There are 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago, but none shine brighter than Bali.

From the green slopes of Mt Batur to the Bintang bodegas on Seminyak’s main party strip, Bali is a volcano-dotted, beach-fringed paradise that’s serene and sensational by turns. But beyond the mega-resorts and yoga studios, you'll find the essence of Bali in the temples, out-of-the-way mountain towns, local markets and lazy fishing villages. Our Bali tours are about diving the impossibly blue waters off Lovina, being welcomed into a Balinese family home, soaking in the Banja hot springs, or sipping smoothies in Ubud’s cafes. As always, when it comes to paradise, the hardest bit is choosing what to do first.

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Bali travel highlights

Accommodation in Bali

Travelling with Intrepid is a little bit different. We endeavour to provide travellers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible.

When travelling with us in Bali you may find yourself staying in a:

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. 

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe.

Find out more or make a donation

Bali holiday information

At a glance
Local culture
Food and drink
Festivals and events
Geography and environment
Shopping
Health and safety
Further reading

Bali travel FAQs

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

Sitting a snug 8 degrees from the equator, Bali’s climate is classic tropics. There’s a dry season and a rainy season, and not a whole lot in between. The best time for a Bali tour (weather-wise) is the July to August peak season, or from December to the first week of January. Although if you’d like to avoid the crowds (and why wouldn’t you) shoulder months like April, May, June and September make an excellent alternative. The weather is dry and slightly less humid, and the island in general is a lot more relaxed. October isn’t too bad either, especially if you’re into water sports like scuba diving, surfing or snorkelling (the rainfall is much lighter than in November).

Learn more about the best time to visit Bali

The short answer is maybe – depending on your nationality. Passport holders from over 60 countries (including the UK, Australia and the United States) can enter Indonesia with a free tourist visa on arrival which allows you to stay for 30 days for tourism purposes. An immigration officer will date stamp your passport when you arrive and you will not be able to extend your stay. If you overstay there are hefty fines of IDR 1,000,000 (approximately 70 USD) per day.

If there's a chance you might want to stay longer than 30 days, you'll need to pay for a visa on arrival or apply for one prior to travelling at an overseas Indonesian consulate or embassy.

To enter Bali, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

  • proof of onward or return ticket
  • proof of funds to pay for your expenses during your trip
  • completed immigration card (this will usually be given to you on the plane or at the arrival terminal)

Local laws require that you must be able to show your valid passport at any time when required to do so by an immigration office. We recommend taking a clear photocopy of your passport photo page, and visa (after arriving), to carry with you

Find out more information about Bali visas

Tipping isn’t compulsory in Bali, or anywhere else in Indonesia. But, like most countries, it’s very much appreciated. Remember that many Balinese rely on tourism as a main source of income, and a tip is always appreciated.

In tourist centers like Kuta, Seminyak, Denpasar and Lovina internet access should be fine, and there will be plenty of internet cafes (or cafes with free internet) to choose from if your Wi-Fi isn’t up to scratch. In more rural areas, there could be little or no coverage, particularly during homestays. Just remember to plan ahead. 

Restaurants and hotels in developed tourist centers will have western-style flush toilets. In more rural areas however, the traditional squat toilet will be more common. We recommend packing a bottle of hand sanitizer if you plan to visit rural parts of Bali.

Indonesia is one of the world's favourite budget travel destinations. Here's what you can roughly expect to pay for a:

  • Street food snack = 0.15c USD
  • Fresh juice = 0.40c USD
  • Bottle of beer in a bar = 1.50 USD
  • Souvenir sarong = 1.80 USD
  • Dinner in a restaurant = 3 USD

Drinking water from taps isn’t recommended in Indonesia, but for environmental reasons try to avoid buying bottled water every day. There are a number of filtered canteens you can purchase or bring a supply of water filtration tablets that you can drop into your bottle wherever you go.

If you’re travelling on an Intrepid Travel trip, we always carry with us a large drum of water in our truck to refill your bottles on the road. Our hotel operators will also provide water free of charge to refill your bottles.

Major credit cards are widely accepted by large shops, hotels and restaurants in Bali. However, they may not be accepted by smaller vendors such as small family restaurants, market stalls or in remote towns and rural areas. Make sure you carry enough cash for purchases, since credit cards aren't always an option everywhere in Bali.

ATMs are found widely throughout Bali, so withdrawing cash shouldn't be problematic in most areas. Some smaller villages and rural areas may not have ATM access, so be prepared for this before venturing too far from a city or major town.

Yep, you sure will. All our travellers are required to have travel insurance booked before the start of the trip. Your leader will take down your insurance details on the first day in case they are needed during the trip, so make sure to bring your policy documents.

For more info, check out our Travel Insurance. If you need help getting travel insurance, you can reach out to our friendly team and we can assist.

 

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Bali can be a difficult destination for travellers with disabilities because pavements are uneven, steps are frequent, paving is poorly maintained, and footpaths are usually obstructed with parked vehicles, street stalls and debris. Accessible public toilets are rare other than in big modern shopping malls. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available only through specialist tour operators, but cars and drivers can be hired readily and are good value. Local guides are easy to find in tourist areas. That said, Bali does have a wider range of tourism services and more developed facilities, including some accessible accommodation options.

Visitors generally find that Indonesians are very welcoming and willing to help those with access needs. The Asian Para Games took place in Jakarta in 2018 and have helped raise the profile of people with disabilities in the country as well as give new direction for making facilities more accessible in the capital.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid

Homosexuality is legal in most of Indonesia, however revisions to Indonesia’s criminal code are currently being considered that would criminalise gay sex and same-sex relationships. Advocacy groups fear this would represent a profound setback to human rights in Indonesia as a result. The LGBTQIA+ community has also been known to be targeted and harassed by police.

Bali, with its Hindu majority, has always been more liberal, tolerant and relaxed in attitude, however public displays of affection are still not the norm for any couples anywhere in the country. Upscale hotels will likely not have any issues with same-sex travellers sharing a bed, however if you are staying in budget or family-run businesses and are allocated separate beds, you might feel more comfortable not drawing attention to your relationship. 

Because sex, in general, is a taboo subject in Indonesian society, the issue of sexuality is unlikely to arise while travelling here. Indonesia is generally safe for queer travellers, provided you are willing to be discreet and cautious with public behaviour.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel. 

Learn more about LGBTQIA+ travel in Bali

Responsible Travel

Intrepid is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behaviour, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while travelling.

Learning how to farm sea salt at Sea Communities, Les Village

How we're giving back

In Bali, we support Sea Communities, a social enterprise that creates unique programs for scuba divers to come and help to rehabilitate the reef. Divers pay for their own transport, lodging, diving gear, just like on a diving holiday, creating a livelihood for the people who live in the local community.

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