A briefed crew
Safety briefing at the jetty before departure, every trip.
Jetty coordination
Pickup and drop-off agreed in advance, allowing for the walk or cidomo.
Gear aboard
Masks, fins and life jackets. Flag larger sizes or prescription masks when you ask.
Four shapes of day
How long do you want the boat?
Hull type, group size, fuel and season all move the number, which is why every hire is quoted rather than listed.
Turtle-snorkel loop
Ask for price per boat
- About 3 hours
- Meno reef plus the statue site
- Best for a focused snorkel morning
Three-island half day
Most asked forAsk for price per boat
- About 5 hours
- Trawangan, Meno and Air
- Best for a first visit
Full-day charter
Ask for price per boat
- About 8 hours
- Slow island-hopping with a lunch stop
- Best for groups with time
Private sunset cruise
Ask for price per boat
- About 2 hours
- Golden-hour loop off the west side
- Best for couples and small groups
Read the quote
What is in, and what is extra
Inclusions vary by partner, so your quote lists the exact scope. A typical whole-boat hire splits like this.
The boat
- Included as standard
- Whole vessel, captain and crew
- Extra, on request
- A dedicated dive guide for certified dives
Running costs
- Included as standard
- Fuel for the agreed route
- Extra, on request
- Extra hours added mid-trip
In the water
- Included as standard
- Masks, fins and life jackets
- Extra, on request
- Underwater camera or GoPro rental
On board
- Included as standard
- Drinking water
- Extra, on request
- Alcohol and premium drinks
Food
- Included as standard
- Nothing — bring or stop ashore
- Extra, on request
- Private chef or catered lunch upgrade
Logistics
- Included as standard
- Jetty pickup, drop-off and safety briefing
- Extra, on request
- Hotel or villa transfer on the Bali side
Two honest notes. Wild sightings are never guaranteed, and the statues depend on visibility. And snorkel gear fit varies — flag larger sizes or prescription masks when you request the quote.
When to hire
May to September is the reliable window — calmer seas, better underwater visibility. May to August brings clear skies and warm water.
June and July are busy enough to book well ahead. September still has good weather with occasional showers and is the quieter, better-value month.
October to April is not recommended: regular rainfall disrupts travel and cuts visibility, so trips in that window are weather-dependent and the crew may reschedule for safety.
One note for sunset cruises: during Ramadan some island shops close and beach parties pause, so the Gilis feel quieter. Pleasant for a calm sundowner, worth knowing if you expected Trawangan nightlife straight after.
Five steps
How a private hire is booked
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Send your details
Date, group size, and the boat style you want — glass-bottom, speedboat or small catamaran.
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Get a per-boat quote
An operator-set price for the whole boat, the route, and what is included. No per-person maths.
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Confirm the plan
Lock the pickup time and jetty. Trawangan is vehicle-free, so the crew agrees a walking or cidomo meeting point.
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Pay the deposit
A deposit holds the boat; the balance is settled per the terms on your quote.
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Board and brief
On the day the crew runs a safety briefing before you leave the jetty.
Because prices are set by the boat operators and move with fuel and season, the quote you confirm is the honest current figure — not a fixed rate card.
Straight answers
Private hire questions
Hire your boat
Tell us what you have in mind and get a real per-boat quote for your date. No fixed schedule, no shared seats — just your boat, your route and a briefed crew.