Forget Bali! ️ 12 Secret Indonesian Beaches So Stunning They'll Blow Your Mind

For you surfing enthusiasts or those who simply love exploring beautiful beaches, there are plenty of destinations in Indonesia that can satisfy your needs. They're an absolute must-visit, offering breathtaking views of the blue sea, white sandy beaches, mesmerizing waves, and the awe-inspiring beauty of Indonesia's underwater world that will leave you speechless.

Here are 12 beach recommendations in Indonesia that are absolutely worth adding to your bucket list!

Nusa Penida Island, Bali

So, what's the easiest way to get to Nusa Penida Island from Bali? Well, hopping on a fast boat from Bali is the simplest way. You can depart from Sanur Harbor, Serangan Harbor, or Padang Bai Harbor. To get to Sanur Harbor from your hotel, you can just use an online taxi (like Grab or Gojek).

These fast boats will dock at four harbors in Nusa Penida: Toya Pakeh, Seblanga Banjar Nyuh, Banjar Nyuh, and Sampalan.

The journey from Bali to Nusa Penida takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Departures are available in the morning (08:00 AM) WITA, afternoon (10:45 AM) WITA, and evening (03:00 PM) WITA with fares ranging from IDR 100,000 to IDR 120,000 per person (one way).

Once you're in Nusa Penida, you can rent a motorbike (rental fee: IDR 100,000 - IDR 200,000 per day) or a car (rental fee: IDR 700,000 - IDR 800,000 per day) to explore the island. It's better to arrange your transportation before arriving in Nusa Penida, so your ride can pick you up right at the dock.

Here are some must-visit beaches:

1. Diamond Beach

Located on the eastern side of Nusa Penida, you can descend the stairs along the cliffside to reach this beach. The view is absolutely stunning, with crystal-clear blue waters and soft sandy shores.

2. Kelingking Beach

This popular spot on Nusa Penida offers fantastic views from the towering cliffs shaped like a T-Rex. Just descend the stairs to reach the beach below.

3. Angel’s Billabong Beach

This unique beach features a natural rock pool nestled among the coral rocks, with incredibly blue water. You can swim here during low tide, but watch out for the sharp coral bottom.

So, if you stroll about 100 meters, you'll stumble upon another beach called Broken Beach. That means you can hit up two beaches at once. The only downside is you can't actually get down to Broken Beach because there's no access (like stairs), but it's still a great spot for some unique photos.

Gili Islands in Lombok - West Nusa Tenggara

Wondering how to hop over there from Lombok? Well, you've got three options:

1. Public Boat from Bangsal Harbor: This boat fits around 50 people and runs daily from 7:00 AM WITA to 4:00 PM WITA, charging about Rp15,000/person (one way). The journey takes roughly 30 minutes from Lombok to the Gili Islands. It's best to catch the earliest crossing since the last boat back from Gili to Lombok usually isn't later than 4:00 PM WITA -- unless you're planning to stay overnight.
   

2. Public Speedboat from Bangsal Harbor: These boats are bigger and can hold about 70 people. They'll zip you across in just 10 minutes, but they're pricier at Rp85,000/person (one way). Try to snag your tickets straight from the official agents for the best deal.
   

3. Private Speedboat: If you're with a group, go for a private speedboat ride. They can take up to 10 people and take around 10 to 15 minutes. You can catch one from Teluk Nare or Kodeq for about Rp150,000/person (one way). For a more budget-friendly option, negotiate directly with the boat owners. From the same spot, you can also rent a private slow boat - a personal boat that'll take you to all three islands in the Gili Islands at once, for a round trip of Rp3 million per boat (with a capacity of 10 - 30 people). The three islands in the Gili Islands are:

4. Gili Trawangan

This is the biggest and most famous island among Gili Air and Gili Meno. It's a hub for nightlife with its row of bars, restaurants, and lively nightclubs that you can enjoy until the wee hours.

5. Gili Air

Just find a ticket booth at the port from Gili Trawangan to Gili Air. You can take a slow boat for Rp45,000/person (one way), departing at either 9:00 AM or 4:00 PM. Or opt for a fast boat from 11:00 AM WITA to 3:00 PM WITA, which costs Rp85,000/person (one way).

6. Gili Meno

You can also head from Gili Trawangan to Gili Meno using a fast boat with the same fares and schedule as going to Gili Air. Gili Meno is known for its romantic and peaceful atmosphere, perfect for a honeymoon.

So, to make sure you've got plenty of time and don't miss the last boat, here's a tip: start from Gili Trawangan to Gili Air with the earliest boat at 9:00 AM WITA (slow boat). Then, from Gili Air to Gili Meno, catch the boat at 11:15 AM WITA (fast boat), and from Gili Meno back to Gili Trawangan, set sail at 2:30 PM WITA (fast boat). Guaranteed safe and no missing the boat!

Eastern Nusa Tenggara

In Eastern Nusa Tenggara, there are plenty of stunning beaches you absolutely must visit. But two of the most popular ones are:

7. Nihiwatu Beach, Sumba Island

Located about 30 km from Waikabubak City, West Sumba, NTT. If you're coming from Bali, you'll fly into Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport in Waingapu, NTT. This airport serves as the gateway to West Sumba, where Nihiwatu Beach is located.

Nihiwatu Resort

From the airport to the beach, it's just a 2-hour drive. You can use the shuttle service provided by Nihiwatu Resort, the managing entity of Nihiwatu Beach. Only guests of Nihiwatu Resort are allowed access to the beach. The cost of staying at Nihiwatu Resort starts from US$895 per night during the off-season.

