Our 4 days in Nusa Penida was part of our 15 Day Itinerary In Bali. If you would like to follow our 15 days in Bali click on the following links:
After spending 3 nights in Legian and 2 nights in Ubud it was time to explore the beautiful island of Nusa Penida.
Why Should You Visit Nusa Penida?
Nusa Penida is a place to explore if you would like to:
- Explore a Balinese Island
- Relax on secluded beaches
- Visit some of the most instagrammed photo spots of Bali
- Experience Balinese Culture
- Escape the populated areas of Legian and Kuta
About Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is a beautiful island that we totally recommend you explore. Mum had been here a few years ago with one of her local friends who took her to their village. Mum loved it and wanted to go back to explore with Dad before the tourist industry really makes an impact.
The island is southeast of Bali and is easy to get to by fast boat. If you are prone to sea sickness ensure you take motion sickness tablets as the trip can be quite rough. Nusa Penida and neighbouring Nusa Lembongan are a district of Klungkung Regency. Nusa Penida has become a popular place for scuba diving and snorkelling.
If you visit Nusa Penida you must go to the Instagram hotspot Kelingking Beach it is an amazing view point. If you’re fit definitely take on the stairs to the beautiful beach. Very few are brave enough to take on the challenge, including us!! Other top tourist spots to visit are Crystal Bay, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Atuh Beach, Goa Giri Putri Temple and Peguyangan Waterfall. We ran out of time to venture to the last 2 points of interest, always an excuse to return!!
Be warned some of the roads on Nusa Penida can be are bumpy!! Be prepared for traffic jams when visiting the popular Kelingking Beach, the roads are so narrow here. However when we were here there are new roads being made which will assist in reducing the traffic jams.
Day 1 Itinerary
- Arrived in Nusa Penida – fast boat from Sanur
- Hired scooter for 4 days
- Scooted around some of the island
- Checked into Batan Sabo Cottage accomodation
- Evening spent relaxing in the infinity pool
On arrival at Nusa Penida we hired a scooter for 4 days. This is an awesome way to explore this beautiful island which sadly is starting to take off with tourism.
We explored more of the island then planned on arrival due to being lost!! My parents didn’t have a local sim with wifi on their phones to use Google Maps. We would stop to ask locals for directions. As some of the locals speak little English they would say yes, that way….needless to say we were going in totally the opposite direction to where we wanted to go!! Lesson learnt, get a local sim with wifi!!
The island is beautiful. When you leave the harbour where the fast boats come and go from, you drive through the main town of Nusa Penida. It doesn’t take long to realise you are on an island where tourism hasn’t yet taken over.
It is worth exploring the island with no destination in mind, just take any road that interests you and see where you end up. This is the way we stumble across places of interest.
There are lots of petrol stations along the way. This is great when exploring as you don’t need to worry if you have enough petrol!
Whether you are driving through the middle of the island or on the coast road it is all very scenic.
The evening was spent relaxing in the infinity pool, enjoying Bintang’s and chatting to other guests staying at the bungalows.
Day 2 Itinerary
- Crystal Bay
- Amok Sunset
- Kelingking Beach
- Angel’s Billabong
- Broken Beach
- Relaxed in infinity pool
It was an early morning rise. Straight after breakfast we headed off on the scooter to explore the tourist hot spots of the island. Being an island it is a completely different feel to Bali. Although Nusa Penida is becoming a tourist destination there are areas which are still quite raw. It was lovely to ride through their villages as we watched out for the chickens which had a tendency to run out in front of our scooter.
Again the destinations, especially Kelingking Beach being our highlight were absolutely beautiful. The journey to these destinations was an experience never to be forgotten.
About Crystal Bay
Crystal Bay is a lovely small beach just 200m long. It’s quite a secluded beach and still has your beach umbrellas and sun lounge chairs. Crystal Bay is on the western side of Nusa Penida and is a popular spot for snorkelling and scuba diving.
Crystal Bay Location
Sakti, Nusapenida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia
Amok Sunset
Amok Sunset is an absolutely gorgeous place to go for a refreshment. The view here is amazing. When we visited Amok Sunset was fairly new. There were 3 tree houses. Here you can relax, take in the serenity and beauty of the area whilst having a refreshment. You can see Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan. There is a swimming pool where you can enjoy a refreshment whilst watching the sunset. Totally recommend you visit this beautiful spot!!
About Kelingking Beach
Kelingking Beach located on the southwestern coast of Nusa Penida was most definitely our favourite destination. The view from the top of the cliff looking down onto the white sandy isolated beach, the dinosaur shaped headland is a spectacular sight to see. The turquoise waters really set it off.
At the top of the cliff there’s a couple of restaurants. Great for those that just want to take that perfect selfie/instagram photo, grab a bite to eat before heading to the next tourist destination.
