What to expect from Bali

Bali is a beautiful island in Indonesia known for its pristine beaches, lush green rice terraces, hidden waterfalls, vibrant culture, ancient temples, mouth-watering food and stunning art markets.

Activities

1. Adventures - Trekking up volcanic peaks, hiking to explore hidden waterfalls, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, white-river rafting, ATV, Paragliding, Hot springs, Bali swing across the lush green rice terraces.

   

   Exploring Bali Cave

2. Culture – Explore museums, galleries, temples, art workshops and Balinese dance forms like Kecak dance, Barong dance etc.,

   

   Kecak dance

3. Shopping – Explore art markets to find unique souvenirs, home decor, clothes etc

4. Wellness & relaxation – Spa treatments, Yoga retreats, cooking classes etc.

When to plan your trip to Bali?

Planning your trip to Bali based on the weather

Bali, an island in Indonesia lies close to the equator offering a tropical climate throughout the year. Unlike other countries, there are only two seasons in Bali -

1. Dry season - April to October

   • The temperature ranges from 26 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius making it more humid during the day due to its tropical weather.

   • It gets very touristy around June to September as it coincides with the holiday season in various countries.

   • Ideal weather for – Beach activities due to clean waters and outdoor excursions like exploring waterfalls etc.,

2. Wet season - November to March

   • Be prepared to carry umbrellas or raincoats while heading out as you can expect frequent rain showers.

   • However, the temperatures are still warmer considering the tropical weather.

   • Expect disruption in outdoor activities due to unannounced rain showers.

   • Ideal to try - You can indulge in indoor and cultural activities like

     cooking classes	Spa treatments	Art and craft workshops
     Visiting museums, galleries	Ancient Temples	Attending cultural dance forms

However, due to climate change globally, there could be variations in the facts mentioned. Plan accordingly!

Planning your trip to Bali based on travel season

Peak season

The peak tourist season in Bali usually runs from July to August and during the Christmas and New Year holidays in December and early January.

This time coincides with the dry season, providing the best weather with sunny days and low humidity, making it perfect for beach activities and outdoor excursions. Bali also experiences another influx of visitors during Easter and the summer holidays, around June to September. So, if you’re looking for vibrant energy and excitement, these are the times to experience everything Bali has to offer!

Shoulder season

The shoulder seasons in Bali are the periods just before and after the peak tourist season. Specifically, these are:

April to June	September to October
Just before the peak tourist season. Pleasant weather and less crowded with tourists. Good conditions to travel & explore outdoor activities.	Just after the peak tourist season. Good weather with fewer tourists, it’s a great time to enjoy Bali’s attractions without the crowds.

Traveling during the shoulder seasons can be advantageous as it often means lower prices on accommodations and flights, and a more relaxed experience overall.

Languages spoken in Bali 🗣️

1. Balinese – Used in daily conversations, cultural practices and traditional ceremonies. Similar to Bahasa or Indonesian.

2. Bahasa or Indonesian – The official language of Indonesia and widely spoken across Bali

3. English – Bali is a touristy destination and you will find locals comfortable speaking English.

Local words to learn

Hello – Salam or Halo	Thank you – Terima kasih
Excuse me - Permisi	Bye - selamat tinggal

Flights to Bali from India

There are direct flights and flights with layovers from India to Bali.

Average flight time – 7 hours is the average flight time by direct flights or flights with layover (layover time not considered).

If you are taking a layover at any of the abovementioned countries with a layover time of less than 24 hours, a transit visa from those countries is generally not required.

Average cost – If booked well in advance, the average flight cost per person for a round trip would approximately be Rs 40,000 - Rs 50,000 ($480-$600). However, it depends on the source location, period of travel etc.

Bali Airport - Bali has only one international airport which is called “Ngurah Rai International Airport” located in the Denpasar region.

Bali Tourist Visa requirements

1. Travel period up to 30 days – Bali is visa-free for Indian passport holders. However, upon reaching the island, you must still stand in the queue to get your passport stamped.

2. Travel period up to 60 days –

   • Visa on arrival - at the airport after landing;

   • e-Visa on Arrival - electronically by uploading all the relevant documents and making the payment online. e-VoA will be issued after verification of documents by the authorities. This option will save a lot of time as you won’t need to stand in a visa queue at the airport. It is paperless.

     • Cost - IDR 5,00,000 + taxes per person
     • Official website - https://molina.imigrasi.go.id

If you are looking for a multiple-entry or long-term Visa, then there are different types of applications hosted on the official website with different prices. Do check out the above-mentioned official website for more information.

