I Regret Missing Out: How to Have an Incredible Nusa Penida Day Trip (Without the DIY Headaches)

Have you ever spent hours planning and getting excited about a travel itinerary to a dream destination only for it to become the biggest headache of your trip?

Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened to me when I went to Nusa Penida:

I thought renting a scooter with my friend and exploring on our own would be an epic adventure — one to write home about for sure; and it was… just not in the way I expected!

It turned out to be the most stressful day, full of mistakes and wasted time, and — here’s the kicker — we could have had an incredible adventure. If only we hadn’t tried to DIY the experience.

Learn from me: here’s how to actually have an unforgettable (in the good way) day trip to Nusa Penida!

Why I Regret DIYing My Nusa Penida Day Trip

I thought I was being smart and adventurous by convincing my friend to DIY our Nusa Penida day trip… but it ended up being such a rough day, and I feel like I missed out on something I was super excited about because I was stubborn and didn’t want to book a tour.

We started off our morning catching one of the first ferries over from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida — a quick 10-15 minute boat ride, and we felt like we were starting our day off on the right foot.

But from there, things just spiraled:

Rough Road Conditions

I had read online that the road conditions in Nusa Pendia were rough, but I didn’t realize how bad it was until my friend and I rented a scooter and tried to do it ourselves.

Neither of us had any scooter experience prior to arriving to Bali — and we truthfully should have before renting any scooters — but my friend picked up the driving pretty quickly while on Lembongan island and we decided it would be okay to rent a scooter in Penida as well.

The thing is, the roads on Lembongan are well paved and not busy at all; Penida, on the other hand, is a completely different story!

There were tons of pot holes, scooters and tour vans flying past us, and the landscape is very hilly so not only are the roads uneven and narrow, they are very windy as well.

Read more: The road conditions are just one of the reasons I recommend basing in Nusa Lembongan over Nusa Penida for most travelers. Check out the linked post next if you’re still debating which island is best for you!

I’m not sure how my friend managed to keep us safe — but we only had one rough bump and he was able to catch the bike before we toppled over.

However, he was so stressed the entire time, and it really started off our trip on the wrong foot!

The KelingKing Beach Descent

Once we finally made it to our first (and only) destination of the day, we were met by the heaviest crowds.

KelingKing Beach is an iconic spot on Nusa Penida — it’s where basically every tourist grabs their insta-photo for the trip — and despite arriving early, it was packed!

So, I asked my friend if he’d be willing to hike down to the beach with me.

Big mistake #2.

The hike starts off just hard — with a steep set of stairs carved into the rocks; some of them were the height of my hip. Granted, I’m only 5ft tall, but still these steps were massive!

Once you get to the half way point, it gets even worse — you’ll need to scramble down the rocks with narrow footholds and only some flimsy wooden poles to keep you safe.

I didn’t know before the hike that my friend was scared of heights; he told only me after we finished the hike that this was one of the worst experiences of his life. 😩

The worst part for me was having to climb back up… It felt like it took me hours in each direction — remember those hip-height stairs? Well, they were the easiest obstacle on the way pack to the parking lot!

And because I wasn’t prepared for the difficulty or time-commitment, I didn’t bring snacks or enough water for the hike; I almost passed out on the way up.

The worst part? The waves and current on the beach are super strong. So it’s not even a great spot to swim or take a refreshing dip in the ocean!

All of this to say: You should get your iconic photo at KelingKing beach… and I do even suggest walking down a few stairs to get the crowds out of your photo. But I wouldn’t suggest doing the entire hike unless you are a very strong hiker.

Even More Time Lost

When we finally made it back to the top of the hike, we grabbed some lunch, and planned the rest of our stops in hopes of salvaging what was left of our day trip.

But, because we had spent so much time on the hike, KelingKing had become even more crowded. And with those crowds came traffic.

Awful traffic.

We were in a standstill for over half an hour just to leave the beach. And despite being on a scooter, the roads were so narrow that there wasn’t even room for us to pass the large tour vans and get on our way.

By the time we made it out of the worst of the traffic and saw how far we still had to travel to our other stops of the day, we realized that we would miss the last ferry back to Nusa Lembongan so we decided to call it.

We took an earlier ferry back and then spent the rest of the day relaxing by our hotel pool — truly the best experience of the day.

Unfortunately, this was the worst day of our Bali trip, and it could have been so much better…

The Better Way — Book a Tour

If I could redo it, I’d absolutely book a day tour. Here’s why:

No stressing about transport: Catching the ferry from Lembongan to Penida was pretty simple, but if we weren’t worried about missing the last ferry back, we may have been able to see a bit more. Not to mention, on a tour, you’ll have a driver so you can relax knowing you won’t get hurt going over a pothole!

