A Longer Stay on Lembongan: Plans and Boats

Settling In

A few nights on Nusa Lembongan lets you slow down and treat the neighbouring islands as outings. The Nusa group of Lembongan, Ceningan and Penida lies in Klungkung Regency, and the weather decides how tight the schedule can be.

Option 1: Three Islands in Three Nights

  1. Night one. Arrive on a morning fast boat from Sanur. See the Gala-Gala Underground House, walk to the Yellow Bridge and watch the sun go down at Sandy Bay Beach Club, where the view faces open ocean.
  2. Night two. Walk, cycle or ride across to Ceningan. Take in the Blue Lagoon from the path, then Mahana Point and Sea Breeze. Spend the afternoon at the mangroves.
  3. Night three. Book a snorkel boat that stops at Manta Bay and Crystal Bay, both off Penida, and then cross by public boat from the Yellow Bridge and hire a car and driver for the west-coast viewpoints.

Keep one spare day in reserve in case swell grounds the boats.

Option 2: A Dive or Surf Base

Stay in Jungut Batu if you want courses or waves. An Open Water course takes three to four days. Surfers should come between April and October, with Playgrounds as the forgiving break and Lacerations and Shipwrecks as shallow-reef tests for experienced surfers. From July to October the deep walls hold mola mola in cold water of 18 to 22 C.

Option 3: Lembongan, Then Padang Bai

Two companies run daily boats between Lembongan and Padang Bai, a trip of about 45 minutes. It is a handy way to carry on towards eastern Bali without going back via Sanur.

About the Gili Islands

The Gili Islands lie off Lombok, in another province, and need two to three hours by boat. Keep them out of a Lembongan itinerary, or treat them as a separate leg of your trip.

Seasons and Special Dates

  • April to October: dry, calm crossings and the surf season.
  • November to March: wet, with swell, cancelled boats and seas of 1 to 2 metres in January and February.
  • 9 March 2027: Nyepi, the day of silence, when no boats run.

Budget Notes

  • Bali tourist levy: IDR 150,000 once per trip, paid online
  • Nusa island entry: about IDR 25,000 per adult, often included in tours
  • Fast boat: standard one-way fares commonly IDR 150,000 to 275,000, with returns about 10 to 20 percent cheaper than two singles
  • Scooter: about IDR 75,000 to 150,000 a day
  • Marine protected area fee for snorkelling and diving: about IDR 100,000, usually included

Read more: day trips from Lembongan gives each outing in detail.

The official Love Bali levy page handles payment, and the Wikivoyage entry lists current boat and bike prices. Rooms are searchable on Booking.com .