Explore Nusa Lembongan or Lembongan Island, another paradise in Bali
What you should know about Nusa Lembongan or Lembongan Island from the location, the local peoples, culture or things to do.
Nusa Lembongan is a small island off the southeast coast of the main island of Bali. Quickly becoming one of Bali’s most popular attractions, this island paradise is a world away from the hassle and hectic pace of South Bali. Neither hawkers nor traffic mar the magnificent scenery; this is a fine place to just put your feet up and relax. Main activities include surfing, diving and snorkeling. The water is some of the clearest you will find anywhere, and a vivid aqua blue in colour.
Nusa Lembongan is approximately 8km² in size and is one of three neighbouring islands, Nusa Penida and tiny Nusa Ceningan (which is part of Lembongan Village). The three islands are separated from Bali by the Badung Strait. Some visitors may find Nusa Lembongan a little slow after the pace of South Bali.
Many areas around the island are good for diving and snorkeling, with abundant marine life and healthy coral. Surfing can get a bit crowded, but the waves are good. There are several white sand beaches away from the main centres which are virtually never crowded. There is a flourishing and well established seaweed farming industry here, and many visitors find it interesting to learn about this.
Culture
The local Lembonganese are Hindu and visitors will notice little or no difference from the prevailing culture on the Bali mainland, such us temple or hindu ceremony.
You may be able to catch a cock fight, look out for a crowd of local men! This generates a lot of excitement on this tiny island.
Get Around
The attractions here are mostly natural. The beaches and other coastal landscapes are obviously a key draw, as are the sunsets. There are a limited number of man-made attractions, most notably temples and the rickety suspension bridge.
By Foot
Nusa Lembongan is a nice place to walk, with coastal paths linking nearly all the guest houses, hotels and restaurants. Most walks will take less than two hours. The less developed southwestern area of the island has some spectacular coast paths which provide easy walking, great views back to Bali, and spectacular sunsets. You can cross by foot to the small neighbouring island of Nusa Ceningan via a scenic suspension bridge.
From the end of the beach at Jungut Batu it is a 35min walk along the coast to Mushroom Bay.
By Bike or Scooter
Bicycles can be rented at most hotels and guest-houses. Some of the roads are quite well surfaced, but be prepared for some very degraded surfaces in places. This is a great way to see the island at your own pace.
Scooter are also widely available for rent, but may be unnecessary given the short distances involved — the island is only about 4km end-to-end, check the scooter rental information here. Local boys are more than happy to transport you on the back of their motorbike for a fee.
By Truck/Pick up truck
There are virtually no cars on Nusa Lembongan, and any business or local resident wishing to bring one to the island needs special permission from the village elders. This will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Local 4-wheeled transport is available though in the form of basic pick-up trucks which most hotels and restaurants use. These are useful for transport to and from the boat transfer point when you are likely to have heavy bags, but are otherwise not really necessary. If you are in group, island tour with pick-up trucks are great value and option.
Don’t Forget to bring this
- Camera
- Video camera
- Credit cards / ATM
- Mobile
- Water
- Map
Emergency & Medical Clinic
There is a small medical clinic in Jungut Batu with an attendant doctor. This is a perfectly good facility for treating minor ailments, but visitors with anything approaching a serious problem should get back to Bali as quickly as possible. Opening hours are erratic and unpredictable. Ask at your hotel.
Like all of Bali, Nusa Lembongan is officially a malaria-free zone. Dengue fever is a potential problem.