Bali, explained
Straight answers to the questions every traveler asks before and during a trip to Bali, sorted into folders. Pick a topic.
Before you go
Visas, seasons, budgets, where to stay and what to pack.
Getting around & practical
Transport, scooters, SIM cards, money, safety and health.
Things to do & eat
Volcano hikes, waterfalls, beaches, surfing, island trips and food.
Culture & religion
Temples, offerings, ceremonies, names and the story of the island.
Living in Bali
Long stays, visas for remote workers and the honest truth about moving.
Beyond Bali
The Gili Islands, Lombok, Komodo, Sumbawa and the volcanoes of East Java.
The ultimate Bali packing list & travel checklist
The Ultimate Bali Packing List & Travel Checklist (Free PDFs)
Three free, printable checklists for your Bali trip: what to pack, what to sort out before you fly, and what to do in your first 24 hours on the island.
Bali Visa and Arrival Guide 2026/2027: e-VOA, Tourist Levy and Arrival Card
Getting into Bali is easy once you know the three things every visitor needs: a visa, the provincial tourist levy and a digital arrival declaration. Here is exactly how each one works, what it costs and where to get it officially.
Bali With Kids: The Complete Family Guide
Bali loves children, and children love Bali. Choose the right base, plan around the traffic and the sun, and the island becomes one of the easiest and most rewarding family trips in Asia.
Getting around & practical
Transport, scooters, SIM cards, money, safety and health.
All 6 articlesBali Belly: How to Avoid It and What to Do If You Get It
Almost everyone who spends time in Bali meets Bali Belly sooner or later. Most cases are over in a day or two; knowing how to dodge it, and when to stop waiting and see a doctor, makes all the difference.
Bali SIM Card or eSIM: Which Is Best for Your Trip?
In Bali your phone is your taxi, your map and often your wallet, so getting connected is the first job after landing. Here is how to choose between a local SIM and an eSIM, and the 90-day rule that catches long-stayers.
Gojek vs Grab vs a Private Driver: How to Get Around Bali
Bali has no real public transport for visitors, so every trip comes down to an app, a taxi or a driver. Here is how to choose, what it costs, and where the apps quietly stop working.
Things to do & eat
Volcano hikes, waterfalls, beaches, surfing, island trips and food.
All 7 articlesIs Nusa Penida Worth a Day Trip from Bali?
Nusa Penida's cliffs are some of the most photographed places in Indonesia, and most people try to see them in a single day. Here is what that day really looks like, and when staying overnight makes more sense.
Mount Agung: A Guide to Bali's Holy Volcano
Mount Agung is Bali's highest peak and the seat of its gods, a volcano that spared the mother temple in 1963 and shut the island's airport in 2017. Here is how to understand it, and how to climb it the right way.
Mount Batur Sunrise Hike: Is It Worth It?
A 2am pickup, two hours of climbing in the dark and a crater rim crowded with strangers. Here is an honest look at whether Bali's most famous sunrise earns the effort.
Culture & religion
Temples, offerings, ceremonies, names and the story of the island.
All 8 articlesA Short History of Bali in 5 Minutes
Kings who walked into gunfire rather than surrender, a volcano that erupted during the island's holiest ceremony, and a culture that outlived the empire that created it: Bali's past is far more dramatic than its beaches suggest.
Barong and Rangda: The Story Behind Bali's Most Famous Dance
A lion-like guardian, a fanged widow-witch and men turning daggers on their own chests: the Barong dance looks like pure spectacle, but it is really a lesson in how Bali keeps the universe in balance.
Is Tirta Empul Worth It? A Step-by-Step Guide to the Water Purification Ritual
Tirta Empul is where Balinese Hindus have bathed in holy spring water for more than a thousand years. Go at the right hour, follow the ritual properly, and it is one of the most moving mornings you can have in Bali.
Living in Bali
Long stays, visas for remote workers and the honest truth about moving.
Open folderBeyond Bali
The Gili Islands, Lombok, Komodo, Sumbawa and the volcanoes of East Java.
All 7 articlesBali or Lombok: Which Island Is Right for You?
Bali and Lombok sit side by side across a narrow strait, yet they feel like different countries. One is a vibrant, Hindu island with everything at your fingertips; the other is quieter, wilder and still finding its way.
Climbing Mount Rinjani: Routes, Rules, Costs and Safety
Rising 3,726 meters above Lombok, Mount Rinjani is the hardest and most beautiful volcano trek within easy reach of Bali, with a turquoise crater lake and a summit that seems to float above the clouds.
Komodo National Park from Bali: Dragons, Padar and Mantas
An hour's flight east of Bali lies a scatter of bare, golden islands where the world's largest lizard still hunts and manta rays glide through the channels. Komodo is the most spectacular side trip you can make from Bali.