How To Get To Nusa Penida From Nusa Lembongan

When you are in Bali you may be considering a visit to Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan. These islands are a couple of our favourite places in Bali so I would highly recommend a visit. When planning your Nusa Penida day trip, you might be wondering how to get to Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan? It was actually very easy and straightforward. Here’s exactly how to do it…

How To Get To Nusa Penida From Nusa Lembongan

Lot’s of people choose to do a Nusa Penida tour, but it’s super easy to get to Nusa Penida by yourself and arrange a driver when you get there. One of the best ways to get from Bali to Nusa Penida is actually via Nusa Lembongan. Let’s start with a quick summary of how to get to Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan. It’s super easy and an experience we loved.

1. Time: 10 Minutes once on the boat
2. Price: 60.000 IDR per person each direction. (one person is 120.000 IDR Return)
3. Boat Leaves Lembongan: All morning when a boat has about 8 people or more.
4. Leaves From: Yellow Bridge, Lembongan Side
5. Drops Off: Toya Pakeh Harbour, Nusa Penida
6. Leaves Penida From: The same beach at Toya Pakeh Harbour.
7. Drops Off: Yellow Bridge Lembongan.

Get To The Yellow Bridge (Lembongan Side)

First, you will have to get to Nusa Lembongan from Bali. Once on Lembongan make your way to the yellow bridge. Depending on where you are staying on Nusa Lembongan this may be best by walking or by scooter. Scooters are readily available and generally between 70.000 IDR – 100.000 IDR per day. There are a few spots to park, if you can’t find a spot just ask and you will be directed where to park. If a scooter is not for you, your accommodation may have a golf cart and may be able to take you. Another option is a bemo (think small, open backed truck with bench seats) which you will have to negotiate a rate and possibly wait for other travellers.

Buy Boat Tickets To Nusa Penida From Nusa Lembongan

Before our trip, we read reports from other travellers of having no fixed rates and having to negotiate for their boat trips between Lembongan and Penida, as well as long waits for the boats to fill up. Things have improved as it’s become more popular. From our experience, it was very easy and hassle-free. There is now a ticket desk and an official fixed price ticket. You do still need to wait for the boat to fill up but this happens pretty quickly.

How Much Does It Cost To Get From Nusa Lembongan To Nusa Penida?

The cost of the ticket to Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan was 60.000 IDR per person, each direction. So for Mandy and I, it cost 240.000 IDR return. We bought return tickets as we were only doing a day trip to Nusa Penida.

How To Get The Boat To Nusa Penida From Nusa Lembongan

So now you have your tickets sorted out, you may have to wait for your boat to fill up. Our experience was great. As we were buying our tickets a boat left with about 10 people on it. Then after we bought our tickets we only had to wait about 5 mins then we were called to our boat. As with most boat trips in Indonesia, you will get your ankles wet getting on and off the boat so thongs or sandals are a smart choice for the trip. Our boat had only 8 people plus the captain. From the looks of the boats we saw, they were not crowding or overfilling them which is awesome to see. Some fuller than others but all looked comfortable (even the ones that fit a scooter or two onboard as well!). The journey only took about 10-15 minutes which was perfect. You arrive at Toya Pakeh Harbour, and from here you can hire a driver or scooters. There are also some places to eat.

How To Get To Nusa Lembongan From Nusa Penida

When we bought our tickets we were told the return journeys are 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm. After 5pm the tide can get too low to return to the Yellow Bridge on Lembongan. So if you miss the 5pm boat you will either have to organise a private boat (that may drop you off far from the Yellow Bridge) or you could stay on Nusa Penida. So to get back to Nusa Lembongan, just return to Toya Pakeh Harbour, the same beach you arrived at, we aimed for the 5pm and got there in time. There were no signs but we just asked a couple of people on the beach and showed them our return ticket. We were shown a spot in the shade to sit and wait. 5 or 10 minutes later we were on the return boat back to Lembongan. We got dropped off at the same spot, got on our scooters and headed back to our hotel to relax.

I Am Not Going To Nusa Lembongan, How To Get To Nusa Penida From Bali?

There are a few ways to get from Bali to Nusa Penida. The most popular being by boat from Sanur beach in similar boats that you would get from Lembongan. The trip will take approximately 30 minutes. We have never done this journey and have heard mixed reports about it. That can come down to the weather, sea conditions as well as the boat and captain driving. But for us, we would prefer to get a bigger boat and head from Bali to Nusa Lembongan first, which is also only about 30 minutes away from Bali mainland.

So How Was It?

The process of making your own way from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida was a great one and one I would recommend. The tickets are a set price and reasonable which take the hassle out of negotiating a price. The boats did not seem like they were being overcrowded, and the journey for us both directions was great. The trip back was on time and hassle free for us.

Have you taken the trip from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida? Or Bali to Nusa Penida? Share your experience below!