Stairway To Bali’s World-Famous Tourist Beach Increasingly Dangerous 

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Bali’s most famous island, Nusa Penida, is soaring in popularity with international tourists right now.

Best known for its stunning coastal panoramas, perfectly azure shorelines, and relaxed atmosphere, Nusa Penida is a dreamy destination for tourists seeking those island vibes on vacation. 

Yet, beneath the stunning vistas lies a dangerous truth. Nusa Penida’s most popular beaches and clifftop viewpoints have become increasingly dangerous for tourists.

This is particularly true of the walkway down to Diamond Beach. While the most iconic landmark in Nusa Penida is Kelingking Beach, nearby Diamond Beach sees just as many tourists, and the views are nothing shy of breathtaking. 

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Naturally, with such beauty to behold, tourists are always excited to take the cliffside pathway to the beach below. However, this walkway has become increasingly dangerous during the last few months, and despite warnings to simply admire the view from a distance, tourists are still attempting to follow the rocky and eroded path down to Diamond Beach itself. 

Leaders on Nusa Penida, tour guides, and the local community have been clear in their warnings to tourists not to attempt the hike down to the beach.

While it is technically possible to make it down to the beach below safely, the risks are great, and with many people attempting to traverse the trail at the same time, most of whom are unprepared for such a technically difficult climb, it is becoming a recipe for disaster.

Many who attempt the climb do so in flip-flops or fashion sandals, which are not appropriate for the terrain.

@chocolateee404 when you think you can manage diamond beach but then you realize it's a challenging hike through the cliff APALAGI LAGI PAKE DRESS HADUH 🥲🥲🥲 #diamondbeach #nusapenida #worsemoment #fyp #fypシ ♬ Oh No – Kreepa

The trail to Diamond Beach is cut directly into the cliffside. In a few of the most dangerous turns there are old ropes to cling onto to steady ones balance, however, many tourists have noted that these are not to be trusted.

The steep, almost sheer steps in many places require hikers to tackle deep steps without any hand holds.

What makes matters even more dangerous is when there are groups who have to cross paths, with some hikers trying to go down and others trying to climb back up. 

@amiunnon Kelingking and Diamond beaches surprised me #kelingking#diamondbeach#nusapenida#bali#hiking#expectationvsreality#fypage ♬ original sound

Over the years, there have been dozens of injuries and even deaths on Diamond Beach, Kelingking Beach, and their respective hiking trial. Those who make it to the beach safely have to consider the hike back to the top, and it is not safe to enter the water either.

Much like at Kelingking Beach, Diamond Beach is home to a strong and unpredictable rip current that has pulled tourists out to the open ocean.

The advice from local leaders and tour guides is clear: tourists should not be attempting to access Kelkingking Beach or Diamond Beach.

Yet, these tourism leaders also know that this advice will likely still be ignored. On the 17th of July, a Chinese tourist ignored the advice of their guide and attempted to hike down the Kelingking Beach Cliff Trail.

The tourist slipped and fell and was taken to the hospital with suspected spinal and neck injuries, which could be life-threatening. 

At the beginning of July, as the Bali high season got into full swing and Nusa Penida saw a sharp rise in the number of visitors, the Klungkung Tourism Office has confirmed plans to place officers in accident-prone destinations in Nusa Penida, including the likes of Diamond Beach and Kelingking Beach.

In an interview with the press, the Head of the Klungkung Tourism Office, Ni Made Suliastiwati, reported that her teams had installed safety fences and warning boards on several beaches in Nusa Penida, which have a high risk of accidents.

Suliastiwati told reporters, “We have installed warning and swimming prohibition signs. We will increase this by placing security officers in vulnerable destinations.”

Tourists planning a visit to Diamond Beach and Kelingking Beach are advised to follow the guidelines and rules that are in place and obey the instructions of the safety officers who have been put in place to keep everyone safe at the world’s most famous coastal landscapes.