Bali is undeniably beautiful, the stunning scenery, unique culture and wonderful people make it one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world.
The island’s popularity does mean that Bali’s main beaches and touristy areas are now very busy, developed and commercial, but there’s still plenty of laidback Bali to explore if you know where to go!
After several trips to Bali, I was looking for somewhere less crowded and more laid back so I got a speedboat just 30 minutes from Sanur on mainland Bali across to the small island paradise of Nusa Lembongan.
Now this was the island life I’d been looking for! I spent a month doing yoga teacher training with All Yoga on Nusa Lembongan and it quickly become my new favorite place in Bali, so I thought I’d explain why I loved it so much and write a mini travel guide to Nusa Lembongan to share my tips if you’re also thinking of visiting.
Why I Loved Nusa Lembongan, Bali
Well, it goes without saying that Nusa Lembongan is a beautiful island, but the main reasons I love Nusa Lembongan is because it’s more like the chilled out, tropical paradise Bali I dreamed off and a far cry from the noisy, developed, traffic clogged, busy streets of places like Kuta.
Previously I’d been disappointed with some of Bali’s beaches but the beaches on Nusa Lembongan are uncrowded, unspoilt and idyllic with soft white sand and the water is a breathtakingly clear and bright turquoise blue and there’s plenty of unique natural beauty spots to explore too.
Add to that the views of majestic Mount Agung on mainland Bali in the distance from Jungut Batu beach, the authentic seaweed farms and unspoilt mangrove forests, the boats bobbing up and down on the turquoise water, and spectacular sunsets that streak the sky with hundreds of colours and you’ve got a really idyllic Bali island escape without the crowds.
Not surprisingly Nusa Lembongan, and along with neighbouring Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida, is becoming ever more popular. The Nusa Islands are now considered some of the best places in Bali, and perhaps even the whole world, for snorkeling with giant manta rays!
More on this later, before you get too excited – I’m going to tell you where this magical island is and how to get there… I’ll keep it quick promise!
Where is Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan is a small, rugged island (just 8 square kilometers in size) just off the southeast coast of mainland Bali. It’s part of a group of 3 islands in the Nusa Penida district. The 3 Nusa Islands include Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida. After exploring all three I think Nusa Lembongan is the best island to base yourself on – you can easily explore all the islands from here.
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are connected by a super cute small yellow bridge so you can cross over (on foot or by bike) and explore tiny Nusa Ceningan too. You’ll need a short boat ride to reach Nusa Penida though, this island is much larger and very undeveloped but it is where you’ll find some of the most stunning natural beauty spots in Bali like the famous Kelingking or T Rex beach. There are many boat trips and tours to Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan.
How to Get to Nusa Lembongan (and get around)
Getting to Nusa Lembongan from Bali is super easy and quick. The only way to get there is via boat, most boats go from Sanur to Jungutbatu and it only takes 30 minutes to make the short crossing.
You can book your boat ticket in advance online at 12goAsia or you can book a return fast boat ticket package which includes hotel pick up in Bali and drop off in Lembongan so you don’t have to worry about getting a taxi to the port.
The best way to get around Nusa Lembongan is to hire a scooter or motorbike which costs about 70k IDR per day. The roads are not as busy as they are in mainland Bali which makes driving around much easier and more fun.
Unlike the rest of Bali, Nusa Lembongan isn’t served by Grab, but you can still get a taxi (motorbike taxis are cheaper and more common) to explore the island – ask your hotel. Joining a tour is also a great way to explore the island’s highlights and make some new travel buddies.
If you don’t feel comfortable riding a scooter then stay in Jungutbatu so you’ll be able to walk to most things – the best beach, cafes and restaurants, shops and most hotels are located within easy walking distance in this area.
The best time to visit Nusa Lembongan is during the dry season from April to October for sunny days, lower humidity and calm seas. The rainy season is from November to April but the Nusa Islands don’t receive as much rain as other parts of Bali although January and February can be very wet.
Things to do in Nusa Lembongan
Even though it’s a small island there’s plenty of things to do in Nusa Lembongan from exploring the island’s beaches to snorkelling, scuba diving, surfing and yoga.
Explore the island
One thing you must do is to hire a bike and explore the island – driving around on a scooter or riding a bicycle through the tropical greenery is still fun here as the traffic isn’t as hectic as it in Bali.
There’s still plenty of lush green nature, secret beaches, mangrove forests, tide pools, blow holes, and unique natural beauty spots to explore like the Devils Tears where you can watch the waves crash dramatically into a rocky outcrop and feel the refreshing spray from the water. It’s a good spot to watch the sunset.
