There’s a place near Bali where you can do all of that, and it’s very budget friendly — it’s called the Nusa Penida treehouse!
This is on the island of Nusa Penida, and the full name of the place is Rumah Pohon Molenteng (‘Rumah Pohon’ is just Indonesian for tree house, and Molenteng is the name of the village).
It’s actually not the only tree house Nusa Penida or Bali has to offer (there’s also one at Suwehan, for example) but this one came first. This guide will explain how to get there!
Visiting The Tree Houses
I first visited the Nusa Penida treehouse in 2017, and then came back and stayed a night in it the next week, and it was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing in my travels.
The room and bed are very basic, but the views and location are out of this world. You will feel like a modern day Robinson Crusoe, guaranteed.
This is tree house #2, which is where I stayed on my first visit in 2017.
When I stayed here, I fell asleep to the sound of geckos chirping in the trees and woke up to an incredible sunrise over the Raja Lima islands, with dolphins and manta rays swimming and jumping in the distance.
Today, this is sadly not a hidden spot anymore thanks to this thing we call the internet, but I still think this tree house is probably one of the most incredible places in Bali.
Even if you don’t have time to stay a night here, you can still visit the tree house and take some photos by it.
This is the view from tree house #1. Stunning, but I like the view from house #2 even better.
Staying In The Tree Houses
You can make a reservation on Booking.com to stay in a tree house here for about 550k IDR ($35 USD). It’s a very basic room, but the price is still pretty fair for the amazing experience you get.
There is a small outhouse nearby, so you have the essentials, but there’s no WiFi of course (I had a weak 3G reception sometimes but it was barely usable).
As of 2024, there are actually a total of three tree houses here. I stayed in tree house #2, which sits at the edge of the front cliff and arguably has the best view.
You can stay in any of them though, and they all have great views of the nearby islands and cliffs.
The tree houses sit on a short peninsula with huge cliffs and epic island views.
The third tree house was added in 2018, and seems to be the most upscale, but I haven’t had a chance to check out what it looks like inside yet.
Believe it or not, all of the tree houses here have electricity wired to them for fans and lighting, which is handy if you stay the night.
If you continue walking past the tree houses until you reach the point, there’s a small Hindu shrine and a great view of the islands.
This is tree house #3, newly added in 2018.
Update (2024)
Sadly this place is turning into a tourist trap. There’s a row of gaudy fake bird nests that you can pay to sit in for silly photo ops, and they built a huge concrete bathroom ruining the natural feel.
There’s now a fee of 75k Rupiah (~$5 USD) per person to see the treehouse, and you can only take photos at the tree house for a few minutes. The wait in line can take an hour or more.
The tree houses are still neat to visit, but it’s not quite the same amazing experience it used to be. Hopefully someone will step in and take good care of this place like it deserves. In the meantime, because of the fantastic background scenery, this still might be the best tree house Bali has to offer.
Raja Lima Viewpoint
Raja Lima (Five Kings) is a viewpoint you will see first when you reach the parking area, before the short hike down to the Nusa Penida treehouse.
This one is sometimes called ‘Pulau Seribu’ (Thousand Island) viewpoint, and it’s named for the 5 big rocks scattered across the ocean below.
Three of the ‘kings’ can be seen in the picture below. This viewpoint also has a neat warung (cheap food & drink shack) so you can pull up a chair and enjoy the view with a Coke in hand.
It could be considered another free bonus when visiting the Rumah Pohon tree house in Bali.
Three of the five ‘kings’ sitting on the ocean.
One of the best views I’ve had while sipping a Coke.
How To Get To There
The Rumah Pohon tree house is on the southeast side of Nusa Penida island, near Bali.
If you’re staying on Penida island, this place is accessible by car or scooter, about 1 hour drive from the main docks and accommodation in northern Penida.
Be careful if you go by scooter because the road is rough and may be dangerous in some spots if you don’t take it slow!
From the parking, it’s a short 10 minute hike down to the tree house.
If you’re looking for more info on how to get to Nusa Penida island from Bali in the first place, you can find that here.
Drone shot of the epic cliffs and tree houses.
The thatch view from tree house #2.
More Nusa Penida Travel Tips
Looking for more information on the beautiful island of Nusa Penida in Bali?
Don’t forget to check out my full Nusa Penida Travel Guide with free tips, maps, photos, and more.
This island is loaded with nice beaches, cliffs, caves, and snorkeling spots!
Day Tours To Nusa Penida
If you’re on a tight schedule or want to skip the extra steps involved in arranging your own trip to Nusa Penida, GetYourGuide has prearranged day trips to Penida, complete with hotel transfer, fast boat tickets, island tour, and same day return to Bali.
We’ve used GetYourGuide for lots of day tours and activities around the world, and they’re great! Highly recommended.
Book Now: Nusa Penida Day Trip
See Also
- Nusa Penida Island: Complete Travel Guide
- 4-Day Nusa Penida Itinerary – Bali’s Blue Paradise Island
- How To Get To Nusa Penida From Bali
- What To Do In Nusa Penida – Caves, Beaches, Cliffs, & Temples
- GetYourGuide Day Tours To Nusa Penida Island
- Bali Beach Guide – The Best Beaches In Bali
- Bali Waterfalls Guide – The Best Waterfalls In Bali
- Bali Temple Guide – The Best Temples In Bali
- Most Beautiful Indonesian Islands – Best Places To Visit In Indonesia
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