Bali to Nusa Penida by Helicopter
From the Bukit pad to an approved site on Penida in 14–20 min, with Kelingking and Crystal Bay in view on the way.
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Day plan · Bukit to Penida and back
Bali and Nusa Penida in One Day by Helicopter: Home by 16:00
Lift off from the Bukit at 07:20, land on Nusa Penida 14–20 min later, spend the day on the island and be back in Bali by 16:00, two hours before the earliest sunset. The air-only plan uses the helicopter both ways; the boat + air plan flies out and comes home by fast boat. From the Bukit pad the one-way fare is $1,300 for the whole helicopter, up to 4 guests. Send your date and where you stay on WhatsApp.
- Air time14–20 min each way
- One-way from$1,300 (Bukit pad)
- Same-day return from$1,600
- Back in Bali byabout 16:00
About 9 hpad to pad, 07:00 to 16:00
14–20 minin the air, each way
Up to 4guests, 6 in the larger class
from $1,600air-only, same-day return, 1 h wait
Version A · air only
Version A: Helicopter Both Ways, Hour by Hour
Times assume a dry-season day. Sunrise is about 06:35 in June and 05:50 in December, so a 07:20 take-off has a low sun and clear air. The helicopter is back on the ground long before sunset, which falls between about 18:05 and 18:40.
- Car to the Bukit padGuests in Uluwatu, Ungasan or Jimbaran are a short ride from the pad. You can add a private car from $50, priced by area. Staying near Sanur? Say so: a Sanur-side pad (helicopter from Sanur) shortens the crossing to 11–15 min.
- Weigh-in and briefingThe crew weighs the bags, the pilot briefs you and fits headsets. Bring soft bags only, a light layer and shoes you can walk in on rough ground.
- Lift-off eastThe helicopter crosses the Nusa Dua lagoon and heads out over the strait with the morning sun ahead of you. The water shifts from reef green to deep blue.
- Penida comes into viewThe north-west corner of the island fills the windscreen. If you want a slow pass along Crystal Bay, Kelingking, Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong first, ask for about 10 extra minutes in the quote; they are billed by the minute.
- Land on the approved siteThe site is a resort or private land cleared in advance (the rules are in landing at a villa or hotel). The rotors stop and your host or driver takes over. We never land at Kelingking, Diamond Beach, Crystal Bay or any other public beach or viewpoint.
- Morning on the islandPenida's roads are narrow and steep, so plan two or three stops rather than six. Visit the busiest viewpoint first; crowds usually build as day boats arrive.
- LunchAt your resort or a beach café. The helicopter waits on the ground, or flies home and comes back, depending on the fare you chose.
- Back at the siteThe pilot checks the wind, re-weighs the bags and fits headsets. Afternoon breeze over the strait can add a few minutes, which is one reason we do not leave this late.
- Lift-off homeBack across the strait to the Bukit pad in 14–20 min. You are on the ground before the hottest part of the afternoon.
- Wheels down in BaliTime for a late lunch or a pool. The latest return lift-off we plan on this route is 15:30, landing at 16:00, so there is always a wide margin before sunset.
Version B · boat + air
Version B: Helicopter Out, Fast Boat Back
The morning is identical to Version A, so the helicopter fare covers one way only and the boat covers the return. This suits guests who want the aerial view once and a slower trip home.
- Same morning as Version ABriefing at 07:00, lift-off at 07:20, landing on the approved Penida site at about 08:00. The helicopter flies home empty, which is already inside the one-way fare.
- Island daySame stops as Version A, which are described in the Nusa Penida island guide. Ask your host to book the driver and to confirm the boat time for the afternoon.
- Car to the harbourAllow generous time. Island roads are slow and the harbour is on the north coast, a drive from the south-west cliffs.
- Fast boat to SanurThe crossing takes about 30–45 minutes. Boat times depend on the operator and the swell, so book a departure with a margin and keep a back-up.
- Car to your hotelFrom Sanur beach to the Bukit is roughly an hour or more by road. The helicopter is not part of this leg, so there is no flight deadline on your side.
What it costs
What the Bali and Nusa Penida Day Costs
Guide prices for the whole helicopter, up to 4 guests, with pilot and fuel included. The final price is fixed in your quote. The crossing itself is explained on the Bali to Nusa Penida route page.
| Line | Guide price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Helicopter one-way, Bukit pad to Penida | $1,300 | About $325 each for 4 guests. Includes the empty flight home |
| Same-day return, 1 h wait included | $1,600 | The helicopter parks on the approved site while you are out |
| Each extra waiting hour | $300 | A five-hour stay is the return fare plus four extra hours |
| Two separate one-way fares | 2 × $1,300 | The helicopter flies away and returns for you; cheaper than waiting once the stay is long, so ask us to compare |
| Helicopter one-way from a Sanur pad | $1,000 | A shorter crossing, 11–15 min in the air |
| Version B: helicopter out only | $1,300 | Plus the fast-boat fare per person, set by the boat operator, and a car at each end |
| Optional cliff pass on arrival | about 10 extra minutes | Billed by the aircraft minute; the number is in your quote. The full loop is the Penida tour |
| Private car to the pad | from $50 | Priced by area and vehicle |
| Local driver on Penida | not included | Booked through your resort or host; not part of the helicopter price |
| No landing: 30-minute Penida flyover | $1,150 | Back on the Bukit pad by about 07:50 after a 07:20 lift-off |
Prices come from the price page. A landing site on Penida needs approval, and it can take a few days, so ask a week ahead. The break-even between waiting and two one-ways depends on the price book on the day we quote.
