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Sanur Kaja, Indonesia
7 hours ahead.
The journey from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) to Puri Gopa Hotel in Sanur is about 15–18 km (9–11 miles), depending on the route.
* Driving time: typically 20–30 minutes, although it can take 40–60 minutes during busy traffic.
Fly into: Ngurah Rai International Airport (Airport code: DPS). Despite often being called Denpasar Airport, it’s actually located near Jimbaran and Kuta, about 20–30 minutes from Sanur.
If you’re awake because of jet lag, take advantage of it. Sanur is famous for its sunrise because the beach faces east.
Walk along the 7 km beachfront promenade. It’s flat, safe, and lined with cafés, resorts, fishing boats, and gardens. You can walk as much or as little as you like.
Stop for breakfast at a beachfront café such as:
* Soul on the Beach
* Luhtu’s Coffee Shop
* The Byrdhouse (if you fancy something a bit more leisurely)
🌴 The Nest Beachside Spa
* Massage and spa places (a traditional Balinese massage is a great way to deal with jet lag)
🌇 Evening
Head to Pasar Sindhu Night Market. It’s one of the easiest places to eat solo and try local dishes like:
* Nasi campur
* Satay
* Fresh seafood
* Tropical fruit juices
It’s lively without being overwhelming.
For dinner, I’d look at:
* Massimo Italian Restaurant (famous for its gelato)
* Lilla Pantai (right on the beach)
* Warung Little Bird (great local Indonesian food)
* Soul in a Bowl (excellent breakfast or lunch)
Sanur → Nusa Lembongan
The main departure point is Sanur Fast Boat Terminal (Matahari Terbit Harbour). Almost all fast boats to Nusa Lembongan leave from there, and the crossing takes around 30–40 minutes.
From Puri Gopa Hotel you have a few options:
* Grab or Gojek car – about 10–15 minutes, depending on traffic.
* Taxi – also around 10–15 minutes.
* Boat time: about 30–45 minutes
* Frequency: many departures daily
* Cost: roughly £10–£25 each way depending on operator and booking method
* Arrival points: usually Jungut Batu Harbour or Mushroom Bay
Most boats leave in the morning through early afternoon.
My ferry recommendations would be:
1. Rocky Fast Cruise – My top pick if your budget allows. They use a private jetty at Lembongan, so you don’t have to step into the water when arriving or departing. They also include transfers on Lembongan to many hotels.
Ekajaya fast ferry also mentioned
2. Setia Fast Ferry – A newer boat with good reviews for comfort, air conditioning, and an organized service. Many recent travellers recommend them.
3. Arthamas Express – A solid mid-range choice that’s popular and generally well reviewed.
4. D’STARS Fast Ferry – Another reliable operator if the departure time suits you.
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nusa lembongan, Indonesia
If you’re arriving on the Rocky Fast Cruise from Sanur at 10:40am, you’ll dock at Rocky Beach Club / Telatak Harbour (Rocky’s private pier) rather than the main beach landing.
Your hotel, Lembongan Mantra Huts, is on Tamarind Road near Mushroom Bay.
The journey from Rocky’s pier to the hotel is approximately 10–15 minutes by car or hotel shuttle
Many Rocky Fast Cruise tickets include a transfer to your accommodation on Nusa Lembongan, especially if you book directly or choose the transfer option. If yours includes this, staff will direct you to a shared shuttle.
One tip: if you book Mantra Huts, I’d ask them to arrange your fast boat transfer and harbour pickup. They’ll usually meet you at the ferry and take you straight to the hotel, which makes arriving on the island much less stressful.
For your trip, I actually think Tamarind Beach is a bit of a sweet spot because:
* 🚶 It’s about a 10–15 minute walk to Jungut Batu, where you’ll find lots of cafés, beach bars and snorkelling operators.
* 🚶 It’s around a 10-minute walk to Mushroom Bay, which has a lovely sheltered beach and more restaurants.
* 🌴 It’s much quieter than staying right in the middle of Jungut Batu, so you’ll get a more peaceful atmosphere.
* 🌅 It’s also closer to places like Devil’s Tear and the Yellow Bridge than if you stayed at the northern end of Jungut Batu.
One place I highly recommend while you’re there is Devil’s Tear. Go about an hour before sunset. You get dramatic waves crashing against the cliffs and then can watch the sun go down—it’s one of my favourite spots.
The bright yellow suspension bridge connects Lembongan with the much quieter Nusa Ceningan. Once you’re across, you’ll find:
* Quiet roads
* Small cafés
* Sea viewpoints
* A slower pace than Lembongan
You can easily spend half a day exploring Ceningan.
closest yoga options:
1. Island Garden Huts & Yoga Shala ⭐ 4.9 (119 reviews)
* Around 3–5 minutes’ walk from Lembongan Mantra Huts on Tamarind Road.
