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Bali island hopping: a private yacht to the Nusa islands

Island hopping from Bali means the three Nusa islands: Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan. FirstBali's full-day private yacht, the other island days in the catalogue, and how to pick the right one.

Updated October 21, 2026 · 3 min read

Island hopping from Bali usually means the three Nusa islands off the south-east coast: Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. FirstBali's version is Private yacht — full-day island hopping, a private charter to Nusa Penida for Manta Point, Crystal Bay, snorkelling and water activities, with crew, guide, gear, drinks and snacks included. The operator confirms availability and the amount for your date; the sea decides on the day.

The three Nusa islands

The three islands belong to Klungkung Regency, not to the parts of Bali where most visitors stay.

  • Nusa Penida is the island the full-day yacht heads for: Manta Point for the reef manta rays, and Crystal Bay for snorkelling.
  • Nusa Lembongan is its neighbour, and the destination of the catalogue's sundown cruise.
  • Nusa Ceningan is the third, joined to Lembongan by a bridge. Indonesia's Directorate General of Highways describes the Yellow Bridge, also called the Love Bridge, as the suspension bridge linking Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, built for pedestrians and two-wheeled vehicles.

Klungkung charges foreign visitors a levy to visit the islands. Ask the concierge whether it applies to your day.

FirstBali's island-hopping day

The full-day yacht is a private charter: your group, the crew and a guide, nobody else on board. In one day at sea it covers:

  • Manta Point, where the reef mantas come to be cleaned.
  • Crystal Bay, the snorkelling stop.
  • Water activities between the two, with the gear on board.

How the mantas behave, how to swim with them, the currents at Crystal Bay and what the safety advice says are covered in the Nusa Penida private boat guide. This page is about choosing the day.

The other island days

If the full day on the yacht is not quite right, the catalogue has three other ways to reach the islands:

Which day for which group

  • Swimmers who want the most in one day: the full-day island hopping yacht.
  • A group that wants the evening light: Nusa Lembongan at sundown.
  • Short on time, or with young children: the half day with the mantas.
  • People who prefer land to water: Nusa Penida, full day, on foot.
  • A group split between sea and shore: some go island hopping, the others spend the day at a beach club such as White Rock or Le Bleu.

Planning around the sea

An island day is the one plan in Bali that the weather can cancel. A few rules make it work:

  • Keep a spare day if the trip matters.
  • Never on the morning of a flight.
  • If the captain says no, it is no. The trip moves to another day.
  • Children's life jackets: bring your own for small children.
  • Emergency number: in Indonesia, call 112.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection that stays on, a light layer for the way back and a dry bag for phones and documents.

The evening after

A day at sea leaves room for a slow evening, or a night out. Zumana, the Savaya Group's beach club at Sunset Bay in Kuta, has its centrepiece ZENÍA, a sculpture by Daniel Popper, and runs every day of the week; it is 21+ and smart casual, and each night's terms are on its page.

How to book

Send the concierge the trip, the date and a spare date, how many you are, any children or weak swimmers, and where you are staying so the car to the boat and back can be arranged — see the transport page. The charter is yours once the operator has confirmed it; a deposit, if any, follows the operator's terms and is not a confirmation by itself.

Read next

Yacht charter in Bali, Bali boat trips, the Nusa Penida private boat guide and the Bali seven-day itinerary.

Questions we get asked

＋Where do you go island hopping from Bali?

To the three Nusa islands: Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan. FirstBali's full-day private yacht heads for Nusa Penida.

＋What does the island hopping yacht include?

Manta Point, Crystal Bay, snorkelling and water activities, with crew, guide, gear, drinks and snacks. The concierge confirms it for your date.

＋Are Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan connected?

Yes, by the Yellow Bridge, a suspension bridge for pedestrians and two-wheeled vehicles.

＋Is there a fee to visit the Nusa islands?

Klungkung Regency charges foreign visitors a levy. Ask the concierge whether it applies to your day.

＋What if the sea is rough?

The captain decides on the day, and the trip moves. Keep a spare date and never plan it on the morning of a flight.

＋Is my trip confirmed when I send the request?

No. The charter is yours once the operator has confirmed it.

Mentioned in this guide

Want us to arrange it?

Tell the concierge what you have in mind — a table, a guestlist, a villa, a driver. The assistant answers at any hour; the team takes over from 9am to midnight Bali time.

Ask the concierge

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