Nusa Lembongan

Understand

Nusa Lembongan is approximately 8 km² in size, and is one of three neighbouring islands, the others being much larger Nusa Penida and tiny Nusa Ceningan (also covered by this article). The three islands are separated from Bali by the Badung Strait. Some visitors may find Nusa Lembongan a little slow after the pace of South Bali. Many areas around the island are good for diving and snorkeling, with abundant marine life and healthy coral. Surfing can get a bit crowded, but the waves are good. There are several white sand beaches away from the main centres which are virtually never crowded. There is a flourishing and well established seaweed farming industry here, and many visitors find it interesting to learn about this.

Orientation Two main beach areas have traditionally attracted visitors. Jungut Batu in the northwest is the bigger of the two, and has myriad hotels and cheap eateries. This is the area which traditionally attracted backpackers and surfers to the island. The white sand beach here is pleasant enough but nothing to get too excited about, and it is a little narrow in places. The hillside to the south of Jungut Batu known as the Bukit (the hill) has been developed and has attracted some higher level hotels and private villas. The views from the Bukit are perhaps second to none on Nusa Lembongan. Sunsets are best viewed along the main Jungut Batu beachfront. Mushroom Bay to the southwest of Jungut Batu is a quaint, attractive and sheltered bay. It is an especially nice spot after 15:00 when the day trippers have returned to Bali, and it has a great white sandy beach, along with some cozy little water-side restaurants. Further south, the lesser known beaches either side of the Devil's Tear outcrop, known as Dream Beach and Sunset Beach (or Sandy Bay), are increasingly drawing more visitors. The coastal landscape in this part of the island is mostly low-lying limestone cliffs, and there are some dramatic cave formations. The north end of the island is fr

Getting there

The only realistic way (although you can charter a helicopter) to reach Nusa Lembongan from Bali is by boat. There are several options according to budget and speed. Scheduled fast boat services leave from Sanur Harbour and Serangan harbour in South Bali, and there are a couple of services to and from Padang Bai in East Bali. As of 2021, there are over 20 different fast boat operators going to Lembongan, making it hard to choose one that is reliable, safe and value for money. Standards vary widely, so some caution is advised. If you want to compare services ahead of time, a simple online search for "Bali to Lembongan" should get you pointed in the right direction. If leaving from Bali, you can simply go directly to a fast boat office of your choice (usually near the departure point) to book. The best places to check live seat availability and get immediate confirmed e-tickets online are 12go.asia (which seems to have the cheapest prices at May 2024, even better than walk-in), Gilibookings.com or the cheaper Gilitickets.com. Sanur port websites direct to 12go to buy tickets. Otherwise you can go direct to one of the fast boat company websites to make reservation inquiries which in some cases takes 24 hr to get confirmation. There are also plenty of local agents selling tickets that you can purchase when there, or you may be able to book with staff from your hotel. If you are coming from Lombok or the Gili islands it may be easier to pre-book online as options are more limited and local fast boat offices less prevalent (excepting perhaps Gili Trawangan). The majority of fast boat services to Lembongan do involve getting your feet wet at boarding and disembarkation, usually up to knees or a bit higher. Also, nearly all offer complementary pick up and drop off services to/from the most popular areas of Bali.

Arrival There are three main arrival locations on Nusa Lembongan:

Jungut Batu beach in the north of the island Mushroom Bay to the west The vicinity of the Ye

Getting around

By foot Nusa Lembongan is a nice place to walk, with coastal paths linking nearly all the guest houses, hotels and restaurants. Most walks will take less than two hours. The less developed southwestern area of the island has some spectacular coast paths which provide easy walking, great views back to Bali, and spectacular sunsets. You can cross by foot to the small neighbouring island of Nusa Ceningan via the cute yellow bridge. From the end of the beach at Jungut Batu it is a 35-min walk along the coast to Mushroom Bay.

By bicycle Bicycles can be rented at some hotels and guest-houses. Some of the roads are quite well surfaced, but be prepared for bad roads at times and there are some steep hills. This is a great way to see the island at your own pace. Expect to pay about Rp 20,000-40,000 per day.

By motorbike Motorbikes are also widely available for rent, but may be unnecessary given the short distances involved — the island is only about 4 km end-to-end. Expect to pay Rp 75,000-150,000 per day, depending on how busy it is. Local boys are more than happy to transport you on the back of their motorbike for a fee. The roads get a minimal amount of maintenance and are generally quite narrow so be extra careful at all times. A ride around the island takes about 40 minutes and some of the less used roads on the east coast are in much better condition than the busy areas. The drive is a relaxing scenic experience but be aware of oncoming traffic in the opposite direction particularly on blind corners

By truck There are virtually no cars on Nusa Lembongan, and any business or local resident wishing to bring one to the island needs special permission from the village elders. This will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Local 4-wheeled transport is available though in the form of basic pick-up trucks which most hotels and restaurants use. These are useful for transport to and from the boat transfer point when you are likely to have heavy bags, but ar

See

The attractions here are mostly natural. The beaches and other coastal landscapes are obviously a key draw, as are the sunsets. There are a limited number of man-made attractions, most notably temples and the rickety suspension bridge.

Beaches 1 Dream Beach. A wonderful secluded small beach with powdery, white sand, located on the south coast. From the main accommodation areas on the west coast, head southeast towards Lembongan Village where you should turn west, and then look for the signposted small track leading south to Dream Beach. There is a cafe attached to the single resort here, and this makes Dream Beach a great place to spend the whole day doing nothing. Be very careful though about entering the water here as the rips can be fierce. Only the strongest swimmers should consider this and even then, avoid the eastern end of the beach. Free. (updated Jun 2024) 2 Sandy Bay (Sunset Beach) (Small entrance by north, right of sandy beach club and looking like a scooters parking. Ne