Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, the three islands east of Bali, are a must-see destination when you go to Bali. With their pristine beaches, crystal clear waters, beautiful underwater world and spectacular landscapes, the islands are a unique destination for travelers looking for adventure, relaxation and beautiful photo spots.
In this blog you will find the ultimate itinerary to get the most out of your visit to these 3 islands in 5 days. I have taken into account a bit of relaxing here and there, of course you are and always will be on vacation.
Day 1. Travel to Nusa Lembongan: Dream Beach & Devil's Tears
On day number one you will have to take a boat from the mainland towards 1 of the 3 islands. I myself started on Nusa Lembongan, an island known for its beautiful beaches, colorful coral reefs and laid-back island life. The island is located about 30 minutes from Sanur harbor. There are boats leaving several times a day from different companies.
If you come by scooter you can park it at Sanur harbor for a fee. I personally did not have to pay, as I could leave the scooter in front of the office at Dream Beach Express free of charge. The trip takes about 30 minutes and a one-way ride on the Dream Beach Express Speedboat cost me 175,000 (€11.50).
Arrival on Nusa Lembongan
Once you arrive on Nusa Lembongan, you will be greeted by the island's calm and relaxed atmosphere. There are also some "cab, cab" and "motorcycle, motorcycle" hustlers eager to help you out. Renting a scooter costs about IDR 80,000 (€5.30), where you can 'just' park it at a pre-arranged spot when you return it. By the way, a scooter is the most convenient way to explore Nusa Lembongan.
Visit Dream Beach & Devil’s Tears
If you take a boat around noon, you have the rest of the day on Nusa Lembongan to relax at Dream Beach and enjoy the sunset at Devil's Tears in the evening. The clear turquoise waters of Dream Beach are perfect for a refreshing swim and the white sandy beaches are great for sunbathing.
The Devil's Tears: both a beloved and feared one on Nusa Lembongan. It is a part of the coast where, at high tide, the waves pound against the rocks, which send water and spray high into the air. The sound alone of the pounding is sometimes deafening and can sound like thunderclaps. Due to its westerly direction, Devil's Tears is a beautiful place to enjoy the sunset.
- Accommodation on Nusa Lembongan: Dream Beach Hostel (9/10)!
- Restaurant tip: Near Dream Beach and almost opposite the hostel where I stayed light Dhipa Warung. After a day of island exploration, a good plate of Mie Goreng is not out of place, and for that you are definitely in the right place at this Warung.
Day 2. Panoramic views & Nusa Ceningan sightseeing.
In the morning, you can tick off the last sights of Nusa Lembongan. Enjoy the view from Panorama Point, where you will have the best view of the island. From here you will see Bali's Mount Agung towering high above all the landscape, among other things, but you will also see seaweed farms in the water.
Nusa Ceningan: Yellow Bridge
Then head towards the Yellow Bridge to cross over to Nusa Ceningan. 2 islands for the price of 1, what a luxury! Indeed, the famous yellow bridge connects Nusa Lembongan with neighboring Nusa Ceningan.
The area around the yellow bridge that connects the island with Nusa Lembongan looks a bit like an average postcard. Beautiful water with countless boats, the bridge as an eye-catcher and a beautiful green landscape around it. If you have a drone you can capture some beautiful images here!
What to do in Nusa Ceningan
On Nusa Ceningan, you can:
- Visit Blue Lagoon
- Relax on Secret Beach &
- Visit Mahana Point.
Blue Lagoon
The name Blue Lagoon largely gives it away: with the turquoise water and the waves crashing against the rocks, it is somewhat similar to Devil's Tears on Nusa Lembongan. Swimming is absolutely not possible here either, when you see the power of the waves you will quickly understand why. From the viewpoint you look out over the ocean and the beach below.
Secret Beach
Secret Beach is the most popular beach on Nusa Ceningan. A pearly white sand beach with crystal clear waters and beautiful ocean views. A perfect place to swim or just relax on the beach.
Mahana Point
Mahana Point, known for its adrenaline-pumping cliff dives and stunning ocean views. This is where daredevils come to throw themselves into strong currents under the heading of cliff jumping. Those less fond of such adrenaline activity will stick to watching while enjoying a drink. Near Mahana Point you also have a good view of both Nusa Lembongan and Bali, aka the "three islands viewpoint. If you have a drone you can really see how close together the islands are.
Basically, you've seen most of both islands now, so you could take the ferry to Nusa Penida in the afternoon. 'Only' 1 night on Nusa Lembongan might feel like not much, but you could use an extra morning on Nusa Penida just fine.
Day 3. Nusa Penida
Prefer an extra night on Nusa Lembongan? Then you will take the Ferry (preferably early) in the morning towards Nusa Penida. If there is anything that makes my heart beat faster it is a volcanic island with a jagged coastline. Nusa Penida is a perfect example of this! The island is famous for its spectacular beaches, cliffs and viewpoints that offer breathtaking ocean views.
At the Yellow Bridge (on the Nusa Lembongan side) you can buy a ticket for the public ferry to Nusa Penida. As soon as the boat is well filled it will leave, so you may have to wait for about 15 minutes. A ticket for this public ferry cost me 50,000 Rupiah (€3.25).
Visit the famous T-Rex Beach on Nusa Penida
Use the morning/afternoon to go to the famous T-Rex Beach. If you want to go down towards the beach you will need to reserve at least a few hours of your day. Good to know before your visit to Kelingking Beach:
- Prepare for a steep descent: To get to the beach, you will have to make a very steep descent of about 30-45 minutes. The path is narrow and can be quite steep in places, so be sure to wear good shoes.
