Nusa Penida Premium Private Full Day by Motor Yacht

Many tours to Nusa Penida call themselves private but cross on a crowded fast boat, and this Viator listing sells a different version: a full day on a stylish motor yacht for your group only. It covers four snorkelling stops, a swim with manta rays, lunch at a restaurant with an infinity pool and a morning timed to beat the crowds. Viator shows it from about US$629 per person, which is 547 euros on the page, and rates it 5.0 from 792 reviews.

The day starts at about 8:30 at the operator's office in Serangan, across the port, where you are served a welcome drink. The page mentions free-flow coffee, a selection of teas and pastries, and a shower. The crossing to Nusa Penida takes about 30 minutes by the operator's boat. The listing notes that online taxis are not allowed in the port area, so it recommends booking the private transport, which is offered as an extra.

The first snorkelling stop is near Nusa Lembongan, in a lagoon with coral gardens where the water is clear and calm, which makes it a gentle start for beginners. The second is SD Point, a spot on the east side of Nusa Penida where you drift with the current over coral gardens and may see turtles and many fish. The third is Wall Bay Point, where you snorkel next to the mangroves and look at the colourful reefs and the marine life.

Lunch is served at a beach club on the island. The itinerary describes a spot with views, good cuisine and a private white sand beach right at your daybed, and the inclusions list a lunch at a stylish restaurant with an infinity pool and views of Mount Agung. The listing gives about an hour and a half for the stop, which leaves time to rest between the snorkelling sessions.

The manta swim is the highlight. The guides take you to the secluded Manta Bay or to Manta Point, depending on the availability of manta rays, for about an hour in the water. Manta rays are wild animals, so a sighting is never certain, and the listing makes no promise. Keep your distance and do not touch the animals, as the guide will remind you.

The page says that tours are timed to beat the crowds at the popular spots, which is a real benefit on an island where the best places fill with boats by midday. The private boat gives you control of the pace, and a certified snorkelling guide looks after the group. Snorkelling equipment of good quality is provided, and the listing notes that landing and facility fees are included.

The tour ends at the Serangan office, with a hot shower available, or you can be dropped at the Toya Pakeh harbour on Nusa Penida if you prefer. A private land tour of the island is available as an extra at 800,000 rupiah per car for five people, and a private transfer from your hotel costs 300,000 rupiah each way for five people. Ask for a quote for your group.

A premium upgrade exists. The listing mentions an optional upgrade with prosecco and a professional photographer. Ask the operator for the price and for the details of the upgrade before you decide.

The rules are simple. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions cannot take part, and pregnant women beyond 32 weeks are not permitted. Guests can snorkel even if they cannot swim, since life jackets are provided. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard, a hat, a towel and a dry bag, and avoid wearing jewellery in the water.

The price is high, and the page explains it: a private yacht for your group, a guide, lunch and fees. Remember that the price shown is per person, so a family of four pays about four times the amount, and the extras of transfer and land tour add to it. Compare it with the shared tours from Bali, which cost a fraction of the price, and decide how much you value privacy and quiet.

Viator offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, for a full refund. The rating of 5.0 from 792 reviews, with 775 five-star ratings, is exceptional, and the operator, Bluuu Tours, holds a Badge of Excellence on the page. Reviewers praise the guides and the boat, and one regrets that the pick-up message came late the night before, so keep your phone on.

Choose this day if you want to snorkel with manta rays without the crowds and are happy to pay for it. If you travel on a budget, a shared snorkelling tour reaches the same sites for less, and if you prefer a land tour, the island's viewpoints can be seen by car from a base in Bali.