Bali holidays

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Bali holidays

Best hotels in Bali

Bali is an island in Indonesia, popular with visitors for its lush, green, forested landscape, rice paddies and volcanic mountains, as well as for its stunning coastline and coral reefs. Just south of the equator, you can enjoy a pleasant temperature all year round, which is why it’s a haven for beach lovers who flock for Asia holidays along the southern coasts such as Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, surrounding the capital Denpasar. Here you’ll find the majority of the island’s hotels, with all the top restaurants and big town nightlife.

Things to do

A largely Hindu nation, Bali is the place to go if you’re seeking peace and serenity. It’s considered by many to be the yoga and meditation centre of the southern hemisphere, with retreats dotted around the island, both inland and on the coast. 

If you’re interested in Bali’s spiritual side , make a beeline for some (or all) of its six temples. These popular religious sites include the stunning cliff top Uluwatu Temple on the island’s southern tip, and the beachside Tanah Lot. Both will give you magnificent views of the ocean.

Love waterfalls? You could easily spend an entire holiday searching for its many plunge pools. Head to the central region for the most spectacular ones, including the famous Gitgit Waterfall at 35m high, or Sekumpul, which is actually seven different falls set in one leafy valley. 

Adventure seekers are in luck too. Bali is a place to get your adrenaline pumping, be it on land, on water, or under it. It’s a magne for dive enthusiasts, who head here for the wealth of marine life that call these coral rich seas home. To date, 500 reef building coral species have been identified in the seas of this area, which experts call the Coral Triangle. 

The rivers of Bali are a water sports playground, with white water rafting and tubing among your options. Can you think of a better way to see the mighty Ayung and Telaga Waja rivers? Over in Bali’s mountainous central, you can hike up sky high peaks towering at 2000m elevations, including Mounts Batur and Agung, which are still active volcanoes. However you see this Indonesian island, you’ll be sure to leave with lasting memories.

 

Map of Bali

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22°C - 34°C

With its favourable position just south of the equator, Bali’s temperatures rarely drop below 20°C. But despite it’s comfortable year-round heat, the island also has a rainy season which runs from November to March.

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17- 19 hours

If you’re travelling to Bali from the UK you’ll fly into Denpasar International Airport (DPS), or as it’s officially known Ngurah Rai International. This is the island’s primary airport.

Bali is best for...

Adventurers: Bali’s diverse landscape has to be seen to be believed! When you’re not hiking to the top of its volcanoes, you’ll be quad biking over its rugged terrain or zip lining through its tropical jungles. 

Soul seekers: Nicknamed the ‘Islands of the Gods’, Bali is a spiritual place which is celebrated for its sacred shrines. Ideal for a mindful break, you’ll find yoga sessions on the beach, spaces designed for meditation and temples with healing waters.

Honeymooners: Super stylish accommodation nestled close to the beach, is what Bali is known for, making it a firm favourite with newly-weds. Offering plenty of relaxation after your big day, enjoy sunset dinners, couples spa sessions and waterfall dips. 

Fast facts for Bali

Language: The official language in Bali is Indonesian. The island also has its own language known as Balinese but it is less common. Locals will always appreciate it if you attempt to speak the language, even if it’s just ‘please’ or ‘thank you’. 

Currency: The currency in Bali is the Indonesian rupiah.

Local time: Bali is 8 hours ahead of the UK (GMT+8). 

Fly to: The main airport in Bali is Denpasar International Airport (DPS), which you’ll find in the south, close to many of the key tourist spots. 

Flight time from UK: 17 - 19 hours

Visa / Health: Before you travel, check the latest advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Bali safety and security

Passport and visa requirements

To help keep Bali safe and enjoyable for everyone, local authorities have recently stepped up immigration checks across the island. A special Immigration Patrol Task Force is now patrolling popular areas like Canggu, Seminyak, and Jimbaran, so make sure to keep your passport with you at all times. 

For UK travellers, make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after your arrival date, has at least two blank pages, and that you’ve secured a visa on arrival which is valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days. 

For up-to-date advice on travelling to Bali, please visit the FCDO website.

Bali weather

Bali is just 8 degrees south of the equator and enjoys a warm, tropical climate all year round, with an average temperature of 30°C and typical humidity of 85%. The weather in Bali is always hot, it’s just a matter of how hot.

This popular island in Indonesia is well known for its vibrant ecosystem that supports thousands of animal and plant species. The pay-off for this is of course rain. The weather in Bali can certainly be wet at times, with the monsoon season typically running from November to March. You can expect more downpours from December onwards.

Most visitors aim to travel in the dry season, between April and October, and if you do the same, you should enjoy a good proportion of dry days. Outside of the monsoon period, rain is fairly unlikely in lowland areas. Bali’s peak season in terms of the number of visitors is July and August, so you may want to think about travelling between April and May, before the high season starts, or in September after it ends, to avoid the crowds while still dodging the monsoon period.

Being in the southern hemisphere, you’ll find that the seasons are the opposite way around to what you’re used to in the UK. Although the temperature doesn’t fluctuate much, this will affect the number of daylight hours you can enjoy when visiting Bali. 

July and August is actually Bali’s winter, with just six hours of sunshine, while summer is from January to March, with nine sunshine hours a day. July and August are also the driest months averaging just 40mm of rainfall. You’ll love the refreshing sea breeze that comes as evening falls, making temperatures drop and cooling things down just enough to keep you comfortable.

Sea temperatures are pretty much constant throughout the year in Bali, so you can go scuba diving, shore swimming, snorkelling and even paddling with your little ones any time of the year. You’ll love the 29°C temperature around your toes in January and February, while July and August are still deliciously warm, dropping only a couple of degrees.

On land, temperatures are similarly reliable, with highs of 32°C in April, falling no lower than a pleasantly warm 22°C in June to September. So if you don’t mind the rain, any time is the right time to take in Bali’s sights. Whether you’re hiking to ancient temples or seeking out the rice terraces, the island will certainly deliver a warm welcome. But if you’re a beach lover, stick to the dry season.

 

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FAQs

FAQs

Do I need to carry my passport at all times in Bali?

Yes. Immigration officers are doing spot checks in hotspots like Canggu, Seminyak, and Jimbaran, so if you’re on your holidays to Bali you should always carry your passport.

Double-check that your passport has at least six months’ validity, two blank pages, and a valid 30-day visa on arrival (which you can extend once if you’re not quite ready to leave paradise!).