The island of Bali, Indonesia was visited by greater than 6 million worldwide vacationers in 2024, and it’s probably the most well-liked journey vacation spot in Southeast Asia.
However how secure is it? The brief reply to this query is that Bali may be very secure. It’s safer than most locations on the earth. I’d additionally fortunately suggest it to households and solo vacationers.
Nevertheless, the lengthy reply is a little more nuanced and there are at the very least a couple of good issues it is best to know earlier than you go to Bali.
On this weblog submit, I’ll deal with some widespread security questions akin to crime, visitors, monkeys, volcanoes, and extra. I’ll additionally share my suggestions for staying secure from these items if you journey to Bali.
Background: My Expertise In Bali
Initially, let me introduce myself and discuss my degree of non-public expertise in Bali.
I’m an American who’s lived right here since 2019, and I married a neighborhood Balinese. My spouse Intan was born and raised on the island. Between the 2 of us, we’ve fairly a little bit of expertise in Bali, with a number of views (foreigner and native).
We’ve spent many days touring throughout each nook of the island, interacting with locals, mountaineering the volcanoes, doing the standard vacationer actions, and likewise visiting many locations which can be properly off the overwhelmed path.
Bali is our completely satisfied place
Security In Bali: What To Know
• Violent Crime
Indonesia has one of many lowest homicide charges on the earth, with a fee of 0.3 per 100k inhabitants, according to the United Nations yearly study. That is 92% decrease than the worldwide common.
In comparison with my dwelling nation, america, the homicide fee in Indonesia is sort of 20 occasions decrease. It’s additionally safer than close by international locations like Thailand and the Philippines. Weapons are strictly managed in Indonesia, and there aren’t any shootings.
In Bali, it’s uncommon to listen to about violent crime, and murders are virtually unparalleled. The Balinese locals are recognized for his or her gentleness and friendliness. They’re a number of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet.
Balinese persons are so pleasant
• Terrorism
There’s a danger of terrorism anyplace on the earth, and that features Bali. The island was bombed by Muslim extremists in 2002 and 2005, however there haven’t been any incidents within the 20+ years since then.
The Indonesian authorities is critical about stopping terrorists, and there’s been a decline in these sorts of incidents throughout the entire nation lately, apart from some unrest from separatists in West Papua.
Bali is exclusive in Indonesia for being a Hindu majority island, whereas many of the nation is Muslim, however I’ve additionally spent years touring the opposite islands and people are secure too.
The 2002 Bali bombing memorial in Kuta
• Theft
Like all locations on the earth, there’s theft in Bali. It’s not exceptionally widespread. There aren’t iron bars overlaying all of the doorways and home windows, such as you’d see in Central or South America.
Armed robberies don’t actually ever occur right here, and I’ve carried costly cameras and drones throughout Bali (and the remainder of Indonesia) with none points.
Nevertheless, burglaries and thefts do occur in Bali, and personal villas appear to be focused greater than motels as a result of thieves know they’re often unstaffed. They’re additionally extra prone to be rented by well-to-do foreigners, in order that they know they’ve a greater likelihood of discovering valuables.
No matter whether or not you keep in a lodge or a villa, it’s a good suggestion to lock up or disguise your valuables anytime you exit. Money is very straightforward to steal and it is best to by no means go away it in a lodge room anyplace on the earth.
One other factor to pay attention to in Bali is drive-by telephone snatchings. These are particularly widespread in areas like Kuta, so simply bear in mind to place away your telephone if you’re by a busy highway with passing motorbikes.
The monkeys will be thieves too!
Sanur is a pleasant and quiet space for households in Bali
• Scams
Bali isn’t the scammiest place on the earth, however it does have a couple of widespread tips to be careful for.
Initially, there are many unofficial cash changers within the vacationer areas of Bali, they usually’ll short-change you or use sleight-of-hand tips to maintain one or two payments for themselves.
You’ll be able to keep away from this by solely utilizing ATMs or official cash changers, and counting your money twice earlier than leaving. The legit cash changers will at all times have a correct constructing with air-con.
Ignore the little road stands providing change charges that appear too good to be true. These guys are at all times scammers.
Sekumpul Waterfall is gorgeous, however scammers abound!
One other pet peeve of mine is the native ‘mountaineering mafia’ in Bali that tries to power you to rent a information at well-liked locations like Mount Batur or Sekumpul Waterfall, though it’s not likely wanted.
The mountaineering mafia will go to nice lengths to persuade you that the path is harmful or complicated, and also you want their assist to do it. If you happen to refuse, they could even threaten or intimidate you.
That is technically unlawful, and the Bali authorities has half-heartedly tried to place a cease to it at locations like Sekumpul, however enforcement is lax, so the scamming continues to this present day. The ‘mafia’ at Batur is the worst.
There are methods you may keep away from the ‘mafia’ and hike and not using a information, however it’s not precisely straightforward. I’ve written extra information about methods to do it in my particular person journey guides for every of those locations in Bali.
