Escapes The Crowds In NUSA Lembongan, Bali

Kate Richards Escapes the crowds in NUSA Lembongan.

Bali’s tourist hotspots Ubud and Seminyak can be disappointingly overrun with visitors, so try a slower approach in the Nusa Penida district – three laidback islands, southeast of the mainland.

Just a fast boat ride away from the resort town of Sanur is Lembongan. All of the islands − Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan − offer picturesque, white-sand beaches, $10 massages and ace photo opportunities, but Lembongan is home to most of the tourist infrastructure so it’s best to stay there and hop around.

Book the boat online through TripAdvisor or try your luck negotiating in person; expect to pay up to $50 a head if you do this though. Most ferry companies will also offer hotel transfers included in the price.

A scooter is a must, and the going day rate is about $7 per bike, with no obligation to refill the petrol after use.