Nusa Lembongan, Bali

When I travelled to Bali a couple of years ago I wanted to visit one of the smaller islands close by. At first my mind was set on one of the Gili Islands, but after some research I settled on Nusa Lembongan…and was not disappointed!

This island is peaceful, charming, and gorgeous…a trifecta of perfection! The easiest way to get to Nusa Lembongan is to take a boat from Sanur to either Jungut Batu or Mushroom Bay. Both of these locations are convenient for accommodations where staff can pick you up and help with your luggage.

We decided to get the boat to Mushroom Bay where our accommodation, Alam Nusa Huts and Spa, was within walking distance.

This property was just off the main road nestled amongst gardens with a small restaurant and a spa. We enjoyed our breakfast here each morning and made time to have some spa treatments as well.

From our accommodation we were able to walk to most places we wanted to see. They did have bicycles and scooters that could be rented, but the roads are very narrow and we decided to walk. We made our way to Jungut Batu Village on the western side of the island. Along the way we stopped to take pictures of some temples and a gravesite.

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Wherever we went we saw offerings and statues honoring the many gods that the Hindu faith worship. The beautiful flowers and the smell of incense followed us throughout our stay in Bali.

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We caught sight of Jungut Batu from above and then made our way down the road into the village.

We enjoyed our time wandering along the beach here and having a bite to eat. This village definitely had a good selection of places to eat as well as some shops. This is also where you will find numerous surfing, snorkeling, and dive centers.

Although tourism is fast becoming the main economy source for this island it has come with a cost. The seaweed farming industry, which at one time was an important source of income for residents, has suffered and since 2015 has failed to be productive.

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One of the more popular beaches is called Dream Beach. This beach is located in a cove on the southern part of the island. We were able to easily walk here from our accommodation near Mushroom Bay.

We spent the better part of a day here and the powdery sand and crashing waves made for a wonderfully relaxing afternoon. You can rent chairs from the resort that is here and use their facilities. There is also a restaurant which served delicious food and a local drink called Arak Attack…I’d highly recommend giving it a try.

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Nothing much to do here but take in the scenery and enjoy meandering on the beach.

Our time on Nusa Lembongan wasn’t long…but it was perfect. We stayed here at the beginning of our trip to Bali which was a great way to start our vacation. We loved our accommodation at Alam Nusa and the staff went out of their way to make sure we had a fantastic time.

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One thing not to be missed while staying on Nusa Lembongan is a sunset.

Nusa Lembongan was definitely a highlight of my trip to Bali. I just hope that it can continue to balance the charm and peace that I found there with the ever increasing number of tourists that want to go for just those reasons.