Manta rays, turquoise coves, mangroves and cliffs — with hand-picked tours, honest local detail and everything you need to plan your days on Lembongan, Ceningan and Penida.
Nusa Lembongan is a small island — about four kilometres long — off Bali’s south-east coast, with its even smaller sister Nusa Ceningan joined to it by the Yellow Bridge, and the big, wild island of Nusa Penida just across the channel. There are no big hotels, few cars and no traffic jams: people get around by scooter, golf buggy and on foot.
It is the best base in Bali for getting on the water. Reef manta rays feed off Penida’s cliffs almost every day, mola mola rise at Crystal Bay in season, the reefs are part of a marine protected area and the surf breaks are legendary. On land you have Devil’s Tear, Dream Beach, the mangroves, the seaweed farms — and Penida’s Kelingking viewpoint a short boat ride away.
Curated, top-rated experiences booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting points in euros — tap any tour for live availability in your currency.
Snorkelling from €20 The most-booked boat trip on the island. A speedboat runs across the strait to Nusa Penida’s south-west coast, where reef mantas visit cleaning stations almost every day, then stops at two calmer reefs such as Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay or Wall Point. Back on Lembongan by lunchtime.
Sea & land from €64 The “do everything” day: a morning snorkel with the mantas, then a driver takes you round Nusa Penida’s famous west-coast viewpoints. Long and busy, but it saves arranging boats and drivers yourself.
Island combo from €17 The best-value way to see all of Lembongan in one go. Choose the snorkel-only, mangrove or full combination option: reefs in the morning, a quiet glide through the mangroves and a drive round the island’s highlights.
Day trip from €50 Nusa Penida is the big neighbour you can see from every Lembongan beach, and its cliffs are the most photographed coast in Bali. This well-reviewed tour collects you from your Lembongan hotel, crosses in about 15 minutes and hands you over to a driver for the day.
Fast boat from €14 The simplest way to get to the island: a fixed-time speedboat from Sanur, with the option of a shuttle from hotels in south Bali. Book one-way or return, and keep your voucher handy for the harbour check-in.
Day trip from €46 The classic Lembongan day trip if you are based in Seminyak, Kuta, Ubud or Nusa Dua. More than 2,000 reviews, a sensible schedule and snorkelling where the water is clearest — though staying a night or two is always better than a single day.
Nature from €9 The north-east corner of Lembongan is fringed with mangroves, and an hour on the channels is the island’s most peaceful activity. The boat option needs no effort at all; the kayak and paddleboard options let you explore at your own pace.
Island tour from €41 per group Lembongan’s version of a taxi tour. A driver takes you round the island’s viewpoints at your own pace, with time for photos, a swim and a coffee. Rated 4.9 and much easier than a scooter if you have never ridden one.
Real-time prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide. Free cancellation on most experiences.
Lembongan’s coves and cliffs, Ceningan’s bridge and lagoon, and the mantas and viewpoints of Nusa Penida.
Nusa Lembongan Where the Indian Ocean explodes into the rocks
A jagged limestone inlet on Lembongan’s south-west coast where swells funnel into a sea cave and burst upwards in plumes of spray. Sunset here, with rainbows in the mist, is the island’s signature sight — and the rocks are genuinely dangerous.
Nusa Lembongan Lembongan’s prettiest cove
A short crescent of white sand between limestone cliffs, a five-minute walk from Devil’s Tear. The colour of the water is extraordinary; the waves and currents can be too, so it is often better for looking at than swimming in.
Nusa Lembongan The calm, sheltered bay on the west coast
A crescent of sand on the west coast, named after the mushroom corals that once filled it. Protected from the swell, it is Lembongan’s best swimming beach and the base for many resorts, day-cruise beach clubs and boats from Sanur.
Nusa Lembongan Quiet channels on the north-east coast
Lembongan’s north-eastern shore is fringed by a protected mangrove forest threaded with shallow channels. Local boatmen punt visitors through it on flat wooden boats; you can also kayak or paddleboard, and snorkel at the nearby Mangrove Point reef.
Nusa Ceningan The suspension bridge to Nusa Ceningan
The narrow yellow suspension bridge (Jembatan Kuning) across the tidal channel between Lembongan and Ceningan, used by pedestrians and scooters. The original collapsed in 2016; the rebuilt crossing is one of the islands’ best-known landmarks and a lovely spot at sunset.
Nusa Ceningan Cliff jumping into electric-blue water
A small cove on Nusa Ceningan’s south-west coast where the sea turns an astonishing blue against white limestone cliffs. Cliff-jump platforms of different heights draw daredevils — on calm days only. With a swell running, it is strictly a viewpoint.
Cliff-top villas, beachfront resorts and good-value guesthouses on Lembongan and Ceningan — compared, with live rates.
A five-star boutique resort above Tamarind Beach on the quiet west coast, with an infinity pool looking across the strait to Bali — the island’s most polished address.
Stylish villas and suites on the hillside above Jungutbatu, with a long infinity pool facing Mount Agung and the surf breaks. A favourite with couples.
Traditional lumbung-style (rice-barn) cottages in a garden right on Mushroom Bay, where the island’s calmest swimming water starts at the edge of the lawn.
Swim with manta rays, watch the waves at Devil’s Tear, cross the Yellow Bridge to Ceningan and stand above Kelingking on Nusa Penida. Compare the best-rated experiences and book in a couple of taps.
Yes. It is one of the easiest and most rewarding escapes from mainland Bali: clear water, manta rays, dramatic coastline and a relaxed island pace, only 30–45 minutes by fast boat from Sanur. Compare the best tours here.
By fast boat from Sanur on Bali’s east coast — several companies run crossings through the day, taking about 30–45 minutes. Day cruises also leave from Benoa. See our Sanur to Lembongan guide.
Stay at least two nights if you can. A day trip gives you a taste, but you miss the sunsets, the quiet mornings and the chance to add Nusa Penida or a dive. See where to stay.
Yes — Manta Point and Manta Bay off Nusa Penida are 30–45 minutes by boat, and reef mantas are seen there on most days of the year. See our Manta Point guide.
Foreign visitors to Bali pay the provincial tourist levy (IDR 150,000 at the time of writing), and a small local levy is usually collected for the Nusa Penida islands. Details in our travel guide.
