Bali
Packing list for Bali, travel insurance for Bali and taking your belongings
What to take to Bali: brief
To pack and check
- Documents and money: a passport valid for at least another 6 months. Many travelers require a Visa on Arrival (VOA) or e-VOA (saves hours of waiting); check the current rules for your nationality before you depart. The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). You can withdraw cash in many places, but bring some cash for warungs, markets, and smaller villages.
- Clothing: light, airy clothing for the tropical climate, and long clothing for extra protection against mosquitoes. Also bring a thin cardigan or raincoat for the rainy season (approximately November-March). Covered shoulders and knees are mandatory for temple visits; you can often borrow a sarong, but bringing your own saves money.
- Shoes: flip-flops or sandals for daily use. Good walking shoes are recommended if you are climbing volcanoes like Mount Batur or hiking through rice terraces and waterfalls. Packing and protection: a rain cover for your backpack and a dry bag for boat trips to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, or the Gili Islands.
- Personal care and hygiene: sunscreen with a high protection factor, hand gel.
- Insects and animals: a good mosquito repellent (preferably with DEET or picaridine), especially during the rainy season.
- Medicines and first-aid kit: a first-aid kit with ORS, plasters, painkillers, blister plasters, and something for insect bites.
- Outdoor items and handy: sunglasses, reusable water bottle, cap or hat, and a small daypack.
- Technology and equipment: a travel adapter for type C and F sockets.
- Safety and theft: a money belt or secure storage place is handy. Phone theft from scooters, in particular, occurs regularly.
To consider
- A snorkel set.
- UV-protective swim shirt.
- International driving license; officially required if you rent a scooter or car.
- Quick-drying towel or sarong
Are there mosquitoes in Bali?
- You can expect mosquito company in Bali all year round. During the rainy season and around rice fields, gardens, and stagnant water, they are present in large numbers.
- Dengue fever occurs regularly and causes outbreaks almost every year. Chikungunya also occurs. Malaria plays hardly any role in most tourist areas of Bali.
- Use mosquito repellent, especially in the evening, and wear covering clothing where possible.
- More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.
Are there sandflies in Bali?
- Sandflies can occur on some beaches, especially on quieter beaches and around mangroves.
- The bites are more annoying than mosquito bites. Not immediately after you get bitten—you usually don't notice that—but mainly in the week or weeks afterward.
- An insect repellent containing DEET or picaridine usually works well.
- More about sandflies and sand fleas.
Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents, in Bali?
- You can easily get mosquito repellents at supermarkets, pharmacies, drugstores, and minimarkets such as Guardian, Watsons, Indomaret, and Alfamart.
- Local brands often contain lower concentrations of DEET than many Dutch products.
- See also DEET mosquito repellents and the percentages.
Can you buy a joint or weed in Bali, or bring it to Bali?
- Indonesia has one of the strictest drug laws in the world. Cannabis is prohibited, and possession, use, sale, or importation carry heavy prison sentences. Several foreigners are currently detained in Bali due to this legislation.
- Therefore, even small amounts can have major consequences.