Why this order
Why the Island Comes First and the Return Is Early
Air. Between 07:00 and 10:00 the strait is usually at its calmest and the cliffs are free of haze and cloud. Wind over the water builds in the afternoon, which is when boats get lumpy and a helicopter picks up headwind minutes. Flying out first uses the best air for the crossing and for the cliff pass.
Light. Penida's west and south-west cliffs face the afternoon sun, but the low morning sun still draws the shapes of Kelingking and the arch at Broken Beach, and the water inside Crystal Bay is flat and clear. If you prefer afternoon light, flip the plan: go by fast boat in the morning and have the helicopter collect you at 15:00 for a flyover on the way home.
Roads. The island's sights are close in the air and far apart by car. A morning landing near where you stay saves the transfer from the harbour. We still keep the plan to two or three stops, because a driver on those roads is slower than any map suggests.
Daylight. Flights are day-only. We set the latest take-off from Penida at 15:30 and the latest landing in Bali at 16:00, so the helicopter is on the ground at least two hours before the earliest sunset of the year. In the wet season, November to March, showers cluster in the afternoon, which is another reason to be home early; the best-time guide compares the months.
Want more than one island? Nusa Lembongan is only 8–12 min from Penida by air, so a lunch landing there is possible when a site is approved; see the Lembongan route.
Pack and book
What to Settle Before You Book
- Choose a version. Air-only needs a landing site that also allows the helicopter to wait or return. Boat + air only needs the outbound site.
- Name your Penida stay or lunch spot. We ask the operator to clear the landing and tell you in the first reply if it cannot work.
- Send weights and bags. Combined weight decides the aircraft class in Bali heat. Soft bags only; dive kit is heavy and surfboards do not fit.
- Fix the latest take-off from Penida. Our default is 15:30. Tell us if a boat connection or a dinner needs an earlier time.
- Ask your host for a driver. A driver for the island is not part of our fare. Give him the landing time so he is on the site at 08:00.
- Pack sun and wind protection. A hat is useful on the island, not on the pad: rotor wash takes it. Windows stay shut in flight, so photos go through the glass.
- Have a back-up day. If wind or cloud stops the flight, the pilot moves it to the next suitable slot, or the part not flown is refunded.
Flights in this plan
The Flights and Pages Behind This Day
Each page has the full price build-up, the landing rules and the booking steps.
Bali to Nusa Penida transfer
From $1,000
The one-way flight in Versions A and B, with the landing rules and a flight-time table.
Nusa Penida helicopter tour
From $1,150
The no-landing alternative: a half-hour loop of the cliffs that returns to the Bukit.
Nusa Penida island guide
What the five big sights look like from the air and which ones the helicopter can pass over.
Boat or helicopter to Penida
A side-by-side look at the fast boat and the helicopter for a Penida day trip.
Landing at a villa or hotel
How a resort lawn or private plot is cleared for a helicopter, and what we need from you.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I do Bali and Nusa Penida in one day by helicopter?
Yes. Lift off from the Bukit at about 07:20, land on an approved Penida site about 14–20 min later, spend the day and fly or sail home. The latest return take-off we plan is 15:30, landing in Bali at 16:00, well ahead of sunset.
How much does the Bali to Penida day trip cost?
The helicopter is $1,300 one-way from the Bukit and $1,600 for a same-day return with one hour of waiting. Extra waiting hours are $300 each. The price covers the whole helicopter, up to 4 guests.
Where does the helicopter land on Nusa Penida?
At an approved resort, villa or private site where the owner agrees and the operator has cleared the landing. We do not land on public beaches or at viewpoints such as Kelingking. Send the name of your stay and we check it first.
Is air-only or boat + air cheaper?
Boat + air is cheaper (the boat vs helicopter guide compares them): you pay one helicopter fare plus a per-person boat fare instead of a second helicopter fare or a long wait. Air-only saves the drive to Sanur, the beach boarding and the road across the island, which matters with luggage or children. Ask us to price both on your date.
Can I add Nusa Lembongan to the same day?
Yes, if a Lembongan site is approved. The two islands are 8–12 min apart by air, and the extra leg is priced by the minute. Read the Lembongan route page for the landing rules.
What if the weather is bad on the day?
The pilot makes the call. Wind or low cloud over the channel pushes the flight to the next suitable slot, often the following morning, or the part not flown is refunded. Volcano alerts can also change routes.
Penida by Lunch, Home by 16:00: Send the Date
Tell us the date, the number of guests, your Bali area and the Penida stay or lunch spot. We reply today with the pad, the aircraft, the landing site and a fixed price for Version A or B.
Get My Quote on WhatsAppRelated
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