Beach Beauty: 8/10
Diamond and Kelingking Beach are stunning.
Transport & Guide: 8/10
Our local driver and guide was kind and flexible.
Road Infrastructure: 2/10
Terrible roads made the ride exhausting; some family members vomited.
Boat Management: 0/10
This is where the experience turned from inconvenient to dangerous. More details below.
The Return from Nusa Penida to Bali on August 5th, 2025 — Facts
1. Unclear Procedure at the Dock (16:00)
Unlike the departure,we were suddenly asked to write our names at check-in without explanation.
2. Shuttle Boat Chaos (16:20)
Instead of boarding at the dock, we were rushed onto a small shuttle boat to reach the main boat offshore, told it was quicker, though clearly it wasn’t.
3. Prolonged Wait at Sea (16:30–18:00)
We waited over an hour on the main boat in rough seas. Life vests were suddenly required.We were then told we’d dock at Klungkung instead of Sanur due to high tide, with ground staff supposedly waiting to help.
4. No Ground Staff(18:15–19:00)
At Klungkung, no staff were present,just aggressive taxi drivers. The agency told us to take a taxi but couldn’t confirm a refund. Grab/Gojek weren’t available, so we paid an inflated fare with no receipt.
5. Discovering the Truth
Our taxi driver informed us there had been a boat accident in Sanur at 15:00. We confirmed it online but no one from the crew or agency told us.
6. Lack of Concern at Sanur (20:00)
Back in Sanur, the local partner shop was closed. Staff showed no concern or coordination.
7. A Helpless Visitor, Alone (A few mins after)
We saw a Chinese tourist, possibly connected to the accident, struggling to communicate.No translator, no help,just Google Translate and despair.
What Deeply Disappointed Me: Lack of Transparency, Disastrous Crisis Management, False Promises, Accountability.
Avoid Nusa Penida—for now.
The island is beautiful, but poor infrastructure and safety issues make it a risky destination. Until major improvements are made, it’s not worth it.