BEST NUSA PENIDA DAY TRIP TOURS FROM BALI - A COMPLETE GUIDE

Nusa Penida is the biggest of the three Nusa Islands just off from mainland Bali. It’s only a 30-minute boat trip from Sanur in Bali so it’s very easy to reach quickly for a day trip if you are staying in Canggu, Seminyak, or Kuta. There are so many awesome things to do on Nusa Penida Island and there are three different day trip tours I suggest you look at depending on what you are interested in seeing.

There is the Nusa Penida Tour of the East, the Nusa Penida Tour of the West, and the Nusa Penida Manta Snorkel Tour. Each of these tours picks you up in the morning and drops you off at your hotel in Kuta/Seminyak/Canggu so you enjoy a whole day of fun and you don’t have to do much transit!

Of course, if you have more time than just a day trip you can check out my blog post about my 27 favorite things to do on Nusa Penida and enjoy exploring the island.

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Best Nusa Penida Day Tours

If you are staying in Bali.. but still want to spend a day or two experiencing how epic Nusa Penida is, you can take a day trip on a speedboat to Nusa Penida. Yep, in just one day you can snorkel with Manta rays and visit lots of the best beaches and viewpoints.

The best tour company on Nusa Penida is Four Elements Adventure because they do custom-built itineraries where you get to tell them which spots are on your bucket list and then they will create a personalized tour just for you! Trust me, they are gurus. I have been on the tour with them personally, which is why they have given me a discount code for my blog readers.

You can Click Here to visit the Nusa Penida section of their website to view all their tours, prices, and details, and remember to use the code ‘JACKSON‘ to get 5% OFF YOUR ENTIRE TRIP.

They have two different tours, which cover the two different sides of Nusa Penida.

NUSA PENIDA EAST TOUR – Pick-up from Bali and fast boat to Nusa Penida and then hit the best spots in the east of the island including:

Atuh Beach
Diamond Beach
Rumah Pohon Treehouse
Thousand Island Viewpoint
Teletubbies Viewpoint
Fast boat back to Bali and drop off at your hotel.

NUSA PENIDA EPIC TOUR – Pick-up from Bali and fast boat to Nusa Penida and then hit the best spots in the east of the island including:

Snorkeling with Manta Rays
Crystal Bay
Kelingking Beach (T-Rex Beach)
Atuh Beach
Rumah Pohon Treehouse
Thousand Island Viewpoint
Fast boat back to Bali and drop off at your hotel.

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NUSA PENIDA MANTA SNORKEL TOUR

Swim with the massive reef manta rays of Nusa Penida
Visit Crystal Bay, Atuh Beach, Diamond Beach
Snorkel in scenic spots around Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan
Enjoy a delicious beachside lunch overlooking a white sand beach
Explore some of the most diverse reefs on the planet

Book now by clicking here: Nusa Penida Manta Snorkel Tour

So that is a brief overview of what each tour will include but now I will give you a more detailed look at each of the spots within each tour so you can get a true understanding of what you will see on each of the Nusa Penida Tours. Personally, I think it would be hard to go to Nusa Penida and not see Kelingking Beach but I guess Diamond Beach is equally as impressive now that the stairs have been built. The other thing to consider is that snorkeling with the manta rays is an incredible experience and almost has to trump any beach on offer. So here are the details of each spot so you can decide what you want to do.

Nusa Penida Tour of the East

Atuh Beach

Atuh Beach is a stunning white sand beach surrounded by huge cliffs and remarkable rock formations. An arch sits directly out from the shore while several islets string off in the distance. We explored the shore and the ocean before enjoying a fresh $2 coconut.

Air Asia knew what they were doing when it provided these umbrellas to the resorts. I can’t imagine how many Instagram photos have inadvertently advertised the airline.

Read the full blog post: Beautiful Atuh Beach on Nusa Penida

Diamond Beach

As you head down the stairs, you can really take in how these stairs were constructed. It was so fresh we could still see all of the chisel marks on the wall. Often the cliff hangs entirely over your head. This walk down may scare some but it isn’t too challenging.

The huge cliffs tower over you as you lay on the untouched sand. It is almost a little nerve-wracking being below such a huge wall of rock. It reminded me of certain beaches near the twelve apostles on the Great Ocean Road.

The most important rock though is the diamond-shaped rock in the shallows of the water. The beach is after all named after this diamond-shaped rock I believe.

Read the full blog post: DIAMOND BEACH ON NUSA PENIDA ISLAND (INCREDIBLE STAIRWAY)

Nusa Penida Treehouse (Rumah Pohon)

The Tree House (Rumah Pohon) on Nusa Penida has become something of a craze. It is perched up on the mountain at Thousand Island (Pulau Seribu) viewpoint near Atuh Beach. Thanks to some talented photographers who shared this spot on social media, it has landed itself on the Nusa Penida bucket list of many travelers.

It is part of the Thousand Island viewpoint area costing only 10,000 rupiah to park and enter, which is less than $1 USD. The best part about this treehouse is that it is actually a house and you can rent it out for pretty cheap considering how popular this spot has become and how insane the view is.

Read the full blog post: The Nusa Penida Treehouse (Rumah Pohon) Airbnb

Teletubbies Hill

Teletubbie Hill is a great spot to understand just how diverse the landscapes are on Nusa Penida and it was incredibly interesting flying the drone here scoping out all the different contours, valleys and canyons in this region. Here are a couple of my favorite shots from Teletubbies Hill.

