Lembar

Getting From Lembar Harbour

If you're arriving in Lembar and need transport, you'll find the Lembar bemo drivers hard bargainers.

Gili Islands

From Lembar Harbour you can take a shuttle bus service to Bangsal Harbour. Perama (http://www.peramatour.com...) will run shuttle buses from Lembar to Mataram and Bangsal, if there are enough passengers booked beforehand Rp 60,000, min. 2 people. Depart : 6.30AM & 7AM - Return : 8AM. Or take a bemo from opposite the market in Ampenan up the west coast to Pemenang, from where you can walk or ride a cidomo horse cart to Bangsal Harbour. If you have plenty of time on your hands and want to save a couple of dollars, the cheapest way is to take a public bemo to Mataram Rp 5,000, another to Ampenan and then another one to Pemenang/Bangsal Rp 10,000, and then a cidomo or walk to Bangsal Harbour. From Bangsal Harbour, take the public ferry Rp 8,000, 9,000, 10,000 depending to which of the Gilis you are heading to. Plan your trip to take in daylight hours only as the Bemo's normally do not run after dusk and can be reluctant to go past Mangsit at the northern end of Senggigi, this may require a set down and wait for another Bemo passing through Mangsit. It is best not too arrive in Bangsal too late as the last Koperasi Public boats leave in the early afternoon requiring the use of the slightly more expensive Shuttle boat in the late afternoon, or a Charter.

Mataram

You can take a bemo from Lembar Harbour to Mataram. The fare should be about Rp 5,000 to the Ampenan-Mataram-Cakranegara-Sweta area. A good option is to book ahead with Perama or another tourist shuttle company. Alternatively, metered taxis are available at the terminal or just outside the gates all day and all night. Typical fares are Rp 25,000 to Cakranegara, Rp 40,000–45,000 to Sengiggi.

Kuta

From Lembar Harbour the price to Kuta must be negotiated in advance, or you may insist the taxi driver uses a meter. Competition is fierce and porters will often place your luggage in a taxi prior to settling the price. Assertive behavior can insure you choose the taxi and the price that suits your needs.The taxi fare from Lembar to Kuta should be around Rp 250,000. Perama (http://www.peramatour.com...) will run shuttle buses from Lembar to Mataram, Kuta and Tetebatu, if there are two or more passengers booked beforehand Rp 125,000 per person.

If you are leaving from Lombok, chances are high that someone will approach you and offer the ticket to Bali for same or cheaper than going the current rate of Rp 36,000 March 2011. They'll also try to move you past official ticket offices at the entrance gates of the harbour. It may be cheaper, however, you won't get an official ticket, or get only second part of it the first one normally goes to the security on the pier. So, you may end up without a valid ticket and, if some security check happens, may have to pay again and suffer a lot of confusion. Just buy the ticket at the official ticket booth.

By Bemo

You can take a bemo from Mataram to Lembar Harbour. The fare should be about Rp 5,000, more if you are carrying a lot of luggage as it fills up the passenger carrying area, this is normal practice as the bemo's carry both people and goods including produce to the markets..

By ship

There are slow public ferries from Padang Bai Bali every hour. The trip normally takes four hours but it can be considerably longer in poor weather and costs Rp 35,000. This service runs 24 hours a day. It should be understood that this ferry has a poor safety record.

Arriving at Lembar Harbour do not let a porter take your bags unless you have negotiated absolutely what you will pay before he puts his hands on your bags. Best to avoid the service completely if possible as it can be fraught with complications over prices.