Nusa Lembongan is a small paradise in Indonesia and a real insider tip, far from the sometimes quite chaotic Bali. On the island, which is only 4 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide, you’ll find beautiful, empty beaches, a gigantic underwater world, and a very relaxed atmosphere! So, we didn’t hesitate for long, grabbed the next boat, and were completely captivated by the island’s beauty! But first things first.

Some information about Nusa Lembongan in advance

• Located southeast of Bali, about 12 kilometers from Sanur
• Arrival only possible by boat
• Part of the Lesser Sunda Islands
• Next to Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida
• Good infrastructure for tourists
• Wi-Fi available almost everywhere
• Somewhat more expensive than in Bali
• Roads further north and east are very bumpy and rocky

Arrival by boat

Many boats depart from Sanur on Bali to Nusa Lembongan and the neighboring islands. The boats depart several times a day, and you can choose between slow wooden boats or fast speedboats. In Sanur, you will often be asked directly if you would like to go to the island. At the ticket counter (right on the beach), you can get tickets for 175,000 IDR one way.

So for a round trip, you’ll pay 350,000 IDR (approximately €22). The trip takes just under 30 minutes. In calm weather, it’s actually quite fun. However, I probably wouldn’t do such a tour in rough waves, at least not if you’re prone to seasickness. Nevertheless, this trip to Nusa Lembongan is worth it! It’s a truly beautiful island. At least, that’s how it was when we waited there in 2016.

If you want to get to the island for less, you’ll need to be at Sanur Beach by 10:30 AM. Then the “Public Slow Boat” departs, taking you to the island for around 100,000 IDR. As the name suggests, things are a bit more leisurely here – the trip takes about 1.5 hours. We’ve also read that this trip not only carries a ton of passengers, but also animals and other items (furniture, food, gas, drinks, etc.). However, since we took the speedboat, we can’t say much more about the “slow boat.”

Rent a scooter on the island

Upon arrival on the island, you’ll be immediately surprised by white sandy beaches, turquoise water, and a definite holiday feeling. If you really want to explore the island, we recommend a scooter. Around the boat dock, you’ll find several shops that offer scooter rentals.

We paid 120,000 IDR (€8.40) for the two days. Prices have certainly changed since then. It’s a bit more expensive than on the neighboring island of Bali, but we still wanted to be flexible and mobile. We were approached by many locals who would have lent us a scooter. However, we preferred to rent one “officially.” So we drove directly to our accommodation.

Accommodation on Nusa Lembongan

We had already booked accommodation on Booking.com*. We stayed at the Nyoman Guesthouse, which is located in the northwest of the island. We drove just 2 or 3 kilometers straight from Mushroom Bay and found our place right away. Here we got a nice bungalow with a bed, a lockable closet, air conditioning, and an open-plan bathroom. The bathroom had no roof, so you could see the starry sky while brushing your teeth.

We paid 500,000 IDR (just under €34) for two nights including breakfast. Of course, there are even cheaper accommodations. Be sure to check the reviews on TripAdvisor beforehand. This way, you can avoid unpleasant surprises on site.

Affordable and very good accommodations

• Swara Homestay 2 – from €9
• Nyoman Guesthouse – from €14
• D’Waktu in House – from €14
• Surya Home Stay – from €16
• Suba Homestay – from €16
• Reynold Artha Guest House – from €18
• Jiva Bungalow – from €19

Tip: You can also book accommodations on Airbnb.com*. With our invitation link, you’ll receive a nice starting credit for your first booking. Click here for your starting credit*!

The beaches on the island

Not only the beaches on Bali are beautiful, but also those on Lembongan. It was so hot that day, we just wanted to jump into the sea. Across the street and 100 meters straight ahead, and there we were. The sand was soft, white, and Caribbean, the sea turquoise and crystal clear. A few fishing boats surrounded us. Not many people were visiting the island; at least it was very quiet and not overrun by mass tourism. Most people probably go to Nusa Penida, Lombok, or the Gilis. But Nusa is such a dream paradise.

Mushroom Beach is located in the west of the island. Here you’ll find some lovely restaurants and cafés. However, most boats dock here, so you’ll have to share the water with them. The water is clear and shimmers in the most beautiful colors, and the sand is light and soft. Mangrove Beach is located in the north of the island. Here you can mainly go snorkeling and diving. You can also take a boat tour through the mangrove fields.

