Located in the south east of the main Island of Bali, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan Islands are a completely different world compared to the busy, touristy and overpriced main island, Bali. If you want a more peaceful place instead of Bali’s popular beaches, you should visit this two beautiful islands.
We spent 5 days on these two beautiful islands. Getting there was not easy at all but it totally worth the effort. Located at 20 minutes with a boat from Bali Island,
All you need to know about how to plan your trip to Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan. The only way to travel to Nusa Lembongan is by boat, except the case you arrive with a helicopter.
From where to buy tickets and which company to choose?
Buy your tickets from a local agent in Bali, they are everywhere on the street.
To get to Nusa Lembongan you have to take a boat from Sanur to Jungut Batu Harbour, but if you choose to buy it from a local agency they will offer you pick-up service.
Tip! Don’t buy your tickets in advance on internet, usually they are more expensive.
Tip! The agents will try to sell you tickets at Scoot company, but in my opinion is better that you read the company’s review before on Tripadvisor, because some of them have hundred of terrible reviews regarding safety. We choose to travel with D’Camel. Other options are: Scoot Fast Cruise, Rocky Fast Cruise.
In Seminyak we have found a local tourist agent. He arranged everything for us taking our demands in consideration but at a decent price. We totally recommend him. The price is about 600 000 IDR for two persons with return tickets, pick-up and drop-off service on both islands. When we booked our tickets we paid the entire amount of money and we give him all the details about our accommodation to pick us up and to drop us off on the island. Everything worked perfectly.
Another big problem is how to get around on Nusa Lembongan Island. It depends on where you stay on the island.
In my opinion is not a good option. With the stiff hills you will be tired after 200m.
The most convenient way to travel across the island, but pay attention at the roads and wear a helmet. Renting a scooter for 2-3 day it might costs you around 200.000 IDR which is really good price.
The most easiest way but also expensive even if you negotiate. Around 200.000 IDR one way drive that takes no more than 15 minutes.
Tip! Rent a scooter from the people that are waiting near the harbor and then try to explore the island in this way. Generally the roads are good, except small parts near the main touristic points.
Tip! If you want reach Nusa Ceningan from Nusa Lembongan, all you need to do is to cross Yellow Bridge. Almost everyone is crossing this bridge by scooter. In this way you can also explore Nusa Ceningan in a short time.
Our recommendation for Nusa Lembongan are:
Bunga Bungalow Restaurant – located near Jungutbatu port, this place serves really good indonesian and international food. Normally, when we are in a new place we try the local food, but after two weeks of Nasi Goreng we wanted to change something. The prices are normal here, a bit less expensive than in Bali. Actually if you take in consideration that everything here comes with a boat, the prices are really good.
Bali Eco Deli – with really good reviews on Tripadvisor, this local situated also in Jungutbatu area was for us a disappointment. Recommended as the place with best internet on the island, this vegan eco-friendly restaurant offered us no functional outlets to charge the laptop, really slow internet, good food but in small portions and the prices a bit expensive.
Le Nusa Beach Club – located in front of the ocean, with pool and restaurant, this is the perfect place to relax.
Tip! Even if the beach here looks great, a lot of boats come and leave all the time, being almost impossible to swim or just to rest on the beach. Also the sun doesn’t help, is way too powerful. If you decide to have lunch and to drink something here, you can use the long chair and the pool.
Kenya Coffee – situated in Jungut Batu area, right in the front of the ocean, serving good coffee and tasty food, this restaurant was the perfect place to watch the sunset. From here, when the weather is clear, you can see the beautiful Mount Agung, now an active volcano.
Sandy Bay Beach Club – located near famous Dream Beach, this restaurant and pool offers an amazing view on Devil’s Tear. The food is great but a bit expensive.
Tip! If you want to eat here, you can also enjoy using the pool.
Sea Breeze Restaurant – Located on Nusa Ceningan Island we totally recommend it.
Because it is near Yellow Bridge can be a good stop point while traveling between the two islands, this restaurant is the perfect place not only to eat, but also to relax a few hours, take some pictures and simply watch how the level of water is getting high.
Tip! Try the smoothie bowls, the best breakfast ever!
