Nusa Lembongan - The Ultimate Guide

Nusa Lembongan is part of the Nusa Islands Trio, consisting of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. Each island offers a unique experience and varying levels of accessibility, making them suitable for different types of travelers.

The islands lay between larger brothers Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. The Nusa Trio lays just off the southeast coast of Bali. You can read more about the comparison between the three islands (in text and picture) in this blog post.

In this post we’ll guide you through everything you need to know before you head out to exploration of Nusa Lembongan. Read on!

Quick Guide of Nusa Lembongan

First time on Nusa Lembongan? We summed up few of Nusa Lembongan’s bests:

How to get there: speedboat from Bali to Nusa Lembongan
Best resort: Mahagiri Resort
Best budget accommodation: Pandan Wangi or Nusa Garden Homestay
Best restaurant: The Coconut Hut and The Deck Cafe & Bar
Best coffee: Mushroom Espresso
Best beach: Dream Beach and Coconut Beach
Best guided tours: Lembongan & Ceningan Highlight Tour

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Get a local SIM card. A great provider is BNESIM, where you can get a 20% discount on your first purchase with the code WANDERRESPONDER.
Airalo is also great. Note! Your mobile phone has to be eSIM compatible to use this option.

How Many Days Should I Spend on Nusa Lembongan?

Depending on what you want to see or do in Nusa Lembongan, how you want to see it and how fast you’ll be exploring it, you would need 1–2 days on the island.

But if you only have one day to spare, a day trip around Nusa Lembongan is still doable. You could organise yourself a speedboat transfer in the morning, rent a scooter on the island and return in the afternoon. We’ve done this on our first trip to Nusa Lembongan and we found the island so cool we decided to come back for a week-long stay a few months later.

You wish to visit Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, but you only have one day to spare and it’s way too much organisation by yourself.
Join a tour!
Discover the wonders of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan islands. Spend the day visiting iconic locations and enjoy a delicious lunch of Indonesian food with a sea view.
*Everything is included, and you can tailor the trip depending on where you’re staying (Bali or any of the Nusa islands).

How To Get To Nusa Lembongan?

The easiest and most common (therefore less room for error) way to get to Nusa Lembongan is taking a speedboat from Bali to Mushroom Bay on Nusa Lembongan.

It’s best to reserve your boat/ferry ticket ahead of time, reasons being 1) chaos in Sanur Harbor, 2) multiple vendors selling different options for various prices, and 3) availability during peak season. You can book your speedboat tickets on 12Go for the best price.

Cool thing about 12Go is you can book multi-island tickets (for example we went Sanur – Lombok – Nusa Penida – Nusa Lembongan – Sanur).

HOW DOES 12GO WORK?
You find the desired transfers, all prices visible, and put them in the basket. Upon payout you pay one receipt only. You receive the final receipt on your email. You receive separate tickets on your email for each transfer, with all instructions and separate prices. Super easy to understand and their website is easy to navigate.

Morning is the best time to take the fast boat because the ocean is calmer. Nusa Lembongan is approximately 30 minutes by fast boat from Sanur. Arrival is to Mushroom Bay, which is actually a beach and doesn’t have any dock. That means you descend from the speedboat by small stairs into the water. Depth is usually between your knees and waist, so a friendly advice – wear shorts and flipflops.

To get to your accommodation you could rent a scooter on site (popular option). Most accommodations offer a transfer for a reasonable price, but you can also find locals on site who will offer you transfer. For the local transfer expect to pay Rp 50,000 – Rp 100,000, depending on where you’re staying. Negotiable!

For a reliable and affordable scooter rental you can contact Agus, owner of Kelle Transport. We booked our scooter with him for Rp 80,000/day, but that is negotiable. He would deliver the scooter to Mushroom Bay too. Agus WhatsApp: +62 81238 627 206.

Where To Stay on Nusa Lembongan?

If you have a few days to spare, we recommend staying a night or two. Here are some accommodations you can consider:

5 Ways to Get Around Nusa Lembongan

There aren’t a lot of standard car-vehicles on the island. Most people get around with a scooter – no need to book that one in advance, because you’ll easily rent it on spot. If you still wish to have at least a contact for scooter rental keep reading. But let’s see all the options you have to get around this white-sand-pristine-sea-island.

And unlike Bali, Nusa Lembongan (or Ceningan or Penida) do not have Gojek or Grab service.

1) Tours: the best way to visit Nusa Lembongan, especially if you’re limited on time, is as part of a guided tour. You can find many different tours here and choose to your own liking.

