Serangan is a small island just off the coast south of Sanur, joined to the mainland by a causeway since land reclamation in the 1990s enlarged it several times over. It has long been known as “Turtle Island”: green turtles once nested on its beaches in large numbers and were traded here.
Today the island is home to the Turtle Conservation and Education Centre (TCEC), set up in 2006 to end that trade, care for injured and confiscated turtles and raise hatchlings for release. It also holds Pura Sakenan, one of the important sea temples of southern Bali, and a harbour used by yachts and by some fast boats to the Gili Islands and Lombok.
Top things to do at Serangan Island
Visit the turtle centre
Staff and volunteers show you the tanks of hatchlings, juveniles and recovering adult turtles and explain the threats they face. When hatchlings are ready, visitors can sometimes sponsor and release one. Entry is by donation.
See Pura Sakenan
The temple complex stands near the island’s north-west shore. At Kuningan and the day after, it hosts one of southern Bali’s biggest temple festivals, when thousands of worshippers come from across the region — once by boat and on foot across the mudflats, now by road.
Combine with Sanur
Serangan is only 15–20 minutes’ drive from Sanur. Some Sanur cycling tours include a turtle sanctuary stop; check the itinerary when you book.
How to get to Serangan Island
- By road: turn off the Ngurah Rai bypass road south of Sanur onto the causeway (Jalan Tukad Punggawa). About 15–20 minutes from Sanur, 25–35 minutes from central Denpasar and about 20–30 minutes from the airport.
- Transport: there is no convenient public transport; use a taxi or ride-hailing car and arrange the return, or come by scooter.
Insider tips
- There may be a small charge per vehicle at the entrance to the island.
- At the turtle centre, do not handle turtles unless staff invite you to, and wash your hands before and after.
- Wear a sarong and sash at Pura Sakenan; during the Kuningan festival the roads are extremely busy.
- If you are catching a boat from Serangan harbour, confirm the exact departure point with the operator — it is not the same place as Sanur harbour.
Best tours & tickets for Serangan Island
These well-reviewed experiences are the easiest way to see Serangan Island:
E-bike tour from €43 Sanur Village E-bike Tour
A gentle, family-friendly ride that shows the Sanur behind the beach hotels: village lanes, a neighbourhood market, a temple and the remaining rice fields. Flat terrain and electric assistance make it suitable for almost anyone.
- Easy electric-assist ride through Sanur’s back lanes
- Local market, a temple and rice fields
- Reviewers mention a turtle sanctuary stop by the beach
Boat ticket from €6 Bali: Nusa Penida One-Way Fast Boat Transfer Ticket
A plain boat ticket from Sanur harbour, on Denpasar’s east coast, to Nusa Penida. For travellers who want to explore the island independently or stay overnight.
- One-way fast-boat ticket between Sanur and Nusa Penida
- Several departures a day
- Buy the return separately or choose a return option
Island day trip from €29 Bali/Nusa Penida: East & West Highlights Full-Day Tour
One of the best-selling tours in all of Bali, and it leaves from Denpasar’s own harbour at Sanur. A fast boat crosses to Nusa Penida, where a driver takes you round the famous clifftop viewpoints. A long day with rough roads — but the views are the real thing.
- Kelingking, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong in the west
- Diamond Beach in the east, depending on the option
- Fast boat from Sanur and a driver on the island