One of the most beautiful beaches on the island, however, is Dream Beach. This small bay is truly beautiful, and it’s a great place for sunbathing. You can also swim along the shore, but then it gets quite rocky. Nevertheless, this beach is really beautiful and quiet. Before you go down the steps, there’s a swing hanging from a thick branch/trunk.

Snorkeling and Diving

Diving and snorkeling are big things on Lembongan. We also wanted to finally go snorkeling and explore the underwater world. We continued north on our scooter. You pass many simple houses and huts here – life is a bit more primitive here.

In the sea, you’ll see a multitude of small fishing boats. Here, everything revolves around seaweed farming. At low tide, they go out to collect the algae plants. The roads become quite rocky and bumpy further north and east, so you should drive carefully on your scooter to avoid getting a flat tire.

Then we reached the mangrove area. Here we had to pay an entrance fee of 3,000 IDR per person (20 cents). We continued driving and passed many small huts. Snorkeling, day tours, mangrove trips, and diving experiences are offered everywhere. It’s often quite annoying, as they persistently try to sell you some tour. We’re already familiar with this whole process, though, so we just walked to the end and didn’t let anyone push us. At the end of the road, you’ll reach a small “village.”

Snorkeling at Nano Nano

There, just the second or third restaurant on the left, we found a little paradise. “Nano Nano” – a great place to relax and unwind. The owners of this restaurant/bar are super friendly and gave us a warm welcome. Here, we borrowed snorkeling equipment and chatted with Nano for a while. He made us curious, so we wanted to go straight into the sea. We were able to leave our things with him.

We only paid 40,000 IDR for the snorkeling set (€2.70) and were able to snorkel there all day. You can take a boat out, go snorkeling (about 2 hours), and come back. But that’s it. This practical and comfortable option will cost you just under 150,000 IDR (€10) per person. Other snorkeling spots: Manta Point, Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay, or The Wall.

Fantastic underwater world

We grabbed our fins and goggles and splashed through the sea. You had to go out quite far to finally reach deeper areas. At some point, the water was knee-deep, and we decided to get into position and float lightly above the water for the last few meters.

Now the corals were beginning to appear, and we definitely didn’t want to walk over there! The first colorful fish appeared, and it gradually got deeper. We were all amazed, constantly pointing underwater at something neither of us had ever seen before. It was simply incredible. We never would have thought it would bring so much joy.

Suddenly, it became 5-6 meters deep, but everything was crystal clear, and thanks to the sun on the surface, we could see everything very well! There were only a handful of other people diving with us, and only a few boats were on the water. Either we had a good day, or this area isn’t that crowded yet.

In any case, we thoroughly enjoyed it! What felt like thousands of colorful fish swam in schools around us. Yellow, striped, blue, green, black, and colorful – we even saw Dory from “Finding Nemo”! Oh, it was simply wonderful, unique, and so quiet out there.

Dive Schools and Dive Spots

We didn’t go diving, but there are many spots and dive schools here. There’s also the legendary Manta Point, just under an hour by boat from the island. Here you can dive with large manta rays. Amazing, right? The Blue Corner (sunfish) is also famous. You can find more spots here: Diving on Nusa Lembongan.

Want a little luxury?

On Lembongan’s smaller sister island is “The Palms at Nusa Ceningan.” Comfortable seating areas, sun loungers, a beautiful terrace, and a fantastic infinity pool with ocean views are located. The bungalows cost around €40 or €50 per night. Definitely not that expensive for a short vacation. You wake up in the morning, stand on your small terrace, and look directly out at the ocean – simply gigantic!

Conclusion: A dream destination

It felt like a vacation. Bali’s little sister is underrated, but here you can really switch off and relax. Whether diving, snorkeling, lying on the beach, or reading a book in a café – things happen differently here. If you need a break and are tired of hectic Bali, this is the right island for you!

In conclusion, we can only recommend a trip to this island. It’s an affordable alternative for a fantastic trip. In the end, we paid €63 per person for three days of island paradise!

Total costs for two people

• Round trip: 700,000 IDR (42€)
• Accommodation: 500,000 IDR (34€)
• Scooter for two days: 120,000 IDR (8.20€)
• Dinner day 1: 80,000 IDR (5.45€)
• Lunch day 2: 120,000 IDR (8.20€)
• Dinner day 2: 110,000 IDR (7.50€)
• Fuel: 25,000 IDR (1.70€)
• 2x snorkeling trip: 80,000 IDR (5.45€)
• Admission to mangrove park: 6,000 IDR (0.40€)
• 3 drinks in between: 55,000 IDR (3.75€)
• TOTAL: 1,850,000 IDR (126€)