A small Indonesian island off the coast of Bali, Nusa Lembongan is known for soft sandy beaches, coral gardens and sparkling turquoise waves. Its western shore has crashing surf breaks, plus diving over colourful underwater landscapes and a submerged Buddha sculpture. The northeast side of the island is covered in lush mangroves and its calm waters teem with gleaming tropical fish. Lucky snorkelers might even catch glimpses of manta rays and turtles.

Hostels in Nusa Lembongan are clustered along the coast, meaning that you're never far away from a beach. Choose from options including a boutique Balinese-style hostel, a traditional wooden hut or a family-run homestay. Many hostels have a swimming pool to relax in and shady communal areas where you can socialise. Free Wi-Fi is standard in a Nusa Lembongan hostel and you'll usually find air con in the rooms for a comfortable night's sleep. Most Nusa Lembongan hostels can help you arrange travel and tours around the island, and some have on-site scooter rentals.

On arrival, most boats land at Jungut Batu Beach. This is the island's main village and a departure point for activities like diving and snorkelling. It's also known for surf schools and scenic sunset views. Other areas to explore include Lembongan Village. Home to the Hindu Puncak Sari Temple, it's where you'll find most of the island's traditional houses. To the south, a narrow yellow bridge leads across to quiet Nusa Ceningan, which has secluded beaches, zip lines and cliff jumping.

Many travellers come to Nusa Lembongan to explore its beaches and coast. A popular spot to visit is the Devil’s Tears blowhole, a natural phenomenon where waves crash into a curved outcrop of rock with a boom, sending sea spray high into the air. It's close to Dream Beach and there are calm rock pools along the shore. Surfers can head to the island's three main breaks (Playgrounds, Lacerations and Shipwrecks). One of Nusa Lembongan's more unique attractions is Gala-Gala Underground House – a hand-carved limestone cave.

Nusa Lembongan is 30 to 45 minutes' boat ride from Sanur, Bali. If you're flying into Denpasar Airport (Ngurah Rai International Airport), the journey to Sanur port takes around 30 minutes by taxi. Once you're on the island, it's easy to walk around (it's only 4km from one side of the island to the other), and there are some scenic coastal paths. You can also rent a scooter.

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