How to get from Lombok to Nusa Penida
Why visit Nusa Penida?
Kelingking Beach is one of the most iconic sites not just in Nusa Penida but in the whole of Indonesia. The distinctive T-rex-shaped cliffs have become an iconic backdrop for many travellers’ photos and a place to witness some of Mother Nature’s finest work.
Beyond this tourist hotspot, Nusa Penida’s underwater world leaves little to be desired. It’s a paradise for snorkelers and divers. Prefer to stay on land? The beaches will leave you in awe with their golden sands that run off into brilliantly turquoise waters.
What are the 2 ways to travel from Lombok to Nusa Penida?
There are 2 ways to travel the 86 kilometre (53 miles) distance from Lombok to Nusa Penida. You can choose between the direct ferry and indirect ferry. The journey takes 1 hour 20 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by indirect ferry. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by direct ferry with tickets starting at 233,000 IDR ($13.70).
Lombok to Nusa Penida by Direct Ferry
Booking a direct ferry ticket is the most convenient way to travel from Lombok to Nusa Penida. The total ferry ride takes 2-3 hours with ticket prices starting from 233,000 IDR ($13.70).
Most ferries make a short stop in Bali before continuing to Nusa Penida. The last time we checked (July 2023), only Idola Express and Semaya One operate directly from Lombok to Nusa Penida. But if your ferry does make a stopover in Bali, you can just stay on the boat.
Besides the common (fast) ferries, there is also the “KMP Nusa Jaya Abadi” ferry which is a direct roll-on, roll-off ferry from Lombok to Nusa Penida. It’s a slow ferry used by people with vehicles and locals travelling with goods. However, we don’t recommend this slow ferry for the regular traveller because of its inconsistent schedule and longer travel time.
Short stop in Bali before continuing to Nusa Penida
Even though it’s called a “direct ferry,” most ferries actually make a stop in Padang Bai in Bali. Luckily, you can just stay on the boat while some passengers disembark and new travellers from Bali board the ferry.
After this stop, there should be only 30 minutes left of the journey to Nusa Penida. The total travel time from Lombok to Nusa Penida is 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours and tickets for this combined journey start from 233,000 IDR ($13.70).
Departure times from Lombok to Nusa Penida are between 12:30 and 13:30.
From Lombok’s Bangsal Pier, most fast boats make a quick stop on the nearby islands of Gili Air and Gili Trawangan to collect passengers before crossing the rough waters to Bali or Nusa Penida.
Take a bigger ferry if you’re prone to motion sickness
We recommend travelling with Eka Jaya if you easily get seasick. Eka Jaya operates larger boats that make the rough seas between Lombok and Nusa Penida more bearable.
It’s worth noting, that these large ferries are slower than the regular fast boats operating on this route. But if you’re not in a hurry and prefer comfort over speed, then Eka Jaya is a great choice.
Travel time from Lombok to Nusa Penida with Eka Jaya takes around 5 hours. A ferry ticket costs 580,000 IDR ($34).
Departure ports in Lombok
Ferries depart from the two main piers in Lombok: Bangsal Pier and Senggigi Pier. Both ports are on the island’s west coast, but Senggigi Pier is more centrally located.
Bangsal Pier is in the northwest part of Lombok and is closer to the Gili Islands. From Senggigi, it’s a 30-40 minute drive up north to Bangsal Pier. From Kuta, Lombok, it’s about a 2-hour drive north. Jump to this section to find out how to get to Bangsal Pier.
Senggigi Ferry Terminal is more accessible if you are staying in Senggigi (Rinjani basecamp) or the most popular part of Lombok, Kuta, in the southern part of the island.
Arrival ports in Nusa Penida
In Nusa Penida, there are several piers, all located on the island’s northern coast.
The largest pier is Buyuk Harbour on the northeast, where Semaya One, Caspla Bali Sea View, Invinia Fast Boat, and Wijaya Buyuk arrive.
Starfish and Golden Queen fast boats arrive at Banjar Nyuh Harbour on the northwest coast.
These two harbours are a 20-minute drive away from each other. Taxi fares between these harbours start from 150,000 IDR ($8.80).
Eka Jaya Fast Boat docks at Toya Pakeh Harbour, just 750m south of Banjar Nyuh.
Ferry schedule from Lombok to Nusa Penida
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Lombok to Nusa Penida by Indirect Ferry
If the direct ferries are fully booked, you can still take an indirect one. With this ferry, you must get off the boat in Bali and take another ferry to Nusa Penida. It’s also more expensive than buying a direct ticket.
Combined rates start from 540,000 IDR ($32) for ferries with a transfer in Padang Bai and 425,000 IDR ($25) for fast boats via Sanur.
Total travel time with the indirect ferry is 2.5-4 hours, but this doesn’t include the waiting time between the ferry trips.
Via Padang Bai or Sanur?
From Lombok, you can either take the ferry to Padang Bai or Sanur. We recommend taking the ferry to Padang Bai because this is the closest harbour to Lombok. This ferry ride takes only about 1.5 hours. Just note that you need to take any of the earliest trips to make it in time for the connecting ferry that departs at 15:30.
From Sanur, there are more departures to Nusa Penida, but the problem here is that all ferries from Lombok to Sanur depart in the afternoon. The earliest ferry arrives in Sanur at 16:15 (if there is no delay) and the latest ferry from Sanur to Nusa Penida departs at 17:00.