- Be careful when swimming: Although the water looks crystal clear, the currents here can be quite strong and there is sometimes a strong undertow. Be careful when swimming and always stay near the shore.
- Bring plenty of water: It can get pretty hot during the descent and ascent, so make sure you bring plenty of water to stay hydrated. A banana or granola bar for some extra energy certainly won't hurt either.
- Take plenty of time: Getting to Kelingking Beach can be quite an adventure, so take plenty of time to enjoy the view and relax on the beach. Don't forget to also make time for the climb back up, since you don't want to climb up in the dark.
To get another great view of the T-Rex after your visit to Kelingking Beach, you can go to the adjacent Paluang Cliff. It is only a 5-minute drive from Kelingking and is a great alternative spot with a view of the Kelingking T-rex from the other side, without the crowds. At Paluang Cliff are swings and photo platforms, plus a Balinese temple with a quirky car temple, also known as the "car temple" of Nusa Penida.
Another beach to end the day with!
On the way back, you could visit Broken Beach, a natural rock arch and a particularly shaped bay with clear blue water. You can walk around the bay to explore Broken Beach from every angle. From one side you can see the arch, from the other side you can see the beach at its most beautiful.
- Accommodation on Nusa Penida: Nuansa Penida Hostel (9.5/10!).
- Restaurant tip: Near my hostel was Warung Tanah Barak, where you get a good plate of Indonesian food!
Day 4. Viewpoints and beaches
Day 4 is dedicated to some viewpoints and 2 beautiful beaches. It may seem a bit much, but you can basically split the list into 2 parts of the day; since the sights in question are close to each other.
Morning: Getting up early to see the sunrise in a unique place?
1000 Islands Viewpoint
The 1000 Islands Viewpoint is known for the Lamphu Treehouse, one of the most photogenic spots on Nusa Penida. Even without visiting this treehouse, you can absolutely get a great view from the 1000 Islands Viewpoint. The viewpoint gives you a great view of the coastline and the many small islands off the coast; including the diamond-shaped rock that flaunts above the water at Diamond Beach.
Diamond Beach
Just 1KM from the 1000 Islands Viewpoint you will find the starting point for the hike down towards Diamond Beach. From the 1000 Islands Viewpoint, you can see the spectacular beach, which gets its name from the diamond-shaped rock that flaunts in the water just offshore. It has been accessible since late 2018, when a path to the beach was carved into the side of the cliffs.
To get there, you have to love a hike, as you will have to navigate about 15 minutes down the steps (carved out of the rock face). You have to make a few sharp turns, which requires good coordination, as well as a short section where you have to hold yourself up on a rope.
Atuh Beach
Next to Diamond Beach you will find a quieter beach: Atuh Beach. Before you take the walk down to Diamond Beach, you can walk a short distance and then take the stairs to Atuh Beach. These stairs are in great condition and the trip down takes about 5-10 minutes.
Once down, you will find breathtaking views of the turquoise waters and high cliffs. The beach itself is surrounded by two uninhabited Nusa Islands: Nusa Batuabah and Nusa Batupadasan. Together with the crystal clear waters, this produces beautiful pictures.
Afternoon
From the parking lot at Diamond Beach it is about 11 KM (30 minutes) drive towards Teletubbies Hills. With a creative imagination you can perfectly imagine why people named this viewpoint after the hills from the popular children's series. Should you not go during the rainy season (November - April) chances are that the hills are not as green, so then the visit may not be worthwhile.
The last sight of the day is the Manta Point viewpoint. This is about 13 KM from Teletubbies Hills (35 minutes) and is the ideal place to end this active day. Manta Point is not only the most popular place to swim with manta rays, but is also a fantastic viewpoint.
You don't pay an entrance fee to visit Manta Point, but there are some local vendors present who are only too happy to sell you a coconut. They are very friendly and will have a short chat with you, obviously hoping you will buy something from them sooner.
Should it not be the right season to visit Teletubbies Hills, you could go to Banah Cliff Point, for example, for a panoramic view of Nusa Penida's coastline. You could then also skip Manta Point and go to Tembeling Beach and Forest.
Day 5. Snorkeling or diving
A visit to Nusa Penida is not complete without getting acquainted with the underwater world! Nusa Penida is known for both beautiful coral and tropical fish, as well as larger fish such as the Mola Mola (best chance between July-October) and the well-known manta rays (best chance between November-April).
If you have your own Open Water Diving certification, you can do a fundive with one of the diving schools. This will give you the best chance to swim with the Mola Mola and manta rays, since they don't always get high enough for snorkeling. A two fundive does cost about €90.00. A snorkeling tour, on the other hand, is a lot more accessible and costs about €15.00.
How to book?
If you drive by the harbor you will see numerous dive schools advertising diving / snorkeling to Manta Point. I myself did a Fundive with Blue Corner Nusa Penida, absolutely recommended! Professional instructors who make you feel comfortable underwater.
The boat ride from the port of Nusa Penida to Manta Point takes about 35 minutes, during which you pass the T-Rex Beach, among other things. Nice to see this beautiful beach from a different perspective too!
Back to the mainland
After diving / snorkeling your visit to the 3 Nusa Islands is over and it is time to return to the mainland. You can buy a boat ticket in the harbor at one of the boat companies, but you can also do this in advance at your hotel. From Toya Pakeh Harbor, plenty of boats leave for Sanur Harbor, where you will pay about €10.00 for a 35-minute boat ride.
Once on the mainland, you can travel on to:
- Ubud: 45 minutes from Sanur port
- Sidemen: 1 hour and 15 minutes from Sanur harbor
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