Nusa Penida, an island off the coast of Bali, offers stunning landscapes and adventurous hiking trails. It arguably houses some of the most photogenic sights in Bali. From breathtaking viewpoints like Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach to pristine beaches such as Crystal Bay and Atuh Beach, the island is a paradise for sightseeing and photography. It even has some epic natural formations like Angel’s Billabong. Diving and snorkeling lovers can immerse themselves in the vibrant underwater world, encountering magnificent Giant Manta Rays, tropical fish and colourful coral reefs. The peaceful coastal roads provide serene escapes if you’re looking for some chill vibes.
Nusa Penida is an island of natural wonders and untamed beauty and offers an unforgettable experience for every traveller. But it also offers some of the most adventurous hikes you’ll ever experience.
Get a local SIM card. While getting around we relied heavily on Google Maps for directions. We recommend Airalo eSIM, so you’ll have data transfer as soon as you land.
Note! Your mobile phone has to be eSIM compatible to use this option.
We divided the hikes into groups based on difficulty of the hike. We also have full blog posts about most of the sites mentioned with all information you need and extra tips to visit.
Here are 10 of the best hikes you can experience on Nusa Penida!
1) Kelingking Beach Hike
Difficulty: Difficult
Highlights: Known for its iconic T-Rex shaped cliff and panoramic views of turquoise waters, this hike takes you down to Kelingking Beach. The trail is steep and challenging but offers breathtaking scenery.
More: Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida
2) Guyangan Waterfall & Blue Stairs Hike
Difficulty: Difficult
Highlights: This hike combines cultural exploration with natural beauty. The trail takes you to Peguyangan Waterfall, a series of cascades flowing into the natural infinity and ocean, and Peguyangan Temple, perched on the cliffside with breathtaking views of the sea.
More: Guyangan Waterfall on Nusa Penida
3) Suwehan Beach Hike
Difficulty: Difficult
Highlights: Accessible via a picturesque trail that winds through lush greenery, Suwehan Beach is known for its tranquility and natural beauty. The hike involves descending down a steep path but rewards you with a secluded beach and stunning cliffs.
More: Suwehan Beach on Nusa Penida
4) Seganing Waterfall
Difficulty: Difficult
Highlights: The hike to Seganing Waterfall on Nusa Penida is an exhilarating adventure through dense jungle terrain and steep slopes, offering glimpses of local flora and fauna along the way. Upon reaching the waterfall, visitors are greeted by a magnificent cascade plunging into a serene pool, perfect for a refreshing swim and peaceful contemplation of nature’s beauty.
More: Seganing Waterfall on Nusa Penida
5) Atuh Beach to Diamond Beach Trek
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Starting from Atuh Beach, this hike leads you through lush landscapes and down steep cliffside steps to Diamond Beach. The beach is gorgeous, offering clear waters and a dramatic coastline.
More: Atuh Beach on Nusa Penida, Diamond Beach on Nusa Penida
6) Rumah Pohon Treehouse and Thousand Islands Viewpoint
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: The famous Nusa Penida’s Treehouse offers unique views. It’s perched on a cliffside overlooking thousand islands and Kelingking Beach in the distance, providing stunning sunrise views. The Thousand Islands Viewpoint hike on Nusa Penida rewards adventurers with panoramic vistas of the island’s rugged coastline and turquoise waters, showcasing a surreal landscape dotted with numerous small islands in the vast ocean expanse. Hike includes numerous stoney steps going down (and later back up).
More: Rumah Pohon Treehouse & Thousand Islands Viewpoint on Nusa Penida
7) Crystal Bay to Pandan Beach Hike
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Highlights: Starting on beautiful, but popular Crystal Bay this short hike of only 820 meters takes you to the neighbouring bay – Pandan Beach. The latter is seldomly visited by foot since it’s only accessible from Crystal Bay – there’s no road leading to it. With the exception of few boats with snorkeling tours there’s a good chance you might be alone on this beach.
More: Crystal Bay on Nusa Penida
8) Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach Trek
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Highlights: This coastal trek takes you to two famous natural landmarks: Angel’s Billabong, a natural infinity pool, and Broken Beach, a stunning cliff-edged natural bridge over turquoise waters. The trail involves some rocky terrain but is relatively short and accessible.
More: Angel’s Billabong on Nusa Penida, Broken Beach on Nusa Penida
9) Teletubbies Hill
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: This easy hike takes you to the top of a hill, showcasing the undulating landscape of Teletubbies Hill, named for its resemblance to the children’s TV show set. Easily accessible with scooter or motorbike.
10) Manta Point Hike
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Known for its excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities, Manta Point also offers a short scenic coastal hike. You can trek along the cliffside paths and enjoy views of the rugged coastline and perhaps spot Manta Rays swimming below.
More: Saren Cliff Viewpoint on Nusa Penida
How to get around Nusa Penida Island
Nusa Penida Island is a smaller sister of the neighbouring famous Bali, Indonesia. The island is still quite big and it can take over an hour to cruise from one side to another depending on where your accommodation is located.
- One of the best ways to visit many of the best Nusa Penida’s epic sites in one day is on this Ultimate Nusa Penida Day Trip Tour from Bali – they pick you up in the morning from your accommodation in Bali, take you across to Nusa Penida Island by speedboat, and then bring you back to Bali in the evening after an incredible day of adventures. Remember to tell them which spots are on your Nusa Penida Bucket List and they will make it happen!
- You can also rent a scooter and drive around the island yourself.
Price for rental: Rp 70k – 100k (US$5) a day.
NOTE! The roads on Nusa Penida are, mildly said, in bad state. Lots of holes, ignorant van drivers, gravel parts… We’d avoid this option if you’re not experienced scooter driver. - The option we once did (and would highly recommend it) is you can rent a car on Nusa Penida with private driver – great option to visit multiple spots safely in a day with a group of friends.
More information about Nusa Penida Island.
MORE NUSA ISLANDS BLOG POSTS
There are loads of adventurous things to do on Nusa Penida, but we also wrote detailed guides for all of the epic things you can do on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. You can explore more of our guides by clicking one of the links below.
