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Southeast of Bali
Nusa Penida
A rugged island with iconic cliffs (Kelingking), hidden bays and snorkelling with manta rays.
📅 2–4 nightsNatureAdventureSnorkelingBeach
A rugged island with iconic cliffs (Kelingking), hidden bays and snorkelling with manta rays.
Why Nusa Penida? A rugged island with iconic cliffs (Kelingking), hidden bays and snorkelling with manta rays.
Nusa Penida is the rugged, spectacular island southeast of Bali: towering cliffs, hidden bays and fantastic snorkelling with manta rays. The iconic Kelingking cliff (the 'T-Rex') is on everyone's wish list.
It's adventurous and still relatively rough around the edges: bumpy roads, steep stairs and highlights that lie far apart. Breathtakingly beautiful, but not luxurious or effortless.
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Don't underestimate Penida: the island is large and the roads are partly appalling. Driving from west to east takes plenty of time and jolting. Book a driver or jeep, or an experienced scooter rider, and don't try to cram everything into one day — that turns into a rush. Anyone who stays over (1 to 2 nights) sees more and avoids the day-tripper crowds from the boatloads out of Bali.
West: Kelingking Beach (the famous T-Rex-shaped cliff), Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong and Crystal Bay. East: Diamond Beach and Atuh, with white bays and dramatic cliffs. The staircase down to Kelingking Beach is steep and tough in the heat, so bring water. Just off the sister islands you'll also find the much-photographed Yellow Bridge — a narrow yellow suspension footbridge linking Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, and the classic scooter shot of the trip.
For many people this is the real reason to come to Penida: swimming with giant oceanic manta rays. The two main spots are Manta Point (Manta Bay) on the rugged south-west coast and the nearby Manta Cliff, where the mantas glide in to feed and be cleaned almost all year round — encounter rates here are among the highest in the world. Wingspans of 3 to 4 metres are normal, and the animals are completely harmless.
You can go two ways. Snorkelling manta tours leave by fast boat and stop at three or four sites (typically Manta Point, Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay and Wall) in a half-day — no experience needed, though you should be comfortable in open water, as the swell here can be big. Scuba divers get closer still and often combine the mantas with Crystal Bay, one of the few places on earth to meet the rare, prehistoric-looking mola mola (oceanic sunfish), best from July to October. The water is cooler than northern Bali, so a wetsuit helps. Book with a reputable operator, go early for the calmest sea, and remember the mantas are wild — never touch or chase them.
There are few ATMs and the infrastructure is basic, so bring enough cash. The sea can pull dangerously in some bays — don't swim in Angel's Billabong at high tide, for instance. Go early to the popular spots for the fewest crowds and the best photos.
Adventurers, photographers and active couples. Less suitable for anyone expecting comfort, smooth roads or luxury.
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All hotels in Nusa Penida →Doable as a day trip, but 1-2 nights avoids the crowds and gives you time for both west and east.
Plan Nusa Penida in depth with our in-house guides — what to do, where to stay, a ready-made day trip, and how it compares to Lembongan.
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