See more in less time: The drivers know the roads and how to avoid traffic where possible, so you can see a lot more in a shorter amount of time! Plus, they can give you tips on what’s actually worth your time and what isn’t (for instance, we would have probably been told not to go down KelingKing Beach)

Safety comes first: On a tour, you’ll be in a car or large van rather than a scooter. This is so much better for safety on the steep and uneven roads! Plus, you won’t spend hours baking in the sun while traveling from place to place — you’ll be enjoying the comfort of air conditioning and shade in the car!

Flexibility in your day: When it comes down to it, we chose to DIY our day trip for the flexibility. I wish I had realized how many types of day tours you can take to Penida! You can have a full day, private tour (which is what I recommend), a combo tour with snorkeling, half day tours to one side of the island, and many more! So you don’t have to lose out on flexibility by booking a day tour!

Which Nusa Penida Day Trip Should You Book?

With all the different types of tours available to Nusa Penida, it can be difficult to determine which is best suited to you!

My top recommended tour would be a full-day, private land tour so you can really get a feel for both the well-known and lesser-traveled areas of Nusa Penida.

But if you’re shorter on time and don’t want to miss out on water activities, a combo land & snorkel tour could also be a great option.

Let’s get into the details so you can choose the right option for your trip 👇

Full-Day Land Tour of Nusa Penida (Top Recommended)

I think this private, full day Nusa Penida tour is the best option for first timers who want to see both the iconic spots and hidden gems of Nusa Penida without the stress.

The tour covers both east and west Nusa Penida so you’ll get to visit places like:

• KelingKing Beach
• Broken Beach
• Angel’s Billabong
• Diamond Beach
• and more!

Plus, all of the reviews rave about the tour and how the experience didn’t feel rushed despite packing in many sights and stops!

If you have 3 days to spend in the Nusa islands, this would be a great tour for you since you could spend one day exploring Nusa Penida, one day snorkeling or scuba diving with manta rays, and one day exploring Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan!

The full-island tour is likely to fill up, so use the widget below to check availability for your dates!

Nusa Penida Land + Snorkeling Combo (Optional)

If you’re short on time, but still want to have a mix of activities on your trip to Nusa Penida, a combo tour is a great option!

This type of tour will spend half a day visiting some of the land spots (typically on the west side of Penida) and the other half in the water snorkeling in Manta Bay and Crystal Bay.

If you only have one day to explore Penida, this is the tour for you! You’ll get your iconic photos PLUS the magical experience of being in the water with manta rays!

If you prefer a mix of land & water, use the widget below to check the combo tour’s availability for your dates!

Tips for Making the Most of Your Day Trip

Now that you have a better understanding of why a day trip to Penida is so much better when booked as a tour, and we’ve covered the main types of tours that are available, I wanted to leave you with a few more tips so you can have the best experience possible!

Start Early

My number one tip for a day trip to Nusa Penida is to start as early as possible!

The earlier you arrive, the more you’ll be able to enjoy the sites without the swarms of other people around you.

When we arrived to KelingKing beach around 9am, it was already crowded…but when we left around 1pm? You could barely move because the crowd was so thick!

The other benefit of starting early is more pleasant weather! The sun and humidity are strong in Indonesia, and if you start your tour early, you’ll be able to spend the hottest parts of the day relaxing after your tour has completed!

Wear Good Shoes

I recommend bringing one pair of sturdy shoes and one pair of water shoes — or just one pair of sandals that are good for both water and walking!

Even some of the short walks on Nusa Penida can have rough, rocky, and steep terrain, so sturdy shoes are a must!

Plus, you’ll be able to get into the water at some of your stops, so having water shoes will make the experience more enjoyable!

Don’t Expect to See Everything

A lesson I keep learning over and over in my travels is that you can’t expect to see everything… especially not in a day.

BUT! You can still see a lot.

That’s why I love the full island tour option — it will take you to the highlights and some of the hidden gems on the island without feeling rushed! This ensures you’ll enjoy and appreciate your time rather than feeling like you’re just checking off a list!

Final Thoughts on a Day Trip to Nusa Penida

I really wish I hadn’t wasted my day trying to DIY — yes, it’s a funny story now, but I would have rathered great experiences and memories from my time on Penida.

If you want an incredible experience without all the stress, booking a tour is absolutely worth it! It’s safer, smoother, and will allow you to actually enjoy your time on Nusa Penida!

These tours do sell out, so make sure to book your tour early for the best Nusa Penida experience!

Ready to plan the rest of your time in the Nusa islands? Read my 3-day itinerary next!