Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida: How to Visit the Famous T-Rex Beach at Sunrise

Blown away by Kelingking

This is it.

The epitomic view from Nusa Penida; land reaching out into the sea shaped like a gaping Tyrannosaurus Rex, with 300-400 metre drops leading down into the roaring waves and a sloping white beach.

Even though we had seen tons of pictures online prior to visiting, we were absolutely blown away by the sight.

For us, Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida is definitely one of the most beautiful landscapes we’ve seen in Southeast Asia.

It’s a unique and truly iconic viewpoint.

Read on to learn about what to expect from Kelingking Beach.

Where to stay in Nusa Penida:

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• Luxury: Aqua Nusa (boutique villas with private pools in nearby Nusa Lembongan)
• Luxury: Semabu Hills Hotel Nusa Penida (probably the best hotel in Nusa Penida)
• Budget: WK Gamat (we loved staying here + it’s close to Kelingking)
• Budget: You & We House (also fantastic value for money and great for sunrise at Diamond Beach)

Search for the best value accommodation in Nusa Penida here.

What to expect at Kelingking Beach

The view from the top at sunrise

We arrived just as the sun was peaking above the horizon as the only people on site.

We started out trying to capture the view from some of the different viewpoints scattered along the cliff (see image below).

They’re easy to find; just continue around the area.

Be super super careful near the edge; there’s no railing nor security net in place here. A tourist tragically died from a fall in 2018.

As the T-Rex shaped cliff is further down than where you get in, you’ll want to get your camera up high and any people in the shot low.

We saw different creative solutions to this – from selfie sticks ranging high into the air to guides climbing trees to get those perfect shots. There has also been built a platform on which you can take the picture from a chair…

Be aware that monkeys roam the area. They aren’t too cheeky and we had no problems.

Beating the crowds

How early should you arrive at Kelingking Beach?

Lots of people had already arrived once we decided to make the trek down to the beach short after sunrise… But it was nothing like the situation up there once we got up again.

At noon, a long queue had been formed for the most popular photo spot, and the number of people on the stairs leading down meant there were some serious foot traffic jams.

In other words: Go early or late in the day if you want to have a more pristine and calmer experience at Kelingking Beach.

Going down to the beach

Though a big part of the experience of visiting Kelingking Beach is seeing the magnificent view from the top, making the trek down is also a worthy pilgrimage if you’re up to the task.

It took us approximately 45 minutes each way with minimal photo stops.

The first part is relatively easy and then things get hairy by the end with narrow and steep spots.

We never felt unsure of our footing as the ground thankfully isn’t loose gravel, but you still have to place your weight carefully, hold onto what you can and take it slow.

Going up again, you’ll most likely feel more like scrambling or even climbing in sections as some of the steps are really tall.

We don’t want to frighten anyone needlessly, but we definitely saw some people heading down who hadn’t fully prepared for what was to come and looked quite uncomfortable.

Who should and shouldn’t go down to the beach?

If you’re fit, not in a hurry and up to an adventure, it’s easy to recommend hiking down to Kelingking Beach.

But if all of the above doesn’t sound like any fun at all, consider staying on top and simply enjoy the views from there.

Remember that you also have to come back up – potentially in the hot afternoon sun.

Needless to say, Kelingking Beach isn’t wheelchair friendly.

The beach experience

The beach is really pretty, and it’s a special feeling to be down there surrounded by these huge rocks and powerful waves tumbling against you.

It’s definitely not swimmable, and even walking out into the small waves close to shore has the potential to knock you over.

So again: Be extremely careful.

There is a kind of lifeguard down there, but don’t count on any help if you get swept out in a current and knock against the cliffs.

Well…

Enough of the boring warning stuff – Kelingking Beach is awesome.

As the trek down is so difficult, only a fraction of the people on top make it down, making it relatively desolate.

If you head as far as you can to one side or the other, you might even get a pretty big chunk of sand all to yourself.

There are small caves on each side, but otherwise, it’s a rather exposed beach and there’s not much in terms of shade during the afternoon.

Kelingking Beach practicalities

Facilities at Kelingking Beach

We saw a small shop selling drinks the beach (imagine making the trip down there daily!) but that’s it in terms of facilities down there.

There are no toilets or changing rooms.

Back on top, there are several warungs selling snacks, drinks and Indonesian food. They are all located between the main viewpoint and the parking area.

After the climb, we enjoyed some nasi goreng (fried rice) and a young fresh coconut.

There are many toilets around the viewpoint but they all cost around 5k or 10k and most of them are basic squat toilets.

Kelingking Beach opening times

As there is no fence guarding Kelingking Beach, it is theoretically speaking open 24 hours a day.

We arrived before there was anyone there.

The people taking admission, serving food from the warungs etc. arrive around 07.00 in the morning.

Kelingking Beach price

The price of visiting Kelingking Beach is so low that it shouldn’t factor into any kind of travelling budget or decision on whether or not to visit this gorgeous place…

• Price of admission per person: IDR 5k (~ 0.35 USD / 0.3 EUR)
• Parking price for one scooter: IDR 1k (~ 0.07 USD / 0.06 EUR)

Insanely cheap, right?!

