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Kelingking Beach is one of the most iconic beaches in all of Indonesia, and the number one attraction on the stunning little island of Nusa Penida.
Voted the 2nd best beach in Asia in 2023 and easily one of the most beautiful in the entire world, Kelingking is known for its towering 200 metre cliffs and infamous bamboo trail leading to the sandy beach below. Gaining the unofficial name ‘T-Rex Beach’ over time due to the interesting shape of the surrounding limestone headland, Kelingking is simply an unmissable destination when on Nusa Penida.
You can visit the best bits of Nusa Penida by taking a popular day tour from Bali, but I highly recommend spending a few days on the island, away from the hustle and bustle, and seeing the sights under your own steam.
In this guide I’ll explain how you can visit Kelingking Beach along with some essential information and top tips keep in mind on your trip!
- Country: Indonesia
- Population: Roughly 50,000
- Language: Both Indonesian and English are widely spoken in Indonesia
- Currency: Indonesian rupees (IDR). £1/$1 = 18,500/15,000 IDR
- SIM cards: You should definitely get a SIM card for your travels in Bali and Nusa Penida. This means you can use apps like Uber or Grab for cheaper taxi fares but it also means you’re always connected to the world, never needing to rely on WiFi. Get an E-SIM here: Indonesia: eSIM Roaming Mobile Data Plan
Where is it
Kelingking Beach lies on the west coast of Nusa Penida, a small island off the coast of Bali in Indonesia.
Check it out on the interactive map below.
How to get to Kelingking Beach
There are three main ways to get around Nusa Penida.
- Rent a scooter
The most adventurous and fulfilling way to travel around Nusa Penida is by renting a motorcycle and driving yourself. Bikes can be rented at most accommodations and are never hard to find. Expect to pay around 60,000 – 70,000 IDR per day.
- Hire a driver
Another great option I recommend is to hire a private driver. You can propose you own custom itinerary for the day (6, 10 or 12 hours) or let them take you to the spots they think are best. For a full day prices start at around 500,000 IDR ($38), which is pretty good considering everything is included.
If you’re keen, book a driver through this link.
Note: A hired driver is not a tour guide. They will be friendly and might feed you some information now and then in the car, but they won’t walk with you to each location like a guide would.
- Book a tour
The roads on Nusa Penida are notoriously bad so booking tours is a very popular way of securing transport and safety on the island. Travel in the comfort of an air conditioned van with a local guide and fellow travellers to some of the island’s best attractions on one of the popular tours below!
Companies like GetYourGuide and Viator offer great tours of Nusa Penida.
One of the best is this one: Best of Nusa Penida Full-Day Tour by Fast Boat
Expected costs
The entrance fee for Kelingking Beach is just 10,000 IDR.
How long to allow
Including the hike down to the beach you’ll want to allow 3 hours at Kelingking as the hike down can take upwards of 45 minutes one-way.
If you’re just planning to take some photos from above and check out the view from the coastline like most visitors do, then 30-60 minutes would be plenty in total.
Thinking of visiting Southeast Asia soon? Don’t miss these essential guides to help planning your trip:
More Kelingking Beach tips
Aim to visit before day tours arrive
Most tours start at 9am, so aiming to arrive anytime before 10am is the best plan to avoid the biggest crowds.
Leaving your accommodation around sunrise for the softest light and coolest temperatures is recommended, although it’s the type of place that looks damn spectacular at any time of day.
Kelingking Beach doesn’t close
It’s a 24 hour beach, however visiting after sunset is not advisable because the tall cliffs, sketchy path and loose stones could (and do!) prove fatal.
Don’t feel like you have to hike down
If you don’t want to hike down to the beach, that’s fine – most people don’t!
The view from the top of the cliffs will leave you breathless as it is, but what I do recommend is that you at least hike down the stairs part of the way. This is what I did and just by descending the sketchy path for 5 minutes you’ll find yourself all alone in sections and be able to take some stunning photos with no one else in sight!
If you do hike down, don't underestimate it
The hike down can take up to an hour. Some people actually find going down harder than coming up because of the large, awkward height difference between steps and having to navigate past many sharp and loose rocks can slow you down too. Take your time, stop often to catch your breathe (and take lots of photos!) and don’t rush it.
As of 2023, there are strong wooden handrails to help you and some more concrete steps have been constructed, but it’s going to be strenuous regardless, not to mention with the sun beating down on you!
Take plenty of water
Once you start the hike (I want to say ‘there’s no going back’… but obviously there is) there are no opportunities to buy water until you reach the top again, which could be long time later. Come prepared and always take more water than you think you’ll need on hikes like this.
Consider if you want to swim at Kelingking Beach
The waves here are sneaky (hence the term ‘sneaker waves’) and rip tides can make it extremely difficult to get back to land if you misjudge the current.
Rip tides are hard to spot until it’s too late and you don’t want to be swept out to sea. People do swim here, and that’s perfectly fine. It’s more just a case of being sensible, knowing your ability and being aware of tide times.
Remember, if you do decide to go swimming at Kelingking Beach, no lifeguards are going to magically appear to save you if you get into trouble!
Walk along the cliffs for an epic perspective
Not many visitors do this which is why it’s a great thing to do!
A short walk along the path and cliffs behind the restaurants above the beach will lead you to a few viewpoints with stunning side-on views of the headland. Escape the crowds and observe Kelingking from a whole new direction, but be extra careful because there are no railings on these cliffs and its a long way to fall!
Where to stay on Nusa Penida
Packing essentials
- Dry bag: Dry bags are great for water-based activities to keep everything safe and, you guessed it, dry. Try one of these.
- GoPro: Capture the surroundings in stabilised high quality with a trusty waterproof GoPro, perfect for wet adventures. Get the new GoPro HERO 11 here.
Water: Make sure you pack a reusable water bottle and plenty of water as it will likely be a sweaty day.
- Travel towel: Having a compact and fast-drying travel towel is essential here for obvious reasons!
- Portable charger: Charge you tech on the move with one of these long lasting, high speed portable chargers.
Best tours in Nusa Penida
Thank you for reading this travel guide – I hope you found it helpful! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible 
Happy travelling!
HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Accommodation: Booking.com, Hostelworld
Tours: GetYourGuide, Viator, Klook, TripAdvisor
Transport: 12Go, Omio, Trip.com, Rome2Rio
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