Plan · families

Lembongan with kids

Calm coves, shallow reef, mangroves and seaweed farms make Lembongan a great island for families, with a few things to plan for.

Discover Lembongan / Guides / With kids

Quick answer: Yes, Lembongan is great with kids: short distances, calm coves, shallow snorkelling and mangrove boat trips. Take a morning boat, plan for the wet landing, and use buggies rather than scooters.

Lembongan is easier with children than most of Bali: short distances, no big roads, and lots to do in and around shallow water. A little planning around boats and the sea goes a long way.

The crossing

Take a morning fast boat from Sanur, when the sea is usually calmer. Boats land on the beach, so you'll wade the last few steps: carry small children, keep shoes in your hand, and pack the essentials in a dry bag. More on getting here.

Things kids love

  • Mangrove boat trips at high tide, poled gently through the channels.
  • Snorkelling on calm, shallow reef with a guide, with life jackets for small swimmers.
  • The seaweed farms at low tide, and watching the farmers work. The seaweed farms.
  • Crossing the Yellow Bridge to Ceningan.
  • The underground house at Gala-Gala, a maze of rooms dug by hand.
  • Devil's Tears at sunset, holding hands and well back from the edge.
The carved brick and stone gateway of Pura Empuaji, a temple on Nusa Lembongan.
Photo: yeowatzup, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Beaches

Choose sheltered coves on calm days, and swim where locals swim. Dream Beach has a strong shore break and is for watching, not swimming, unless the sea is flat. The reef flats at low tide are fun to explore in reef shoes, but don't walk on coral or the seaweed plots.

Getting around

Electric buggies and local drivers are the easiest option for families. Scooters with small children on narrow, hilly roads are not a good idea. Getting around.

Questions

Is Nusa Lembongan good for families?

Yes. It's small, calm and easy compared to mainland Bali, with sheltered coves, shallow snorkelling, mangrove boat trips and the seaweed farms to explore.

Which beaches are best for kids on Lembongan?

The sheltered coves on the west coast, like Mushroom Bay, are best when the sea is calm. Avoid swimming at Dream Beach unless it's completely flat.

Is the boat from Sanur OK with kids?

Yes, but take a morning boat when the sea is calmer, and plan for the beach landing: little ones will need to be carried through the shallow water.

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