Your Ultimate Guide to Solo Travel in Bali

Are you ready for your ultimate guide to solo travel in Bali? You’re in the right place. Bali is an incredible and popular place for solo travellers. This blog post compiles all my best tips, notes and recommendations to make your solo travels in Bali more informed, enjoyable and harmonious.

Solo travel is brave and you are courageous!

Have you been dreaming of travelling to Bali? Bali is one of my happy places and for very good reason.

Money returns, but your time does not. Make memories that last a lifetime.

Firstly, before you start planning your trip, have a think about what is your intention for your solo travel in Bali. For example, adventure, self-discovery, healing, relaxation and filling up your cup, socialising and meeting new people, business & networking and working remotely, or a combination of these? With the lovely Bali having so much to offer, it can be great to know your intention so that you can gain more clarity on your preferences when planning what you want to do, and where you want to go and stay during your solo travel in Bali.

Bali is generally a safe destination for solo travellers. In my personal experience, I believe that Bali is an amazing destination to go for solo travellers. With its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and welcoming locals, it’s an ideal choice for solo travellers seeking adventure, meeting new people and relaxation. It was very easy for me to meet people as a solo traveller in Bali. Due to Bali being a very touristic destination, there are many other tourists around. Before the pandemic, tourism-related business contributed to 80% of Bali’s economy. Overall, Bali is recommended as a good and safe destination for solo travellers.

BEST TIME TO VISIT BALI AS A SOLO TRAVELLER

When planning your solo trip to Bali, it’s essential to consider the best time to visit. The island experiences two main seasons: the dry season (from April to September) and the rainy season (from October to March). For solo travellers looking to enjoy sunny days and outdoor activities, the dry season is the ideal time to visit. Additionally, it’s good to note that Bali is increasingly busy in the Christmas and New Year’s period (December and January).

Bali is a relatively affordable destination to travel and stay a longer periods of time. As an Australian, my money went a lot further in Bali. I can afford to go out to eat at restaurants and cafes, massages and certain activities much more frequently in Bali due to the cheaper price. You can afford to stay in Bali on a low, medium or high budget. Bali can effectively cater to all budgets in my opinion. How much money that you will need to travel Bali, depends on your length of stay and what you plan to do. However, you can easily have a nice stay in Bali from $1000 per person not including flights.

Yes. Visas are required to enter Bali. For most countries, you can receive a visa on arrival once you land in Bali. However, some nationalities from countries such as Brunei, Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar can obtain Visa-Free entry to Bali. I recommend checking out bali.com to find out more information on what visa you need and what type of visa you may need for your length of stay in Bali. Additionally, always stay up to date with visa regulations.

From 14 February 2024, The Balinese government has recently introduced a fee to support the preservation of the nature and culture of Bali, Indonesia. This tourism fee will cost international tourists travelling to Bali IDR 150,000 per person (approx. AUD$14.40). Visit Love Bali FAQS for further details.

Canggu: Food, People, party and Beaches

For solo travellers looking to relax on the beach, enjoy delicious food and enjoy the vibrant nightlife, Canggu is one of the places to be. With its trendy beach clubs, villas and an abundance of restaurants & cafes, Canggu offers an amazing blend of relaxation and entertainment.

Uluwatu: Cliffside Beauty

Uluwatu, located on the southern tip of Bali, is a paradise for solo travellers seeking stunning views and beaches. Watch the Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple, relax and boogie at the beach clubs, catch a mesmerizing sunset, or catch the waves at the surf spots.

Ubud: Cultural Heart of Bali

Ubud is known as the cultural heart of the island. It offers a range of activities, from exploring art galleries and traditional markets to practising yoga in serene surroundings. Ubud is lush with beautiful greenery such as rainforest and rice fields & terraces.

To book affordable accommodation for short and long-term stays in Bali, these are the websites that I use and recommend. They can be suitable for all budgets.

