The incredible Kelingking beach hike and the cliff point are easily the most famous place in Nusa Penida and probably one of the most iconic images in all of Bali.
This place was named the Kelingking ‘T-Rex’ because the uniquely shaped cliff resembles a giant rocky dinosaur with wide open jaws.
It’s hard to browse Instagram without seeing epic photos of this natural wonder. Recently, it was even named the 2nd best beach In Asia by TripAdvisor.
If you are planning a trip to Bali, be sure to see the Kelingking T-Rex! It is possible to visit it on a day trip from Bali, or you can spend several days seeing all the other awesome sights of the Island of Nusa Penida, located near Bali.
This guide will teach you how to get to Kelingking Beach, where it is located, how to safely descend to the bottom of the cliff and everything you need to know before leaving!
Kelingking Cliff Point
The main view from the Kelingking Cliff is an awesome dinosaur-shaped rock that overlooks the ocean and is surrounded by perfect turquoise water.
The first time you look over the edge of the cliff and you see this view, it’s really breathtaking! The Kelingking ‘T-Rex’ is a little bigger than it looks in the photos, and the steep cliffs here are hundreds of meters high.
The view from this cliff reminds me a little of the Navagio shipwreck beach in Zakynthos Greece. We could consider Kelingking as a kind of tropical version of Navagio.
A group of sassy monkeys (Balinese macaques) began to stay here every day at the edge of the cliff, hoping to get free food expenses from tourists.
As Kelingking Beach is located on the west side of Nusa Penida, it is also a great place to watch the sunset!
When I visited Kelingking for the first time in 2017, my Guide and I were completely alone here. There was no protective bamboo fence and no monkeys, and the path to the beach had not yet been built.
At the time, the Kelingking cliff was called Karang Dawa, and it was not possible to reach the beach at the foot of the cliff unless you landed there by boat.
Nowadays, this place is very popular and is full of Bali day trippers, so you may have to wait in line to take photos.
There are even now lively Restaurants and Hotels near the Kelingking Cliff. Like the rest of the island of Nusa Penida, the whole scene here has changed dramatically in just 5 years.
Hiking On The Kelingking Beach
After admiring the Kelingking T-Rex, there is also a path with stairs to go down to the beach.
The Kelingking Beach hike is a great workout and takes at least 2 hours round trip. The stairs are very steep and the slopes are a real safety risk if you are not careful.
For example, in 2020, a 30-year-old Indonesian tourist from Java fell 150 meters to his passed away while sliding down the descent to Kelingking Beach.
I certainly don’t want to stop you from doing the Kelingking Beach hike if you can. After all, dozens of people (if not hundreds) descend to the beach every day without problems.
However, this is definitely not a hike for children, the elderly or people with a fear of heights. If you fall into one of these categories, it is best to avoid hiking and just enjoy the view of the Kelingking Cliff from the Top.
On the way down to Kelingking Beach, several people (including myself) were dehydrated and had difficulty getting up to the top in the midday heat.
Bringing water and good shoes really helps. The sandals don’t give you enough support and the rocks are too hot to walk barefoot.
There are sometimes drinks on sale at the bottom, but they are more expensive and there is no guarantee that they will be in stock. You can buy drinks at one of the food stalls near the cliff before doing the hike.
