Batu Karang sits on the hillside above Jungutbatu, looking across the bay towards Bali and Mount Agung. This is the part of Nusa Lembongan I tend to choose: close to the boat landing and village, with the coast spread out below. The appeal is having a comfortable place to retreat to while remaining connected to the island.
My own stay made me particularly fond of the upper villas and their open-air bathrooms. Those remain the starting point for how I would choose a room here.
Rooms and villas
The accommodation ranges from double and twin rooms to one-bedroom villas, suites and larger apartments and villas. A private pool is a feature of particular categories, rather than something to assume from the word “villa”.
For the view, I would begin with the Superior One Bedroom Villa with Plunge Pool. The current description places these villas on the upper hillside, with a balcony and daybed, an open-air bathroom with a bath and shower, and a private plunge pool. The main room has air conditioning, a ceiling fan and a king-size bed.
The outdoor bathroom was one of my favourite parts of staying at Batu Karang: the sense of space and the stone finish made it much more appealing than a conventional enclosed bathroom. In choosing a room today, I would give its position as much attention as its category. Ask which villa is being offered and how it connects to the restaurants and shore. The hotel lists a fifteen-hour daily buggy service within the resort, but the hillside remains an essential part of the layout.
Pools, spa and the beach
Batu Karang has three shared swimming pools: an infinity pool overlooking the bay, an upper pool with a swim-up bar, and a two-lane, 25-metre lap pool. The last is useful if swimming lengths matters more to you than sitting by the water.
Lulur Spa is on site, and the current wellness facilities include a gym, reformer Pilates equipment, an ice bath and a steam room. These give the resort more to offer on a day spent close to the villa; check separately which treatments or sessions need to be booked.
The beach position deserves a little care in choosing this hotel. Jungutbatu is a working arrival point, with boats coming and going. During my stay, the beach was clean but busy, and it was not where I would settle for a long, undisturbed swim. I would still put the pools and the view ahead of the beach itself as reasons to book.
For another stretch of shore, the waterfront path to Coconut Beach, also known as Song Lambung, is a short walk around the coast. The village and Jungutbatu waterfront are close at hand in the other direction.
Eating and drinking
The food was a pleasure during my stay: we returned for lunch and dinner as well as breakfast. Today, the resort’s restaurants and bars offer several different settings without requiring a drive across the island.
Muntigs serves international and Asian dishes beside the infinity pool. Lower down, The Deck Café & Bar follows the waterfront boardwalk, with coffee, light meals, pies and pastries. The Balcony provides another dining space above The Deck, while The Howff specialises in whisky, gin and wine.
I like the choice between staying higher on the slope and going down towards the water. It makes a relaxed day at the hotel easy, while leaving the village’s other places to eat within reach.
Arriving from Bali
The resort can arrange boat transfers from Sanur and the connecting road transfers. Its current guidance puts the crossing at roughly thirty minutes, depending on tide and swell. Some boat services include shared pickups from designated areas of southern Bali; other pickup points are quoted separately.
I would arrange the whole journey together and confirm the departure point, pickup area and current fare with the hotel. Having staff deal with the luggage was a real advantage on my visit, especially with a villa high on the hill. Leave a comfortable margin around an onward flight rather than treating the crossing time as the whole journey.
If the boat timetable and room availability do not line up, the resort lists a day lounge with showers and secure lockers for early arrivals and late departures.
Exploring from Batu Karang
The hotel can arrange island activities, including village outings and trips on the water. What I would make time for here goes beyond snorkelling. On my visit, the seaweed-growing work held my attention: the lines in the shallows, the cleaning and drying, and the unexpectedly rubbery feel of fresh seaweed. It gave the island a character that the view alone could not explain.
Dream Beach and Devil’s Tears make a natural outing towards the southwest coast. For a return visit, I would also ask the hotel to arrange a ride to the Yellow Bridge, then continue on foot to Nusa Ceningan. The bridge admits pedestrians and two-wheelers, so a car journey ends at the crossing. It opens up the neighbouring island and the channel between the two.
My first question when booking would be about the villa’s position. I would happily take a buggy uphill for an open-air bathroom and that view across to Bali.
Current property information checked in September 2026. More stories from Indonesia.