Catching the Ferry from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan

I'll admit, before booking the ferry to Gili Trawangan, I was a little nervous.

Like a lot of people, I'd seen stories in the media about boats sinking and rough crossings between Bali and the Gili Islands. Whether they're common or not, they were enough to make me spend a fair bit of time researching which company to book with.

In the end, I chose Eka Jaya.

The main reason? Their boats are bigger than many of the others, and everything I read suggested they were more stable if the weather turned or the sea got a little rough. They also recommended taking one of the earlier ferries before the wind picked up later in the day, which made a lot of sense to me.

As it turned out, it was a great decision.

An unexpectedly early start

I organised a transfer to Padang Bai through Eka Jaya, and we arrived ridiculously early.

Not just a little early... really early.

Luckily, there was space on an earlier ferry, so after a quick "Yes!" we found ourselves rushing to grab our bags and get checked in before the boat left.

It all happened pretty quickly, but in hindsight I was so glad we jumped on. It meant we arrived on Gili Trawangan earlier and had almost an entire extra morning to enjoy the island.

Head upstairs

Once we'd settled in, I went straight upstairs.

This is definitely where I'd recommend spending at least part of the trip.

The views are incredible.

Looking back towards Bali, you can see the mountains rising through the mist, the volcano in the distance, layers of lush green hills and tiny villages dotted along the coastline.

Fishing boats drift across the water, and from out there you get such a different perspective of Bali.

The landscape just kept changing as we travelled further away.

Surprisingly comfortable

The ferry itself was much better than I expected.

There's an air-conditioned cabin downstairs (actually, it was freezing!), while upstairs there's an open deck with music playing, drinks, beers, and snacks for sale.

People were spread out, some enjoying the sunshine and others escaping the heat inside.

It had a really relaxed atmosphere.

Before I knew it, Gili Trawangan came into view.

The journey is part of the adventure

Sometimes we get so focused on getting somewhere that we forget the journey can be one of the highlights.

For me, this ferry ride wasn't just about getting from Bali to Gili Trawangan.

It was about seeing Bali from a completely different perspective.

The volcano.

The mountains.

The fishing boats.

The tiny villages hugging the coastline.

It was peaceful and beautiful, one of those moments when I found myself putting the camera down every now and then just to soak it all in.

If you're a little nervous about making the crossing, I'd say do your research, choose a company you feel comfortable with, and if you can, grab one of the morning ferries.

Then head upstairs, take in the view, and enjoy the ride.

It might just end up being one of your favourite parts of the trip.