Bali is a tropical paradise and it has become very popular among people who visit South East Asia. Unfortunately, along with the popularity, you will find that over tourism has started knocking on Bali’s doors. The place has become crowded and if you are heading for pristine nature and quiet solitude, be forewarned that you will have to search for something on the outskirts to get it.
That was one of the reasons why we started exploring the islands near Bali. There are a couple of great places where you can escape the crowds. The interesting part about the islands is that each of them have a different vibe.
Many people choose to explore the islands near Bali as day trips. I highly recommend staying on the islands if you get a chance. It allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and enjoy the specialties that each of the Balinese islands have to offer.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclaimer for further information.
Table of Contents
The Nusa Islands
The Nusa islands are gorgeous. They have high limestone cliffs that form interesting geographical landmarks and provide astounding views. These islands near Bali were actually the place where we headed to for my babymoon! I highly recommend them.
Location: Off the South East coast of Bali
Getting to the Nusa Islands: There are ferries that head out from Sanur almost every half an hour. You can check out our detailed guide to getting from Bali to Nusa Penida. Getting to the other islands follows a similar procedure.
You can also book your transport across online instead of waiting till you get there.
1. Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is one of the islands near Bali that is famous for its cliffs!
Nusa Penida is one of the most popular Balinese islands to visit as a day trip. In fact there are some amazing day tours that cover both Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. You could even try a a small group tour just to Nusa Penida. I wanted to explore the island thoroughly. There is quite a lot to see and a hectic day trip was definitely not what I was after.
Nusa Penida has a lot of cliffs which provide spectacular views of the swirling ocean around it. If you want to catch a glimpse of these views head to Kelingking beach, Angel Billabong and Broken beach. I must warn you though, the roads are rough and if you choose to rent a bike make sure you know how to ride one. This is not the place to learn!
We divided our days between riding along the coast, exploring the different temples and chilling at the one of the gorgeous beaches. With three days on the island we did not run short of things to do in Nusa Penida!
If you love food then there are a couple of really nice places to eat. I highly recommend visiting the local night markets which are frequented by the locals. The food is amazing, fresh and the variety is just mind boggling!
If you love water based activities, you can try snorkeling and diving. In fact, Nusa Penida is one of the popular places to swim with Manta rays!
2. Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan is one of the islands near Bali that is popular among backpackers.
Another one of the great Balinese islands to visit is Nusa Lembongan. If Nusa Penida is famous for its gorgeous cliff faces, Nusa Lembongan is popular as a backpacker destination. The island has a number of gorgeous beaches to visit.
Devil’s Tear is one of the popular highlights and people come from both Nusa Penida and Bali to catch a glimpse of this cool landmark. Aside from this, you can also catch a bit of surfing in the area or head out on a kayak to explore the mangroves.
Since the island is a popular spot for backpackers to kickback and relax, the food scene has taken off! There are loads of great places to eat and multiple cuisines to choose from.
I highly recommend renting a motorbike and exploring the area but you can also cycle across the island. It is pretty small so getting from one place to another isn’t too difficult. Just bear in mind that it does get hot and there are a couple of steep inclines that you need to keep in mind.
There are even snorkeling day trips from Bali that people like to book if they don’t have tome to stay on the island.
3. Nusa Ceningan
Nusa Ceningan is one of the islands near Bali that is popular for surfing!
Nusa Ceningan is an easy visit. The island lies very close to Nusa Lembongan and there is even a bridge connecting the two islands. In fact, you can choose to stay on either one of the islands and yet explore both within a day!
Like Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan has some popular spots atop the cliffs which provide amazing views. The island is extremely famous for its large waves which draw surfers from all over.
If you aren’t a surfer, I would still recommend heading up to the cliffs to admire the view. There are a couple of cool restaurants that you can sit in and relax. Highly worth it and it gets you out of the midday sun!
During the low tide, the water recedes and the distance between both Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan is almost walkable. Remember I said almost! The receding water turns the area into a super cool sandy (albeit slightly wet!) beach. We spent the evenings here enjoying the music, the food and the ambiance!
The 3 Gili Islands
Another great set of islands near Bali to visit are the 3 Gili islands. Each island is known for different activities but they all deserve a visit if you are in the area. On a side note, the Gili islands are much smaller than the Nusa islands and are closer to the island of Lombok.
Location: North East side of Bali. They are located closer to Lombok.
Getting there: There are frequent ferries that head to the Gili Islands from either Sanur harbor or from Serangan Harbor. You can read our detailed guide about travel to the Gili islands for a more comprehensive idea of how to plan your trip.
4. Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan is a popular backpacker location when it comes to islands near Bali. The island is small but has a variety of accommodation that is perfect for all kinds of budgets. It also has great beaches and an active nightlife!
Shawn loved the island because of the gorgeous coral reef that it has. He spent all day, every day just snorkeling through the water. There is an abundance of marine life in the area too. If you spend enough time in the area, you are bound to spot huge turtles who call the island their home.
On the flip side, if you are looking for quieter laid back islands near Bali then Gili Trawangan may not suit you. The island does have cheap accommodation, cheap food and a lot to do. If you stay a bit away from the happening area, the night noise doesn’t really bother you too much!
5. Gili Meno
Gili Meno is one of the islands near Bali that allows you to connect with nature.
Gili Meno is the quietest of the three Gili islands near Bali. We did not stay here but we did visit the island while staying in Gili Trawangan. The main reason was because the activities, accommodation and food are more costly that Gili Trawangan and we were on a backpacker budget.
What you do need to consider is that while the Gili Meno is more expensive, it is also quieter, less touristy, more serene and a perfect getaway from the usual noise that comes with popular tourist destinations. The reefs around the islands are great for snorkeling and they are relatively untouched.
There are a couple of day trips that are organized from Gili Trawangan to some of the beaches here but they are mostly quick stops on an island hopping tour. The little time that we spent here however had me craving to head back!
Oh and they have installed a couple of underwater sculptures that are really really cool. It has increasingly become one of the popular dive spots in the area. This alone has made it one of the popular Balinese islands.
6. Gili Air
Gili Air is another spot that really beckons a traveler. Not as large as Gili Trawangan, this is another one of the islands near Bali that is famous for its laid back vibe. It has become rather popular off late but it caters to a more quiet crowd.
Again, this was another island that we visited while staying on Gili Trawangan. There are a number of snorkeling and diving trips that head here each day.
7. Lombok
Lombok is one of the larger islands near Bali. It’s size is what makes the island very interesting. From the gorgeous beaches to the dense forests, Lombok is a total paradise. Kuta Lombok is one of the popular destinations when it comes to surfing. In fact, it is a Mecca for surfers because of the huge waves that lash the coast.
If you want to explore the forests or villages then consider visiting Tetebatu. This little village gives you a taste of what it is like to live like a local. Mount Rinjani is another interesting landmark. This active volcano has one of the most popular hiking routes in the area.
Have you visited any of the islands near Bali? Which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
*This post contains affiliate links
