Things to do on Nusa Lembongan

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Nusa Lembongan is quickly growing in popularity among backpackers. This laid-back, beautiful island (and its neighbors Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Pendida) is just half an hour off the coast of Bali. It’s well-suited to travelers who like to stay busy on their beach holidays — there are plenty of things to do on Nusa Lembongan.

 

Whether you’re after a good beach to read your travel book on, underwater adventures, exploring quiet dirt roads, or watching the sun set with a pina colada, this island has something for you. Here are five of the highlights.

 

1. Relax on the beach

 

One of the best things to do on Nusa Lembongan is to hang out on the beach
Dream Beach on Nusa Lembongan

 

Nusa Lembongan is lucky enough to have two beautiful, long sandy beaches (and many small ones).

 

The most popular is Mushroom Bay. First thing in the morning, and again in late afternoon, this beach is absolutely perfect. The sand is soft, the palm trees sway, the water is warm and safe for swimming. Hai Bar and Grille serves awesome (if a bit pricey) coffee and boozy drinks in the shade, just steps from the sand.

 

The downside is that between 11 am and 2 pm, Mushroom Bay gets very crowded with day-trippers from Bali. Boats load and unload directly on the shore. So in addition to lots of people around, there’s boat traffic that could make swimming unsafe (or at least less fun).

 

The alternative is Dream Beach, on the western shore. Set between beautiful cliffs, this little cove is much quieter than Mushroom Bay. The occasional tour group drops by for a few photos, but for most of the day, you’ll be one of only a handful of people around. There’s a cute cafe on the cliffs that serves drinks and snacks, and you can use their shower and toilet all day for a small fee.

 

Dream Beach is the perfect place to relax on the sand or watch the sunset. But it’s not a good place for swimming. The riptide here is strong. You can swim in a small section of the cove to the far left side, but large rocks that the waves could push you into made it seem pretty unappealing to me. I waded in up to my waist and felt perfectly safe.

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If you run out of things to do on Nusa Lembongan, you can always walk along the coast to find more undiscovered beaches. A particularly pretty one is near the mangrove forest, only accessible during low tide. Don’t assume it’s safe to swim anywhere.

 

2. Go diving or snorkeling

 

One of the best activities on Nusa Lembongan is to take a snorkel tour on a boat
Heavy boat traffic makes snorkeling close to shore difficult — consider taking a boat trip instead

 

The waters off the coasts of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Pendida are home to large populations of manta rays.

 

So one of the most popular things to do on Nusa Lembongan is a day-long trip to see them. You can arrange this when you arrive — most dive operators are based around Mushroom Bay or Jungut Batu (where boats from Bali arrive).

 

If you’re diving, make sure you book with a legit PADI or SSI shop (check PADI shops here). Most shops use the PADI logo but aren’t actually certified. You want a reliable operator here — conditions can be quite dangerous, with strong surges and pop-up storms.

 

The best diving and snorkeling is well off the coast, so you’ll need to take a boat tour whether you’re snorkeling or diving. That, of course, drives prices up. Expect to pay about $100 for a two-tank dive, or about $30 to tag along as a snorkeler.

 

If you just want to rent a snorkel and mask to see what you can find at Mushroom Bay, you can do that for about $10. You may see some colorful fish, but heavy boat traffic means there isn’t a whole lot of impressive marine life.

 

3. Visit the Devil’s Tear

 

If you're looking for ways to spend time on Nusa Lembongan, the Devil's Tear provides lots of entertainment
Waves crashing at the Devil’s Tear

 

Perhaps the most scenic part of Nusa Lembongan, the Devi’s Tear is a rocky outcropping where waves crash into the cliffs. It’s a great spot for photos, and watching the sunset from here is one of the top things to do on Nusa Lembongan.

 

To get here, start at Dream Beach and follow the dirt paths west. Watch your step, and be careful with your electronics — the waves sometimes splash up over the rocks.

