ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Two travel options: You can see the Rumah Pohon Tree House as THE Instagram picture spot – and it definitely is a hot one – or you can see it as one of the worldwide best places to wake up.
If you like going on adventures, doing this in a unique way and waking up in one of the best spots you´d ever could, then this tree-house experience is made for you, 100%.
Everything you need to know about going to or even staying in Nusa Penida´s famous tree-house: One, two, three here we go!
How to go there:
You are probably already in Indonesia and most probably in Bali when this travel idea pops up. Nusa Penida, in the southeast of Bali, is the biggest of the three neighbour islands (Nusa Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan) with a size of 20km length and 12km width.
From the habour of Sanur (at Bali´s east coast) grab a speedboat to Nusa Penida. It will take about 45min. I went down to Sanur with my Scooter which has been a 50 min drive from the west coast of Bali. You can also go there by taxi, gojek or pick up service from a travel package.
It takes 45 min from Sanur to the island. and an one hour drive from the habour to the tree-house.
Accommodation:
The adress: Jalan Pejukutan, Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia.
The set up: Three tree houses and a little reception/shop/restaurant on top. The tree house hat you know from Instagram is the one in the front. It´s the one where you`ll find all the blogger sitting on the stairs to get their perfect shot done.
The interiour: Well the hut is pretty simple what is to expect because it´s a tree hut. Inside is a bed and a fan, that’s it. Of course there is light and electricity to charge your electronic supplies as mobil phones and cameras. For sure on the bed you´ll find two pillows, two blankets and two towels.
When I checked out I was recommending to put some nails in the wood of the room to be able the hang some stuff like the used towels, a jacket or a bag etc. to make it a little more cosy and structured, otherwise everything is on the ground.
Toilet& Shower: There is one bathroom outside for the three tree-houses, only for private use (not for the ones only coming for taking pictures). It´s logged and only the overnight guests have a key. It´s a simple design and cold water only but it´s clean, has a light, there is enough toilet paper and that´s all you need staying out there.
What to do around:
- driving around with scooter and discover the beauty of the island
- first hike to and then chill at the beaches near by: Atuh beach and Diamond beach
- a snorkeling tour (swimming/diving with the mantas)
- the cave temple
Time frame:
- getting the speedboat in Sanur at 10:30am, arriving the island about 11:15/11:30, getting a bike etc then driving relaxed to the hut with having some lunch in between at the ocean and some stops because of that stunning beauty of the trail, you´ll arrive the hut around 3pm. Then visiting both beaches (Atuh beach and Diamond beach) and having a chill at one of them. Going back before the sun sets completely because otherwise there is not much light around.
- if you want to enjoy Broken Beach, Angel´s Billabong and Klunkung Beach you definitely need more then 24 hours. In general the island is big enough to spend a couple of days which is needed if you want to see all the highlights. For me it has been my second time already so I´ve seen these three beaches during my first visit (one day and one night)
- snorkeling tour is about 2h with four stops / beaches
Budget:
- ticket speed boat: bought at the habour for 350.000 IDR (for go & return), if you buy a single ticket it will cost you 200.000 IDR. You can also buy a ticket with pick up from your hotel included which will be a bit more pricey like around 550.000 IDR.
- just go and see the tree house to get your picture: 50.000 IDR for 3 min of shooting time
- overnight stay: one night 550.000 IRP = about 35$ = circa 35€ (photos included)
- a bike for one day is about 100.000 -150.000 IDR depending your negotiating skills (I had mine from 11am first day until 15.30 pm the next day and paid 125.000 IDR)
- filling up the tank with 2 liter is about 15.000 IDR (petrol station) – 20.000 IDR little shops
- after leaving the habour they ask you to pay a tourist fee (new!and made by the government) about 25.000 IDR
- at the entry of Atuh beach and Diamond beach they ask you for a donation (the average is between 5000-10.000 IDR)
- prices of food depends the venue: you can find a banana pancake for 15.000 and fresh mango juice for 25.000 as same as for 35.000 and 45.000 in a fancy beachclub
- snorkeling tour / swimming with the mantas costs about 250.000 IDR per person
What to consider:
- flashlight either by your mobile or an extra one (in best case a headlight to have free hands because the stairs to go down to the houses are steepy)
- earplugs might be useful if you are having a light sleep because the ocean can be very noisy at night as the waves are strongly and permanently crushing against the cliffs
- renting a bike is the most fun, you can discover the beauty of the island independently but driving skills are absolutely needed as the island is very curvy and up&downhill, besides some parts where the stret is that much broken that it seems more like a parkour than a road
- Wifi is only working upstairs in the little café/shop/reception (if you want some connection in the hut you need mobil data)
- Diamond beach is perfect for pictures and Atuh beach perfect to chill and swim
- good shoes, in best case trekking shoes even, because there are a lot of stairs to climb which can be very slippery because of all the sand
What to expect:
- breath-taking landscapes
- lifetime memories
- an incredible sunrise (in case you stay overnight) as the sun is rising in the east, so it rises perfectly from over the ocean which could not be a better spectacle
- crazy roads
- good streetart around some places (murals by 1up, Quint, Tuyuloveme, Eggfiasco etc)
Personal note:
I didn´t know nothing before I came down there which was also fun and even more adventue but I felt like sharing what I found out to make it more easier for you guys. The better prepared the easier it goes. Well:
ENJOY!
P.S. Some more amazing picture uploads soon. Have a look again tomorrow as I couldn´t wait to do the upload of my lines for you today already. The visualisation will follow asap. See you here tomorrow, my lovely adventure lovers. Good night from Indonesia