Our choice for this island wasn’t the best one from this vacation. Although on booking.com and the picture were nice, the reviews ok, the reality has been a bit different. Only good thing about Pantai Bungalow was the location.
Tip! On Lembongan Island you can choose your accommodation in Jungut Batu Area, where you are close to the main harbour and to a lot of restaurants or you can choose to stay on the other part of the hill, near Mushroom Bay or Dream Beach, which is close to the main interesting points in Lembongan and easier to get to Yellow Bridge and Nusa Ceningan.
Devil’s Tear
Definitely my favorite place on Nusa Lembongan Island, Devil’s Tear could be an intimidating natural spot. At high tides the waves hit the shaped rocks with so much power, that the water is instantly transforming intro vapors. When you stay on the Sandy Bay Beach longer than half an hour, you can feel the salty air on your lips and in your hair. Watching from above this landscape is dramatic.
Tip! If you go at low tides it may not seem dangerous but the waves can suddenly become more powerful and can hurt you. Being there we heard so many sad stories.
Tip! Stay on Sandy Bay Beach also called Sunny Beach and enjoy this show from the distance. Is less dangerous and even the landscape is more beautiful.
Dream Beach
Specific for Nusa Lembongan Island are there marvelous white sand beaches with an incredible view. On Nusa Lembongan you can take so many pictures just perfect for you Instagram account. But the problems appear you want to stay in the beach, read a book or just when you want to go swimming. Because of the really powerful sun and of the big waves it can become unpleasant to go for it because you will not find any shade and in the water you will see a lot of rocks.
Tip! Order a natural juice or a young coconut and simply enjoy this amazing view from the bar.
Tip! Here you will find a beautiful swing that will make your photos ready for Instagram.
Mangrove Forest
Located on the north part of the island, Mangrove Forest is an amazing place even if you see it only from above.
Tip! Stop to Panorama Restaurant or Panorama Point and enjoy this perfect view. If you are lucky and the weather is good in the background will appear the impressive Mount Agung an active volcano, than on the left is the ocean with amazing turquoise shades and on the right Mangrove Forest and Jungut Batu area.
Mushroom Bay Beach
A really crowded area, mushroom Bay Beach offers also a stunning view. Being also an important harbour, this beach is too crowded. A lot of boats are coming with tourists here only for a few hours and then leave.
Tip! If you want to avoid the crowds, come here before 9 o’clock. We chose to spent our time at Le Nusa Bar. It has long chairs with shade, a pool where you can take a bath and still having this beautiful view.
Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay or Sunny Beach is located near Devil’s Tears. The beach here is amazing and the view breathtaking. I was fascinated by the view, how the waves are hitting the sharp rocks. If the waves are too big and you can not take a bath in the ocean, you can stay at Sandy Bay Beach resort, order a drink and something to eat and use the pool.
Tip! Chose a table right in the front row, from here you can feel the ocean breeze and admire the view while you are eating.
Jungut Batu Beach
In this area arrive all the boats from Bali, full with tourists or with goods. At low tides the beach is quite big, with white sand and in some parts not to crowded. On this part of the island you will find a lot of accommodation units, from cheap to super expensive ones. Also a lot of restaurants and bars are located here, so you have a lot of choices. After sunset, around 6 o’clock it becomes very dark on the streets because they don’t have public illumination and the only bars that are open after 8 are on the hill in Jungut Batu area.
Tip! Chose a restaurant from this area to serve your early dinner and I can guarantee that will be one of the most amazing sunset views in your life. Unfortunately the photos can not surprise entirely how beautiful it is.
Sea Breeze Ceningan
A beautiful restaurant in Nusa Ceningan, Sea Breeze offers more than something to eat. Made as a resort, here you can stay a few hours, use the swing or the lovely hammocks, where the water is under them. Here you can take some beautiful pictures, because everything is built as the perfect decor. From here you can see how the tides work and depending on the time of your visit how the level of water between these two island gets high or gets low.
Tip! Order a smoothie bowl. The best dessert that I ever ate and also very healthy.
Yellow Bridge
This bridge connects Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. Also from here you can take the boat to Nusa Penida island. It was recently rebuilt and reopened after an unfortunate event when the bridge collapsed. You can cross it on scooter or just walk.