Mount Batur is a well-known hike in Bali the place ‘mafia’ scammers will power you to rent a information
• Roads & Site visitors
Bali has slender roads, heavy visitors, and a mix of automobiles and motorbikes competing for the suitable of means, making it a tough place to drive.
Bike accidents are one of many largest security dangers in Bali, and it looks like there are new tales on daily basis of international vacationers getting killed or severely damage on motorbikes. Often they’re driving with out helmets.
I wouldn’t suggest driving a motorcycle in Bali until you will have loads of expertise and know-how, and it is best to completely put on a top quality helmet as properly.
Even then, you’re a lot safer in a automotive in this sort of surroundings. Sure, it prices extra, however it’s nowhere close to as costly as ending up within the hospital with main accidents.
Fortunately, it’s fairly inexpensive to rent a personal driver in Bali. You’ll be able to even use the Seize or GoJek apps for brief distance taxi rides with both a automotive or bike. They’re low cost, secure, and environment friendly.
For longer day journeys, GetYourGuide has drivers you can book online, and the costs begin at 700k Rupiah (~$48 USD) for a full day of driving and sightseeing with a automotive for as much as 10 hours, with 1-5 passengers!
Beep beep. Don’t do this on the principle highway!
• Meals Security (‘Bali Stomach’)
After a few years of visiting Bali, attempting all of the meals, and usually consuming like a pig, I’ve by no means gotten any form of illness from meals. And I eat all the things, together with recent fruit, salad, spicy meals, and road meals.
In my view, ‘Bali stomach’ is overhyped. I don’t personally know anybody who has ever had it, together with any of my different expat or vacationer associates.
I feel a part of the ‘Bali stomach’ fame got here from 20+ years in the past, when meals security in Bali was worse than it’s now.
Fruit smoothie bowl. Yum.
There’s additionally the chance that some folks assume they’re experiencing ‘Bali stomach’ when it’s truly one thing else fully.
I’m certain there’s seasonal illness that will get carried into Bali from ‘snowbird’ vacationers escaping their dwelling international locations within the winter, and a few folks in all probability mistake these regular viruses for ‘Bali stomach’ as a result of the signs are comparable.
In any case, each individual’s abdomen is completely different, so in the event you are typically delicate to new meals then chances are you’ll need to begin out slowly and keep away from spicy meals if you first get to Bali.
I really like Bali
• Volcanoes
Bali is dwelling to 2 lively volcanoes: Mount Agung and Mount Batur.
It’s potential for both of those to erupt at any time, and Mount Agung did have a major eruption in 2017-2019, when it exploded with a large 4 kilometer tall ash cloud.
In 1963, a catastrophic eruption from Agung worn out the close by villages and killed 2,000 native folks.
Nevertheless, these volcanoes are situated removed from the principle vacationer areas in Bali, in order that they pose virtually no danger to the common Bali vacationer, even when they erupt.
Individuals even hike the volcanoes, they usually’re monitored for seismic exercise these days. I’ve hiked each of them a number of occasions.
Mount Agung eruption in 2017 (© Shutterstock)
Mount Agung eruption in 2017 (© Shutterstock)
• Earthquakes
One of many unnerving realities of life in Indonesia is that the entire nation, together with Bali, sits immediately on the Pacific Ring of Fireplace, a tectonic belt of volcanoes and earthquakes. About 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur on this zone.
I used to be in Bali when the 7.0 earthquake hit Lombok in 2018, and it was a scary expertise. It rattled our lodge, spun our ceiling fan a couple of occasions, and even made waves within the pool.
On the close by island of Lombok, the earthquake did much more injury and killed virtually 600 folks. And that’s nothing in comparison with the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in Sumatra, Indonesia, which killed virtually 230,000 folks.
What’s protecting the identical tragedy (or worse) from occurring in Bali sometime? Nothing, actually. However the factor about earthquakes is that it’s unimaginable to foretell when the following large one may occur. It could possibly be tomorrow, or it could possibly be 1,000 years from now.
If you happen to’re ever caught in a robust earthquake that lasts a very long time, it is best to attempt to get away from buildings and the seashore, and search greater floor in case the earthquake triggers a tsunami.
If that’s not potential, it is best to at the very least take cowl in mattress and shield your head and neck with a pillow. Keep away from home windows and glass. You can too obtain the BMKG app for real-time alerts and information about any close by earthquakes.
Well-known lake temple in Bali — Ulun Danu Beratan
A drone pic of the shoreline in Nusa Penida
What About Animals?
• Canine
Stray canine are widespread in some areas of Bali, they usually’re usually innocent, however in the event you occur to be bitten by one, it is best to go get a rabies vaccine instantly.
Rabies was as soon as eradicated in Bali, however it’s rebounded lately and there have been critical outbreaks the place a whole bunch of canine examined constructive and a few folks even died.
Bali actually wants higher vaccination and sterilization applications. Canine are the principle vector for the rabies virus, and rabies has a 100% fatality fee in people in the event you delay remedy lengthy sufficient to turn out to be symptomatic.
