Glass-bottom / local boat
Ask for price per boat
- 6–10 guests
- Half-day or full-day
- Shallow reef viewing through the hull
- The most economical class to run
- Slowest between islands
One flat rate, dated
How a per-boat price is set
One flat rate the whole group shares, set by boat class and hours on the water — not by headcount. No government tariff sets it, so the only number that counts is a dated quote for your date.
A private Gili Islands boat charter is priced per boat, not per person — one flat rate the whole group shares, set by boat class and hours on the water rather than by headcount.
- No government tariff, marine-park price list or regulation standardises these rates.
- Every figure comes from an individual operator or direct negotiation, never an authority.
- A family of six pays the same hull rate as a couple, so the cost per head drops with the group.
- We quote a single flat rate, dated and valid for your travel date, before any deposit.
Two pricing models
Per boat, or per seat
This is where most of the confusion starts. A charter rents the vessel; a transfer sells you a seat on it. The two numbers are not comparable until you divide.
What you buy
- Private charter
- The whole vessel — captain, crew, fuel, route
- Shared transfer
- One seat on a scheduled boat
How it is priced
- Private charter
- Per boat, one flat rate
- Shared transfer
- Per person, per crossing
Cost per head
- Private charter
- Falls as the group grows
- Shared transfer
- Fixed, whatever the group
What sets it
- Private charter
- Boat class and hours on the water
- Shared transfer
- The published fare
Best for
- Private charter
- A family or group of six-plus
- Shared transfer
- Couples and solo travellers
For a couple, a shared per-person tour is usually cheaper — we will say so. The charter maths turns in your favour from about six people.
Priced by hull, not by head
Three classes of boat
The rate follows the hull and the hours. These are Gili-waters day charters starting and finishing at Bangsal or an agreed island jetty — not a Bali or Labuan Bajo departure.
Small speedboat
Most asked forAsk for price per boat
- 8–12 guests
- Half-day or full-day
- Covers the triangle quickly
- More snorkel time per hour booked
- Costs more to run than a local boat
Small catamaran / sunset cruiser
Ask for price per boat
- 10–15 guests
- Half-day or full-day
- Slower, steadier, more deck space
- Best for sunset legs and big groups
- The highest class to run
Ranges gathered from operators are not a fixed menu, which is why this page quotes none. Your final number depends on the exact boat, the season and the add-ons — and it arrives dated.
Six things move it
What raises the price
Seasonality is the single biggest swing. The rest move the number by degrees, and a good quote itemises them rather than folding them into one figure.
Season
June and July are the busiest months. Boats book out and rates firm up.
Duration
A full-day sunset itinerary costs more than a morning snorkel run.
Boat class
Speedboats and catamarans cost more to run than a local glass-bottom hull.
Fuel & harbour
Fuel price and Bangsal harbour handling can nudge the quote.
Add-ons
Gear, crew lunch, drinks, a photographer, extra stops — each additive.
Sunset timing
Late-afternoon cruises sit in the highest-demand window.
No official fee exists
There is no government tariff, permit price or marine-park charge that standardises Gili private-charter costs. Any fee in a quote comes from the operator, not an authority.
So every fee should be named and explained, never waved through as an official rule. Be wary of a vague "compulsory conservation fee" presented as regulation.
A firm quote should spell out the boat, crew, fuel and route. Ask explicitly about snorkel gear, drinking water, lunch and any extra stops so nothing lands as a surprise on the jetty.
Charters are arranged through vetted licensed boat partners in Gili waters. The boats are operated by their owners; the day is coordinated end to end by the reservations team.
Five steps
Getting a firm, dated price
-
Describe the day
Group size, date, half or full day, and whether you want turtles, a sunset leg or the three-island loop.
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Get a dated quote
One flat rate for the whole boat, valid for a stated date, itemised for fuel, crew and add-ons.
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Confirm with a deposit
A deposit holds the boat and captain for your date; the balance follows the quote terms.
-
Receive your run sheet
Jetty meeting point, departure time, route and exactly what is included.
-
Sail
Your captain runs the agreed itinerary, with timings flexing to the sea on the day.
Because pricing is operator-set with no government tariff, a dated written quote is the only way to lock your number.
Straight answers
Price questions
Get one flat number
Send your date, group size and preferred route. You get a single flat charter rate back — no per-person maths, no vague ranges.