* Offers daily morning drop-in yoga and bookable afternoon sessions in a beautiful open-air shala.
2. The Yoga Garden Lembongan ⭐ 4.9 (202 reviews)
* About 8–10 minutes’ walk.
* One of the island’s most popular studios with Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, meditation, and sound healing. They typically run morning and late afternoon classes.
A relaxed 2-day plan
Day 1
* Breakfast at Bali ECO Deli
* Snorkelling trip
* Late afternoon at The Deck
* Sunset dinner
Day 2
* Breakfast at Let’s Bake
* Walk to Devil’s Tear and Dream Beach
* Cross the Yellow Bridge into Nusa Ceningan
* Sunset drink before heading back
Some of the best places to meet people are:
* The Deck – One of the best sunset spots. People often arrive solo and it’s easy to strike up conversations over drinks.
* Ohana’s Beach Club – Relaxed during the day and livelier around sunset with music and shared tables.
* Mushroom Bay – Several beachfront restaurants where travellers linger after snorkelling or diving trips.
If you’re crossing the Yellow Bridge from Lembongan into Nusa Ceningan, I’d suggest making a relaxed loop rather than just heading to one viewpoint. Ceningan is all about quiet roads, sea views and little cafés.
Here’s the route I’d recommend:
1. 🌉 Cross the Yellow Bridge
Take a few minutes to stop halfway across for photos—it’s one of the island’s landmarks, and the views back toward Lembongan are lovely.
2. 🌊 Head to Blue Lagoon (about 10–15 minutes)
This is the island’s standout viewpoint.
The water is an incredible shade of turquoise, and the cliffs are dramatic. Stay behind the barriers and don’t climb onto the cliff edges, as the waves can be unpredictable.
3. 🍹 Stop for a drink nearby
There are several cafés overlooking the ocean where you can cool off. My favourite is:
* Sea Breeze Ceningan – a relaxed cliffside spot with great views, fresh juices, cocktails and light meals.
4. 🏖️ Continue to Secret Point Beach
A small, peaceful beach that’s much quieter than Dream Beach. If the sea is calm, it’s a nice place to relax for a while.
5. 🌴 Finish at Le Pirate - Le Pirate Beach Club
This is one of the most photogenic places on Ceningan:
* White-and-blue beach club
* Pool overlooking the sea
* Good cocktails
* Comfortable for solo travellers
It’s a lovely place to unwind before heading back over the bridge.
How long will it take?
* Yellow Bridge → Blue Lagoon: 10–15 minutes
* Blue Lagoon → Secret Point: 5–10 minutes
* Secret Point → Le Pirate: 5 minutes
You can comfortably spend 3–4 hours exploring with stops for photos and a leisurely drink or meal.
Snorkling in Nusa Lembongan is best for…
* Manta rays (especially at Manta Bay or Manta Point, though sightings are never guaranteed)
* Colourful coral gardens
* Larger schools of fish
* More adventurous snorkelling
Popular sites include SD Point, Toyapakeh and Gamat Bay, which are among the best reefs around Bali.
Kayak in mango forest
Nusa Lembongan → Gili Air
* Travel time: usually around 2.5–4 hours
* Departure: generally from Jungut Batu Harbour (Nusa Lembongan)
* Arrival: Gili Air Harbour
* Frequency: usually several boats per day in the main season (including September), but schedules can change
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Gili Meno island, Indonesia
If you’re coming from Gili Air, I’d focus on the west and north sides of Gili Meno—they have the island’s best combination of beaches, snorkeling, and scenery.
🐢 North Coast – Best for snorkeling and turtles
* The water here is crystal clear and generally calm.
* This is where Turtle Point is located, giving you one of the best chances to swim with green and hawksbill turtles.
* The beaches are quiet, with soft white sand and relatively few people.
🌅 West Coast – Best all-round beach
* Home to the famous Nest underwater sculptures, just a short swim offshore.
* Beautiful turquoise water and long stretches of white sand.
* Plenty of spots to stop for lunch or a drink at small beachfront cafés.
* Great place to spend a lazy afternoon. If I only had one day…
I’d do this route:
1. Arrive from Gili Air.
2. Head to the west coast to see the underwater statues and swim.
3. Walk north along the beach.
4. Snorkel around Turtle Point.
5. Have lunch at a beachfront café on the west side.
6. Wander back via the island’s interior or beach before catching the boat home.
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Gili Air, Indonesia
From Gili Air Harbour to Shore Thing Beachfront Gili Air is approximately:
* 1.3–1.5 km
* 15–20 minutes’ walk along the island’s sandy coastal path
* Around 5–10 minutes by cidomo (the traditional horse-drawn cart), if you have heavy luggage.