 

When you’re done admiring the ocean’s raw power, continue along the path to Sandy Bay Beach Club. This bar has the best sunset views on the whole island. I suggest making a reservation — if only because they’ll give you a free ride back to your guesthouse if you do.

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4. Cross the Yellow Bridge to Nusa Ceningan

 

The Yellow Bridge to Nusa Ceningan
The Yellow Bridge to Nusa Ceningan

 

Even smaller than the 8-square-kilometer Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan is best reached by a small bridge connecting the two islands.

 

Clearly, this iconic bridge should only be open to pedestrians. In reality, it’s used by everyone — from motorbikes to guys hauling cement bricks across to tourists trying to snap photos. It’s no wonder the original bridge collapsed last year during a religious ceremony.

 

It’s worth braving the traffic to get a taste of Nusa Ceningan, though. The smaller island is even more low-key and friendly. Seaweed farming is the main industry — you’ll see farmers rowing their boats out to collect the day’s harvest.

 

Ceningan has some really pretty little beaches. Many of them are actually hidden behind restaurants — if you eat or have a drink at the cafe, you get to use their own private beach for awhile. Walk along the northwest coast of the island and see which one you like.

 

5. Eat great seafood

 

One of my favorite things to do on Lembongan was eat seafood
One of my favorite things to do on Lembongan was eat seafood

 

No list of things to do on Nusa Lembongan would be complete without mentioning the food.

 

Sure, the island has plenty of tourist-trap restaurants that are overpriced and low quality. But honestly, almost everyone cooks good seafood — which is invariably fresh.

 

Sea Breeze Restaurant on Nusa Ceningan has especially delicious grilled fish. Choose between tuna or mahi mahi. Sandy Bay Beach Club on Nusa Lembongan has amazing seafood cookouts in the evenings. And the cheap and cheerful Tawe Warung had some of the best shrimp I’ve ever tasted.

 

Nusa Lembongan practicalities

 

Nusa Lembongan is best visited from Bali. It’s also possible (but expensive) to get there directly from Gili T.

 

You get free transportation to/from the boat with your ticket, so book in advance. Boat companies will pick you up from anywhere in South Bali or Ubud.

 

Be careful when choosing your operator. Safety standards are frankly horrific. One of the boats that left before mine had people sitting on top of each other and was visibly weighted down far more than it should have been. Reliable operators include Scoot and Rocky Fast Cruise. I went with Scoot and was impressed with their professionalism.

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You have to wade through the choppy sea to get on the boat. Porters carry your luggage. The boat ride itself is unpleasant — you sit in a small, enclosed, hot, smelly compartment. At least it’s only half an hour.

 

On Lembongan, most boats arrive at Jungut Batu. If you’re not staying in the town, you’ll be whisked onto a pickup truck for a free ride to your accommodation.

 

Many travelers rent motorbikes to explore the island. It can be a fun way to get around, but remember that your travel insurance probably won’t cover you if you wreck on the dirt roads and aren’t licensed to drive a motorcycle in your home country. Consider hiring a bicycle or exploring on foot instead. Everything in this list of things to do on Nusa Lembongan is possible by walking.

 

Looking for a place to stay? Try Casa Janu. This sparkling-clean and comfortable homestay is in the main town, next to a temple, equidistant from Mushroom Bay and Dream Beach. Sure, you could find somewhere on the beach. But this place has a more authentic, off-the-beaten-path vibe. And you still get great sea views from the terrace.

 

Add Nusa Lembongan to your Indonesia itinerary!

 

There are plenty more little things to do on Nusa Lembongan — from checking out the mangrove forest to wandering along quiet back streets. This island has more than enough to keep you busy for three or four days. If you have more time, you could even do a day trip to further-afield Nusa Pendida.

 

The vibe on Nusa Lembongan is so low-key, you may not want to leave! Don’t miss this gem — so close to Bali, but it feels like a world away.

 

Did I miss any great things to do on Nusa Lembongan? Leave a comment!

 

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