Airbnb

Airbnb is great for finding beautiful accommodations, homestays and cheap monthly stays in places like Southeast Asia. I can recommend staying at Krisna Homestay if you are wanting to stay in Canggu walking distance to the beach and amazing food options. You get your own room and bathroom in a beautiful clean space. The Homestay also includes free Balinese coffee and a large, clean pool for you to enjoy.

Agoda 

One of my best friends first recommended this site to me. I then booked a stay in Bali through Agoda and got a great deal. I was also pretty happy with my stay. You can find some great deals for accommodation in Bali on Agoda.

I can recommend TRIBAL Coworking Bali as a modern, clean and inspiring hostel for digital nomads in Canggu. They offer an airy coworking space, restaurant and pool. Overall, it’s also very affordable accommodation due to staying in dorm rooms. TRIBAL also offers you the option to book your own individual room.

If you are looking for an affordable stay in Uluwatu, I can recommend staying at Villa Ricca Eco Lodge. It is positioned in a great location to explore Uluwatu via a scooter. Additionally, you get free breakfast included daily, your own room & bathroom and an outdoor yoga shala. Villa Ricca Eco Lodge is a humble and eco-conscious stay that I enjoyed and is within close walking distance of the yummy cafe- AYU’S Food From The Heart.

Hostelworld for when you’re keen to book a hostel. Hostelworld is great for finding hostels all around the world.

When you arrive in Bali, you will need a transfer from the airport to your hotel. I recommend that you pre-book a driver who will be there waiting for you once you arrive for a safe, easy and less stressed arrival on your first day of solo travel in Bali. You can prebook your transfer by asking your hotel/ place of stay if they can organise an airport transfer for you. Most hotels do have contacts available to book a transport driver for you.

Once you are in Bali, a cheap option to get around is GoJek. You can download the app and order scooter rides with local drivers. It’s a great way to get around Bali on the back of a scooter as a solo traveller. This is what I personally did on my most recent solo travel in Bali.

From what I experienced, some areas in Bali allow GoJek drivers to drop you off at your desired destination however, in some locations GoJek drivers cannot pick you up directly from your destination. In this case, you may have to walk to a different destination where your GoJek driver has parked. You can call and message the driver via the app. When this happened to me three times in Bali, it caused some stress and anxiety. Other drivers may ask you if you need a driver as they see you looking for your GoJek driver.

Furthermore, I don’t really think this situation is avoidable. But, I would recommend as a solo traveller as a safety precaution, that you plan your solo outings in accordance with when it gets dark or have the contacts of trustworthy private drivers on hand. Places where I experienced this were Tropical Temptation Beach Club Melasti, Single Finn Uluwatu and after going out dancing at Old Man’s in Canggu. I had to walk further to a destination to meet my drivers.

When you arrive in Bali you can easily purchase prepaid SIM cards from Denpasar Airport, from certain street stalls and dedicated phone shops in the main tourist hubs. To charge your technology in Bali you will need to buy an Indonesia travel adaptor. For Indonesia, there are two C and F plug types. You can easily buy an adaptor from one of the street vendors or the local supermarkets in Bali such as Circle K. If you are unable to locate the adapter in the store, kindly ask the store assistant for help.

In Bali nowadays, wifi is located in most places. Bali is very digital nomad friendly, which is something I love about being in Bali. Wifi is also generally pretty good in most places. Not all hotels/accommodations will have a strong wifi connection. It can be hit or miss, but I can assure you there will always be somewhere in Bali with a quality wifi connection, for example at a cafe or a dedicated coworking place like ZIN@Work at Zin Cafe.

The selection of different cuisines in Bali is so fun! From local Balinese cuisine to authentic French pastries and Italian pasta! You won’t miss out on a wide variety of food options to choose from on your solo travel in Bali. Additionally, most at a very reasonable price. (heart eyes).

