Travel Guide to Bali from Dubai
Bali is one of the most beautiful locations in the world, with incredibly lush jungles and beaches. It is well-known for its advanced arts and includes traditional and modern dance, sculpture, painting, leatherwork, metalwork, and music. Surfers come for the renowned swells; hikers can walk up volcanic peaks to misty waterfalls; cyclists can ride through lush landscapes studded with quaint towns and bristling with rice terraces. However, if you’re planning a trip from the UAE to Bali, this article will tell you all you need to know.
The best time to visit Bali
May, June, and September are the ideal months to visit Bali since the weather remains warm and bright, but fewer people are on popular beaches. These are also the best months for snorkelling and diving because less rain, visibility under the water’s surface and sunshine improve the underwater experience.
October is the cheapest month to visit Bali since it marks the conclusion of the peak season. Flights and hotel rooms are less expensive in October than in peak months.
Visa
Travellers from the UAE who want to visit Bali for tourism can acquire a B211A tourist visa or a Visa on Arrival. The B211A visa is a single-visit e-visa that is valid for 60 days and can be extended up to four times. You can stay for an additional 30 days with each extension. The B211A visa is an e-visa, meaning your approved visa will be sent to you.
Bali B211A visa requirements
- The passport must be valid for at least six months after entering Indonesia.
- A scanned copy of your passport containing your details.
- Two passport-size colour photographs
- Proof of accommodation in Bali.
- A bank statement showing your account balance in the form of a PDF file.
If you want to extend your B211A visa, notify your travel agent at least 14 days before the visa expiration date. The extension fee or cost varies by agency, however, an extension typically costs between AED 183 and 440.
Covid-19 Regulations
Travellers who are completely vaccinated are no longer required to quarantine and can enter Indonesia without undergoing a PCR test.
Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to enter Bali if they are medically exempt (a letter from a doctor detailing the medical or health issues and grounds for vaccine exemption).
Where in Bali should you stay?
Ubud
Ubud is renowned as Bali’s cultural centre. It is without a doubt one of the most incredible places to stay in Bali since there is so much to do in Ubud, such as visiting the Ubud Palace or the Sacred Monkey Forest. Apart from being nestled in a one-of-a-kind enclave surrounded by rice fields, it is notable for the variety of restaurants and stores available, since it is the most popular region to stay in Bali.
Kuta and Legian
Some of the most excellent affordable hotels in Bali can be found in Kuta and Legian. There are several nightclubs in this area where you can have a fantastic time partying. This area also has beaches, shopping malls, and restaurants. During peak season, you must reserve your accommodations in advance.
Seminyak
Seminyak is a residential region in Bali’s southwest recognised for its beaches, nightlife, and pleasant atmosphere. Seminyak offers cheaper hotels and is an excellent spot to stay in Bali if you want to be close to stores and restaurants while still getting away from the hustle and bustle of Kuta.
Nusa Dau
Bali’s Nusa Dua is the place to stay if you want to indulge in luxury accommodation. This is where many of Bali’s luxury hotels can be found. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway in Bali, this is the place to go. It has some of the most romantic hotels on the island.
Important things to know before visiting Bali
- Religious traditions must be respected at any cost
People in Bali are very religious. Do not become irritated when a roadway is closed for a ceremony or your driver stops mid-trip to offer a blessing – it’s all part of the island’s enchantment. If your vacation dates fall on Nyepi, when everything in Bali (including the airport) closes for the day, plan accordingly, and always dress modestly (covering the shoulders and knees) and comport yourself correctly when visiting temples and sacred places.
- Be wary of stray and wild animals
Although they appear charming, rabies and other illnesses are severe concerns in Bali, and monkeys are infamous for their thievery. Bali’s stray dogs are numerous and typically in poor condition. If you want to help, try donating to the Bali Dog Refuge, which rescues and rehabilitates the island’s stray puppies. Give wild and stray animals plenty of space.
