Bali Travel Guide
In the 1970s surfers went to Indonesia’s mystical island of Bali to ride its mesmerising waves while living as frugally as possible. These days they settle into luxury pool villas and slip in some surfing between yoga classes and smoothie bowls. The Bali of today caters for all budgets, tastes and interests – you can surf, spa and shop, take a cooking class, do a meditation course or watch a traditional ceremony. You can feast on farm to table cuisine or tuck into roast duck, dance on tables or savour beachside sundowners. Avoid Kuta and Bali is as spellbinding as it’s ever been.
Bali Itineraries
ONE DAY
Itinerary
TWO DAY
Itinerary
Stay in Bali
Best Ubud Resorts with Jungle Views and Jaw Dropping Swimming Pools
The best Ubud resorts with jungle views and jaw dropping swimming pools are often secluded hotels set amidst lush tropical gardens, rice terraces and rainforest with sweeping valley or paddy…
Where to Stay in Seminyak, Bali – From Stylish Beach Resorts to Chic Boutique Hotels
Where to stay in Seminyak isn’t an easy decision to make with an abundance of luxury lodgings and chic boutique hotels peppering Bali’s most stylish suburb. Our very selective guide…
Accomodation
Insurance
Eat in Bali
A Local Guide to Eating and Drinking in Canggu, Bali
This local guide to eating and drinking in Canggu, Bali, comes from Geoff Lindsay, the Aussie owner-chef of Salumeria Tanah Barak a Spuntini and Campari Bar in Canggu, Dandelion restaurant and the…
Our Guide to Eating and Drinking in Seminyak, Bali
Eating and drinking in Seminyak, Bali’s most appealing destination for lovers of good food and drink, has never been better or more interesting than it is right now, with brilliant…
Drink in Bali
Salumeria Tanah Barak a Spuntini and Campari Bar – Italian Made in Bali
Salumeria Tanah Barak a Spuntini and Campari Bar in Canggu, Bali, is owned by Australian chef Geoff Lindsay. What makes this chic Italian resto-bar special is its selection of salumi, Italian-style charcuterie, and…
Our Guide to Eating and Drinking in Seminyak, Bali
Eating and drinking in Seminyak, Bali’s most appealing destination for lovers of good food and drink, has never been better or more interesting than it is right now, with brilliant…
Explore Bali
Tanah Lot Temple, Bali – Hindu Traditions and Sea Temple Ceremonies
Tanah Lot temple, Bali, is a popular sunset spot for most visitors to the Indonesian island but like any must-do attraction in a major tourist destination it can get insanely…
Ubud Monkey Forest – Monkey Business at Bali’s Macaque Sanctuary
Ubud Monkey Forest must top the list of things to do for most visitors to Bali’s cultural heart of Ubud. It certainly made the top of our list – and it made…
Experience Bali
Best Things to Do in Bali from Rice Paddy Walks to Riding Mythical Waves
The best things to do in Bali for us aren’t the things you gawk at in tourism ads or highlight in travel guides. In keeping with our slow, local and…
Things to Do in Bali When it Rains – From Food Tours to Cooking Classes
Things to do in Bali when it rains? There’s plenty to do during the rainy season downpours. Bali has so much more to offer visitors than beaches, swimming and surfing…
Book Bali Tours
Absorb Bali
Back to Bali to Dig Deeper and to Java to Discover Yogyakarta
You may have noticed we’ve been quiet here. Where have we been? Back to Bali for the first time in six years, to Java to discover Yogyakarta and explore sublime Borobudur,…
An Amble Around the Rice Paddies of Tumbak Bayuh, Bali
“Hello! Hello!” two skinny little kids call out as they peek from behind a dilapidated brick wall, a short distance down the lane from our villa in the tiny village of…
Shop Bali
Sustainable Souvenirs to Buy in Southeast Asia – No, Not Elephant Pants
Sustainable souvenirs to buy in Southeast Asia include anything that’s handmade and handcrafted, fair trade and ethically-produced rather than factory-made, and locally created rather than imported. Traditional crafts, art and…
Bali Take-Homes: Textiles, Fair Trade and Threads of Life