How to get to Kelingking Beach

By scooter

When we visited Kelingking Beach in June 2019, we had rented our own scooter and drove to Kelingking Beach ourselves.

The road is super bumpy and we wouldn’t recommend making the trip if it’s your first time driving a scooter, but the roads look like they’re rapidly improving to handle the influx of tourists.

We rented our scooter from the harbour when we arrived at Nusa Penida.

We paid IDR 75k per day (~ 5.3 USD / 4.6 EUR) for four days of rental. Remember to ask for a helmet.

With a driver

It’s possible to arrange a car with driver for about IDR 600k per day (~ 42 USD / 37 EUR) in Nusa Penida.

This is a great option if you’re more than two people travelling together or if you’re not comfortable on a scooter.

With a tour company

It’s very popular to visit Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida as a part of a day trip from Bali.

Most of these tours also include a trip to Broken Beach & Angel’s Billabong.

If you choose to go this route, expect to arrive at Kelingking when it’s at its most crowded.

Don’t mind the crowds? Then a tour is definitely one of the more comfortable and easy options for experiencing Kelingking Beach.

Map

Kelingking Beach is located on the western part of Nusa Penida, about one hour of driving away from the harbour.

When to visit Kelingking Beach

Time of day

We visited Kelingking Beach as early as we could in the morning and can totally recommend that you do the same for a magical experience.

The sunrise was incredibly beautiful, and there was almost no people.

If you want to experience Kelingking Beach without too many crowds, try to be there before 10.00 in the morning, as that is the time many tours arrive.

Climbing down to the beach (and back up!) gets very hot during the middle hours of the day (from 10.00 to 16.00).

Sunsets should be spectacular from Kelingking Beach. Expect to drive back in the dark, so take it slow.

Seasons

Generally speaking, Nusa Penida and its many attractions can be visited year-round.

All year, the average temperature hovers around 27°C/80°F in the day and 22°C/72°F at night. In other words, a very pleasant climate!

The seasons can roughly be divided into a dry season (May to October) and a rainy season (November to April).

Though it rains quite a lot more in the rainy season, you can still have plenty of sunshine.

Christmas, New Year’s, July and August are the most popular times to visit Nusa Penida and Kelingking Beach.

Where to stay near Kelingking Beach

As Kelingking is located rather remotely in Nusa Penida, staying really close isn’t neccessarily a good option.

Opting for a place to sleep on the west coast or on north coast should be just fine and the travel time won’t be more than around an hour.

Adlinks
• Luxury: Aqua Nusa – Boutique villas with private pools in nearby Nusa Lembongan.
• Luxury: Semabu Hills Hotel Nusa Penida – Probably the best hotel in Nusa Penida.
• Value for money: Road Beach Premier – One of the island’s few beachfront options.
• Budget: WK Gamat – We loved staying here.
• Budget: You & We House – Also fantastic value for money and great for sunrise at Diamond Beach.
• Budget: Atuh Forest Cottage – Peaceful location and nice mountain views.
• Budget: Echo Alam Nusa Lodge – The best place to stay for vegans.

Search for the best value accommodation in Nusa Penida here (adlink).

Where we stayed: WK Gamat

We stayed for two nights at WK Gamat in Nusa Penida’s west side, situating us closer to Broken Beach and Kelingking Beach.

The hotel is located in a very rural area with charming views and the sounds that follow. The road to get there (away from the main road) is mostly gravel.

Chilling out in the pool after a day of exploring is just perfect, and the rooms offered a comfortable double bed, desk, wifi, air conditioning and a roofless private bathroom.

The staff was so service-minded and we felt very welcome at WK Gamat.

Check prices and availability at WK Gamat (adlink).

What to bring when visiting Kelingking Beach

• Indonesian rupiah in cash (preferably small bills).
• Sun protection; a hat, sunglasses, light covering clothes and an eco-friendly sunscreen (adlink).
• Proper shoes (if you intend to climb down to the beach).
• Snacks to munch on before heading back up after visiting the beach.
• A good camera – here’s our guide to lightweight photography gear for high-quality travel content.
• Plenty of water.
• A sarong or a quick-dry towel (adlinks).

Minimise your impact

To minimise your impact when visiting Kelingking Beach, follow these guidelines:

• Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle (adlink).
• Avoid single-use plastics, including straws.
• Dispose of waste properly. While putting your trash in a nearby trashcan is convenient, wrappers and other small items are prone to get taken by the wind and end up in the ocean.
• Check your sunscreen. Many brands contain oxybenzone and other chemicals that are harmful to corals.
• Take only photos, leave only footprints. Let shells and corals stay in their natural home.
• Be considerate of other visitors.
• Respect wildlife.

Want to go beyond leaving no trace?

Join the Adventure Bag Movement!

One Adventure = One Adventure Bag of trash.

The next time you head out to explore, pick up some of the trash you find on your way. And make sure to tag The Adventure Bag Crew to spread the message.

Thanks for reading

We hope this travel guide to Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida has been useful.

What do you think about the famous T-Rex?

If you’ve been to Kelingking it would be awesome to hear your best tips in the comments. If you haven’t been yet, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything. We’re glad to help.