Nusa Lembongan is a Retreat or an Adventure

A Quiet and Stunning Island Escape

Nusa Lembongan is a small island located just 30 minutes by boat from Sanur, Bali. Known for crystal-clear waters, stunning beaches, and abundant marine life, it’s as good for sunbathing all day as it is for surfing, snorkeling, or diving. From adventure seekers to sun bathers, the island offers a little paradise away from the crowds of Bali.

Relax Along the Beaches

Nusa Lembongan is known for its crystal-clear waters along its rough sand shores. For me, all I wanted to do on the island was sit along the beach looking out to the sea, pop in the warm water when I got hot, and admire the sunset colors at the end of the day.

The most popular beaches are on the southern edge: Dream Beach, Mushroom Bay, and Sandy Bay. I had a great time in the northern section, finding Jungutatu Beach to have reliably gorgeous sunsets and Pantai Pasir Putih to be more secluded.

Go on an Adventure

If you’re looking to do something more active while in Nusa Lembongan, you have a few options. At some of the beaches, you can surf or snorkel, and if you head to the northern tip of the island you can kayak or paddle board in the mangroves. There are also several diving companies if you scuba.

To explore the islands, you can rent a motorbike and drive around, including going to the next island over, Nusa Ceningan, by a yellow bridge that connects them. You can even take your motorbike on a ferry to go to Nusa Penida - a more popular and much larger nearby island with Instagram favorite spots like Kelingking Beach, Crystal Bay, and Angel’s Billabong.

Another popular option is to schedule a boat tour, which will include a lot of snorkeling. You may be able to catch some manta rays and sea turtles on one of these trips. If I had been craving some adventure on my time in Nusa Lembongan, this would have been my choice.