Getting from Gili Air to Gili Meno the islands are very close together:
Stay:
* East coast if you want convenience, easy swimming, and lots of restaurants.
* Northwest coast if you want a quieter stay that’s still within a 10–15 minute walk or bike ride of everything, with both good snorkeling and sunset views.
Best area: South-East Coast
* Plenty of cafés and restaurants within walking distance.
* Calm water for swimming.
* Great snorkelling straight from the beach.
* Easy walk to the harbour (10–15 minutes).
* Lively enough to have a nice atmosphere, but not noisy.
Southwest / West (my favorite area)
These are all in or very close to the southwest/west coast:
* PinkCoco Gili Air – Southwest beachfront, perfect for sunsets.
* Shore Thing Beachfront Gili Air – West coast beachfront with sunset views.
* Dolcemare Resort – Southwest, a short walk inland from the beach, quiet but close to everything.
The nice thing about Gili Air is that it’s small—you can walk all the way around the island in about 90 minutes, so even if you stay on one side, nothing is very far away.
You’ll find plenty of bicycle rental shops, including:
* IJIT RIDE - Rental Bike Gili Air
* Sriwijaya Rental Bicycle Gili Air
* Kemuning Bike and E-Bike Rental
* IJIT Ride - Zero Traffic
* Gili Air → Gili Meno: about 10–15 minutes by boat
* You can go by:
* Local island-hopping boat (cheapest)
* Organised snorkelling trip (often includes Meno)
Gili Meno has some of the prettiest, quietest beaches of the three Gilis. It’s ideal for:
* Swimming.
* Reading.
* A long lunch.
* Walking along the shore.
Gili Air → Bangsal Harbour, Lombok
* Boat time: about 15–20 minutes
* Boats run frequently during the day
* Cost: roughly £1–£3
* You buy tickets at the harbour
My favourite laundry shops are GILI AIR LAUNDRY SERVICE, which is near the harbour and JW Loundry service, which is in the north side of the island. There is also a pick-up and drop-off laundry service I tried and loved called Gili Air Laundry, you can WA them on +62 878-6549-0091. Same price as I explained earlier, they also do same-day 6-hour delivery for a bit less than $2.
Really not necessary, there are many places on the island serving a delicious breakfast! My favourite is Blue Sail and it’s right on the beach. Otherwise, Kopi Susu or Il Baretto are also excellent.
Great social spots include:
* Mowie’s – One of the best sunset venues. Lots of people stay for dinner and cocktails.
* Zipp Bar – Regular live music nights and a friendly crowd.
* Begadang Backpackers – Even if you’re not staying there, they sometimes host social events that are open to visitors.
* Yoga classes – A surprisingly easy way to meet long-term travellers.
H2O Yoga and Meditation Center ⭐ My top recommendation
This is probably the island’s best-known yoga centre. Why you’ll like it:
* Beautiful bamboo dome studio
* Daily classes including Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin and meditation
* Lots of solo travellers, retreat guests and digital nomads
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Bangsal, Indonesia
If you’re simply heading onto Lombok and then travelling onward, take the public boat to Bangsal. The crossing is so short that I wouldn’t bother paying a big premium for a speedboat unless you want a guaranteed departure/time.
Once you reach Bangsal, you can get a car/driver onward to places such as Senggigi, Mataram or Kuta Lombok.
🏝️ Gili Air → Bangsal → Senaru
* Local boat: about 15–20 minutes
* Fast boat: roughly 15 minutes
* I’d take the local boat unless you have a tight schedule.
Bangsal → Senaru by car
* Around 57 km
* Allow 1–1¼ hours by car.
* A taxi/private driver is by far the easiest option, particularly with luggage.
* Current estimates put a taxi around IDR 380,000–460,000, although you may be able to negotiate a private driver for less.
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Senaru, Indonesia
From Bangsal: about 1.5 hours after the boat. For this route (Bangsal Harbour → Senaru/Rinjani Lodge), I’d rank the options like this:
🥇 1. Gojek or Grab (best value, if available)
If you can get a driver, this is probably the best balance of price and convenience. The journey is around 55–60 km and takes about 50–70 minutes depending on traffic.
Typical fare:
* Rp200,000–300,000 (depending on demand and availability).
The only downside is that Bangsal Harbour can sometimes have local taxi drivers waiting around, and app-based drivers may ask you to walk a short distance away from the main port entrance for pickup.
🥈 2. Hotel transfer (most hassle-free)
Rinjani Lodge can arrange transfers for guests.
It will almost certainly cost a little more (often around Rp300,000–400,000), but:
* the driver will know exactly where to meet you,
* there are no negotiations,
* they’ll wait if your boat is delayed.
If you’re arriving after a long boat journey or later in the day, the extra cost may be worth it.
