Is the Lombok Strait rough? What to expect on the crossing
At times. The fast boats from Bali to the Gili Islands take around 2 to 4 hours depending on the port, and the car ferry about 4.5 hours. In July 2023 the Lembar to Padangbai crossing was closed for bad weather, according to the ferry operator ASDP, and BMKG warned of waves up to six metres in the southern strait.
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Strait · Bali and Lombok, Indonesia · Reputation among passengers: has a long-standing reputation for rough passages.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Roughness summarises typical reported conditions for this crossing, not a forecast for any given sailing.
Monsoon winds over open Indian Ocean water
In the Nausea Index table of the 121 sea crossings we cover, the Lombok Strait is rated rough, one of 34 in that band, with 6 rated higher. Full table: the roughest sea crossings, ranked.
Key facts
- The Lombok Strait is a strait, and passenger reports place it in the high roughness band.
- The mechanism behind that reputation: Monsoon winds over open Indian Ocean water.
- It is also known as Selat Lombok.
Why is the Lombok Strait so rough?
The Lombok Strait is at least 250 m deep and 40 km across at its northern opening, and it carries the Indonesian Throughflow between the Pacific and Indian oceans. Wikipedia says the monsoon season determines the strait's wave properties. In July 2023 BMKG forecast waves of up to four metres in the southern Lombok Strait on 19 and 20 July, and up to six metres, in its very high category, on 20 and 21 July, as stronger easterly wind from Australia arrived with the dry season. On 7 July 2023 the Lembar to Padangbai crossing was suspended in winds of 18 to 25 knots and waves of 1 to 2.5 m, the ferry operator ASDP reported.
When is the Lombok Strait roughest?
The southeast monsoon peaks around June, July and August and the northwest monsoon around December, January and February, and the winds across the region are stronger in the northwest monsoon. BMKG said in July 2023 that stronger wind, an easterly from Australia, was raising waves south of Bali as the dry season neared its July and August peak. Both monsoon peaks can bring rough days, so check the BMKG forecast for your sailing.
Where to be on board
Front to back
- Bow (front)Avoid
- MidshipBest
- Stern (aft)OK
The crossing: About 2-4.5 hours
Roughest stretch: The open strait, away from the Bali and Gili harbours
Sit midship and as low as the boat allows, away from the bow, and keep your eyes on the horizon.
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The crossings that cross it
| Route | Typical duration | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan | About 2 to 3 hours | Gili Getaway's port guide gives around 2 to 3 hours and says sea conditions, boarding, port traffic and island stops can stretch the journey. |
| Serangan to Gili Trawangan | About 3 to 4 hours | Gili Getaway's port guide gives around 3 to 4 hours. |
| Padang Bai to Lembar car ferry | About 4.5 hours | The regional land transport agency schedule, reported by Jawa Pos, gives an average sailing of about 4 hours 30 minutes over about 38 nautical miles. |
What helps on this crossing
- Check the weather the day before. Gili Getaway tells passengers to check weather updates and departure reminders one day before travel, and BMKG issues wave warnings for the strait.
- Know the line. BMKG gives wind above 21 knots and waves above 2.5 m as the risk level for ferries, and the Lembar to Padangbai crossing was suspended in winds of 18 to 25 knots and waves of 1 to 2.5 m in July 2023.
- Sit midship, keep your eyes on the horizon and put your phone away for the crossing.
For the full toolkit see the seasickness guide, or what to do once it has already started. For what the trials actually say about the oldest trick on that list, see the verdict on looking at the horizon. If the rocking follows you ashore afterwards, that is land sickness, which is normal, and it passes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lombok Strait rough in July?
Yes, at times. July sits in the dry-season peak. In July 2023 BMKG forecast waves of up to four metres in the southern Lombok Strait on 19 and 20 July and up to six metres on 20 and 21 July, and on 7 July 2023 the Lembar to Padangbai crossing was suspended in winds of 18 to 25 knots and waves of 1 to 2.5 m, ASDP reported. BMKG gives wind above 21 knots and waves above 2.5 m as the risk level for ferries.
Is the Lombok Strait rough in January?
Possibly. The northwest monsoon peaks around December, January and February, and a 2007 paper in the Journal of Geophysical Research on the strait's surface flow notes that winds across the region are stronger in the northwest monsoon than in the southeast monsoon. Wikipedia says the monsoon season determines the strait's wave properties. Check the BMKG wave forecast for your sailing.
How long is the fast boat from Bali to the Gili Islands?
Gili Getaway's port guide gives around 2 to 3 hours from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan and around 3 to 4 hours from Serangan. It says sea conditions, boarding flow, port traffic and island stop patterns can all stretch the total journey.
How long is the Padang Bai to Lembar ferry?
A schedule from the regional land transport agency, reported by Jawa Pos, gives an average sailing time of about 4 hours 30 minutes over about 38 nautical miles. The schedule notes that departures can change with operating conditions and weather.
Other crossings
Sources & further reading
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombok_Strait
- https://www2.atmos.umd.edu/~dwi/papers/susanto_jgr07_lombok.pdf
- https://giligetaway.com/serangan-to-gili-trawangan-fast-boat-port-comparison/
- https://giligetaway.com/fast-boat-bali-to-gili-trawangan/
- https://www.asdp.id/siaran-pers/cuaca-ekstrim-layanan-penyeberangan-lembar-padangbai-ditutup-sementara
- https://www.medcom.id/nasional/daerah/8koMdrdN-jalur-penyeberangan-bali-berpotensi-gelombang-tinggi-hingga-6-meter
- https://www.jawapos.com/wisata-dan-kuliner/2607130478/jadwal-7-kapal-feri-lembar-padangbai-hari-ini-cek-jam-berangkat-dan-harga-tiket
Sea conditions described here are typical patterns drawn from published marine and operator information as of July 2026, not a forecast: conditions on any given sailing depend on the weather that day, and any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Route and operator names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Seasickness sensitivity varies from person to person; this page is informational and not medical advice.