If you want to explore the best beaches then head to Dream Beach, Mushroom Bay and Sandy Bay (note that this beach is kind of private so you’ll need to buy something at Sandy Bay Beach Club to relax here.)
And if you get bored of the beach and want to see a different side to the island you can also explore the mangrove forest – either go kayaking through the mangroves, stand up paddle boarding or take a boat trip. This mangrove tour is very affordable and includes all the different options.
Swim and snorkel with giant manta rays!
One of the most unforgettable experiences you can have in Bali is to swim and snorkel with giant manta rays!
These majestic, graceful and harmless sea creatures are found just off the shore of nearby Nusa Penida at spots like Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Manta Point. You’ll need to join a boat trip to do this which is quicker, easier and cheaper to do from Nusa Lembongan than from mainland Bali.
I took this Manta Ray Snorkeling Trip which takes you out to 3 spots so you have the best chance of seeing, swimming and snorkeling with manta rays. You can also explore coral reefs teeming with colourful fish and often spot sea turtles in the water on a snorkeling trip. The rays are there all year round but the dry season offers the best chance of calmer seas and good visibility.
It was such a surreal and humbling experience watching these gentle giants glide through the water underneath me – I think it’s one of the most magical wildlife experiences you can have in Southeast Asia but the currents can be quite strong so you do need to be a good swimmer.
Surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving and yoga
The island is surrounded by a reef so there’s also great surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving to be had here but you’ll have to go a little out into the sea.
Mangrove Point is the best spot for snorkeling in Nusa Lembongan and if you go on a snorkeling trip you’ll usually go to some spots in Nusa Penida with colourful corals like Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay.
If you want to explore deeper (pun intended!) then Nusa Lembongan is the best base for a dive trip exploring the waters around the Nusa Islands which are some of the best dive spots in Bali with healthy coral reefs and tons of marine life including the chance to see mola mola. And don’t worry if you haven’t dived before there are many dive shops on the island where you can try a Discover Scuba Diving session or get your PADI Open Water certification.
There’s also good surf here although it’s a reef break so it’s more suitable for intermediate surfers. Beginner surfers can join a surf camp to learn the ropes and watching the waves break on the horizon is a meditation in itself.
The island is also becoming a popular place for yoga retreats and yoga teacher training courses. One of my favourite places for drop in yoga classes is Yoga Bliss – they also have a lovely cafe where you can relax with a healthy smoothie or salad after class.
Exploring Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida
Once you’ve explored Nusa Lembongan simply cross over the photogenic, little yellow bridge over to explore tiny Nusa Ceningan – check out the Blue Lagoon, Secret Beach and Mahana Point where you get a great view over the sea and can watch the surfers. There’s also a zip wire across the stunning blue sea near the Blue Lagoon.
And don’t miss a trip to explore Nusa Penida as well. This island used to be a penal colony and is known to locals as the ‘black magic island.’ Nusa Penida is still largely untouched by tourism, apart from the crowds of day trippers that gather at some of Bali’s most instagrammable spots like Kelingking Beach with it’s stunning coast line that looks like a T-Rex.
There are plenty of boats to Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan but once you get there the sights are pretty spread out, the roads are pretty bad and there’s no public transport so I recommend taking a tour. It’s actually quite affordable to take a private Nusa Penida tour from Lembongan this way you have full flexibility to see what you want and avoid the worst of the crowds – the island is quite the instagram hotspot.
There’s also many waterfalls, beaches, viewpoints and places of outstanding and unique natural beauty to discover including Broken Beach, Crystal Bay, Angel’s Billabong, Diamond Beach, an incredibly scenic tree house and the interesting Pura Goa Giri Putri Cave.
There’s loads more to see on Nusa Penida so you might want to spend a few nights there if you have more time. You could even stay in this treehouse which has been made famous by Instagram. It’s a pretty large island and the roads are pretty bad so getting around takes time so it’s worth doing a bit of research into the best places to stay in Nusa Penida before you book.
Where to Stay in Nusa Lembongan
Even though this island may seem small, there is still quite a variety of different beaches and areas to explore, things to do and accommodation options.
The main, and in my opinion, best place to stay in Nusa Lembongan, is Jungut Batu beach. This is basically the main Nusa Lembongan village, it’s where the boats from Bali come in and it’s the area with the best and longest beach strip.
