Our Journey To Tembeling Beach
We had quite an interesting journey to Tembeling Beach. So interesting in fact, that we decided it deserved its own post in our Travel Tales section.
It includes the tale of how we followed a stranger into the forest, got split up, found myself in the house of a local villager and more. So, definitely go and read that!
➳ Our Journey to Tembeling Beach
The Natural Pools
The Natural Pools are the main attraction in our books. The pools’ striking colour and clarity invites you in before you’ve even had a chance to catch your breath.
After lazing about in the pool for a while, there’s a jump you must try! If you climb up on the right of the pool, between the pool and the spring, you’ll get to a small ledge. From there you can safely jump into the pool, granted there’s no-one below you!
Note: the water is a little chilly since it is spring water.
You can drink directly from the spring next to the first pool. The most delicious water spouts out for your convenience.
Tembeling Beach
After your relaxing swim, head down to Tembeling Beach.
The beach itself didn’t look very swimmable as it was quite rocky and rough. However, next to the beach is another pool, often used to bathe in by the locals.
A pair of swings face the ocean and there is a lady who sells snacks and drinks. Doesn’t this sound amazing: a refreshing drink in one hand, tasty snack in the other and swinging to the ambience of the sea…
Tembeling’s Secret Beach
There’s also a secret beach to the right of Tembeling beach.
You will see a little cave, once you go through it, you will see hundreds of rocks that have been very carefully stacked on top of each other in an effort to balance and keep the zen.
People have been stacking rocks as a form of art, discipline, problem-solving and devotion for a while now.
You, yourself can add to the rocks or leave them be. There are a few discussions on whether or not rock stacking has a negative impact on the environment when done for fun. We shall leave that decision with you.
No matter your preference, it’s great to perch yourself on a rock and just be.
Visitor’s Info For Tembeling Beach
Where Do I Actually Park?
If you search “Tembeling Beach and Forest” or “Tembeling Pools” on Google Maps, you’re going to be taken to a nice new road (it was still under construction during our visit).
You can park at the top and then try to walk the rest of the way, however, there are LOTS of paths with MANY turns and unless you know your way, you will probably get lost. Even if you find your way to the pools, you cannot enter from that side as the path has been eroded. Trust us, we hiked it.
Rather search “Pos Ojek Tembeling” on Google Maps and that’ll take you right there.
You can park right there and ask a local to drive you down for IDR 50k per direction, you can brave the 30 minute-ish walk or you can drive yourself.
We highly recommend driving yourself. Without ranting on too much about it now, check out our Nusa Penida Roads blog for the full explanation.
Once you have reached the bottom parking, you will see a set of steps leading down to the pools, this is an easy 5-minute walk.
X Marks The Spot
How Much Does Tembeling Beach Cost?
If you are comfortable to drive yourself down or walk, you should encounter no costs whatsoever. However, something to note is that locals can offer to be a tour guide for you, sometimes officially and sometimes unofficially, this will cost you!
(We made a friend who had a local make himself her unofficial tour guide and he just followed her around the entire time… So don’t just accept help or information if you are on a tight budget.)
Just to the left of the stairway to the pools is a donation box. It’s nothing formal and you aren’t forced to contribute – we were so happy with our arrival that we were more than happy to drop in a little something.
When’s The Best Time To Visit?
The best time to visit Tembeling Beach would be in the morning to catch the most magnificent stream of light hitting the pools, it is magical.
There’s no real need to try and avoid the mass of tourists that come with the tour companies since this road is an only-bike one. There will, of course, be others who have opted for the freedom of self-guided travel.
Have you visited Tembeling Beach? How did you get there (walk, drive, guide)? We’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below!
Need Some Extra Nusa Penida Help?
Before anything else, we have a complete guide that should answer all of your questions and then some.
A Video Guide For Nusa Penida
If the written guide isn’t your style, check this out. All costs, all attractions, all times, all routes, all happiness!
How Do I Get To Nusa Penida?
If you are visiting from Bali, you can take a day trip to Nusa Penida.
You can also go by yourself and spend a little longer on the island, which we highly recommend! We ended up staying for a week!
In order to get there, you will have to travel from Sanur harbor in Bali by speedboat or ferry to Nusa Penida. We were told our 30-minute speedboat trip would take 45, but it was a lot quicker than that. We used a company called Crown Fast Cruises.
➩ Book here: Sanur to Nusa Penida
➩ Or search here: 12Go Asia
How To Get Around On Nusa Penida
Once on the island, you will have to rent a bike or scooter. It cost us IDR 390k for the week which was a little better of a deal compared to the standard IDR 70k a day.
➳ How To Rent A Scooter On Nusa Penida
The island is just too big to walk. Also, since the island isn’t as built up yet, they only have one well-maintained main route that connects all of the attractions, which means that you will have to travel about 45 minutes between each attraction.
WARNING: The roads to all the attractions are very bumpy and are not regularly maintained. Be very careful when driving! Byron and I drove a bike in Thailand for 2 years and there were still times on the island where we almost slid out and we watched many young couples fall! Be careful!
➳ Driving On Nusa Penida Roads
It’s worth mentioning that we absolutely loved driving here, gladly cruising for 3 or more hours a day because of the spectacular scenery, quiet roads, authentic local lifestyle and fresh air. Our favourite spot to unleash the motorcycle yet.
Where To Stay On Nusa Penida
There are many accommodation options on Nusa Penida. It all really depends on what you are looking for and what your price range is. Airbnb is a great toolsince they have a lot of budget-friendly options.
We are looking for:
Budget-Friendly ➩ Arie Guesthouse (We stayed here)
Unique ➩ Penida Bambu Green
Luxury ➩ Kompyang Cottage
➩ When you first sign up to Airbnb and book using our code you can score up to R600 off of your first booking and R225 towards an experience!
What’s Next?
Try and smash out these other attractions on the same day:
Banah Cliff
Peguyangan Waterfall
Manta Point
If you don’t have other travel plans yet, might we suggest Ubud?
❀ PIN FOR LATER ❀
