eSIM for Lombok and the Gili Islands

Lombok and the Gili Islands: what to know before you go

Boats from Bali

Fast boats to the Gilis leave from several ports in Bali, including Padang Bai, Serangan and Sanur, and the crossing takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. Tickets sell out in busy weeks, so book ahead and keep the e-ticket on your phone.

No motor vehicles

Gili Trawangan has no cars or motorbikes, so people walk, cycle or take a horse-drawn cart. Save your hotel's location offline, because you find it on foot.

Mount Rinjani

Trekking Rinjani needs a permit booked ahead in an official online system, and most people go with a licensed trekking company that handles it. The trek takes several days with camps at the crater rim and by the lake, so do not count on signal, and carry a power bank.

South Lombok

The south coast around Kuta Lombok is the base for the surf and the beaches, a short drive from Lombok's airport. Download the map before heading out to quieter beaches along the coast.

From the airport to the Gili boats

Bangsal harbour on the north-west coast is the port for the Gilis, and from Lombok's airport it is about an hour and a half by car. Fast boats from Bali go straight to the Gilis instead.

How much data you need

A week of maps, ferries and photos takes about 3 to 4 GB. The Rinjani days add little, because you are offline.

Written 24 October 2026. Opening rules, fees, prices at attractions and event dates change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

Lombok and the Gili Islands: when people go

January to March 2027: Rinjani trails closed

The national park usually closes the main Rinjani routes from January to March because of the weather and to let the mountain recover, and reopens around 1 April. Plan trekking for April onwards and check the status in the official booking system.

July and August 2027: the busiest weeks

Fast boats and rooms on the Gilis book out in the peak weeks of July and August and around holidays, and operators suggest booking at least three weeks ahead. Keep the e-tickets saved offline.

Indonesia eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

10 plans, from $2.49 (1 GB, 7 days) to $23.99 (50 GB, 30 days). Networks: Indosat 5G, Telkomsel 5G, and XL 4G.

Network

Indosat 5G, Telkomsel 5G, XL 4G

Top-up

Yes, from the app, on the same eSIM

Validity starts

At the first connection at your destination

Install by

Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires

Your number

Stays active, plans are data only

Hotspot

Uses the same plan data, no separate charge

After the daily allowance

Day passes slow down to 1 Mbps

Updated October 29, 2026

Questions about Lombok and the Gili Islands

Do I need data to book the Rinjani permit?

The permit is booked online before the trek, usually through the trekking company, and daily quotas apply. Do it at home with a steady connection, then save the confirmation, because there is no signal to count on during the climb.

How do I get from Lombok airport to the Gili boats?

Bangsal harbour on the north-west coast is the port for the Gilis, and from the airport it is about an hour and a half by car. Fast boats from Bali go straight to the Gilis instead.

How much does an eSIM for Lombok and the Gili Islands cost?

Lombok and the Gili Islands uses the Indonesia plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. Plans start at $2.49 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 10 plans, from 1 GB to 50 GB, plus unlimited day passes.

Does the Indonesia eSIM work in Bali?

Yes. Bali is part of Indonesia, so the Indonesia plans work there, on Indosat, Telkomsel, and XL. There is no separate plan for Bali.

Do I need a local SIM card in Lombok and the Gili Islands?

No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.

How is it different from roaming in Lombok and the Gili Islands?

With roaming, your own carrier bills the data you use abroad, usually by the day or by the megabyte, at the prices of your plan. The eSIM is prepaid: you know the cost before you leave and nothing is added later. Keep data roaming off on your usual line, so it cannot charge you.

Which networks does the Lombok and the Gili Islands eSIM use?

Wigoo connects to Indosat, Telkomsel, and XL, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.

Can I add more data?

Yes. You top up the same eSIM from the app, without installing a new one.

Do I keep my phone number?

Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.

When do the validity days start?

Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.

How long do I have to install the eSIM?

An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order, on the site and in the app, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Wigoo does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.

What happens when the data runs out?

Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the app. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (1 Mbps) until the next day.

When should I install the eSIM?

Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Wigoo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.