We didn’t know too much about the island before getting there, only that it was beautiful and we should definitely make the stop on the way to the Gilis. We’re glad we did. Turquoise waters, golden sand and beachside bars made this place ‘the dream’.
Getting there
As we were staying in Sanur, Scoot Cruise was the logical choice of carrier, given they offer pick up and drop off at the other end and leave right from the beach in Sanur. Convenient yes, scary yes. Just a week after an incident on another Bali ferry, stopping in the middle of the trip as an engine cut out didn’t really seem like the dream, but as it turns out, isn’t that out of the ordinary for ferries heading to the offshore islands. You can also check out carriers leaving from Benoa Harbour or Pandangbai.
We eventually arrived on the beach in Lembongan (Jungut Batu) a little later than schedule and got dropped at our accommodation. We paid around IDR 3.5million for the two of us to make the round trip to Lembongan, Gili T and Gili Air. It sounds like this is about the going rate, although I think there are some cheaper options out there. We just liked the convenience of the service that Scoot provided, with one ticket for our journey. Just be prepared to wait around for the boat to arrive and get your feet wet occasionally.
Where to stay
The three main areas to stay in are the main beach Jungut Batu (not far from where the ferries come in), Mushroom Bay or Dream Beach. After visiting both Mushroom Bay and Dream Beach (both very nice options), we’re glad we stayed central and our accommodation right on the beachfront was nice and handy to most things.
Our accommodation was Nusa Indah Bungalows, and while perhaps not the flashest, it was pretty good for what we paid and offered a pool, restaurant and the beautiful beachfront. We were located right next to the Lembongan Beach Club, which is one of the more expensive hotels on the island. The hotel was pretty central and had scooter hire, comfortable bed and breakfast included, which was perfect for us. We found this place via Booking.com, which is one of our go-to’s.
www.booking.com/hotel/id/nusaindahbungalow
Getting around Lembongan
There are two main forms of transport on the island – scooters and golf buggies. Yes, golf buggies. We opted for the scooter option and hired one directly from our hotel for IDR 70k. We spent the day visiting Dream Beach, Mushroom Bay, and the Mangrove Forest and of course the famed yellow bridge (which has sadly since collapsed) and reckon scooter is the best way to see the island. Just make sure you drive safe and wear a helmet. The roads aren’t great.
Our top Lembongan spots to visit
- Devil’s Tear
- Dream Beach
- Mushroom Bay
- Yellow Bridge
- Mangrove Forest
- Sunset at Jungut Batu (the main beach).
Check out more info on these here