Don’t take an opportunity with this. Any canine chunk in Bali needs to be handled with a rabies shot as quickly as potential.
The canine are cute, however they’ll carry rabies.
• Monkeys
One of many enjoyable issues about being in Bali is that you simply’ll generally see monkeys (lengthy tailed macaques), particularly in locations like Ubud, Uluwatu, and north Bali.
You’ll be able to take footage and even selfies with them on the Ubud or Sangeh Monkey Forests, that are dwelling to greater than 1,000 semi-wild monkeys.
Personally, I really like the monkeys and it’s one of many issues that impressed my first journey to Bali.
Intan with a shoulder monkey
So are the monkeys harmful or not? Do they carry rabies or different illnesses?
On web boards there’s quite a lot of worrying and hand wringing about this, however the easy reality is that there’s by no means been a case of rabies contracted at any Bali monkey forest though they’re visited by as much as 10,000 vacationers per thirty days.
The monkeys have been studied and examined by worldwide scientists, and in 2023, the Bali authorities even began mass vaccinating the monkeys for rabies as a precaution.
You’ll nonetheless need to comply with some guidelines to keep away from getting bit or robbed by the cheeky animals in the event you determine to go there. I wrote an entire information for visiting the Bali monkey forests, which you’ll be able to learn within the hyperlinks beneath.
Learn Extra: Ubud Monkey Forest / Sangeh Monkey Forest
Monkey crossing! Take care your stuff! I really like this signal.
Monkey attempting to steal my hat
• Snakes
Bali is dwelling to 6 completely different species of harmful / venomous snakes, and lots of extra non-venomous species.
Usually you don’t want to fret about snakes within the touristy areas of Bali, they usually’re reluctant to chunk until they’re grabbed or stepped on. In truth, they attempt to keep away from people altogether.
Nevertheless, in the event you do encounter a snake in Indonesia, it is best to at all times assume it’s a venomous species until you’re certain it isn’t. And in the event you determine to go anyplace off the overwhelmed path in Bali, operating into snakes can turn out to be extra of a problem.
Island Pit Viper in Bali
One time I virtually stepped on a venomous Island Pit Viper whereas mountaineering in Nusa Penida island, in a much less traveled a part of the island with a number of foliage (this wasn’t in a preferred vacationer space).
My foot landed inside centimeters of the snake, which was coiled up within the heart of the trail, however fortunately its head was turned away from me and it didn’t see how shut my foot landed.
That was a really shut name. I backed up and watched the snake for awhile, after which he crawled away into the timber.
If you happen to’re all in favour of studying extra about snakes in Bali and methods to determine the harmful ones, I wrote an entire information for this and took pictures of every of the species with assist from knowledgeable snake catcher. You’ll be able to learn it within the hyperlink beneath.
Learn Extra: Snakes In Bali
Me with a King Cobra in Bali. This pic was taken with a professional snake catcher.
• Mosquitoes
Since Bali is a tropical island, there are additionally mosquitoes to be careful for.
Malaria is eliminated in Bali, which is nice to know, as a result of it’s the world’s most harmful mosquito-borne illness by far.
Nevertheless, there are three different illnesses you may catch from mosquitoes in Bali: dengue fever, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis.
These are hardly ever deadly, however they’ll trigger extraordinarily painful and debilitating brief time period illness. You don’t need them.
To guard your self from mosquitoes in Bali, keep away from sleeping together with your home windows open until you will have a internet over the mattress, and put on repellant if you’re lively outside, particularly in rural areas.
If you happen to’re on the seashore or indoors, mosquitoes often gained’t trouble you.
Calming panorama of the Jatiluwih rice terraces in Bali
Different Incessantly Requested Questions
- Is Bali secure for solo vacationers?
Sure, Bali may be very secure for solo vacationers, together with females. Numerous ladies journey to Bali alone. Simply comply with regular precautions. I used to be on my own on my first journey to Bali, and I stayed for two months with no points in any respect.
- Are any vaccines wanted?
Vaccines aren’t formally required for touring to Bali, and most of the people don’t trouble with it, however it’s a good suggestion to have updated pictures for Tetanus, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A.
- What about LGBT vacationers?
Balinese persons are very tolerant and the island is secure for homosexual or LGBT vacationers, however Indonesia is a conservative nation so it’s sensible to be discreet and respectful. PDA is mostly frowned upon for each homosexual and straight {couples} right here.
- Are there spiders in Bali?
Sure, there are various sorts of spiders in Bali, however fortunately none which can be recognized to be harmful to people.
- Is there good healthcare?
Sure, Bali has some good hospitals these days. Just a few of the highest choices are BIMC, Siloam, and Sanglah, that are all situated close to the principle vacationer areas. They’re usually cheaper than Western hospitals, however can nonetheless be costly for main therapies, so that you may need to have journey insurance coverage.
Extra Bali Journey Ideas
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved these security suggestions for visiting Bali.
I’ve written a whole bunch of different journey guides for Bali, so don’t overlook to verify these out whereas planning your journey!
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