- Avoid plastic bottles
Lots of plastic debris washes up on Bali’s beaches, and local authorities claim that during the monsoon season, they collect up to 60 tonnes each day. Reduce your impact on the environment by purchasing a stainless steel bottle that you can refill. Most decent cafés and restaurants offer a water filter for free or for a nominal price. So, the next time you buy a packaged drink, consider the environment.
- The apps to use in Bali
If you plan to travel around Bali, download the app Grab, the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber. This app is necessary when visiting Bali. Find a motorbike taxi to your destination with Grab. Go-Jek is another popular app for sharing rides and also serving as a delivery service. This app has a convenient list of restaurants and grocery stores, and you can order anything for delivery right to your doorstep.
- Drugs and Methanol poisoning
Some people in Kuta and Legian will attempt to sell you various narcotics, especially magic mushrooms. Try to avoid these folks. If the authorities catch you using or purchasing drugs, you will be arrested.
Please be careful of the incredibly cheap beverages. Even in Bali, a 15k drink seems too good to be true. It’s typically prepared with arak, a native moonshine. Unfortunately, hazardous quantities of methanol are not unusual in arak. In Bali, many people have died as a result of methanol poisoning, and as little as a teaspoon of methanol can induce blindness. So be cautious.
Top places to visit in Bali
Pura Tanha Lot
The sacred and ancient Balinese temple, Pura Tanah Lot, is a popular tourist destination and a cultural icon for pilgrimage. Tanah Lot is a sea-surrounded rock formation on the Indonesian island of Bali’s southern Tabanan beach.
Although foreigners are not permitted to visit any of the temples in the complex, during low tide, you can stroll over to the main temple. It’s also enjoyable to walk around the walkways, snapping photographs and taking in the breathtaking scenery.
Tourists must travel through several souvenir stores, which sell a wide range of merchandise. Visitors will discover the majestic temple located on a rock just a few metres offshore after forcing their way through the souvenir dealers. There are also eateries on the mainland’s clifftops and don’t miss out on the popular Kopi luwak (civet coffee).
Mount Batur
Mount Batur, an active volcano in Bali’s central highlands, is regarded as one of the holiest spots on the island. Mount Batur is famed for its sunrise hike, which begins shortly after midnight and brings hundreds of people up the 1,700-meter peak to the top. The trek is reasonably straightforward and normally takes two to three hours over well-marked routes.
Ubud Monkey Forest
The Ubud Monkey Forest is a sanctuary and natural home for the Balinese long-tailed macaque. It is situated in Padangtegal, Ubud, Bali. This refuge is home to about 1260 monkeys. It’s also one of the greatest spots to visit in Bali, whether you’re an animal lover or a photographer. Aside from free-roaming monkeys, paved roads go through lush forests of large banyan and nutmeg trees, where moss-covered monuments and old temples tower through the dense vegetation, lending an almost mythical atmosphere.
Rice terraces in Bali
The best Bali rice terraces feature stunning landscapes that are a photographer’s dream. They are must-see attractions for visitors to the island, providing insights into the native way of life. Bali’s rice paddies are an important component of the local culture. Tegallalang, Sidemen Village, Rendang, and Jatiluwih, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site located on the southern slopes of the Batukaru mountain range in Tabanan, West Bali, are some of the most well-known rice terraces in Bali. It is the biggest in Bali, with an area of approximately 600 hectares.
Lempuyang temple
The Pura Luhur Lempuyang, often known as the Bali “gates of heaven,” is a popular tourist destination in East Bali. This well-known edifice is really one of a series of temples that dot the highlands of Mount Lempuyang. Tourists gather here to take photos while standing between the towering dragon stairs that enclose Mount Agung’s foggy top. Pura Lempuyang Luhur is one of Bali’s six holy sites of devotion. To reach the summit of the temple, you must climb 1,700 stairs through the sweltering forest.
This vacation, visit the land of the gods and stand in awe at the stunning mountain landscape, tropical beaches, temples, and the welcoming from the Balinese people.