For those fit and able there are a lot of stairs of various sizes to make your way down the 400m cliff to the beautiful white sand beach. We opted not to take on the stairs, however, we felt we should’ve as the beach really does look gorgeous from above. If you speak to anyone that battled the stairs they will tell you it was well worth the effort!! So yes, when we return we will be prepared to tackle the stairs and spend a day relaxing in the serenity and beauty of Kelingking Beach.
Due to the popularity of this spectacular view point and the small roads be prepared to be stuck in traffic jams if you are going by car. Traffic jams or not, it’s well worth the journey. A must see!!
Kelingking Beach Location
Bunga Mekar, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia
About Angel’s Billabong
Angel’s Billabong is situated on the southwestern cliffs of Nusa Penida. Angel’s Billabong is a natural pool between rock cliffs. Depending on when you go the pool will be a lovely turquoise colour. As we were here in wet season it didn’t have the turquoise colour we’d seen advertised.
Angel’s Billabong location
Sakti, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia
About Broken Beach
Broken Beach is approximately a 10min walk from Angel’s Billabong. It’s here you witness another gorgeous scenic view of the southwestern side of Nusa Penida. You can walk around the cliff edge and over the arch which surrounds Broken Beach. The waters are such a gorgeous turquoise colour. There are lots of view points where you can stop and admire the beauty and take that special Instagram photo. It’s certainly a place to stop and take a moment to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
The evening was spent relaxing in the infinity pool whilst sipping on a Bintang….the two go so well together!!
Day 3 Itinerary
- Relaxed in infinity pool until midday
- Went to the lookout point over Atuh Beach
- Explored Nusa Penida as we headed to our Tree House Accomodation
- Evening spent admiring the gorgeous view and taking in the serenity
- Dinner at the affiliated restaurant to the Tree House
Batan Sabo Cottages was certainly a lovely place to unwind and a great place to base ourselves for 2 nights. The view from our cottage overlooking the pool and beyond to the ocean was beautiful. The sunsets were divine.
Atuh Beach
Atuh Beach is located on the south-eastern coast of Nusa Penida. You can view the beach from the surrounding cliff tops. If you are fit and able there are stairs which take you down to the beautiful white sand beach. Due to the number of stairs the beach is quite isolated. The area is so peaceful and serene.
Atuh Beach Location
Pejukutan Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia
Rumah Pohon Tree House
There are 3 tree houses which have become extremely popular due to the instagram selfie craze and the amazing location. The view here is to die for!! Whilst the tree houses are very basic accomodation, the set up is awesome. From here you look down onto Diamond Beach.
To reach the tree houses there are a number of steep stairs to go down. There is a cafe at the top of the stairs which is part of the Tree House, you can leave your luggage here. Totally recommend you take this offer. Make sure you take with you any beverages or snacks to save you having to leave your tree house. Once there you will not want to leave.
My Mum loves tree houses and will stay in one any chance she gets. So once she was aware of these tree houses it was a definite we would stay here. Although you cannot choose which tree house you stay in they all do have a great view. The most popular tree house does have a larger balcony to sit and take in the serenity. It truly is worth going without air conditioning to experience this one off adventure. Mind you I think Mum will have us going back here!!
Day 4 Itinerary
- Early morning rise to view sunrise
- Took in the view and serenity
- Checked out of Rumah Pohon Tree House
- Diamond Beach Lookout
- Explored Nusa Penida
- Took a boat from Nusa Penida Harbour to Nusa Lembongan
- Continued our 15 day holiday of Bali in Nusa Lembongan
If you choose to stay at the tree house its totally worth while setting the alarm to witness the sunrise. You will get some day trippers come to capture that special photo. Overall at this hour of the morning there’s not too many that make the journey.
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach was a short drive from the tree house. Again it’s another beautiful beach with white sand. You reach the beach via a flight of stairs that have been carved into the cliff edge.
From the lookout at Diamond beach we could see where we had stayed in the tree house…look very closely at the below photo….can you see at least one tree house? Such a beautiful area.
From Diamond Beach lookout we scooted our way through the non tourist areas of Nusa Penida. We love to go off the main track to try and get the feel of the island away from the tourist hot spots. To us it’s the best and only way to explore.
This is the way we travelled around the island. My parents always travel light. Even when they travelled Asia for a year in 2017 all they took was hand luggage. So here in Nusa Penida Dad drives, I hop in the front so I can see what’s going on and Mum is on the back of the bike. We all love this way of travel!! I really wish I had been adopted prior to my parents going to Asia!!
It was time to leave this gorgeous island. We had a lovely time and its a place we could’ve stayed longer. For us it was time to catch a boat and explore the neighbouring island Nusa Lembongan for 3 nights.
Please follow our journey, 3 Days Itinerary In Nusa Lembongan
Feedback/Comments
Have you explored this gorgeous island? If you have we’d love to hear about your adventure and any tips you’d love to share.
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