Nusa Lembongan

Welcome to Nusa Lembongan, one of the 3 inhabited Nusa Islands southeast of Bali. This island is known for its beautiful beaches, colorful coral reefs and relaxed island life. What you can do there and how you can visit a second island immediately without an extra boat you can read in this blog.

The journey to Nusa Lembongan

Several times a day boats from different companies leave from Sanur harbor. If you come by scooter you can park it at the port for a fee. I myself 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).

Comparing this price with the offer on 12GoAsia, I may have paid a bit more, but I was able to park my scooter "free of charge.

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.

Update 04-2023:
Hearing from some Balinese and news articles, it seems Bali wants to ban scooter rentals for tourists. This would be very unfortunate for those who like to explore the island by scooter, because for me it was the easiest way to explore the island. Before you leave for Bali, check carefully what rules apply so that you will not be faced with (unpleasant) surprises.

• Dream Beach

Dream Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Nusa Lembongan. The clear turquoise water is perfect for a refreshing swim and the white sandy beaches are great for sunbathing. When the tide comes in, it is better to keep some distance from the water, as it comes up the beach quite a bit. In addition, the occasional litter comes out of the water, which may make the beach feel less "paradisiacal" to you.

There are also some local restaurants and bars where you can enjoy a refreshing drink or a delicious meal. Furthermore, you will find a swing, a popular place to take photos with the beach in the background!

• Devil’s Tears

The Devil's Tear: both loved and feared on Nusa Lembongan. The Devil's Tear is basically a part of the coast where many large waves hit. At high tide, the waves hit the rocks and spray water and mist high into the air. The sound alone of the beating is sometimes deafening and can sound like thunderclaps.

Heading west, Devil's Tears is a wonderful place to enjoy the sunset. Should it be too crowded at Devil's Tears, you can walk a short distance toward Sunset Point. Chances are it's a lot quieter here, while not even sacrificing the view.

Of course, the name Devil's Tear already gives a lot away, so you would assume that most people are careful. That's true, but unfortunately there have been situations where people have been a little less careful resulting in a fatality. So pay close attention to the distance you keep from the edge. A surprise wave can pop up just like that, with all the possible consequences.

• Entrance fee: IDR 25.000 (€ 1,60)

• Panorama Point

Bali's largest volcano, Mount Agung, on the east of the island is very visible from Nusa Lembongan. This eye-catcher towers high above everything and creates a dramatic backdrop at Panorama Point. Here you are treated to undoubtedly the most beautiful view on the entire island.

I was so excited when taking drone footage at this viewpoint that I only took a photo from Bird's Eye perspective. So in the context of managing expectations (which is always smart in Bali), you'll have to take this photo with a proverbial grain of salt if you don't have a drone; apologies!

• Seaweed farms

From the shore, you can already see (and smell) them pretty well: the seaweed farms located in the water. With my drone, I was able to capture the structure and surroundings just a bit better! Also nice to learn more about these farms, as the story behind them is quite interesting. Much respect to these farmers!

Within a month, two crops are planted so that farmers harvest every 15 days. Depending on the size of each farmer's field, the harvesting process can take up to 10 days, as it usually occurs in the morning at low tide. However, if the tides fall in the middle of the night, farmers will spend midnight hours with head lamps. It is a labor-intensive activity and not for the faint-hearted, as farmers are constantly exposed to the elements and weather.

After drying, the farmers collect the seaweed to sell to a "seaweed collector." The "seaweed collectors" live on Lembongan and then transport it to Nusa Penida, where it is sold to export dealers for use in cosmetics. Typically, the farmers can produce 400 kg of dry seaweed per month, which currently sells for IDR 12,000/kg (€0.80).

• Snorkeling & diving

Many diving schools go to the neighboring island of Nusa Penida for diving, as it is only a 30-minute boat ride away. Some wonderful places to dive or snorkel from Nusa Lembongan are:

Taking a dive at Manta Point is unique just because of the beautiful surroundings in which the Manta rays swim!

1. Manta Point: As the name suggests, this is the place to see manta rays. This is one of the most famous diving and snorkeling spots and a must-visit for anyone who wants to swim with these impressive rays.
2. Crystal Bay: A quiet bay known for its crystal clear waters and colorful coral reefs. Here you can see a variety of marine life, including tropical fish, moray eels and sea turtles.
3. Mangrove Point: A popular snorkeling spot because of its shallow water, Mangrove Point is close to the mangrove forest and offers the chance to see a variety of small fish, as well as octopus and starfish.
4. Blue Corner: This dive site has one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in Nusa Lembongan. Here you will find a mix of colorful corals, fish and larger animals such as barracudas, (with any luck) sharks and manta rays.

• Island hopping!

2 islands for the price of 1, what a luxury! Indeed, the famous yellow bridge connects Nusa Lembongan with neighboring Nusa Ceningan. Since both islands are relatively small, it is thus very easy to explore both islands with a scooter.

Read more about the smaller neighbouring island of Nusa Ceningan!

• Enjoy a local dish at the Dhipa Warung

Close to Dream Beach and almost opposite the hostel where I stayed light Dhipa Warung. After a day of island hopping, a good plate of Mie Goreng is not amiss, and for that you are definitely in the right place at this Warung.

Curious about the other 2 Nusa Islands?

Read more about Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Penida in my 5-day itinerary for the three Nusa Islands!

How many nights in Nusa Lembongan?

I myself had a fairly tight travel schedule, so I only allowed myself 1 night on Nusa Lembongan. That way I could see everything in an afternoon/evening and full morning. If you want to relax a bit more and also go diving or snorkeling, 2-3 nights are definitely enough.

From Nusa Lembongan you can go to:

• Ubud: 30 minutes on the ferry and 45 minutes from Sanur harbor
• Uluwatu: 30 minutes on the ferry and 45 minutes from Sanur harbor
• Sidemen: 30 minutes on the ferry and 1 hour and 15 minutes from Sanur harbor