Whether day-tripping or island hopping for a few nights at a time, traveling between Bali and the outlying islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan is easy…in principle.
However, as Sanur Harbor becomes busier, tourists are looking for ways to avoid the growing crowds.
Luckily, there is an easy alternative option that doesn’t add to travel time or an increase in ticket prices.
Serangan Port is an overlooked gem of a transportation hub for tourists looking to travel between the Nusa Islands, the Gili Islands, and even Lombok.
With crossings from Sanur to the islands set to only become busier between now and early January, after the Christmas and New Year holidays, tourists should be on the lookout for ways to minimize the chance of encountering queues and crowding as much as possible.
As tourism managers have assessed travel data from the Serangan Islands, it looks like the number of people traveling through the port is seeing a decline, which is ideal for tourists looking to dodge queues and travel with ease.
In fact, the number of daily tourists traveling through Serangan Harbour is between 800-900, compared to the 1,500-2,000 passengers that flow through Sanur.
Speaking to reporters, Nyoman Turut, Head of Business for Serangan Traditional Village, explained, “Now, starting from October, the number of tourists who cross will decrease. This is indeed common; every low season, of course, decreases.”
However, with 21 boat operators running regular fast boat services between Seranagan, the Nusa Islands, the Gili Island, and North Lombok, there are plenty of options available to tourists.
Tourists can also book Serangan Harbour as the start and end point of their single-day trips to the neighboring islands for marine tourism adventures.
Turut has also called for tourists to visit Seranagan and enjoy the village and harbor as a destination in its own right.
Much like Padanagbai, many tourists wrongly assume that Seranagn is only a destination to pass through.
However, with an incredible seafood culinary scene showcasing really the finest and most authentic Balinese seafood on the island, as well as the turtle conservation center and Sakenan Temple.
Why not arrive in Serangan in the afternoon before an early fast boat connection to the Nusa Islands to experience this authentic fishing village in all its glory?
Tourists also looking to dodge queues and crowds at Sanur Harbour in the coming high Christmas and New Year seasons can look to Padangbai too.
Although located further away from the tourism hotspots of Seminyak, Nusa Dua, and Canggu, Padangbai is another great option like Serangan, another destination that is often overlooked and has plenty to offer tourists, especially beach lovers and those who enjoy snorkeling and diving.
Though the new Sanur Port has only been in operation for a year or so, demand for travel to destinations like Nusa Penida continues to grow so much so that leaders are already considering ways to either construct a second harbor or rearrange the operational flow of Sanur Harbour to support everyone’s travel needs.
Speaking in July 2024, the Mayor of Denpasar, I Gusti Ngurah Jaya Negara, said publicly that the separation of Sanur Port into two ports can only achieved if the Ministry of Transportation hands over the authority of the port to the Denpasar City Government.
Once that is completed, he is keen to get to work resolving issues as soon as possible.
Mayor Negara explained to reporters how the reorganization of Sanur Port would work, noting, “People who want their trip one day, for example, they want to cross in the morning, can later be divided into two crossing locations. So it doesn’t pile up in one place.”
His plans involved dividing groups of travelers by their given reason for traveling. For example, day trippers would leave early in the morning from one zone, and travelers crossing over for longer periods would leave on later departures from a different zone.
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