Turtle-snorkel stop
The reef off Gili Meno. Adds thirty to forty-five minutes. A wild sighting, not a guarantee.
Fifteen to twenty-five minutes direct
The distance is short. The control is the point.
Chartering the whole boat means you leave when you want, can add a turtle-snorkel stop off Meno mid-route, and pay per boat rather than per person.
A private boat from Gili Trawangan to Gili Air takes roughly fifteen to twenty-five minutes direct, versus waiting for the scheduled island-hopper that runs only a couple of times a day.
- A slower glass-bottom or local wooden boat takes twenty-five to forty minutes.
- What changes with a charter is not the distance but the control: departure time, route and stops.
- The public hopper covers the same water on a fixed, limited timetable — so a quick hop can mean an hour waiting.
- All three islands are vehicle-free, so build a few minutes for the walk or cidomo into both ends.
The main reason people charter
Stops you can add mid-route
Because a private boat answers only to you, the captain can pause mid-route so you swim, then carry on to Air. One honest caveat: turtle, manta and giant-clam sightings are wild and never guaranteed.
The underwater statues
Between Meno and Trawangan. Adds twenty to thirty minutes. A popular photo and free-dive site.
Quiet-beach pause
West Gili Meno. Adds twenty to forty minutes. Meno has arguably the best beaches of the three.
Sunset extension
Open water off Air and Meno. Adds forty-five to sixty minutes. Best in the dry season, on calmer seas.
The honest trade-off
Charter, or the scheduled boat
For two people the public hopper is cheaper. For a family or small group wanting a snorkel stop, the per-boat charter is usually better value and far less hassle.
Timing
- Private charter
- Leave when your group is ready
- Scheduled boat
- When the public boat is scheduled
Route
- Private charter
- Turn a transfer into a snorkel stop
- Scheduled boat
- Point to point, no stops
Space
- Private charter
- Luggage, kids and dive gear travel with you
- Scheduled boat
- Shared deck, limited room
Jetty
- Private charter
- Often the one closest to your hotel
- Scheduled boat
- The scheduled landing only
Cost for two
- Private charter
- More per head
- Scheduled boat
- Cheaper
Cost for a group
- Private charter
- Usually better value
- Scheduled boat
- Adds up per person
Season shapes every stop
May to August brings clear skies and warm water, with June and July quite busy, so book ahead.
September stays good and quieter. October to April is not recommended because regular rainfall disrupts travel.
Charters run most reliably, with calmer seas and better underwater visibility, in the May to September dry window.
A private crossing can depart at almost any daylight hour you request, which is its main advantage over the fixed schedule.
Five steps
How booking works
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Message us
Your date, number of passengers, and pickup jetty on Gili Trawangan.
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Direct or island-hop
Tell us whether you want a straight crossing or a mid-route stop at Meno or the statues.
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Confirm boat and quote
We come back with the hull, a departure window, and a per-boat price, dated before you commit.
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Set the pickup
We fix the jetty and the time, and note the short cidomo or walk, since the islands are vehicle-free.
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Meet your captain
The crew handles bags and gear. You board, cross, snorkel if booked, and step off at Gili Air.
Straight answers
Crossing questions
Skip the timetable
Send your date and group size and we confirm availability and a dated quote — direct, or with a turtle-snorkel stop on the way.