Every day, from early morning to early evening, you will find fast boats traveling between Sanur and Nusa Lembongan. It is nearly a rite of passage for visitors to Bali to travel to Lembongan Island to spend a few days before returning to Bali.
While several companies run boats from Sanur to Lembongan, Rocky Fast Boat stands out for one crucial reason: it’s the only service with its proper jetty on Lembongan. This means you won’t have to wade through water with your luggage.
How long is the Rocky Fast Boat from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan Island?
When you’re standing at the Port of Sanur, you can see the island of Nusa Lembongan. The distance is 20 kilometres, but since we are referring to boat travel, it’s 10.9 nautical miles from Sanur Harbour to Nusa Lembongan.
The Sanur Nusa Lembongan boats are not called fast boats for nothing. Rocky boats typically travel at speeds ranging from 25 to 30 knots as they cross the Bali Sea.
Rocky Fast Boat operating times from Sanur Port
Rocky Fast Boat’s schedules vary from season to season, but they typically run a boat from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. daily.
The Nusa Lembongan to Sanur ferry service starts on Lembongan every day. If the first ferry from Sanur is at 10 a.m., a scheduled service will leave Lembongan Island at 9 a.m.
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Sanur ferry fares and how to buy tickets
Rocky offers two types of tickets on their Sanur to Lembongan fast boat to Lembongan Island.
- Ticket Type 1: From Sanur Harbour to Rocky Harbour on Nusa Lembongan
- Ticket Type 2: From Sanur Harbour to Rocky Harbour on Nusa Lembongan, including pick-up from your Bali accommodations (check if available at your location) and drop-off at your Nusa Lembongan accommodation.
- As of April 2024, the current pricing at the time of writing is
- 275 IDR Boat ticket only
- 325 IDR for hotel pick up, boat ticket, and hotel room drop off.
*If a ticket is booked and paid for, it can be cancelled with a full refund if more than 2 weeks before travel. In case of an emergency, you can contact Rocky via WhatsApp +62 813-3909-9963
How much luggage can I take with me?
Much like all forms of transport, there are limits to what luggage you can bring, but what you will find is the Rockies are very accommodating.
- Carry-on Baggage – 1 x carry-on item no larger than 60 cm x 40 cm x 30 cm.
- Checked Baggage – 2 x items no heavier than 22kg. Baggage over this allowance may not be carried on the vessel and will need to be stored at your own risk and cost.
Some additional items, such as surfboards, fishing rods, prams, and travel cots, are free of charge, but you must let the company know when booking your tickets.
Is Rocky’s Fast Boats for everyone?
While Rocky tries to be accessible for everyone, if you’re wheelchair-bound and have no mobility at all. If you have some mobility, Rocky can wheel you to the boat and assist you to get on and then help you back into your wheel chair for the journey.
What happens in rough weather?
The boats will still run in rough weather, but at a reduced speed. You will find that there may be a few days a year when the conditions are unsafe, and in that case, the trips will be cancelled for your safety. If the conditions are rough, the boat will do a lot of bouncing over waves, so maybe consider getting some sea sickness tablets for the journey. Brands like Travelan and Kwells are popular medications for seasickness and can be bought in Sanur at the Guardian Chemist on Jalan Danu Tamblingan.
Where to find the ferry at Sanur
The Fast Boats to Nusa Lembongan leave Sanur from the Port of Sanur facility, located at 87H6+X69, Jl. Matahari Terbit in Sanur.
Facilities at Sanur Port
The Port of Sanur facility is quite new, and it was only built in the last few years. Even though the building is modern, with air-conditioned waiting rooms, there are no food and beverage facilities.
You will find restaurants and small shops located adjacent to the Port Building, where you can grab something to eat while waiting for the boats to Lembongan.
Need supplies before you go? Shop with confidence and get what you need with our Supermarkets in Sanur guide
Waiting to board the ferry
If you choose the hotel pick-up service like we did, you will be taken to Rocky’s office near the port of Sanur first, where you will be issued your tickets. After this, you will be transferred to the Port of Sanur building to wait for your departure time. We found this to be easy.
The new Port of Sanur Building has plenty of seating in air-conditioned waiting areas. There are toilets, a small kids’ play area, and an outdoor area for smokers or people wanting to stretch before getting on the fast boat to Nusa Lembongan.