Bali Currency

”Indonesian Rupiah” (often referred to as IDR or Rp) is the official currency of Bali, Indonesia. Getting Indonesian Currency from Indian Forex dealers might be difficult due to its high denomination and lower value. You can easily withdraw the currency from the ATM upon reaching Bali Airport!

Exchange rates are generally as under:

Indonesian Rupiah	Indian Rupees (Approx rate on July ‘24)	USD (Approx rate on July ‘24)
1 Thousand	5.1	$0.06
5 Thousand	25.5	$0.31
10 Thousand	51.02	$0.61
50 Thousand	255.12	$3.06
100 Thousand	510	$6.11
500 Thousand	2,551.17	$30.55
1 Million	5,102.34	$61.11
5 Million	25,511.71	$305.53
10 Million	51,023.42	$611.06

Splash millions in IDR and feel rich. Also, have big wallets when you travel to Bali due to lots of change that you may end up with.

Local commute and transportation in Bali

Bali doesn’t have a good public transport system. There are a handful of other affordable options for commuting in Bali, including Bike taxis, cabs, renting motorbikes etc.,

Apps for local transport

App	Options available	Pricing
InDrive	Bike taxis, compact cabs, 6-seater cabs	Cheapest among all other apps
Gojek	Bike taxis, Cabs, deliveries of Food, groceries, medicines, documents etc (lot more options)	Reasonably priced
Grab	Bike taxis, cabs and a lot more options	Very costly but reliable

Renting bikes in Bali

Average price for renting a bike – Rs 300-400 per day (bike rentals for longer stays come at a great discount)

Average petrol price (as of Jul 24) - Rs.50-60 per litre.

Caution - Beware of traffic in touristy areas of Bali. Eg - Ubud, Canggu etc.

The best way to explore Bali is to have your own transport which is by renting a bike. Things we loved about riding bikes across Bali:

• There are no potholes or speed breakers.

• Most of the travellers and locals prefer bikes as the roads are a bit narrow and navigating through traffic is easy.

• Wide range of bikes with vibrant colours and designed for hilly roads. You can get a helmet for the pillion rider on request.

• Everyone follows lane discipline (in complete contrast to India 😑)

• The roads get very scenic with vast rice fields to lush green forests adding a lovely breeze as you drive.

• Indonesia follows a left-hand drive system (similar to India).

• It is recommended to have an international driving license before travelling even though there is no mention of the same on official websites.

Commute through ferries

You can take a ferry if you want to travel to nearby islands like Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan Island or any further islands like Gilli Islands, Lombak etc. It is advisable to book the ferry tickets from KLOOK or any other similar apps.

Port - All the ferries embark from Sanur Harbour.

Facts to be kept in mind while staying in Bali

• There are no ceiling fans in most of the accommodations, be it homestay or Hotel or Airbnb or resorts etc., However, they are equipped with Air Conditioners.

• Living with Geckos, Lizards and roosters will become part and parcel of life.

• There are no latches or door locks for most of the attached bathrooms in the hotels or Airbnb or homestays.

Interesting Facts about Bali

• 87% of Indonesians are Muslims and yet Bali is the only island in Indonesia with 90% of Hindus.

• Bali is just 170kms (105 miles) wide and spans approximately 117 kms (73 miles) yet it has pristine Beaches, stunning waterfalls, active volcanos, mountainous regions etc.,

• Wearing a Sarong (a cloth that is tied around) is mandatory when visiting temples. Most of the temples provide them for free while entering the temple. You can also buy a colourful sarong at a very affordable price from the local markets in Bali.

• Kecak dance is the most famous dance in Bali and don’t be surprised to see that it is based on the Indian Epic, Ramayana.

• It is very interesting to see that a lot of hotels and accommodations range from Rs.500 to Rs.5,00,000 too. Choose your stay based on your budget!

• Bali is filled with rich paddy fields and Balinese staple food is rice. Local foods can be found easily at an affordable place like warungs across Bali.

• Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and Mei Goreng (fried noodles) are two popular local cuisines available at every nook and corner of Bali.

• The Expat population is pretty high in Bali due to its vibrant culture which has brought in international cuisines from across the world. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well.!

Now that you have an idea about planning a trip to Bali, want to know what all to pack?

Getting ready to travel the world

Essential things to pack for your travel

Let us know what you liked about this post in the comments below.