Warung BU MI, Canggu

Crate Cafe, Canggu

Bottega Italiana, Pererenan

Ayu’s Food From The Heart, Uluwatu

Sandara Gelato, Uluwatu

Monsieur Spoon, Seminyak, Canggu and Ubud

Made Warung Makan, Uluwatu

Banana Lounge, Uluwatu

Alchemy, Uluwatu and Ubud

The national currency in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah. It is now common for credit cards and cash to be used in Bali. However, it is always recommended to carry cash as not all places accept credit cards. For using your credit card abroad, my best recommendation is to order a Wise Multi-Currency Card, which I personally use. Furthermore, you can order a physical card and you can pay via your phone contactless. Wise is a multi-currency account where you can transfer your original currency to Indonesian Rupiah without any crazy transfer fees. You can get yours here.

When withdrawing cash from ATMS in Bali use discernment as some ATMS charge overpriced ATM withdrawal fees. It’s true that some ATMS swallow people’s cards in Bali. It has happened to some of my friends! I recommend withdrawing cash from an ATM at the Denpasar International Airport. Even though the conversion rate is high these are safe ATMS.

Another option that I can recommend is to bring cash from your currency and exchange your cash at a trusted money changer in Bali. Use your discernment and common sense when deciding which money changer to use as some can be unprofessional and unreliable. Look at the conversion rate to see if it is fair and make sure you receive the correct amount of Indonesian Rupiah. Additionally, Atlas Beach Club in Bali recommends Central Kuta Kerobokan II, where you’ll find a transparent and fair exchange rate without commission fees. Check out the post to find out more reliable spots to exchange your currency in Bali here.

Bali is full of a diverse variety of activities to suit your preferences, needs and budget. These are some of my top recommendations as a solo traveller in Bali.

Sundays Beach Club To get to the beach club you get to take a cable ride with views of the ocean. Inclusive of your entrance fee is the use of a pool towel, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking & snorkelling in a clear beach lagoon. Additionally, a food and beverage credit is included for you to purchase food and drink from the menu. The entrance fee is IDR 650k per person. Approximately $63 AUD.

One Eighty Bali- The Edge Bali Inclusive of your day pass entry are glorious views of the Uluwatu cliff, a glass-bottom sky pool overhanging the ocean, chilled music, lounge chairs, pool towel and a food and beverage credit to purchase items from the menu. The entrance fee is IDR 500k per person. Approximately $48 AUD.

Visit Single Finn for incredible sunset views and a dip in the pool! There are also other great restaurants around this cliffside location to catch a bite to eat and a nice spot to surf down the bottom of the cliff.

Go dancing at Savaya. Some of the best world-class performing DJs get to play here! I got to see Meduza here and I loved it! This place does get quite busy, because who doesn’t love a boogy to good music?

Go swimming and relaxing at the beaches- Dreamland Beach, Padang Padang and Bingin Beach.

Batik (Sarong) Making Class– Five Arts School This was such a fun and creative experience on my day trip to Ubud. The hosts of the art Class also made the experience really enjoyable as they are so welcoming and you can just tell that they love what they do and share!

Campuhan Ridge Walk is One of the most popular treks in Ubud. It’s definitely worth checking out for a peaceful and picturesque walk amongst the jungle and greenery of Bali. This is an easy, paved scenic walk along the Campuhan Ridge that takes around 1-2hours. Additionally, this nature walk in Bali is free and no guide is necessary.

Cretya in Ubud is a luxurious jungle club and restaurant where you can go for a swim in one of their three, layered azure blue pools and listen to music from live DJs. Located in front of the Tegalalang rice terraces, this resort has an inspirational view of the green rice terraces.

Tegalalang Rice Terraces Explore and go for a walk around the beautiful rice paddies of Ubud. This is where you can get that famous picture of you swinging over the rice terraces. And, photos like this one.

Snorkelling with the manta rays and sea turtles tour with GetYourGuide. The amount of fish and vibrancy of the corals and reef was incredible. Book your adventure here. This tour is fun for a day trip to snorkel around the bays in Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan Islands. It includes an Indonesian buffet lunch and welcome drinks & snacks on arrival. You also get to finish the day by kayaking around the mangroves, which was a nice way to finish the day before going back on the boat to Bali. Alternatively, there are land tours available for the Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan islands to explore popular Instagram-worthy destinations like Kelingking Beach through GetYourGuide.