Threads of Life is a gorgeous fair trade gallery-cum-shop in Ubud that sells exquisite handmade textiles from Bali and the rest of the Indonesia that are ethically produced. Forget the tourist…
Bali Festivals & Events
A Balinese Royal Cremation Ceremony
Kiki was adamant. “There is a Royal Cremation Ceremony tomorrow,” she told us, “You must go!” Our villa manager, Kiki had made it her mission to ensure we were getting the breadth…
Consulting the Calendar: Choosing Auspicious Moments in Time
Each day Desak and Kuman, the cook and housekeeper at our villa at Tumbak Bayuh, consult the Balinese calendar hanging on the kitchen wall. When Kiki, the villa manager, suggests…
Bali Local Knowledge
Things to Do in Bali When it Rains – From Food Tours to Cooking Classes
Things to do in Bali when it rains? There’s plenty to do during the rainy season downpours. Bali has so much more to offer visitors than beaches, swimming and surfing…
A Local Guide to Eating and Drinking in Canggu, Bali
This local guide to eating and drinking in Canggu, Bali, comes from Geoff Lindsay, the Aussie owner-chef of Salumeria Tanah Barak a Spuntini and Campari Bar in Canggu, Dandelion restaurant and the…
Bali Resources
How to Get from Bali to Java and Yogyakarta Now Bali’s Volcano Has Erupted
How to get from Bali to Java and Yogyakarta now Mount Agung volcano has erupted is a question a lot of travellers who have been stranded on the Indonesian island…
How To Eat Like Locals When You Travel
How to eat like locals when you travel? There’s an abundance of advice out there: slurp soup from a street food stall, sample home-cooked food at a local home, savour…
Bali Essentials
WHEN TO GO
Bali is warm and humid all year around, with two main seasons.
Apr-Sep Is high and dry season, with the busiest months being July & August and only ocassional rainfall.
Oct-Mar Is the low and wet season and while it doesn’t just pour with rain every day, it does rain a lot at night.
HEALTH
Bali has healthcare treatment facilities for minor accidents, however for serious injuries (surfing and motorbike riding accidents are common culprits) you will need a care flight overseas for more expert care. Be sure that your insurance covers these costs. Recommended Vaccinations
VISAS
There are two main visa types that will concern visitors to Bali; the free visa and arrival and the paid visa on arrival. The free visa on arrival cannot be extended, but the paid visa on arrival (US$35) is generally used to exend the visit for two months. You can purchase a two month visa at Indonesian consulates and embassies before arrival.
CURRENCY
CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES
$1.00 USD = 15,530.33 IDR
$1.00 AUD = 23.30 IDR
€1.00 EUR = 38.48 IDR
£1.00 GBP = 44.55 IDR
The Indonesian currency is the rupiah (Rp), but the currency code is IDR. You’re going to be carrying a lot of notes around as the 1,000Rp note is worth around 6 cents US. When withdrawing money from ATMs you may get a good exchange rate but be hit by big transation fees. The 50,000Rp and 100,000Rp notes are best to carry being respecvely about US$3.50 and US$7.
LANGUAGE
BALINESE IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF BALI.
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY IN BALI IS 230 VOLTS. 50 CYCLES/SEC.
WEATHER
CURRENT BALI WEATHER
TRANSPORTATION
AIR/LAND/SEA
While Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia, there are many direct international flights to the island. There is one airport, Ngurah Rai International Airport with a code name of DPS, and it’s just south of Kuta. There are ferries servicing other areas of Indonesia such as Java, Sumbawa and Lombok. Getting around is generally on hired motorbikes, hiring a car and driver is safer.
Bali Daily Costs
BUDGET
Daily Budget Up To:
US$30
- Guesthouse dorm room: US$5–10
- Cheap restaurants, street food: US$3
- Motorcycle hire (weekly) US$25
MID RANGE
Daily Budget From:
US$31–200
- Air-con hotel room: US$50–150
- Good local restaurant meal: US$20+
- Full Spa Treatment: US$30
LUXURY
Daily Budget From:
US$201+
- Boutique hotel or resort: US$150+
- Fine dining meal without drinks: US$50+
- Car and Driver (daily Rate): US$60+