How to Get Here
Travelling Direct to Silverdog with your own Transport
If you choose to travel direct to Silverdog, using pre arranged transport, PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON GOOGLE MAPS. GOOGLE MAP will send you in the WRONG DIRECTION!! We have repeatedly asked GOOGLE to resolve this issue. They have not done it.
We ask that you contact us via Whats Ap on +61 419315754 when you arrive in Maluk. Please go direct to the BNI Bank in the main street. We will arrange for a staff member to meet you there and they will take you to Silverdog.
Fly direct to Lombok from Bali and catch the Fast Ferry:
There are daily flights from Denpasar/Bali airport, Ngurah Rai to Lombok International airport, Banda Udara. The flight takes about 40 minutes. Three carriers provide flights to Lombok from Bali; Wings, Lion and Garuda. While Garuda is the most expensive, it is certainly the most reliable and they will not charge extra for surf boards. Flights range from 400,000 rupiah to 550,000 rupiah depending on who you fly with.
The Fast Ferry leaves from Kayangan ferry port. The ferry port is a two hour drive from the airport. Please email us if you would like us to arrange a driver to collect you from the air port. The cost is 400,000 rupiah. This is paid by you directly to the driver.
The ferry leaves at 4pm the cost is 135,000 rupiah per person. The trip takes about two hours, the fast ferry is normally on time and we recommend you reserve your seat. You will dock at Benete Harbour, Sumbawa. Silverdog is about 15 minutes away and we can collect you from the terminal. Please email us to arrange a pick up. The cost of transport from Benete Harbour to Silverdog is 150,000 rupiah. This fee is payable directly to the driver.
Car/Bike/Slow Ferry from Bali:
The car/bike/slow ferry combo can be fun, it can also be a bit of a mission!
From the time you leave Bali and reach Silverdog you would have spent about 14 and a half hours on the road and on the ferries. Here is the breakdown:
Ride/drive from Denpasar to Padang Bai Ferry Terminal: Approx three hours.
Ferry to Lembar Port, Lombok: Approx five hours.
Ride/drive from Lembar Port to Kayanagan Port Lombok: Approx three hours.
Ferry to Poto Tano Port, Sumbawa: Approx two hours.
Poto Tano ride/drive to Maluk: Approx one and a half hours.
The times above are all approximates for a reason, stuff happens – see the pro’s and con’s of the ride/drive/ferry combo below.
Pro’s
The big advantage is you will have your car or bike with you. Car’s are difficult to come by in Sumbawa, so if you are not keen on bikes or scooters you won’t have the drama of trying to arrange a car.
If you are new to Indonesia you will get to see the sights, parts of the ride are really pretty and the ferry trip can provide some great photo opportunities as well.
You will meet plenty of locals and other travellers.
It is, as they say, all about the journey and not the destination, in terms of the “Indo experience” the combo is worth doing, at least once.
Con’s
The slow ferries run every hour but, they are not always on time and things can slow down considerably when big swells hit, this makes docking difficult and this means you will wait for as long as it takes to dock safely.
Day time traffic particularly across Lombok, can be, putting it mildly, testing.
Leaving Bali at night makes for a quicker trip as there is less traffic however, travel at night has it’s own dangers, including, unexpected road works, truck accidents and livestock wandering across the road. Personal safety and theft are also considerations – there can be some shady crew around at night. If you are thinking of leaving at night a car is the best option unless you’re an experienced rider.
Fly to Sumbawa Besar:
Guest’s can also fly to Sumbawa Besar, via connecting flights through Lombok. It’s then a three hour drive to Maluk. We can arrange transport for you. The cost is 1 million rupiah and this fee is payable direct to the driver.
The Bus:
The other option is the bus. If you are considering catching the bus, leave yourself plenty of time, the bus timetable is kinda, well, “fluid.” Buses are not always reliable and their departure time is governed by when they are full!