🥉 3. Local taxi from Bangsal
You can easily find taxis at the harbour, but agree the price before getting in. Around Rp250,000–350,000 would be a reasonable ballpark.
Sendang Gile Waterfall
* One of Lombok’s most famous waterfalls
* Easy to reach (short walk)
* Tall, dramatic cascade surrounded by jungle
* Good stop even if you don’t want a strenuous hike
Tiu Kelep Waterfall
* The more spectacular one
* Requires a jungle walk (around 30–45 minutes each way)
* You walk through streams and forest
* Swimming is possible when conditions are safe
Day 1: Arrive from Gili Air
* Arrive late morning/lunch.
* Check in and relax.
* Afternoon:
* Sendang Gile Waterfall (easy, close to village)
* Tiu Kelep Waterfall (the highlight — allow 2–3 hours)
* Sunset/viewpoint back at your accommodation.
Why this is a must: These are arguably Lombok’s most spectacular waterfalls and are unique compared with anywhere else on your route.
Day 2: Rinjani foothills + culture
* Morning guided walk through Senaru villages and rice terraces.
* Visit viewpoints around Mount Rinjani.
* Relax in the afternoon.
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Tetebatu, Indonesia
3. Tetebatu — my favourite non-beach area and is anything between 2-3 hours from Senaru
See:
* Rice terraces
* Jungle walks
* Waterfalls
* Coffee plantations
* Local Sasak villages
* Views toward Rinjani
Day 1: Arrive from Senaru
The drive itself is scenic. Stop if your driver allows:
* Local villages
* Views of Mount Rinjani
* Coffee plantations
Afternoon:
* Walk around Tetebatu village.
* Sunset over the rice fields.
Day 2: Tetebatu walking tour (the priority)
Book a local guide for a half or full day. Do:
* Rice terraces walk
* Waterfalls:
* Benang Stokel Waterfall
* Benang Kelambu Waterfall
* Tetebatu Monkey Forest
* Coffee/cacao tasting
* Traditional villages
This is the experience that makes Tetebatu worthwhile—the scenery and local life, not ticking off lots of attractions.
🌿 Your 2 nights in Tetebatu
Day 1 — Senaru → Tetebatu
I’d leave Senaru fairly early and get to Novia Guest House around lunchtime/early afternoon.
Then spend the afternoon doing a 2–3 hour rice-field walk. The rice terraces are really the reason to stop here, and the morning/evening light around Rinjani can be beautiful.
A good local option is Tetebatu Ricefield Tour, Waterfall & Monkey Forest, which combines the three main sights.
I’d not do Benang Kelambu on this day — you’ll be driving again later and there’s plenty around Tetebatu itself.
For sunset/dinner, keep it local. Rice Terrace Restaurant is a good option if you want to eat overlooking the fields.
🐒 Day 2 — the Tetebatu walking day
Start early — around 7:00–7:30am.
Rice terraces → Monkey Forest → waterfall → local lunch → relaxed afternoon
Tetebatu Monkey Forest is open from 07:00 and is home to the black ebony leaf monkeys.
Then I’d go to Tetebatu Waterfall. If your guide offers Sarang Walet, I’d actually choose that instead — it’s a particularly atmospheric jungle waterfall and tends to be much quieter. The Times specifically highlights Sarang Walet as a favourite Tetebatu walk/swim.
You can have lunch in the village and then do absolutely nothing for the afternoon. 😄 Sit at the guesthouse, have coffee, wander around, etc. Tetebatu is much nicer when you don’t rush it.
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Jalan Kuta Lombok, Indonesia
About 2 - 2.5 hours from tetebatu. Beaches to explore
🏖️ Tanjung Aan Beach ⭐Probably Lombok’s most famous beach:
* Powdery white sand.
* Turquoise water.
* Great swimming.
* Viewpoints over the bay.
🏖️ Mawun Beach. One of my favourites:
* A huge curved bay.
* Mountains surrounding it.
* Much quieter than Bali.
🏖️ Selong Belanak
* Long sandy beach.
* Great for beginners’ surfing.
* Lovely sunsets.
🏖️ Pink Beach
A more adventurous day trip:
* Remote.
* Beautiful coastline.
* Good snorkelling.
* Requires a longer drive.
These are quieter than the main Gilis and have:
* Clear water.
* Coral.
* Tropical island scenery.
Kuta, Lombok is very close to Lombok International Airport (LOP).
* Distance: About 18–20 km (11–12 miles)
* Driving time: Typically 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.
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Lombok International Airport, Indonesia
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Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
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Komodo Island, Indonesia
wunderpusliveaboard.com
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Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
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I Gusti Ngurah Rai Domistic Airport - Bali (DPS), Indonesia
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Ubud, Indonesia
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Canggu, Indonesia