The incredible hike at Kelingking Beach and cliff point is by far the most famous place in Nusa Penida and probably one of the most famous pictures in all of Bali.
This place was named Kelingking’s “T-Rex” because the uniquely shaped cliff resembles a great rock 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 second best beach in Asia by TripAdvisor.
If you are planning a trip to Bali, you should definitely visit 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 near Bali.
In this guide you will learn how to get to Kelingking Beach, where it is located, how to safely descend to the foot of the cliff and everything you need to know before you go!
Kelingking Klippenspitze
The main view of Kelingking Cliff is an incredible, dinosaur-shaped rock overlooking the sea, surrounded by perfect turquoise water.
The first time you look over the edge of the cliff and see this view, it’s really stunning! 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. One could imagine Kelingking as a kind of tropical version of Navagio.
A gang of naughty monkeys (Balinese macaques) began to hang around the edge of the cliff here every day in the hope of receiving free food distributions from tourists.
Since 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, my tour guide and I were completely alone here. There were no safety barriers made of bamboo or monkeys, and the path to the beach had not yet been built.
At that 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 full of Bali day trippers, so you may have to stand in line to take pictures.
There are even busy restaurants and hotels near the Kelingking Cliff now. Like the rest of the island of Nusa Penida, the whole scene here has changed dramatically in just 5 years.
However, I do not want to dissuade you from visiting. The development has not obscured the incredible vantage point, and Kelingking Beach is still one of the best beaches in Bali.
Hiking at Kelingking Beach
Once you have looked admiringly at the Kelingking T-Rex, there is also a path with stairs to the beach below.
The hike at Kelingking Beach is an important training and takes at least 2 hours round trip. Stairs are very steep and descents are a legitimate safety harmful if you are not careful.
I definitely don’t want to stop you from hiking at Kelingking Beach if you are able to do so. After all, dozens of people (if not hundreds) go to the beach every day without any problems.
However, this is definitely not a hike for children, the elderly or people with a panic of heights. If you fall into one of these categories, it’s best to skip the hike and just enjoy the views of the Kelingking cliff from the top.
When I got off at Kelingking Beach, there were several people (including me) who were dehydrated and had difficulty walking all the way up in the midday heat.
It is really useful to bring water and suitable footwear. Sandals do not give you enough support, and the stones are too hot to walk barefoot.
There are sometimes drinks on sale below, 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 huts near the cliff before going on the hike.
As you can see in the photos below, the white sandy beach below is pristine and the waves are big; there are even a few caves out there!
