Mushroom Bay (Tanjung Sanghyang) is a sheltered, half-moon bay on Lembongan’s west coast. It takes its name from the mushroom corals that once covered its sea floor, and it is the island’s best beach for an easy swim: the headlands block most of the swell, and the water is shallow, clear and calm on most days.
It is also one of the island’s arrival points. Several fast-boat companies from Sanur land here, and big day-cruise operators have beach clubs and pontoons nearby, so from late morning to mid-afternoon the bay fills with boats and bathers. Mornings and evenings — when the day-trippers are gone and the sun sets over Bali — are wonderful.
Top things to do at Mushroom Bay
Swim and snorkel in calm water
The most reliable swimming on Lembongan. The best snorkelling is around the rocky edges of the bay; for the reefs proper, take a boat snorkelling trip.
Watch the sunset over Bali
The bay faces west towards Bali’s Bukit peninsula. Pick a beach restaurant, order grilled fish and watch the sky change.
Walk to Tamarind Beach
A small path leads south over the headland to the quieter Tamarind (Celagi) Beach, a pretty strip of sand beneath clifftop villas.
How to get to Mushroom Bay
- From Sanur: fast boats from Sanur land directly on the beach — check that your ticket says Mushroom Bay rather than Jungutbatu.
- From Jungutbatu: about 3 km, 10 minutes by scooter, or around 45 minutes on foot.
- From Dream Beach: about 2 km by road.
Insider tips
- Landings are usually wet — you step off the boat into knee-deep water. Wear sandals and keep valuables in a dry bag.
- The bay is busiest roughly 11 am to 3 pm, when the day cruises arrive.
- Hotels along the bay make it the best base for families with young children.
- Watch for boat traffic when swimming outside the marked areas.
Best tours & tickets for Mushroom Bay
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Mushroom Bay:
Fast boat from €11 Sanur: Nusa Lembongan Fast Boat Transfer
A no-frills ticket for the Sanur crossing that lets you choose which side of the island to land on — handy if your hotel is at Mushroom Bay rather than Jungutbatu.
- Lands at Mushroom Bay or Jungutbatu
- Several departures a day
- Ticket only — the cheapest crossing
Day cruise from €117 From Bali: Reef Cruise Day Trip to Nusa Lembongan
The traditional Bali day cruise: a large boat from Benoa to a pontoon moored off Lembongan, with unlimited water activities and a beach club ashore. Easy and family-friendly, if not exactly off the beaten track.
- Pontoon with water slide, snorkelling and glass-bottom boat
- Beach club access on Lembongan
- Buffet lunch; optional scuba try-dive
Day cruise from €106 From Bali: Nusa Lembongan Cruise with Snorkeling & BBQ Lunch
A newer day cruise with a little more substance: besides the pontoon and beach club, you see how Lembongan’s seaweed farmers work and help plant coral fragments. Few reviews so far, but all excellent.
- Snorkelling, pontoon activities and beach club time
- Visit a local seaweed farm
- Hands-on coral restoration and a BBQ lunch
