**A Bali speedboat transfer is cheaper and faster: fares run from about Rp 40,000 to Rp 750,000 depending on route, with crossings of 30 minutes to 90 minutes. A sailing trip under sail costs more, usually USD 130–180 per person, and takes longer, but you buy a half-day on the water, not just a transfer.** That trade — money and minutes versus the experience itself — is the whole decision.
What are you actually comparing?
A speedboat is transport. You board at Benoa, Serangan or Sanur, sit through a fast crossing, and step off at Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida. The clock is the product. A sailing trip under sail — a catamaran or sailboat moving on wind, not just engines — is the opposite. The crossing is slower, the deck is bigger, lunch and snorkel stops are built in, and the boat is the reason you came.
Selat Sails sells the second thing: modern sailing by the seat, booked direct. So this page compares honest numbers on both sides, then shows what the extra spend buys.
How much does a Bali speedboat transfer cost in 2026?
These are one-way and transfer fares reported by public sources, as of 2026 and subject to change. Motorized fast boats dominate the Bali–Nusa routes, which is exactly why genuine under-sail trips are harder to find.
| Route / product | Time | Price (as of 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanur → Nusa Lembongan fast boat | ~30–40 min | ~Rp 40,000 each way | tourist discussion |
| Serangan → Nusa Lembongan fast boat | ~30 min | varies by operator | Giliferries / Rocky Fast Cruise |
| Buyuk (Nusa Penida) → Serangan, Bluewater Express | ~45 min | Rp 610,000–650,000 | Rome2Rio |
| Nusa Penida → Benoa, cheapest car ferry + drive | ~2h32 | Rp 150,000–300,000 | Rome2Rio |
| Nusa Penida → Benoa, fastest ferry + drive | ~1h10 | Rp 650,000–750,000 | Rome2Rio |
| Hotel shuttle add-on (Kuta, Nusa Dua, etc.) | — | Rp 50,000 per person | Rocky Fast Cruise |
Rome2Rio reports Nusa Penida and Benoa sit about 62 km apart, with typical fast-boat-plus-transfer times between 1 hour 10 minutes and 1 hour 32 minutes. Rocky Fast Cruise runs four direct daily Serangan departures, and its hotel shuttle is Rp 50,000 per person (minimum two people, or an extra Rp 50,000). Quicksilver also runs daily cruises out of Benoa Harbour, per Facebook discussion.
How much does a Bali sailing trip cost?
Sailing-branded day trips price higher because you are paying for hours on the water, not a seat across it. As of 2026, subject to change:
| Sailing product | Type | Price per person | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohana Agency sailing catamaran day trip | Under sail / catamaran | USD 130–180 | Ohana Agency |
| KKday Bali → Nusa Lembongan catamaran cruise | Catamaran | ~USD 123.53 | KKday (2026) |
| WakaSailing Bali → Lembongan “berlayar” package | Sailing-branded | Rp 950,000 | |
| Tripadvisor Serangan “Nusa Penida Premium Day” | Yacht + manta + land | USD 74 (8–9 hrs) | Tripadvisor |
For contrast, Ohana Agency also lists a full-day private speedboat for six to eight passengers at USD 400–700 — that is whole-boat hire, not per-seat sailing. WakaSailing’s Rp 950,000 package folds in water activities, lunch, Waka Beach Club time and a village tour, which is why a “sailing trip” and a “transfer” are not the same purchase even when the endpoints match.
One honesty note: a trip under sail is genuinely slower than any fast-boat figure above. Sailing time is wind-dependent, and operators generally advise the dry-season months as the most comfortable window for steady wind. Treat every sailing duration as longer than the motorized benchmarks, by design.
Sailing vs speedboat: which should you book?
- Book a speedboat when the island is the goal and the crossing is a chore you want over fast — day-tripping Crystal Bay, Toyapakeh or Manta Bay on Nusa Penida, or a quick Mushroom Bay and Yellow Bridge loop on Lembongan.
- Book a sailing trip when the water is the goal — a half-day catamaran run past Jungut Batu with lunch, a snorkel stop and coastal Mount Agung views, or a sunset sail out of Benoa. You are not saving time; you are spending it well.
The cheapest way across is a car ferry plus drive at Rp 150,000–300,000. The best half-day on the water is a sailing catamaran near USD 130–180. Those are answers to two different questions.
How booking a Selat Sails sailing trip works
- Message the concierge. Send WhatsApp to 6281128590000 with your date, group size and whether you want a scheduled or private sail.
- Pick your departure. Choose Benoa or Serangan and your route toward Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida; the team confirms the fixed departure time and per-person rate.
- Confirm inclusions. Lunch, snorkel gear, hotel pickup and any add-ons are quoted in writing before you pay — dated figures, no surprises.
- Sail. You get a boarding time and meeting point, and the reservations team handles the rest.
The 2027 angle worth planning around: Benoa marina upgrades and Nusa Penida e-ticketing are reshaping day-sail logistics, and dry-season wind windows remain the best bet for a smooth sail. Booking direct keeps you flexible as those systems change.
Book your Bali sailing trip
Selat Sails is operated by Bali Premium Trip. To lock a scheduled seat or a private sail — with per-person pricing confirmed before you commit — message the concierge on WhatsApp at 6281128590000 or email sales@balipremiumtrip.com. Tell them your date and group size and they will match you to the right departure from Benoa or Serangan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Bali sailing trip worth the extra cost over a speedboat?
It depends on what you want. A speedboat from about Rp 40,000 gets you across fast; a sailing catamaran day trip at roughly USD 130–180 (Ohana Agency, as of 2026) buys a half-day with lunch, snorkeling and deck time. If the water is the point, the premium is the product. If you only need to reach the island, the speedboat wins.
Why does sailing take longer than a fast boat from Bali?
A boat under sail moves on wind, so it is slower than a motorized fast boat by design. Rome2Rio reports fast crossings of 30 to 90 minutes on Bali–Nusa routes; a sail runs longer and is wind-dependent. Operators generally advise dry-season months for steadier wind and a smoother, more comfortable trip.
What is the cheapest way to get from Bali to Nusa Penida?
As of 2026, Rome2Rio lists the cheapest Nusa Penida to Benoa option as a car ferry plus drive at Rp 150,000–300,000, taking about 2 hours 32 minutes. The fastest mixed mode runs Rp 650,000–750,000 in around 1 hour 10 minutes. These are transfers, not sailing trips — a sailing day out is priced and timed differently.
Does a Selat Sails sailing trip include hotel pickup and lunch?
Inclusions are quoted before you pay. Many sailing packages bundle lunch, snorkel gear and beach-club time — WakaSailing’s Rp 950,000 Lembongan package (per Instagram, 2026) includes lunch, water activities and a village tour. Confirm your exact inclusions and any hotel-shuttle fee, often around Rp 50,000 per person, with the concierge on WhatsApp before booking.
Can I book a private sailing trip instead of a scheduled seat?
Yes. Selat Sails sells scheduled per-person seats and private sails. Per-seat sailing keeps the price near USD 130–180 per person, while private hire costs more — Ohana Agency lists full-day private speedboats at USD 400–700 for six to eight guests, as of 2026. Message the concierge with your group size for a private quote.