Comparison
Nusa Penida, or somewhere else?
How the crossing compares with the Gilis, Lombok, Komodo and simply staying on Bali — in travel time, cost and character.
In short
Nusa Penida is the closest and quickest of the island options: a 40-minute fast boat from Sanur with departures almost hourly. The alternatives ask for more travel time and more budget, and give you something different in return.
- Dramatic landscapes: Kelingking's T-Rex headland and Broken Beach's natural arch.
- Underwater: manta rays at Manta Point and coral gardens at Crystal Bay.
- An authentic escape: secluded coves and a slower pace than the mainland.
01 — The alternatives
Four other ways to spend the time
Each asks for a different amount of travel, and rewards a different appetite.
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The Gili Islands
Laid-back where Nusa Penida is dramatic. Car-free — bicycles and cidomo only. Over 20 dive sites, known for turtles and drift dives. Two to three hours by fast boat from Padang Bai.
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Lombok & Mount Rinjani
Rinjani rises to 3,726 metres, with the crater lake Segara Anak below the summit. A guided trek takes 2 to 4 days with porters and camping. Two to four hours by boat, or a 30-minute flight.
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Komodo National Park & Flores
A 1.5-hour flight from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo, then a multi-day liveaboard. The park was established in 1980 and is UNESCO World Heritage listed. Pink sand at Pantai Merah.
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Staying on Bali
Ubud for art, yoga and cooking classes; Sidemen for terraced valleys and views of Mount Agung; Munduk for coffee plantations and waterfalls in the cooler highlands.
02 — Side by side
Travel time and what it costs
Figures as published in this comparison.
Nusa Penida
Fast boat from Sanur
Departures almost hourly from 7 AM to 5 PM
40 minutes
Return ticket, premium service
Approximately USD 23–33
IDR 350,000 – 500,000
Boutique villas and resorts
Per night
From USD 150 – 200
The Gilis
Fast boat from Padang Bai
Can be less comfortable in rougher seas
2 – 3 hours
Fast boat transfer
Per person one way, approximately USD 30
IDR 450,000
Lombok
Getting there
By fast boat, or a 30-minute domestic flight
2 – 4 hours
Premium Rinjani trek
2 to 4 days depending on route and service level
USD 300 – 700
Komodo & Flores
Flight to Labuan Bajo
From Denpasar
≈ 1.5 hours
Return flights
Average
USD 150 – 250
Luxury liveaboard, 3 days 2 nights
Per person
USD 1,500 – 5,000
Staying on Bali
High-end villa in Ubud
Per night
From USD 400
03 — The case for Penida
When Nusa Penida is the right answer
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Shortest crossing
Forty minutes from Sanur, with departures almost hourly. Easy to add to a Bali itinerary without restructuring it.
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A marine protected area
Manta rays with wingspans often exceeding 5 metres at Manta Point, and Mola Mola from July to October. Visibility often beyond 20 metres.
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Landscape at scale
Limestone formations dropping straight into the sea. The viewpoints draw over 1.5 million visitors a year.
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Works in 2–3 days
A concentrated dose of landscape and marine life that does not need a week set aside for it.
Keep reading
Related pages
Still weighing it up?
Tell us how many days you have and what you want out of them, and we will say honestly whether Nusa Penida is the right call.