Our recommendation: This 8-hour tour, departing from Bali, which covers all the highlights – the Devil’s Tears, Yellow Bridge and Dream Beach – and even has lunch included. Nusa Lembongan also has magnificent underwater world, so you might consider a snorkeling trip with Manta Rays, turtles and more.

2) Rent a scooter: scooters are the most common mean of transportation on Nusa Lembongan. You can rent them pretty much anywhere since everybody knows at least somebody that rents scooters. Price is anywhere between Rp 75,000 to Rp 100,000 per day.
But for a reliable and affordable scooter rental you can contact Agus, owner of Kelle Transport. We booked our scooter with him for Rp 80,000/day. He would deliver the scooter to Mushroom Bay too. Agus WhatsApp: +62 81238 627 206. (He even helped us tremendously when our scooter was mistakenly stolen!)
Note: in Nusa Lembongan, it’s common for scooter riders not to wear helmets (as opposed to Bali), and consequently, they’re often not provided by rental services. Don’t worry, the roads are relatively quiet, and you won’t be going very fast.

3) Rent a Bicycle: locals call them “pushbikes”. Most places rent them (ask in your accommodation) for around Rp 30,000 to Rp 50,000 per day. We have only used this option when staying in the areas around Mushroom Bay and Jungut Batu – after all, Nusa Lembongan has quite some hills. This is the most budget-friendly option, plus you’ll stay active.

4) Rent a buggy: or a golf cart. It’s pretty expensive option but a fantastic solution if you’re in a group of 4 to 6 people. Expect to pay around Rp 700k for a few hours rent (5h or 6h). Most better accommodations have them, so ask around.

5) Rent a boat with local driver: you will notice these traditional boats along all coast of Nusa Lembongan. Catch a local or ask around, prices are of course negotiable since this is a non-standard way, but they will gladly tour you around a bit when you agree on rate.
When visiting Mangrove Forest the locals with boats will already be waiting for potential customers to show and explain about local flora and fauna. More about this in the “What to do” section below.

What Apps Will Be Useful On Nusa Lembongan?

WhatsApp: most locals use WhatsApp either for calling or making appointments and bookings with tourists. WhatsApp is a free app.
Maps.me: if you aren’t planning on using local SIM card and data, we’d recommend you download Maps.me. It’s a pretty detailed app in Indonesia and we occasionally found it to have even better mapping of Nusa Lembongan than Google Maps. Maps.me is free up for up to 10 downloaded maps.

What to bring to Nusa Lembongan?

Now that we know your options for getting to and around the island, here are things you should prepare for your trip there:

Local SIM Card – Having a local SIM card is always a good idea. We have tested BNESIM electronic SIMs many times so far and it works fantastic in Indonesia, so we are definitely recommending it. You literally have data transfer as soon as your flight lands in Indonesia. Comes handy with all the transfers too (for example, you can order yourself a Grab straight away and probably save on a taxi rip-off). Note! Your mobile phone has to be eSIM compatible to use this option. Get your eSIM here before-hand!
Cash (in Rupiah) – there are some ATMs Nusa Lembongan and many places accept credit cards, but it’s always good to have some cash with you.
Sun coverage – All the things you need to combat that strong sun in Bali – a hat, sunscreen (at least SPF50!), and sunglasses. If you are on a scooter, wear a thin layer with sleeves that can be removed.
A thin cotton scarf/sarong wrap – I love this because they are versatile! you can wear it around your neck and shoulder to protect yourself from the sun, but can also double up as something to sit on while you are at the beach.
Swimwear – once you see how clear the water is in this part of the world, you’d want to jump in. A travel towel comes handy, too!

What to do on Nusa Lembongan?

Once you are on the island, it’s time to explore! Nusa Lembongan is a small island, so that should be easy. Check out the 15 Best Things to do on Nusa Lembongan.

The main things to see in Nusa Lembongan are: Yellow Bridge, Dream Beach, seaweed farms, Coconut Beach, Devil’s Tears… We wrote detailed posts about some of these, you can check them out below! You can also attend one of the fantastic tours on Nusa Lembongan.

Nusa Lembongan is a must-visit destination that perfectly complements any Bali or Nusa Islands itinerary. Its charm, gorgeous natural landscapes, and adventurous activities offer a refreshing escape from the busier tourist spots. Whether you’re surfing the waves at Dream Beach, exploring the vibrant marine life while snorkeling, or simply relaxing on the pristine shores, Nusa Lembongan provides a serene and unforgettable experience. The island’s easy accessibility from Bali and neighboring Nusa islands makes it an essential stop for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation. Including Nusa Lembongan in your travel plans ensures a well-rounded and enriching journey through the beautiful Indonesian archipelago.