The turtle grounds
Green and hawksbill turtles feeding over seagrass and coral. Wild sightings, never guaranteed.
Ten to fifteen minutes, on your clock
Skip the twice-daily timetable
The two islands sit barely a couple of kilometres apart. A private crossing means you leave when you want, add a turtle or statue snorkel stop en route, and pay per boat — not per head.
A private boat from Gili Trawangan to Gili Meno covers the hop in roughly ten to fifteen minutes, versus waiting for the fixed twice-daily public island-hopping boat.
- Gili Meno is the quiet middle island, with arguably the best beaches and the least development.
- The public hopper runs a fixed shared schedule. Miss the slot and you wait.
- It does not stop for snorkelling, does not wait for a late family, and does not care about your sunset plans.
- Both ends are vehicle-free, so the boat drops you at the pier and it is a short walk or cidomo from there.
Two of the most-requested stops
What sits on the crossing
The water between the two islands holds two of the best stops in the whole trio. Wild turtles, mantas and giant clams are standard, but no honest operator promises a sighting.
The underwater statues
The submerged human figures between Meno and Trawangan. Best in calm, clear water.
Meno west reef
Giant clams, healthy coral and easy shallow snorkelling. Visibility peaks in the dry season.
Four ways across
Private, or the public hopper
The moment you want a snorkel stop, a specific departure time, or door-to-door timing with kids and bags, the private boat is the practical choice.
Departure
- Private crossing
- When your group is ready
- Public hopper
- A fixed slot, usually twice a day
Crossing time
- Private crossing
- About 10–15 minutes direct
- Public hopper
- Plus however long you wait
Snorkel stops
- Private crossing
- Turtle grounds or the statues, on request
- Public hopper
- None
Pricing
- Private crossing
- Per boat, two people or eight
- Public hopper
- Per person, shared
Late arrivals
- Private crossing
- It waits
- Public hopper
- It leaves
Best for
- Private crossing
- Families, groups, anyone with bags
- Public hopper
- Solo backpackers with no rush
Conditions on the crossing
Seas are calmest and visibility best in the May to September dry period.
May to August brings clear skies, with June and July quite busy — book ahead.
September stays good and quieter. October to April is not recommended, as regular rainfall disrupts travel and clouds the water.
Morning gives the calmest water; a late-afternoon crossing sets up a sunset run.
Five steps
How a private crossing is booked
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Message us
Your date, group size and pickup island.
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Pick the format
A straight transfer, or a crossing with a turtle or statue snorkel stop.
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Confirm the window
Lock a departure time. Morning gives the calmest water.
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Meet at the jetty
Both ends are vehicle-free, so pickup and drop-off are pier-side; a cidomo covers the last stretch.
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Pay per boat
Confirmed before you commit — no surprise per-head add-ons.
Straight answers
Crossing questions
Lock your crossing
Tell us your date, group size and whether you want a snorkel stop. Private departures, jetty to jetty, no per-person markup.