Bali to Nusa Penida Day Trip: Ultimate Private Tour Review

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Indonesia

Nusa Penida Tour

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Hey fellow explorers! If you're building your 2026 Bali itinerary,

you're probably looking into nearby island day trips.

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Many travelers debate whether to include a Nusa Penida tour

in their schedule.

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Spoiler alert: I highly recommend

adding it to your must-do list!

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I departed from my hotel in Jimbaran,

which involved a 40-minute drive and a 30-minute boat ride.

Despite the commute, the experience was so incredible

that I realized there was no reason to hesitate.

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The dramatic coastal cliffs plunging into the deep blue ocean

created a spectacular view I haven't seen anywhere else.

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Honestly, traveling all the way to Bali and missing this

would be a huge missed opportunity.

In today's post, I'll be covering:

Let's dive in! - 💚

1. Nusa Penida Island Tour Booking Tips

📍 Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali, Indonesia

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Nusa Penida is a stunning island known for its emerald waters,

located about a 30-minute boat ride from mainland Bali.

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You take a fast boat from Sanur Port.

I wanted a seamless experience with pick-up and drop-off from my Jimbaran hotel,

so I booked through KKDAY, which offered free hotel transfers.

🔻

Nusa Penida Private Day Tour + Optional Snorkeling | Bali

* I'll leave some discount codes at the bottom of this post!

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Usually, tours charge extra depending on your location,

but with KKDAY, areas like Ubud, Canggu, Kuta,

Jimbaran, Seminyak, and Uluwatu

all include free pick-up and drop-off at no extra cost.

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Even for the exact same itinerary,

booking elsewhere was over ~$12 more expensive per person.

(So KKDAY was the obvious choice!)

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I started my journey from my accommodation in Jimbaran:

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✔️ Jimbaran Hotel ➡︎ Sanur Port: 40 mins by car

✔️ Sanur Port ➡︎ Nusa Penida: 30 mins by boat

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The total transit time is a little over an hour,

making it entirely feasible for a day trip.

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2. The Perfect Nusa Penida Itinerary

Personally, I firmly believe that

a Nusa Penida tour is a must-add to your Bali itinerary.

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Rather than trying to DIY the trip,

booking a tour is much safer and more convenient

when you factor in boat schedules and rugged island driving.

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Here is the exact route we took:

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✅ Duration: 7 - 8 hours

(Varies depending on hotel location)

✅ Pick-up Time: 6:30 AM

Free cancellation up to 4 days in advance

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To catch the boat to Nusa Penida,

you generally need to arrive by 8:00 AM.

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Our driver picked us up at 7:00 AM

from our hotel lobby, and we headed straight to Sanur Port.

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Next, it was time to head from the port to the island.

We boarded the 8:00 AM fast boat.

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The ride is only about 30 miles across the strait,

so the journey felt quite quick.

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Thankfully, the boat was spacious enough

for a comfortable ride.

We even went up to the second deck to snap some photos! ㅎㅎ

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Just a heads-up: there's a tourist tax required to enter the island.

However, the tour package I booked

already had this tax included,

so we breezed right through with no extra fees.

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As soon as you arrive on the island,

local tour guides are waiting for the visitors.

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Our mainland driver had already

contacted our island guide in advance,

so we found him immediately.

(He was holding a sign, making it impossible to miss!)

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We hopped into the car with our guide

and drove to our first stop: Broken Beach.

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It's a natural coastal archway

where the ocean flows through a hole in the cliff.

The emerald color of the water

was unreal—it looked like a painting.

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Our guide was fantastic and proactively

took photos of us against the dramatic cliff backdrop,

leaving us with some amazing shots.

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Angel's Billabong is a natural infinity pool

formed between the rocky cliffs.

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The water is incredibly crystal clear,

making you want to jump right in.

Unfortunately, swimming at Angel's Billabong

is currently prohibited for safety reasons.

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Angel's Billabong is located right next to Broken Beach,

but it has a completely different, unique charm.

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Our final stop was the absolute highlight

of any Nusa Penida tour:

Kelingking Beach!!

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This is the famous T-Rex shaped cliff

that you've undoubtedly seen all over Instagram.

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Seeing the exact image from your Bali Pinterest board

unfold right before your eyes is truly awe-inspiring.

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While we were taking photos,

a monkey casually strolled past us.

It definitely felt like a classic Bali moment!

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Once again, our guide stepped up

to direct our mini photoshoot.

If he hadn't been there, getting a good shot would have been tough.

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Because it's such an iconic spot,

the crowds here are massive.

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After exploring all the main attractions,

we grabbed lunch before heading back to the boat.

Since we booked a private tour,

it was super easy to adjust the schedule based on our energy levels.

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We decided to push lunch to the very end of our island time.

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Lunch was at a local restaurant,

serving a classic Mie Goreng set meal.

This was fully included in the tour package,

so we enjoyed a great meal with no extra out-of-pocket costs.

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Just note that sodas and beers are extra!

✅ 50,000 IDR (~$3)

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3. Essential Travel Tips & Precautions

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✔️ Motion Sickness Pills are a MUST 💊

Between the fast boat and the notoriously bumpy island roads,

if you're prone to motion sickness, definitely pack some medication!

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✔️ Hat and Sunglasses are essential 🕶️

The weather is stunning but can get intensely hot and humid (often hitting the high 80s Fahrenheit).

Don't forget a hat and sunglasses.

I even brought a portable handheld fan, which was a lifesaver!

4. Why Choose a Private Tour?

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As mentioned, I booked the KKDAY

Nusa Penida Private Tour for this trip.

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I initially considered a shared group tour,

but having a dedicated vehicle just for my group

sounded infinitely more comfortable.

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With a join-in tour, you often have to navigate to a meeting point yourself,

and honestly, the price difference

was so minimal that upgrading was a no-brainer.

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Having experienced it firsthand,

having the flexibility to control our own schedule

was incredibly convenient.

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Want to spend an extra 20 minutes at a viewpoint?

No problem.

Ready to escape the heat and move on? Let's go!

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But the absolute biggest perk?

The guide acts as your personal photographer!

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Because Nusa Penida is a globally famous destination,

it draws massive crowds of international tourists every day.

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People frequently try to cut lines for photo spots,

which can get frustrating.

However, our guide expertly secured our spots,

cleared the space, and handled all the photo-taking.

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A friend of mine used a different tour operator before

and complained that their guide didn't take any photos.

The KKDAY private tour was a completely different story!!

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If you love capturing great travel memories, I highly recommend

the KKDAY Nusa Penida Tour I used.

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You can apply the discount codes directly on their official booking page ⬇︎

View the Nusa Penida Private Tour Details

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5. Final Thoughts

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That wraps up my review of the Nusa Penida day trip,

an essential addition to any Bali itinerary.

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After experiencing it myself,

even though getting there takes a bit of effort,

I completely understand why everyone hypes it up!

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If you appreciate jaw-dropping landscapes and love taking photos,

you absolutely must go.

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Booking a private tour means

you control the pace of your day,

and with the free hotel pick-up and drop-off,

it's a surprisingly relaxing adventure.

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Don't forget to use the KKDAY discount codes

to lock in the best price! :)

🔻

Nusa Penida Private Day Tour + Optional Snorkeling | Bali

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If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below!

Have an amazing trip to Bali~

Cheers! - 💙