Bali

Why go

Bali is the Indonesian island where most days start with an offering of flowers on the doorstep. Temples sit on sea cliffs and in lakes, rice terraces step down the hills around Ubud, and the south coast has long surf beaches, calm lagoons and sunsets over the Indian Ocean. It suits couples, families and friends travelling together, and it works as well for a lazy beach fortnight as for a trip packed with volcano hikes, island days and cooking classes.

When to go

The dry season runs roughly from April to October, with sunny days, lower humidity and the best conditions for trekking and boat trips. July and August are the busiest months. November to March is the wet season: it is still warm, but expect heavy afternoon downpours, rougher seas on the crossings to Nusa Penida and livelier rivers for rafting. It is hot all year, usually around 30°C on the coast, and cooler in the hills around Ubud and Kintamani.

Bali's Hindu New Year, Nyepi, falls in March or April. For 24 hours the whole island goes quiet, including the airport, and visitors stay inside their hotels. We will tell you if your dates are affected.

Getting there from the UK

There are no direct flights from the UK to Bali (Denpasar, DPS). Most travellers fly with one stop, for example via Doha, Dubai, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, from London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and other UK airports. The whole journey usually takes 17 to 20 hours. Bali is 8 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 7 hours ahead during British Summer Time. Tell us your nearest airport and we will find the best connection.

Where to stay

• Seminyak and Legian: beach hotels, restaurants, shops and sunset bars. Lively and easy to get around, good for couples and friends.
• Ubud: Bali's cultural heart in the green hills, with rice fields, temples, dance shows and yoga. Stay here for a few nights to explore the interior.
• Sanur: a relaxed east-coast resort with a reef-protected beach, calm water and a long seafront path. Good for families and for the boats to Nusa Penida.
• Nusa Dua and Jimbaran: large resorts on quiet, well-kept beaches in the south. Jimbaran Bay is known for seafood dinners on the sand at sunset.

Many of our clients split their stay: a few nights in Ubud, then a week on the coast.

What to do

Watch the sun rise from the top of Mount Batur, an active volcano, after an early-morning trek. Walk among the long-tailed macaques of the Ubud Monkey Forest, see the Tegallalang rice terraces and bathe in the holy spring at Tirta Empul. Take the boat to Nusa Penida for the famous view of Kelingking Beach. Watch the Kecak fire dance at sunset at Uluwatu Temple, on a cliff above the ocean. Raft the Ayung River, snorkel at the Blue Lagoon near Padangbai or learn to cook Balinese dishes with a local family.

Food

Balinese food is fresh and spicy, built on a paste of shallots, garlic, chilli, turmeric, ginger and galangal. Try babi guling (spit-roast pork), bebek betutu (slow-cooked duck), sate lilit (minced fish satay) and nasi campur, rice with small portions of several dishes. Indonesian favourites like nasi goreng, mie goreng and gado-gado are everywhere, and Jimbaran is the place for grilled seafood.

Good to know

• Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Cards are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants; carry cash for markets and temples.
• Language: Indonesian and Balinese. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
• Plugs: types C and F (European two-pin), 230 V.
• Temples: cover your shoulders and knees and wear a sarong. Most temples lend or rent one at the entrance.
• Entry: UK visitors need a visa and there is a tourist levy for Bali. Check the latest rules on GOV.UK before you travel, and we will remind you when you book.

Tell us your dates and your airport, and we will put together your Bali trip.