Trade Bali traffic for a 30-minute boat ride to Nusa Lembongan
A new harbour in Sanur, operational since 2022, has simplified access to Nusa Lembongan, reducing a previously bumpy crossing to a 30-minute fast-boat ride. The island offers beachside dining, surf and dive sites, yoga studios and stylish stays, with easy connections to neighbouring Nusa Ceningan an
A short boat ride from Sanur, Nusa Lembongan offers beachside dining, surf and dive sites, stylish stays, and easy access to its neighbouring islands, providing a laid-back alternative to Bali's busier tourist hubs. Since the new Sanur harbour began operating in 2022, passengers have been able to board from a purpose-built terminal and pier, making the journey considerably easier than a decade ago, when reaching the island meant wading through shallow water for a bumpy crossing.
Several fast-boat operators run daily services between Sanur and Nusa Lembongan, with the crossing typically taking about 30 minutes. D'Camel operates selected services on a larger vessel with an air-conditioned cabin and open upper deck, which may offer a steadier ride depending on sea conditions. Once on the island, visitors can get around on foot, by motorbike or rental buggy, or via local taxis found along main roads.
Among higher-end stays are The Tamarind Resort and Batu Karang Lembongan Resort & Spa. The Tamarind Resort, set on a hillside near Jungut Batu, offers suites and private villas with one to three bedrooms, while Batu Karang offers suites, villas and apartments, some with private plunge pools, including larger three- and five-bedroom residences and a penthouse with outdoor shower, full kitchen and wraparound balcony. For further villa options, The Lembongan Traveller represents properties including Morin Resort, Tropical Tranquility and Villa Tanjung.
Dining options span Bali Eco Deli, a sustainability-focused cafe that offers customers a discount for recycling plastic bottles; Milo & Oliver, a two-storey air-conditioned cafe serving ube lattes, eggs Benedict and waffles; and beachfront Ginger & Jamu, which sources 90 per cent of ingredients from Bali and serves gado-gado, nasi goreng and curries. Ombak Cafe focuses on low-waste dining with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, while sunset drinks are available at The Deck or nearby Bonzer and La Bianca. Curry Traders offers Indian dishes, and Nyoman's Warung and Little Prema Warung provide Indonesian fare with locally caught seafood.
Activities include surfing at breaks such as Playgrounds, Shipwrecks and Lacerations, with lessons and boat transfers from We Surf Lembongan; diving with operators including Legend Diving, which offers trips to Manta Point and Crystal Bay as well as PADI certification and specialised programmes on nudibranch identification and coral-bleaching monitoring; and yoga and wellness at Yoga Bliss Lembongan and Island Yoga Lembongan, which runs drop-in classes, sound journeys and hammock sound-healing sessions. Freediving courses are available through Fluid Focus Freediving.
Across the Yellow Bridge, Nusa Ceningan offers surfing, ziplining, cliff jumping and the relatively secluded Secret Beach. Small boats also cross from the same area to Nusa Penida, known for landmarks such as Kelingking Beach, Angel's Billabong, Broken Beach and Diamond Beach, though the island can become congested with day-trippers.