NUSA PENIDA TOUR OF THE WEST

Angel’s Billabong

Angel’s Billabong is one of the magical spots you can’t help but marvel at. A crystal clear tide pool cascades into the ocean on the east coast of Nusa Penida. Out in that ocean, Manta Rays cruise the coast at leisure.

As with all tidal pools you need to arrive at the right time of day. If you visit Angel’s Billabong during high-tide you will experience a very different pool than the one you see in photos. You will need to check the tide using a site like Magic Seaweed.

Once you figure out when the low tide is, you should plan your itinerary around that. On the day we wanted to visit Angel’s Billabong the low tide was at 8 am so we arrived right at 8 am and it was perfect.

The Billabong is a remarkable formation. The crystal clear water allows you to see the patterns and textures beneath the surface. In some areas, the water is deep enough for a little dip! It is a highly photographed spot on Nusa Penida because of how unique the landscape is.

Read the full blog post: Angel’s Billabong on Nusa Penida

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Broken Beach

Broken Beach is an incredible little cove on Nusa Penida island. The highlight of the cove and the reason it is called Broken Beach is due to the archway that wraps around the bay allowing water to flow in and out from the ocean.

All around the world, there are unique ways in which the earth has eroded over time. Sometimes mother nature leaves us with something quite remarkable. On Nusa Penida, one of those places that leave us in a state of awe at how over millions of years the earth has ended up as beautiful as it appears before us right now!

The arch at Broken Beach has been formed over many, many years and is now a true spectacle. From above the cove appears almost circular and closed in, however, at eye level the arch is quite high. Unfortunately, there is no way down into the cove for a refreshing dip although you can get in the water at Angel’s Billabong around the corner.

Read the full blog post: Broken Beach on Nusa Penida

Kelingking Beach

The Instagram famous coastal cliffscape, which truly does look like a T-rex didn’t disappoint. I still remember the moment I laid eyes on the beach below. It felt like I was a human drone. I watched the crystal clear water slowly form into a wave before crashing below us, in what seemed like slow motion.

We took a short trek down the spine of the T-Rex and took in the epic drop-offs down each side. This is definitely my favorite thing to do on Nusa Penida and is just one of those landscapes that make you feel small. It makes you feel lucky to be in its company, to be able to witness earth’s creation.

Nusa Penida has so many amazing views making it hard to pick a favorite. But when the cliffs form in the shape of a Tyrannosaurus Rex at Kelingking Secret Point Beach it is bound to be a crowd favorite.

Kelingking actually translates into English meaning Pinkie a term referencing the smallest finger on the hand. Just like a pinkie promise, the land does also appear to take the form of a Kelingking or pinkie finger. However, it is the comparison to the T-Rex that has caused this location to become so popular.

Read the full blog post: Kelingking Secret Point Beach

Crystal Bay

Crystal Bay is probably the most popular beach on Nusa Penida for a number of reasons. It is the best sunset beach, facing directly west. This alone makes it a winner for people trying to have a sunset beer and watch the sun go down.

It’s also the jump-off spot for snorkel tours and is only a 30-minute drive from the main port, Toyapakeh. Most importantly, unlike many of the crazy beaches on Penida, you can snorkel and swim with relaxing conditions.

Nusa Penida Manta Snorkel Tour

When we jumped into the water we were immediately staring face to face with a giant Manta Ray, which is one of the most majestic creatures of the ocean. More than five Manta Rays playfully looped around the bay, entertaining the group of snorkelers. The Manta Rays always seem playful and loop back again and again unlike turtles or fish, which often swim away at the sight of humans. The Manta Rays will often actually head straight for you and then dart off to the side at the last minute.

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Gamat Bay Snorkeling

We jumped off the boat, and immediately realized the water at Gamat Bay is much colder than at Manta Point and Crystal Bay. I’m not sure why that is. The second thing we noticed was the incredible coral structures and rock formations beneath the surface. The depth ranged from a few meters closer to shore all the way down to perfect free-diving depth of 5-20 meters.

Our guide told us this is where you can see a turtle if you are lucky. We looked long and hard and finally, we found a turtle who let us chill near him for ten minutes as he went about his business. The water clarity at Gamat was perfect!

Where to stay on Nusa Penida

I’m going to recommend three places to stay on Nusa Penida. All three of these spots are in great locations but each one is a little different. One is a luxury pick, one is a value selection and the last recommendation I have for you is where I recommend for the budget backpackers.

Ananta Bungalow – Value: The Ananta Bungalow is an awesome location right next to Crystal Bay, which is the best sunset beach on Nusa Penida and where the Manta Ray and snorkel trips launch off from. Basing yourself where you want to spend every sunset is a great idea.

The beautiful bungalows have a thatched roof, terrace and combine the island life with modern facilities. The bungalows how WiFi and air conditioning. These are iconic looking bungalows and for less than $25 a night they really are the best value place to stay on Nusa Penida.

Semabu Hills Resort – Luxury: Semabu Hills is definitely the best pick of the luxury options. It has an epic infinity pool that looks out over the ocean, which is an amazing spot to relax after adventuring around the island. With breakfast included each morning and luxury rooms, this is the kind of place you treat yourself to as a family or a couple.

Hostel Nusa Penida – Budget: There’s always a good hostel when backpacking in Indonesia and on Nusa Penida, this is your pick. Hostel Nusa Penida has free WiFi, is in a good central location, which is close to most of the main attractions, beaches, and hikes. It’s clean, modern and the staff are legends.

BEST NUSA PENIDA DAY TRIP TOURS FROM BALI – A COMPLETE GUIDE