If you’re planning a trip to Nusa Penida, you have to visit the incredible Thousand Island Viewpoint. After living for a few months in Bali, I decided it was time to explore Nusa Penida. I heard so many great things about this island and I was super-excited to explore it.
On my first day in Nusa Penida, I woke up early and headed to Atuh Beach and Diamond Beach, two of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen! Just a short motorbike ride away from these beaches is the incredible Thousand Island Viewpoint and the famous Nusa Penida Tree House.
Even though the weather was against us, we managed to take a few photos at this viewpoint and enjoy the sights for a few minutes. In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know when planning to visit the Thousand Island Viewpoint, also known as Raja Lima or Pulau Seribu.
1. My experience at the Thousand Island Viewpoint
After we parked our motorbike, we climbed down some stairs until we reached the Thousand Island Viewpoint. Even before starting to climb down the stairs, the views were already incredible.
The path leads to both the Thousand Island Viewpoint and the Nusa Penida Tree House. The area is called Rumah Pohon Molenteng and is one of the most beautiful areas in Nusa Penida.
We followed the stairs and in a few minutes we saw the first viewpoint on our left-hand side. From there, you could clearly see an incredible beach and a small part of Diamond Beach. What I loved the most were the huge rocks scattered in the sea.
The entire view was breathtaking. It’s surreal to see how the sea meets those steep cliffs. From this viewpoint, if you make your way further down, you’ll reach the famous Nusa Penida Tree House.
Most tourists come here to take photos on the house’s steps, but few know that this treehouse is actually an Airbnb. You can rent it and sleep here. It’s definitely one of the most incredible locations on the island and it offers some of the best views.
Good to know – If you want to book a few nights at the Nusa Penida Tree House, book your stay a few months in advance. Although quite isolated, this place is super-popular.
There is another beautiful treehouse right across the popular one. However, this one doesn’t offer such beautiful views.
After visiting the treehouse, climb the small hill that has a small shrine on top. This is one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the island. The view better than that at the first viewpoint.
2. Thousand Island Viewpoint things to know
Near the parking area, there is a small warung that sells snacks, Mie Goreng and refreshments. I recommend buying a bottle of water if you don’t have one because climbing the stairs on a sunny day is a bit challenging.
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Entrance fee and opening hours
The entrance fee for the Thousand Island Viewpoint and the Nusa Penida Treehouse is IDR 10 K. There is no parking fee. You can visit these attractions 24/7.
3. Where is the Thousand Island Viewpoint, Nusa Penida?
This viewpoint is located on the eastern coast of Nusa Penida, a short drive away from Atuh Beach and Diamond Beach. If you’re hungry, I recommend stopping at Warung Kubu. We had some delicious sandwiches there!
When we visited, the road to the Thousand Island Viewpoint was in terrible shape. However, recently the local authorities invested a lot of money in rebuilding the roads on Nusa Penida. From what I’ve heard, the roads are now in excellent condition.
4. How to get to the Thousand Island Viewpoint
During our stay, we chose to rent a motorbike to explore Nusa Penida. However, if you don’t know how to drive a motorbike, you can join a guided tour or hire a driver. I’ll talk about each of these options below.
Option 1 – Rent a motorbike
If you’re comfortable driving a motorbike, I recommend renting one. If you’re staying more than a day in Nusa Penida, you can rent a motorbike directly from the owner of your hotel or guest house. Most owners offer such services.
If you’re only visiting Nusa Penida as a day trip from Bali, you can rent a motorbike directly from the port. The price is around IDR 80 K per day. Before starting your journey, make sure that the tank is full. You can find many gas shops in the area near the port.
Option 2 – Join a guided tour
This is one of the most popular options to explore Nusa Penida. There are many guided tours from Bali that you can book online at an affordable price. For example, this tour includes stops at the most instagrammable places on the island. I also recommend this tour that has excellent reviews.
Option 3 – Hire a driver
If you want a hassle-free experience, hire a driver for one or more days. Prices start at around IDR 500 K per day. Hiring a driver with a car is a great option, especially if you’re a group of 3 or 4 people.
5. Places to visit near the Thousand Island Viewpoint
Besides the Nusa Penida Treehouse, which is right near the Thousand Island Viewpoint, you can also visit Atuh Beach and Diamond Beach.
These two beaches are a short drive away from the viewpoint. Actually, I recommend visiting Diamond Beach first because later in the day it becomes very crowded. After Diamond Beach, head to Atuh Beach and admire the broken rock sitting right in front of the bay.
From Atuh Beach head to the Thousand Island Viewpoint and Treehouse. These four attractions can be visited in about 4-5 hours, depending on how many photos you want to take. If you have more than 2 days to spend on Nusa Penida, I recommend planning an entire day for these 4 attractions.
6. Where to stay on Nusa Penida
Most hotels and guest houses in Nusa Penida are located near the port. In this area, you’ll find many restaurants and shops. I searched for the best accommodation on the island and these are my recommendations.
- Budget – Double-G Guesthouse – excellent location, spacious rooms, air conditioning, friendly staff
- Mid-Range – NG Sweet Home – beautiful pool, quiet area, good location, spacious & clean rooms, continental breakfast included
- Luxury – Adiwana Resort – excellent location, incredible pool, beautiful views, luxurious rooms, excellent facilities
7. Final thoughts
The Thousand Island Viewpoint is one of the most breathtaking places on Nusa Penida. It’s a popular spot for photographers and tourists. Hence, the place is quite crowded.
Located near the treehouse, this is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island. I absolutely loved the views here! If you have any questions about the Thousand Island Viewpoint, let me know in the comments section below.
If you want to read more about Indonesia, make sure to check out my travel guide. It includes important info about transport, prices, places to visit and more!
Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
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