Nihiwatu Beach is a paradise for surfers and a destination for surfers from around the world. Why? Well, because its waves are among the fastest in the world. Visitors of Nihiwatu Resort must queue up to surf because there's a maximum capacity of 10 people per session for safety reasons.

Additionally, for underwater enthusiasts, there's a unique snorkeling experience with many interesting spots. You can also enjoy the traditional pasola festival performed by the Sumba people, where they engage in spear battles while riding horses. The pasola festival is held annually, and this year it falls on March 1, 2024.

8. Pink Beach Komodo, Labuan Bajo

Although both are in the Eastern Nusa Tenggara Province, you'll find it easier to access Pink Beach Komodo from Labuan Bajo. From Waingapu Sumba to Labuan Bajo, you can travel by air or sea.

By sea, you can take a ferry/boat with ticket prices ranging from Rp300,000 to Rp500,000 and a travel time of 1 day and 8 hours. If that's too long, you can opt for a plane, and for a cheaper option, fly directly from Jakarta or Bali to Komodo Labuan Bajo International Airport.

Upon arriving in Labuan Bajo, you'll sail from Loh Liang Pier, Komodo Island, either on a private boat (costing around Rp800,000 - Rp900,000) or a public boat. It takes about 30 minutes by boat to reach Pink Beach, or you can trek for 4 hours through coral cliffs and mangrove forests.

It's called Pink Beach because the pink sand comes from a mix of original white sand grains and red-colored dead coral reefs. Besides playing in the sand and swimming along the shore, you can enjoy snorkeling and diving to explore its underwater wonders.

Raja Ampat Island - West Papua

The Raja Ampat Islands are no stranger to international tourists, being hailed as one of the world's top destinations.

To reach Raja Ampat Island, here's the route you can take:

From Jakarta – depart from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, or from Bali – depart from Ngurah Rai International Airport to Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong. The travel time is approximately 6 hours and 40 minutes. It's worth noting that Sorong is 2 hours ahead of Jakarta or 1 hour ahead of Bali.

Upon arrival in Sorong, head straight to Waisai City, the gateway to Raja Ampat Island. You can either fly or take a boat.

If you opt for a flight, you'll fly from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to Marinda Airport. However, flight schedules are tentative (not daily). But if you choose to travel by boat, you can depart from Sorong Port to Waisai Port, with daily schedules. A fast boat ride takes only 2 hours with ticket prices ranging from Rp100,000 to Rp215,000/person.

Once you arrive at Raja Ampat Island, there are plenty of stunning beaches to explore, here are two of the favorites:

9. Cemara Beach

Raja Ampat offers island hopping tours, where you can hop from one island to another. To do this, you can rent a private boat with rates varying depending on the provider, capacity, and destination.

For example, a boat with a capacity of 15 - 20 people is priced at around Rp10 million per day departing from Falaya Port from 07.00 AM WIT to 04.00 PM WIT. This boat will take you to several tourist destinations, including Cemara Beach.

This beach is still relatively secluded, as not many tourists are aware of its existence. Visitors usually come here because they stay at accommodations around the beach. It's best to visit during low tide to walk out into the sea.

10. Pasir Timbul Beach

In addition to Cemara Beach, the rental boat will also stop at Pasir Timbul Beach. Alternatively, you can take a public boat from Waisai Port for an hour with ticket prices around Rp150,000 - Rp200,000/person.

The gradient of the sea colors will mesmerize you. Especially during low tide, you can see the white sandbar as fine as flour.

Bintan Island - Riau Islands

What's the fastest way to get to Bintan Island from Singapore? Well, first off, you can take the Bintan Resorts Ferries from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore to the Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal in Bintan Resort. These ferries operate daily with ticket prices starting from SGD 26.00. The journey takes about 1 hour.

Alternatively, you can access Bintan Island from Batam, Indonesia, using a speedboat from Telaga Punggur Port in Batam to Bandar Bentan Telani Port in Bintan Resorts. The speedboat tickets are priced at Rp120,000/person (one way) and the journey takes only 45 minutes.

Here are some beach recommendations for you to visit on Bintan Island:

11. Lagoi Bay

Lagoi Bay is one of the popular tourist spots on Bintan Island, offering a variety of holiday facilities like luxury resorts. This spot is often visited by couples looking for a honeymoon getaway. Even if you're not staying at the resort, you can still enjoy Lagoi Bay to the fullest.

At Bandar Bentan Telani Port, there are also tour packages available, including trips to Lagoi Bay. It's recommended to arrive early in the morning so you can enjoy all the water activities available, such as jet skiing, speedboating, snorkeling, and swimming in the calm sea. Even at night, the view is incredibly romantic with colorful lanterns intentionally set up for visitors.

12. Crystal Lagoon Artificial Beach

Crystal Lagoon is a tourist spot not only famous in Indonesia but also internationally. Why? It's the first man-made saltwater lagoon in Southeast Asia, spanning up to 6.3 ha.

Located in Treasure Bay Bintan, this lagoon has its charm with its crystal-clear blue water, white fiber-made beach sand, sunbathing, and swimming spots, kayaking to explore the entire lagoon, paddleboarding, water roller, and even bumper boats.

So, those were 12 beach destinations in Indonesia for you beach lovers. Considering Indonesia is an archipelago country, it's no wonder that the beaches here are truly enchanting and picturesque. Happy traveling!