This area has the biggest selection of accommodation and hotels in Nusa Lembongan that will suit all budgets as well as the biggest choice of cafes, beach bars, restaurants and shops located within easy walking distance from each other. Some of my favourite places to eat are Bali Eco Deli, Lemongrass and Ginger and Jamu on the beach.
Jungut Batu beach is also home to the best sunsets on the island and you won’t need to rent a scooter to enjoy this area. It’s simply the most convenient area to stay in with the most facilities. The hillside above the beach also has a good selection of luxury resorts with stunning views and infinity pools overlooking the ocean like Aqua Nusa Villas.
Jungut Batu is a convenient place to stay and has the best beach for swimming although it can get busy with boats so if you’re after a totally laid-back escape head to some of the other beaches. The island is not big so wherever you stay you can still explore easily.
Other good areas to stay in Nusa Lembongan include Mushroom Bay, Sandy Bay, Dream Beach and Tamarind Beach. These are all beautiful beaches but you’ll probably want a scooter to explore if you’re staying in these places unless you just want to relax in your resort.
Mushroom Bay is just a 10-minute scooter ride (or a 20-minute walk) from Jungut Batu and a handful few places to stay including the dreamy Mushroom Beach Bungalows. This is one of the most beautiful beaches on Nusa Lembongan. It’s a gorgeous, super chill, crescent-shaped beach with soft white sand and calm waters.
The Best Hotels in Nusa Lembongan
- Luxury: The Tamarind Resort – The only real 5 star resort on Nusa Lembongan with incredible sea views and a great location.
- Boutique: Aqua Nusa Villas – Luxury private pool vilas with stunning sea views.
- Midrange: Mahagiri Beach Resort – Sprawling 4 star resort right on the beachfront in northern Jungut Batu beach.
- Budget: Mushroom Beach Bungalows – Simple, affordable traditional Balinese style bungalows and a stunning seaview from the infinity pool
- Backpacker: Nyuh Gading Hostel and Home Stay – Super chill, homey and friendly hostel with dorms and private rooms in a great location just steps from the beach and everything you need.
For a small island, there’s a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets. This is just an overview, check out my post on the best places to stay in Nusa Lembongan for more info.
Nusa Lembogan vs The Gili Islands
What I really love about Nusa Lembogan is that there is a still thriving local Balinese culture and life.
I’ve visited the Gili Islands a couple of times and while they make a picture postcard beautiful tropical island escape they are also very small. You can walk around the whole island in about an hour and I would find myself getting a bit bored and having island fever after a few days.
The Gili islands are nearer to Lombok than Bali and so most of the islands local inhabitants are Muslim so I missed the beautiful Hindu architecture, temples, culture and rituals of the Balinese.
In Nusa Lembongan you can still soak up the beautiful Balinese culture, visit the spectacular temples, see the locals dressed in traditional clothing on their way to a temple festival, hear the tinkering sounds of the gamelen in the distance.
I love how the penyor (ornamental bamboo poles) bowed down with garlands of flowers wave in the breeze arching over the roads along with the palm trees and you can smell the incense as you step over the cute canang offerings outside every house and business in the morning.
The Balinese just make everything so beautiful! Every building has a small temple or shrine and most of the guest houses and homestays are beautifully decorated with that unique Balinese spirituality and style. Not to mention the people are some of the friendless and most genuine I ever met.
The Future of Nusa Lembongan
If you’ve got this far then you can see that it’s well worth visiting Nusa Lembongan. So far most development and accommodation is low key but there are still plenty of really affordable and beautiful places to stay in Nusa Lembongan to suit all budgets.
There’s also enough restaurants and warungs serving both Indonesian dishes and food from all over the world to keep your taste buds happy at reasonable prices.
The island still has quite an undeveloped, rustic, local feel and its not yet overrun with tourism so it’s not hard to find reasonably priced homestays and local warung if you’re on a budget. There’s also still shacks with local fishing communities living near the beach and mangroves so there’s still local life here.
I imagine this will change quickly as the island grows in popularity as Bali’s new hot spot, so if you want to experience why Nusa Lembongan is my new favorite place in Bali you had better go soon before everyone else does!
Where’s your favourite place in Bali? Have you been to Nusa Lembongan?
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P.S In case you are wondering where my favourite place in mainland Bali is … it’s Ubud! I love the unique culture and spiritualty even though it gets really busy these days but you can avoid the worst of the crowds if you know where to stay in Ubud!
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[…] island is only 30 mins boat ride away from Sanur (get your boat ticket here) and just might be my new favourite place in Bali. You could visit the smaller Gili Islands instead. but I prefer these islands as there’s more […]