A Guide to Motorbiking Nusa Lembongan, Bali

A Guide to Motorbiking Nusa Lembongan, Bali - Travel Lush

The first time I rode a motorbike I was terrified.  I was vacationing in Hawaii when my family peer pressured me into renting a scooter.  Though my family views me as both a laid-back hippie and an adventurous traveler, I am actually a pretty anxious person.  So I was petrified as I swerved my scooter onto the highway and wobbled along Oahu’s breathtakingly beautiful windward coast.  I was pretty sure I was going to die every time a car sped past me or a 40-mile-an-hour gust of wind threatened to knock me over.  I spent the day oscillating between feelings of sheer panic and utter joy, but by the end of it I was sold.

I am now a firm believer that renting a motorbike is the best way to explore a foreign city.  Ever since my trip to Oahu some of my most memorable travel experiences have been on a scooter – from coasting past emerald-green rice paddies in Pai, Thailand, to getting caught in a monsoonal rainstorm in Bohol, Philippines, to happening upon gorgeous secluded beaches in Langkawi, Malaysia.

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Snapping a photo on the back of our motorbike in the Philippines.

There was no doubt in my mind that I would rent a scooter on Nusa Lembongan.  The small Balinese island is roughly 8 kilometers around and is the perfect size for exploring by motorbike.  Its hilly terrain and steep roads make it difficult to get around on foot.  And since there are no official taxis and relatively few cars (though cars are becoming much more common!), motorbikes are by far the most popular means of transport.

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Despite the fact that I typically travel with my boyfriend, I always rent my own bike.  Maybe this is because I love the freedom that comes with riding on my own or perhaps it’s due to my need to be in control.  But given our tight budget and the small size of the island, it seemed like a waste to rent two bikes.  So I begrudgingly opted to share.  Aaron took the reins and I hopped on the back, raring to go.  But given the poor alignment of the rickety bike (it seemed to always want to veer dramatically to the right) and the fact that we rarely ride tandem, we got off to a shaky start.  We swerved down the road – braking abruptly and lurching forward each time we tried to avoid a pothole or made an effort not to run off the side of the road.  We looked like complete novices.  But after a few somewhat embarrassing minutes, we got the hang of it.

We ended up keeping our rickety old motorbike for the entirety of our stay on Nusa Lembongan.  And I’m so glad we did.  We had the best time just cruising around and happening upon stunning vistas, delicious restaurants, and unexpected adventures.

Note: If you’re short on time or don’t feel comfortable riding a scooter, you can always book a snorkeling tour from Sanur. That way you can see all of Nusa Lembongan’s greatest hits in one day.

Things to Do on Nusa Lembongan

Dream Beach

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Dream Beach a perfect white-sand beach with giant turquoise waves.  The strong currents make it pretty unsafe for swimming at certain times of the year.  But for a fee you can use the infinity pool at Dream Beach Huts, which overlooks the Dream Beach. It also looks like a great place to stay!

Devil’s Tears

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Fellow travelers get surprised by a sky-high splash after a giant wave smacks into the cliff at Devil’s Tears.

Huge waves crash violently into the cliffs.  And, yes, you will get wet!  To get here from Dream Beach just turn right and follow the dirt pathway along the cliffs.  This is the perfect spot for sunset!

Sandy Bay (aka Sunset Beach)

Located down the road from Devil’s Tears is this small coral-filled beach.  The Beach Club Resort occupies this land and is a popular restaurant for sunset beers.

Mushroom Bay

Most tourists stay around here.  There are a few restaurants and a decent swimming beach (that is if the boats aren’t docked in the bay).

Panorama Point

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Just one of the many breathtaking views on Nusa Lembongan.

Panorama Point is the most famous spot on Nusa Lembongan for a reason. It’s located in between Mushroom Bay and the town Jungutbatu.  Pull off the road right across the road from Panorama Restaurant to snap a photo from this unreal viewpoint.

Jungutbatu

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This is the main town on Lembongan.  Head here to catch a glimpse of authentic village life.  There’s plenty of traditional Balinese architecture to see and lots of delicious (and cheap) Indonesian food to eat.

Nusa Ceningan

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This rickety bridge connects Nusa Lembongan with Nusa Ceningan. Yes, we managed to cross it on a scooter! It’s so narrow, only one scooter can cross at a time.

Venture over the narrow, wooden suspension bridge.  (It might look sketchy, but it’s safe!)  Veer to your right and you’ll see rectangular crops of seaweed being harvested just offshore.  Follow the signs to Blue Lagoon for some cliff jumping action!

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Seaweed is the island’s primary source of income. There are numerous crops located just off the shore in between Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan.

Here are a few things you should know if you’re renting a motorbike on Nusa Lembongan:

Cost – I paid 70,000 rupiah (including a full tank of gas) per day for my scooter, but I’m sure you can do better if you haggle!

Where to rent – I rented mine from my hotel.  You can pretty much go to any hotel or restaurant and they’ll either rent you a scooter or point you in the right direction.  It’s that easy!

Road conditions – The roads on Nusa Lembongan are full of potholes and the roads on Nusa Ceningan are just plain awful.  I wouldn’t recommend riding a motorbike if you’re not at least a little experience. For a beginner’s guide on riding a motorbike, read my complete guide here.

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Map of the island – Good maps don’t really exist.  My best advice is don’t be afraid to get lost; sometimes this can lead to the best finds.  Plus, how lost can you get on such a tiny island?  People here are very friendly so you can always ask for directions.  But, just to help you get your bearings, here’s a map!

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Renting a scooter on Nusa Lembongan gave us the freedom to explore the island many times over, and we discovered new things every day.  It was a blast!

If you’re really up for an adventure head over to neighboring Nusa Penida.  This island is a literal 10-minute boat ride away.  It’s absolutely stunning and is becoming one of Bali’s most popular destinations.  As an added bonus Nusa Penida is the perfect Balinese island to motorbike around!

Interested in traveling to Nusa Penida? You might be interested in reading these posts:

Where to stay on Nusa Lembongan

There are so many amazing bungalows, cliffside boutique hotels and gorgeous resorts popping up on both Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. I stayed in a place called KiBata Boutique Hotel.  For $40, I got a picture-perfect bungalow complete with a panoramic view of Bali’s massive volcano and the turquoise ocean below. I highly recommend it. But it’s also worth perusing Agoda to find a nice hotel.

Are you terrified of riding a motorbike, like I used to be?  Or do you enjoy riding motorbikes in other countries?  If so, what is your favorite place to explore on a scooter?