If there is any delay, you can miss the connecting ferry and will have to spend the night in Bali.
When the ferry schedules don’t match, you can also take a taxi from Padang Bai to Sanur. This gives you the most departure options from Lombok to Bali and the most departure times from Bali to Nusa Penida.
Via Serangan Pier
Note that there are also two afternoon ferry trips from Lombok to Serangan Pier in Bali, but the connecting ferries from Serangan to Nusa Penida depart in the early morning. This means you’ll have to stay the night in Bali when travelling via Serangan.
Step 1: Lombok to Bali by Ferry
Below, you’ll find the ferry schedules from Lombok to Padang Bai and Sanur. We recommend booking a ferry with at least 1.5 hours between the arrival from Lombok to Bali and the departure to Nusa Penida.
Almost all ferries from Lombok to Bali depart from Bangsal Pier in north Lombok. (Jump to this section to find out how to get to Bangsal Pier)
The only exception is the ferry departing from Senggigi to Bali at 13:30, operated by Eka Jaya. Senggigi Port is more convenient for most travellers staying in Lombok.
Ferry schedule from Lombok to Padang Bai
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Ferry schedule from Lombok to Sanur
- 24/7 customer support
- 24/7 customer support
Note that the new port in Sanur has a digital ticketing system, so you are required to buy your tickets online in advance. Your ticket or boarding pass includes a barcode that will be scanned and checked at the port.
Step 2: Bali to Nusa Penida by Ferry
While most ferries from Lombok to Bali arrive at Padang Bai, only one ferry company operates from Padang Bai to Nusa Penida. Travel time is about 30 minutes from this port.
You have more choices if you take a ferry to Sanur Port. From this port, Nusa Penida is just 30-45 minutes away.
Ferry tickets from Bali to Nusa Penida start from 110,000 IDR ($6.50).
Ferry schedule from Padang Bai to Nusa Penida
Ferry schedule from Sanur to Nusa Penida
Arrival ports in Nusa Penida
Unlike the direct ferries from Lombok to Nusa Penida, most of the ferries arrive at Banjar Nyuh Harbour. Only two ferries head to Buyuk Harbour.
See here the ferries on this route and the ports in Nusa Penida that they arrive at:
- Banjar Nyuh Harbour (northwest coast)
- El Rey Junior Fast Cruise, Starfish Fast Boat, Axe Stone Fast Cruise, Angel Billabong, Idola Express, Penida Express
- Toya Pakeh Harbour (northwest coast)
- Eka Jaya Fast Boat
- Buyuk Harbour (northeast coast)
- Semaya One, Caspla Bali Sea View
For more details on this last leg of the journey, check out our specific route guide about the ferries from Bali to Nusa Penida.
How to get to Bangsal Pier in Lombok
Bangsal Pier is a small pier, located in the North of Lombok. It’s the main gateway from Lombok to the Gili Islands, as well as a common stopover for boats servicing the Nusa Penida – Bali – Lombok – Gili route.
From Senggigi Pier
The easiest way to reach Bangsal Pier from your accommodation in Senggigi is by taxi. Taxi fares start at 115,000 IDR ($6.80) when coming from Senggigi and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes along the scenic coastal road.
Bluebird is the most reliable taxi company. You can flag it down in the street, book a car by phone (0370 627000) or hail a ride via a dedicated app.
Another option is to ask your hotel if they offer shared rides to Bangsal Pier. This will help save a few dollars, although the travel time will likely take a little longer.
From Kuta in South Lombok
From Kuta, there are no metered taxis such as BlueBird, but plenty of tour desks can arrange a private transfer. You can also inquire at your accommodation for a taxi.
Most taxis can accommodate up to four passengers, while larger cars or vans are available on request. Expect to pay at least 400,000 IDR ($23.50) for this 2-hour journey from Kuta to Bangsal Pier.
Renting a bike in Nusa Penida
If you plan on exploring the island by motorbike, you can easily find motorbike rentals outside the pier. There is so much to see on Nusa Penida and one of the best ways to explore the island is by motorbike.
Bike rental in Nusa Penida normally starts from 75,000 IDR ($4.40). If you want to book in advance, you can rent via Klook for 85,000 IDR ($5) per day.
If you book via Klook, you can start your journey at the harbour as the company will wait for you there with your bike. No need to queue up or negotiate for the best rates. It’s basically a no-brainer if you plan to rent a bike.
It goes without saying that a valid driver’s license is still required and you should be comfortable driving a bike.
For more details on how to get around, check out our more extensive travel guide on the journey from Bali to Nusa Penida.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Lombok to Nusa Penida. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions about Lombok to Nusa Penida
What is the distance from Lombok to Nusa Penida?
The distance from Lombok to Nusa Penida is 86 kilometre (53 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Lombok to Nusa Penida?
The fastest way to get from Lombok to Nusa Penida is by indirect ferry and takes 1 hour 20 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Lombok to Nusa Penida?
The cheapest way to get from Lombok to Nusa Penida is by direct ferry with ticket costs starting from 233,000 IDR ($13.70).
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Abby is a writer who finds joy in mountains, beaches, and road trips. She considers her solo backpacking trip to the rice terraces of Bontoc one of the most fulfilling moments in her life. She’s loyal to the islands of her home country, the Philippines, but Thailand’s beaches also have a special place in her heart.
