**A Gili Islands private boat charter means the entire boat is yours — captain, crew, fuel and snorkel gear included — for one fixed per-boat price instead of per head. Your group sets the route across Trawangan, Meno and Air, chooses the stops, and controls the pace, with no strangers aboard and no fixed departure clock.**
That is the core difference between chartering and buying seats. The public slow boat from Bangsal costs roughly USD 1 per person, according to widely published Lombok travel guidance — but that is a shared fare on a fixed route, not a private hire. A charter flips the model: you pay for the vessel, then fill it with whoever you like.
What does a private Gili charter actually include?
A whole-boat charter through Bali Premium Trip is built around exclusivity. When the boat is yours, the standard package covers the parts that make an island-hopping day work without surprises.
| Included in the charter | Common optional add-ons |
|---|---|
| Whole-boat exclusivity (your group only) | GoPro or action-camera rental |
| Licensed captain and boat crew | Onboard photographer / drone footage |
| Fuel for the agreed itinerary | Chilled drinks and fresh-fruit platter |
| Snorkel masks, fins and life jackets | Hotel or jetty pickup coordination |
| Route planning across Trawangan, Meno, Air | Lunch upgrade (seafood BBQ / restaurant stop) |
| Turtle-snorkel and sunset-cruise stops | Dry bags and reef-safe sunscreen |
Because the Gilis are vehicle-free — Wikipedia notes no motorised transport apart from electric scooters, and Audley Travel records that motorised traffic is banned by local order — every pickup and drop-off happens at a jetty, then on foot or by cidomo (horse-drawn cart). That shapes logistics: your captain confirms the exact jetty and timing so nobody hauls bags across sand looking for the boat.
Why is per-boat pricing better value than per-person?
Per-person tickets punish groups. Four friends buying four seats on a shared hopper pay four times, sit with strangers, and follow someone else’s schedule. Charter the whole boat and the maths shifts the moment your group passes two or three people.
- You split one price. A per-boat quote divided among 6–8 people often lands close to a shared-seat fare — but you get the whole vessel.
- You own the route. Skip a crowded stop, linger at the turtle point off Gili Meno, or add the underwater statue site between Meno and Trawangan on the day.
- You set the clock. Sunrise snorkel, lazy midday, or a late sunset cruise — no fixed group departure.
- You control who is aboard. Family, a proposal, a birthday, or a dive-shy group that wants space.
How much does a private Gili boat charter cost in 2026?
There is no official government tariff for Gili private charters. Indonesia has no regulation number that standardises island-hopping or whole-boat prices — every figure below is operator-set and negotiated directly, quoted here as indicative ranges as of 2026 and subject to change. Bali Premium Trip confirms a firm, dated per-boat price before you commit.
| Group size | Typical boat | Half-day (~3–4 hrs) | Full-day (~6–8 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–4 pax | Small boat / glass-bottom | IDR 1.8M–3.0M | IDR 3.0M–4.8M |
| 5–8 pax | Speedboat / small catamaran | IDR 3.2M–5.5M | IDR 5.0M–8.5M |
| 9–12 pax | Larger speedboat / catamaran | IDR 5.5M–8.5M | IDR 8.0M–13M |
Ranges reflect boat type, season and inclusions. Peak dry-season dates (June and July) sit at the higher end and book out fastest. Add-ons like a dedicated photographer or a seafood BBQ lunch are priced on top and confirmed in your quote.
When is the best time to charter?
Charters run most reliably in the May–September dry season, when Audley Travel reports clear skies, warm temperatures and calmer seas — the conditions that give the best underwater visibility for turtle and reef snorkelling. June and July are described as “quite busy,” so book ahead. September still has good weather with occasional showers and is a quieter, better-value month. October–April is not recommended: regular rainfall can disrupt travel and rough the water.
One atmospheric note for sunset cruises: during Ramadan some shops close and beach parties pause, making the islands noticeably quieter — worth knowing if you want a calm evening on the water rather than a party backdrop.
How does booking a whole boat work?
- Message the concierge. Send group size, preferred date and whether you want half-day, full-day or a sunset cruise to WhatsApp 6281128590000.
- Get a dated per-boat quote. Bali Premium Trip returns a fixed price for your group with inclusions and any add-ons listed line by line — no per-head surprises.
- Lock the itinerary. Confirm your stops: Trawangan for facilities, Meno for quiet beaches plus turtle and statue snorkelling, Air for relaxed reefs. Wild sightings are never guaranteed, so the crew targets the best-odds spots.
- Confirm jetty logistics. Agree the exact pickup jetty and time, since the islands are vehicle-free and pickups happen dockside.
- Board and go. Your captain and crew handle the rest; gear is onboard and ready.
Book your private Gili charter
Ready for the whole boat to yourself? Bali Premium Trip — an award-winning operator founded in 2015, with bookings handled directly by its reservations team — arranges private Gili island-hopping charters end to end.
- WhatsApp: 6281128590000
- Email: sales@balipremiumtrip.com
Send your date and group size for a dated per-boat quote. No shared seats, no fixed group clock — just your crew, your route, and the reefs off Trawangan, Meno and Air.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose my own route and stops on a private charter?
Yes. That is the point of chartering the whole boat. You decide the order and length of stops across Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air — including the turtle-snorkel points and the underwater statue site between Meno and Trawangan. The captain advises on conditions and timing, but the itinerary follows your group, not a fixed schedule.
How many people fit on one private Gili boat?
It depends on the vessel. Bali Premium Trip arranges boats for 2–4, 5–8, and 9–12 passengers, with larger speedboats and catamarans for bigger groups. Because you pay per boat rather than per person, filling more seats within a tier lowers the cost each. Confirm your exact headcount when requesting a quote.
Are snorkel gear and a guide included, or extra?
Standard charters include masks, fins, life jackets, the captain and crew, and fuel for the agreed route. A dedicated in-water snorkel guide, GoPro rental, an onboard photographer, drinks and lunch upgrades are optional add-ons quoted separately. Your dated 2026 quote lists exactly what is bundled so there is nothing to sort out on the jetty.
Is a private charter the same as a fast-boat transfer?
No. A fast-boat transfer moves you between points — say Bali to Gili Trawangan — on a fixed shared route. A private charter is a whole-boat day trip you control: island-hopping, snorkel stops and sunset cruises around the three Gilis. If you only need transport, a transfer is cheaper; for a flexible day on the water, charter.