Coronavirus in the Gili Islands
We will be posting regular updates to this page to keep you informed of the situation in the Gili Islands, Lombok, Lembongan and Nusa Penida, detailing the response to the Coronavirus on each island. As soon as it is safe to travel again, you’ll see it here first!
Facebook page @Giliticketscom to get notified quicker and stay up to date with all the latest developments.
Last Updated: 29/10/2020
Cases overview in West Nusa Tenggara
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News for Fast Boast services: Bali to Gili
Starting on 31st July 2020 Ekajaya Fast Ferry will open and operate for the return trips from Padangbai to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Bangsal 3 times a week: on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9.00 am!
To help you maintain social distance, a maximum of 70% of the total seats are available on the boat. You will be expected to show your passport and a negative test result for COVID-19, wear a face mask and keep social distancing.
News for Fast Boat services: Bali to Lembongan
Since September 2020, D'Camel Fast Ferry is open and operates daily for the return trips from Sanur to Lembongan. Check Availability using our search box.
Gili re-opening
Currently the Gili Islands are in partial lockdown, with the following travel restrictions in place: International tourists are not allowed to enter the Islands. However, those few that have been on the islands since before the pandemic struck have been permitted to leave Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno as necessary. If you leave the Gilis, you can only come back if you live there, and you must observe a 14 days quarantine. There are no reported cases of COVID-19 in the Gili islands. For some of the latest travel tips and articles we reccommend reading the dedicated Gili islands blog.
The Lombok regional health agency and task force have been overseeing the disinfecting of public areas. Island residents are asked to keep to social distancing protocols.
Our friends over at Manta Dive Gili Trawangan got interviewed & featured on Sky News, reporting from the island during lockdown. Check it out!
Before the Fast boats stopped their services from Bali to Gili, in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, health officials were running mandatory health checks at Bangsal Port in Lombok. The temperature of all passengers on their way to the three Gili Islands was taken. We expect that this type of health screening will continue once the travel restrictions are lifted.
The three Gili Islands re-opened on June 20, 2020 for domestic tourism. The Gili Islands will be the pilot project to start a "new normal" and will hopefully be an example for other tourist destinations in Indonesia. Tourists will be required to show a Covid-19 health certificate or rapid test result. They will also have to wear a mask. Strict health protocols will be carried out by hotels, restaurants or other tourism businesses.
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Diving the Gilis and Covid-19
Manta Dive, our partners on the Gili Islands are excited to welcome back customers. They kept busy, making sure to respect the Covid 19 health and safety protocols and prepare their resort and dive center accordingly.
If you want to keep informed on diving updates and Covid 19 measures taken at Manta Dive, you can check their news page.
When the Gili Islands will open to tourists again, it won't be as busy as before the Corona crisis. This Islands will be more pristine than ever and there will be a window of unprecedented opportuniy to visit. The waters will be filled with more wildlife and less divers, similar to the late 90's, before the Gilis were booming. Our advice would be to not wait long before booking your next trip to the Gilis!
Coronavirus in Lombok
Local authorities are enforcing strict measures even if only a few cases have been reported. They wish to prevent the spread as much as possible, and have cut off remoter villages and areas, in some cases making it difficult for the locals to obtain supplies. People in Lombok are required to:
- Avoid crowds
- Keep simple hygiene measures
- Keep social distancing
- Enter a 14 days self-quarantine when coming home to Lombok
- International Tourist arrivals are banned from Land and Sea
To ensure that those measures are respected, a task force is collecting data from returning residents. They are spraying disinfectant in public and even private places. They are attempting to help by providing food to people in quarantine.
Lombok International Airport and Lembar Port remain open for domestic use only. Flights have been considerably reduced.
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Coronavirus in Lembongan
The island is open to local tourism. No test is needed to enter Lembongan. However, most of the businesses on the island only accept prebookings.
People are asked to keep social distancing.
Coronavirus in Nusa Penida
Boat crossings between the Island and Bali are focused on providing required material only. The port is closed for tourists but remains open for natives.
As on the other Islands, people are asked to keep social distancie, avoid crowds and keep simple hygiene measures. They are encouraged to stay home as much as possible.
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What can we do to help the islands?
The tourism industry in the Gillis and the surrounding Islands is under threat. The Islands are suffering from an immense economic downturn. Many people are now out of work. A way to help the locals is to consider rescheduling your travel plans instead of cancelling bookings and asking for refunds.
When it’s safe to travel again, consider buying more from street vendors who are likely to have been the worst hit, and if you can - explore more of the region than you may have previously considered. Lombok, Lembongan, Penida and the Gili islands are all within easy reach of each other and offer something unique and well worth experiencing.
A new initiative has started in Lembongan: a community market! You will find there some amazing fresh products, locally sourced, and many handmade items.
It is the perfect opportunity to do your weekly shopping and support the beautiful island community.
The next market will be held on the 9th of August!
Fast boat services during Coronavirus pandemic
- Eka Jaya- Weekly departures on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9.00 starting from the 31st of July
- Golden Queen- not operating until further notice
- Wahana Gili Ocean- not operating until further notice
- D’Camel Fast Ferry- operating (require a COVID-19 rapid test result and a mask)
- El Rey Junior Fast Boat- not operating until further notice
- Rocky Fast Cruises- not operating until further notice
Contact information
If you had a fast boat booking for travel in the next few months or for other destination-related questions, feel free to contact us directly if you wish to reschedule your trip. We also invite you to consult our Terms and Conditions if you have any questions regarding a cancellation.