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New York to Bali's islands: Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan

New York → Nusa Penida → Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan
"Seaweed farming -Nusa Lembongan, Bali-16Aug2009 edit.jpg" by Jean-Marie Hullot on flickr and Jmhullot on commons; Papa Lima Whiskey Original upload and image description written by User:Snowmanradio., CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Sea cliffs, manta rays & seaweed farms Best season (general guide): May–Oct

South-east of Bali, the Nusa islands are a short boat ride away but feel much quieter. This route spends three nights on Nusa Penida and three on Nusa Lembongan. From New York you'll connect via a Gulf or Asian hub to Bali, then take a fast boat from Sanur. On Nusa Penida, Kelingking Beach, below a ridge shaped like a dinosaur, is one of the island's most photographed views.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Nusa Penida: day one, fast boat from Sanur; day two, Kelingking and the west coast; day three, manta snorkelling trip. Then spend days four to six in Nusa Lembongan: day four, boat to Lembongan; day five, Yellow Bridge to Ceningan; day six, Nusa Ceningan and the reef.

The waters around the island are known for manta rays, which snorkel and dive trips go to see. A yellow suspension bridge links Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Ceningan. Practical notes: roads on Nusa Penida are steep and rough, so hire a driver to see the island.

Safety: Canada advises a high degree of caution in Indonesia, with regional advisories for other provinces (updated 10 Sep 2026). The US rates Indonesia Level 2 (issued 7 Jul 2026).

Nusa Penida is part of Klungkung Regency and has a protected marine area that includes the waters around Lembongan and Ceningan. The island is a sanctuary for the Bali starling, a rare bird released here as part of a conservation programme. The ocean sunfish, or mola, is sometimes seen by divers around the islands in the cooler months.

Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan together form Nusa Penida District, part of the Lesser Sunda Islands. Nusa Ceningan has a well-known surf break, and none of the three islands has an airport.

Suggested outline

  1. New York

    Start

  2. Nusa Penida

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    A rugged island of sea cliffs.

    Kelingking Beach Nusa Penida
    "Kelingking Beach (T-Rex Bay) of Nusa Penida, Bali (2025) - img 06.jpg" by Chainwit., CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  3. Nusa Lembongan

    By boat · 3 nights suggested

    A small island with seaweed farms and reefs.

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Nusa Penida — Arrive; fast boat from Sanur· New York → Denpasar (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day, then Denpasar → Nusa Penida (overland)
  2. Day 2 · Nusa Penida — Kelingking and the west coast
  3. Day 3 · Nusa Penida — Manta snorkelling trip
  4. Day 4 · Nusa Lembongan — Boat to Lembongan· Nusa Penida → Nusa Lembongan (by boat)
  5. Day 5 · Nusa Lembongan — Yellow Bridge to Ceningan
  6. Day 6 · Nusa Lembongan — Nusa Ceningan and the reef
  7. Day 7 · Nusa Lembongan — Travel home from Nusa Lembongan· Nusa Lembongan → Denpasar (by boat), then Denpasar → New York (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Nusa Penida

Nearest airport: Denpasar (Bali) Search fares · Denpasar (Bali) ↗

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