There is not much to do at the port, so have your phone charged or bring a book while waiting for the Sanur Lembongan boat. I would not arrive until 30 minutes before boarding.
The new modern facility works like an airport, your boat departure will be announced, and you need to line up and scan your tickets before being allowed onto the boarding area.
Be aware that you have to take your luggage down to the boat, and there is a downhill ramp. We witnessed people struggling with heavy cases while doing this.
Klook.comWhat to expect on board the ferry
These fast boats that run between Sanur and the islands of Bali are pretty basic. Generally, you will find the boats have three or four seats on either side of the middle aisle.
If you’re a larger person and there are a few of us, you may find that there is not a lot of space between seats. However, compared to other boats I have been on in Bali, Rocky’s has some of the more spacious boats. If you can get on board as one of the first few people, you may be able to sit on the beach seat at the back of the boat.
There is one toilet onboard, but honestly, I would be waiting for you to arrive to use the toilet. If you have big suitcases, your luggage is put on the roof of the boat, and off you go.
The trip is only 30-35 minutes long, so you don’t need much onboard. The Rocky fast boat from Sanur to Lembongan is just big, enclosed speedboats that get the journey done quickly. The onboard experience could be improved with Wi-Fi which is currently not available.
Looking forward to exploring food in Sanur? Read our guide for 11 of the best places to eat in Sanur
Arriving at Nusa Lembongan
Rockys is the only company that has its own jetty in Nusa Lembongan. Otherwise, you disembark into the water on the beach at Nusa Lembongan. While this may seem adventurous and unique, it’s certainly not a good idea if the water is rough.
At Rockys on Lembongan, you step straight off the boat and onto a jetty. If you have booked the tickets, including hotel transfers, you head to the car park, and the staff will instruct you on which vehicle to get in to take you to your Nusa Lembongan accommodation.
Just be aware that the roads in Lembongan are in poor shape, and transport to your hotel will be on the back of a ute, much like a tuk-tuk. Hold on tight as the drivers whip around corners and over bumps on the way. Popular areas to stay in Nusa Lembongan include Mushroom Bay and Jungubatu.
We recommend you get travel insurance just in case of delays or any problems. Make sure you read your insurance policy, and it covers boat trips.
Getting the ferry from Nusa Lembongan to Sanur
You will find that Rocky’s fast boat basically goes back and forth; after one arrives, it leaves an hour later to go back. So, five times a day, the boat goes from Lembongan to Sanur and from Sanur to Lembongan.
If you booked the hotel pick-up tickets, you will get picked up 1 hour before departure from your hotel in Nusa Lembongan and taken back to Rockys Lembongan Port to catch the boat to Sanur.
You can buy drinks and snacks onsite to have while waiting. There is also a seating area under the shade for you to use while you wait for the boat in the hot weather.
Usually, the boat arrives from Sanur. They offload passengers and luggage, and you start boarding for your trip on the Nusa Lembongan boats to Sanur.
Want to know everything about Sanur? Use our EPIC Sanur travel guide to help plan your perfect stay in Sanur
Final thoughts on taking the ferry from Sanur to Lembongan Island
Don’t expect luxury on the Rocky or other fast boats going to Nusa Lembongan from Sanur. These boats are practical, fast, and will get you from point to point.
If the ocean is rough, these boats will bounce around some on the swell, but with the journey only a little over 30 minutes, it will be over fast enough. As we said, Rocky’s is not the only company, and they can be a little more expensive than some others, but you are paying to get off the boat on a jetty, not the beach.
The boats are roomier than some others, and let’s be honest, comfort is important to us all. Nusa Lembongan is worth a visit, so book your tickets and head off on the adventure.
For more accommodation options in Sanur Bali, click through to our places to stay page or search Booking.com Agoda or Luxury Escapes.
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Things to do in Sanur
Things to do in Sanur and its content is created by two Australians Mark & Bec who have been to Sanur many times. We have enjoyed food and drink on the beach, we have sipped coffee on Jalan Danau Tamblingan. We have stayed in homestays and hotels in Sanur and made day trips to see the best of Bali. Not only that, but we aim to keep the information fresh by continuing to visit Sanur and getting first-hand information off our Balinese friends.