The Nusa Islands, Indonesia in just 4 days – a full itinerary
The Nusa Islands – three tiny islands located Southeast from Bali in Indonesia. Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan – each island is unique in its own special way. Crystal clear water, beautiful beaches, deep palm forests and a place to fall in love with. The Nusa Islands can best be explored in one trip from Bali. But what is the best Nusa Islands itinerary for travellers?
This itinerary is best for a 4-day trip to the Nusa Islands. This route over the Nusa Islands includes all the highlights and a few secret spots which you should not miss out.
Travelling to the Nusa Islands from Bali
From Bali, you can easily reach the three islands by speed boat. To reach the Nusa Islands, this is probably the most popular route. Of course, there are also boats arriving from the Gili Islands or Lombok, but the shortest and most comfortable journey is to go from Bali.
The boat will leave from Sanur Harbor on Bali´s East coast. You can either book your ticket in advance or on arrival, which is highly recommended. There are different agencies selling the tickets in basic huts directly at the beach. Depending on when you arrive, you might need to wait for an hour until the next boat is ready to leave. Make sure to check the time tables in advance.
If you book a private boat, you can even leave to the Nusa Islands from Uluwatu, or rather from Nusa Dua.
Your first stop on the Nusa Islands itinerary is Nusa Penida, the biggest of the three islands. It is best if you take an early ferry around 9 AM to get the most of your first day.
Depending on how wild or calm the ocean is on that day, you will reach the small harbor of Nusa Penida in 30 to 40 minutes. “Harbor” might actually be a bit of an overstatement; as it is more like a single jetty.
First stop on the itinerary: Nusa Penida
How long to stay on the island: 2 nights (at least)
Where to stay: most of the hotels, homestays and restaurants are located in the North of the Island along the main road. To be close to the center, you should book an accommodation in the area.
Arriving on Nusa Penida, you will need a pick-up from the harbor. Most of the accommodation offers a pick-up service for the guests, which you should definitely book prior to your arrival. Some of them are for free and others will cost you a few euros. As there is barely no other way to reach your accommodation, it is the best and only choice.
As tourism is the number one priority on the island and the locals are very welcoming, you won´t have to wait long until you get picked up.
But what´s next?
After you have checked in, it is time to explore the island. The best way to do so is to hire your own scooter. Even though, you might have heard some horror stories on driving a scooter on Nusa Penida, this is the best way to experience the island. The roads have become much better and if you avoid some remote places, you will not have any problems. Of course, you always need to drive carefully though!
You can always hire a scooter with your hotel or guest house. They either have their own rentals or can organize you a vehicle in a short amount of time. They should normally cost between 60 and 90 k Rupiah per day.
What to do on Nusa Penida
Day 1:
- Visit the Diamond Beach
- Visit the Atuh Beach
- Enjoy the sunset in the Crystal Bay
Nusa Penida is all about beautiful beaches with incredible views. One of the most popular beaches on the island is the Diamond Beach. For some travellers, this is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Asia. The ideal spot to visit on your first day!
Directly next to the Diamond Beach, you will find the Atuh Beach. As swimming is not allowed (or at least not recommended) on Diamond Beach, you can go for a dip to the neighbor beach and as well enjoy a delicious lunch at the beach.
Probably the best beach to enjoy a beautiful sunset is the Crystal Bay. A small bay located in the middle of an impressive palm tree forest. Crystal Bay can be quite busy, especially shortly before the sun sets, but it still is worth the visit.
And of course, do not forget to end your first day with a delicious meal and a drink in one of the bars and restaurants.
Day 2:
- Visit the Kelingking Beach
- Explore the Seganing Waterfall
Of course, you could never travel to Nusa Penida without visiting the famous Kelingking Beach, also known as the T-Rex. The incredible beach has become a hotspot for many tourists. Due to the day tours from Bali, it gets busy from the morning on. To escape the crowds and to get your own experience, it is recommended to hike down to the beach.
The hike can be pretty exhausting and you should definitely bring some good shoes and a lot of water to drink. The beach itself is much quieter than the top of the cliff and you will be able to enjoy some unforgettable moments. Make sure to hike up before the midday sun shows off her power!
Instead of continuing your journey to the Angel´s Billabong and the Broken Beach, you should explore one of the most beautiful waterfalls of the island. The Seganing Waterfall is one of Nusa Penida´s hidden gems.
For the ultimate guide to Nusa Penida and even more things to do, check out The most convincing reasons to visit Nusa Penida.
Stop 2 on the itinerary: Nusa Lembongan
How long to stay on the island: 2 nights (you can easily explore Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan together)
Where to stay: Depending on your budget, you can find a great hotel at the beach or a smaller guest house along the main road. Most of the hotels are located in the northwest of the island, close to the official harbor.
The ticket to Nusa Lembongan can be booked directly at the harbor. Make sure to leave after breakfast as a new island on the Nusa Islands itinerary is waiting for you. As the drive to Nusa Lembongan is quite short, you will be going in a smaller boat which only takes a few minutes.
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are connected over a yellow bridge which you will see as soon as you arrive (depending on the harbor where you arrive). Again, it is advised to book a pick-up from your hotel or homestay. Most of the accommodation is located close to the beach or even directly at the beach with a beautiful view!
Compared to Nusa Penida, both the other Nusa Islands are much smaller and can be explored in just a few hours. To still be able to enjoy your trip and not run from one beach to the other, two nights should be a great choice.
What to do on Nusa Lembogan
The island is known for beautiful beaches and remote mangrove forests. Rent yourself a scooter for two days and explore the area on your own!
- Visit Devil´s Tear for sunset
- Explore the Mangrove Forest on the north coast
- Drive to the Mangrove Point and check out the restaurants
- Enjoy the sunset at Mushroom Beach
- Have a walk along the Jungutbatu Beach
Nusa Lembogan is an extraordinary mix between beautiful beaches, remote local homes and quiet mangrove forests. From budget travellers to luxury travellers – almost anybody can find its own place to be on the island.
Stop 3 on the itinerary: Nusa Ceningan
How long to stay on the island: visit for a day trip from Nusa Lembongan
You do not need to book a third accommodation for your trip to Nusa Ceningan. Thanks to the Yellow Bridge connecting both islands, you can easily plan to explore it as a day trip before returning to Nusa Lembongan in the evening. This stop on the Nusa Islands itinerary can easily be adapted to your plans and liking. For some travellers, Nusa Ceningan is only a stop for a few hours.
Nusa Ceningan is the smallest of the three Nusa Islands and you can drive around in a few minutes. The island is very quiet and you will mostly find small local villages and a few hotels along the beach. But how do you best explore the island?
- Visit the Blue Lagoon
- Take some pictures at Bias Munjul
- Enjoy a drink at the Song Tepo Beach
The list of things to do on Nusa Ceningan is short. The Blue Lagoon is the most popular place on the island. You can as well take a little walk in the area or enjoy the afternoon at the main beach, the Song Tepo Beach. Along the beach, there are a few restaurants which serve good food and a place to enjoy the sun.
Nusa Ceningan is all about relaxing and enjoying the moment. After an adventurous and exciting time on Nusa Penida, this might be exactly what you need. And if you feel more like going on another adventure, you can drive back to Nusa Lembongan and book yourself a boat or diving trip!
4 days – 3 islands
After 4 days of exploring 3 different islands, the trip has come to an end. You can either book a boat back to Bali or book a ticket to the Gili Islands or Lombok. Both leave from Nusa Lembongan.