Canggu is great if you’re a beginner surfer and want to catch some waves! I can recommend Echo Beach. Hiring a suf board in Bali is also very cheap. It costs you around $10 AUD for two hours. To hire a surfboard simply go to one of the beach shacks located on the beach.

Tanah Lot Temple Here you get to experience spectacular views of the ocean, sunset and one of Bali’s most important landmarks. The atmosphere and visiting Tanah Lot temple is not to be missed. My experience was quite special here. I prayed and got blessed with the holy water from the springs & rice by the locals. I felt so much harmony here. Additionally, no tour guide is necessary however, you can book tours that include the Tanah Lot Temple in your tour.

Udara Bali for aerial yoga

I tried the aerial yoga class here and wow! The view and the vibe of the class were so nice and fun. I got to watch the sunset over the ocean as I practised yoga in the aerial yoga silks. So beautiful.

Chandra Yoga Bali

This is a hidden gem in Canggu. You get to practice yoga in a shala surrounded by a river and beautiful greenery. I really enjoyed my yoga class here taught by an Indonesian local Yoga Teacher. To top it off at the end of your class, you get to sip some herbal tea.

Visit the Gili Islands. Taking the fast boat from Bali to the Gili Islands is the easiest and quickest way to get to the Islands. It takes approximately 4-5+ hours total including waiting time depending on where you are in Bali to get to the Gili Islands. The cost is from IDR 350,000- $34 AUD one way. Learn more about how to get to the Gili Islands here.

There are three Islands, namely Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. Gili Trawangan is the most-developed of the three and is known for being more of a party island. Visit Gili Air for mostly secluded beaches to lounge around in and escape the busyness of Bali as it is noticeably quieter. Gili Air is the island that I have personally visited. Additionally, Gili Meno is the least visited and smallest of the three islands.

Mount Batur Volcano Sunrise Trek

This trek called for a 1:30am wake-up call. Was it worth it? Yes. The trek was not easy but it definitely was a memorable experience and challenge. There are monkeys at the top, and dont forget to bring your jumper as it can get cold up there in the early mornings.

All around Bali, there are opportunities to receive nourishing self-care treatments. Not only that, but self-care activities such as massages are much cheaper than what you may pay in your country. For example, massages are much cheaper than what you would pay for a massage here in Australia. Bali can be such an amazing place to come to fill up your relaxation and self-care cup. Some self-care activities to budget and include in your Solo travels in Bali are:

• massages
• facials
• flower baths
• hair cream baths
• hair wash
• body scrub treatments

I can recommend the quality massages and facials at Chillax Spa in Canggu, Bali. They are also a cheap massage in Canggu.

If you are flying from Australia, I can recommend booking through Jetstar for affordable flights. If you are flying from a different country, I can recommend Skyscanner to search for the cheapest flight on your desired dates.

While Bali is generally a safe destination for solo travellers, it’s essential to take precautions to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. Always keep your belongings secure, try to avoid walking alone late at night, and be cautious of your surroundings. Don’t drink the water. Toilet paper is not flushed down the toilet in Bali. It is put in the bin as the plumbing system does clog at times in Bali.

Additionally, when you are going out drinking I absolutely recommend keeping a keen eye on your drink at all times. And, of course, as you solo travel in Bali, be mindful of how much alcohol you drink so you can have your bearings on. I know that you’re having a good time, but your safety is so important. Lastly, wear sunscreen! As someone who didn’t really care much to put on sunscreen because I wanted to tan, I learnt my lesson. Put on sunscreen. Especially in Bali.

If you have any further questions related to solo travel in Bali, please feel so welcome to comment them below. I would love to support you. If you want to gain more inspiration to make your solo travel in Bali a reality by living courageously check out my Top 5 Benefits of

Author: Lana

Welcome! Lana is the founder of Living Her Way. She's passionate about all things Travel and Self-Empowerment. Lana's mission is to inspire you to live a more happy and fulfilling life your way each day.