Nusa Penida · Comparison
Nusa Penida by fast boat on your own or on a day tour?
Go to Nusa Penida on your own by fast boat from Sanur, or book a day tour? Pickup, transport on the island and walking, with sources and check dates.
By Luca Godano
Updated
West Nusa Penida day tour
East Nusa Penida day tour
Nusa Penida on your own by fast boat
Quick answer
Book a day tour if you want the boat, a car with a driver and the main stops arranged for you. Go on your own if you prefer to choose your boat and your stops, and you are ready to arrange transport on the island yourself. Either way you cross by fast boat from Sanur, and the sea can change the plan.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 to 22 Oct 2026
We may earn a commission when you book through the tour links on this page. It does not decide which tours we list. How we earn money
On this page
Comparison table
| Detail | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat from Bali | Sanur [1][2] | Sanur [3][4] | Sanur [5][6][7] |
| Hotel pickup | Varies [8][9]Some tours include pickup from hotels in South Bali; others meet you at Sanur port. | Varies [10][11][12]Some tours include pickup from your hotel; others meet you at Sanur port. | Varies [5][6][7]Optional: the boat operators we checked sell a transfer from your hotel to Sanur, some at an extra charge. |
| Transport on the island | Included, a car with a driver [8][9] | Included, a car with a driver [10][11][12] | Not in the boat ticket [5][6][7]The operators we checked sell the crossing; transport on the island is yours to arrange. |
| Walking | Moderate to high [13][14][15][16]Operators rate the west route between moderate and high. Indonesia's tourism ministry calls the descent to Kelingking Beach steep and dangerous. | Moderate to high [14][17][15][16]Operators rate the east route between moderate and high. Long staircases lead down to Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach, slippery after rain according to one operator. | Varies [13][14][15]Depends on the places you choose. The stairs down to Kelingking, Diamond and Atuh beaches are the same as on a tour. |
| Tours | See verified tours for West Nusa Penida day tour | See verified tours for East Nusa Penida day tour | None verified yet |
Checked 21 Oct 2026 to 22 Oct 2026. See sources
How to choose
The crossing is the same; what changes is who organises the day.
- Transport on the island: tours include a car with a driver. On your own, the boat ticket covers only the crossing, so you arrange a driver or a vehicle when you land.
- Pickup in Bali: some tours collect you from your hotel. Boat operators sell an optional transfer to Sanur, sometimes at an extra charge.
- Choice of stops: a tour follows a west or an east route. On your own you choose the places and the pace.
- Walking: the stairs down to the beaches are the same with or without a tour.
West Nusa Penida day tour
A guided day tour of the island's west side, with Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong in every itinerary we checked.
_of_Nusa_Penida,_Bali_(2025)_-_img_08.jpg){kind=link}
Tours we checked
Private tour
West Nusa Penida by private car, with the public fast boat from Sanur
- Boat from Bali
- Sanur [8]
- Hotel pickup
- No [8]You meet at Sanur port; a hotel transfer is available as an extra.
- Included
- Public fast boat ticket, Private car with air conditioning, Local driver-guide, Lunch, Entrance tickets, Mineral water [8]
- Not included
- Hotel transfer in Bali, Breakfast, Personal expenses [8]
- Pickup by area
- Sanur: extra fee; Kuta: extra fee; Legian: extra fee; Seminyak: extra fee; Jimbaran: extra fee; Canggu: extra fee; Nusa Dua: extra fee; Ubud: extra fee; Uluwatu and Pecatu: extra fee [8]The tour meets you at Sanur port. The operator sells a hotel transfer as an extra, for these areas and others it does not name.
- Main stops
- Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong, Kelingking Beach, Crystal Beach [8]
Private tour
West Nusa Penida with a private car and hotel pickup in South Bali
- Boat from Bali
- Sanur [9]
- Hotel pickup
- Yes [9]Free in Seminyak, Legian, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Sanur and Denpasar; extra charge for Ubud, Canggu and Pecatu.
- Included
- Hotel transfers by private car, Public fast boat tickets, Private car on the island, English-speaking driver, Entrance fees, Lunch, Mineral water [9]
- Pickup by area
- Kuta: included; Legian: included; Seminyak: included; Denpasar: included; Sanur: included; Nusa Dua: included; Jimbaran: included; Canggu: extra fee; Ubud: extra fee; Uluwatu and Pecatu: extra fee [9]Also free from Benoa Harbour and the airport; other areas on request, at a rate the operator quotes.
- Main stops
- Kelingking Beach, Angel's Billabong, Broken Beach, Crystal Bay [9]
East Nusa Penida day tour
A guided day tour of the island's east side, with Diamond Beach, Atuh Beach and Teletubbies Hill in every itinerary we checked.
Tours we checked
Private tour
East Nusa Penida private day with hotel pickup
- Boat from Bali
- Sanur [11]
- Hotel pickup
- Yes [11]Pickup about 06:30, back at the hotel about 18:00, according to the operator.
- Included
- Private transport from the hotel, Private car on the island, up to 6 people, English-speaking driver-guide, Fast boat tickets, Entrance tickets, Lunch, Insurance, Mineral water [11]
- Not included
- Harbour fee, paid in cash on the spot, Diamond Beach swing fee, Tree House photo fee, Gratuities [11]
- Main stops
- Atuh Beach, Diamond Beach, Thousand Islands Viewpoint, Tree House (Rumah Pohon Molenteng) [11]
Private tour · on GetYourGuide
East Nusa Penida by private car, with hotel pickup and the public boat
- Boat from Bali
- Sanur [12]
- Hotel pickup
- Yes [12]The operator lists pickup and drop-off in Sanur, Kuta and Seminyak.
- Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off, Public fast boat from Sanur and back, Private car with air conditioning, Guide on Nusa Penida, Lunch, Entrance fees, Insurance, Snack box and mineral water [12]
- Not included
- Extra food and drinks, Extra activities, Personal shopping, Swimwear [12]
- Pickup by area
- Sanur: included; Kuta: included; Seminyak: included; Nusa Dua: included [12][18]Nusa Dua is named in the operator's FAQ, which says pickup costs extra in other areas without naming them.
- Main stops
- Diamond Beach, Atuh Beach, Tree House (Rumah Pohon Molenteng), Thousand Islands Viewpoint [12]
Nusa Penida on your own by fast boat
A public fast boat from Sanur, then the island on your own terms: you choose the stops and arrange transport once you land.
- Hotel pickup
- Varies [5][6][7]Optional: the boat operators we checked sell a transfer from your hotel to Sanur, some at an extra charge.
Good to know
Fast boat operators state a crossing of about 30 to 45 minutes between Sanur and Nusa Penida. [5][6][7]
Checked
Boats arrive at harbours such as Banjar Nyuh and Sampalan, depending on the operator. [19][20][6]
Checked
The harbour authorities can postpone or close crossings in bad weather until conditions improve. [21][22][5]
Checked
All crossings to and from Nusa Penida close for the Nyepi Segara ceremony day. [23]
Checked
Tours we checked
We have not verified a booking for this option yet.
Logistics
Fast boats leave from Sanur and arrive at harbours such as Banjar Nyuh and Sampalan, depending on the operator. The harbour authorities can postpone or close crossings in bad weather, and every crossing stops for the Nyepi Segara ceremony day.
Foreign visitors pay a Klungkung Regency levy when they enter the Nusa Penida islands, and every visitor pays a ticket at each tourist attraction. Some tours include these in the price; on your own you pay them yourself, so check the regency’s current instructions before you go.
Questions
Can you visit Nusa Penida without a tour?
Yes. Public fast boats cross from Sanur several times a day, and you arrange transport on the island once you land.
How long is the fast boat from Sanur?
Well under an hour, according to the boat operators we checked. The exact times are in the details of the on-your-own option below.
What happens if the sea is rough?
The harbour authorities can postpone departures until conditions improve, or close the crossing for a while. Leave a margin before a flight on the same day.
Do I need to book the fast boat in advance?
We have not found a reliable source on how quickly boats fill up. The operators we checked sell tickets on their own websites.
How we compared
We compared 3 options on 4 details. Each value links to its numbered source, and a detail we could not verify says “Not confirmed” instead of a guess.
We compared a west and an east day tour with the option of going on your own. For the tours we used the itineraries and inclusions published by the operators. For the crossing we read the websites of fast boat operators, the Klungkung Regency tourism office and news reports quoting the harbour authorities. Each value links to its sources with the date we checked them.
Sources
- Nusa Penida West-Angel Billabong-Kelingking-Crystal-Broken Beach – AAA TripCanvas (reseller listing)Accessed
- Nusa Penida West Tour (by Private 6-Seater Minivan) – GoWithGuide (operator SBT Drive)Accessed
- East Nusa Penida Tour – Bali Honest Driver (booking page on hybridbooking)Accessed
- Bali East Nusa Penida Private Tour - All Inclusive – Bali Travel Life (review of a tour by Bali Golden Tour)Accessed
- Maruti Fast Boat – Maruti Group (fast boat operator)Accessed
- The Tanis Fast Cruise – The Tanis Fast Cruise (fast boat operator)Accessed
- Starfish Fast Cruise – Starfish Fast Cruise (fast boat operator)Accessed
- Smile Nusa Penida - One Day Nusa Penida West – Smile Nusa PenidaAccessed
- Bali Golden Tour - West Nusa Penida tour – Bali Golden TourAccessed
- Smile Nusa Penida - One Day Nusa Penida East – Smile Nusa PenidaAccessed
- Amazing Nusa Penida Tour - One Day Nusa Penida East – Amazing Nusa Penida TourAccessed
- Explore the Wonders of East Nusa Penida – Penida Getway Tour & Travel (tour operator)Accessed
- Nusa Penida (Indonesia Travel) – Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Accessed
- West vs East Nusa Penida: Which Tour Should You Choose? – Melali Nusa Penida (tour operator)Accessed
- Nusa Penida East vs. West: Which Side Should You Choose for a 1-Day Trip? – Nusa Penida Nice Trip (tour operator)Accessed
- Ultimate Guide to Nusa Penida: East vs West Tour – Bali Adventure Host (tour operator)Accessed
- Nusa Penida East Tour Itinerary: Honest Guide – Melali Nusa Penida (tour operator)Accessed
- Tanya Jawab | Your Gateway to Nusa Penida, Fast Boats & Private Tours – Penida Getway (operator)Accessed
- Monitoring Pemungutan Retribusi Tempat Rekreasi dan Pariwisata di Pos Pelabuhan Banjar Nyuh, Nusa Penida – Dinas Pariwisata Kabupaten KlungkungAccessed
- Monitoring Pemungutan Retribusi Tempat Rekreasi dan Pariwisata di Pos Pelabuhan Sampalan, Nusa Penida – Dinas Pariwisata Kabupaten KlungkungAccessed
- KSOP Benoa Tak Keluarkan Izin Pelayaran Saat Cuaca Buruk – NusaBaliAccessed
- Hujan Angin, Penyeberangan Nusa Penida-Sanur dan Pemenang Ditutup Sementara – detikBaliAccessed
- Nyepi Segara, Penyeberangan dan Wisata Bahari Nusa Penida Ditutup 24 Jam – Bali PostAccessed