Welcome to GO PAC's Bali travel guide, from what to pack to what to do once you land.
Quick answers: Bali for UK travellers
- Best time to visit: May to September (dry season).
- Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). £1 ≈ 19,000 IDR (May 2026).
- UK passport visa: Visa on arrival, 500,000 rupiah, 30 days, extendable once for another 30.
- Flight time from London: 16 to 20 hours (one stop).
- Daily budget: £25 to £40/day mid-range; £80+ for upmarket.
- Power plug: Type C/F (European two-pin). UK plugs need an adaptor.
- Best travel kit for Bali: See the GO PAC travel accessories guide.
Bali, before you go.
Bali has two seasons. The dry season runs from about April to October and the wet season from November to March, with coastal temperatures around 28°C and humidity of 70 to 90% for much of the year. Indonesia's tourism board notes the seasons have become harder to predict, so pack for a shower whatever the month.
Plan around Nyepi, Bali's Day of Silence. For the whole day the island stays indoors with the lights off and the airport closes completely. In 2027 it falls on Monday 8 March.
Getting in: a UK passport needs at least six months left from arrival and two blank pages. You can get a 30-day visa on arrival or apply for an e-visa at least a week ahead, fill in the free All Indonesia Declaration within 72 hours of landing, and pay Bali's tourist levy of 150,000 rupiah before or on arrival.
Getting around: scooters are everywhere, but the FCDO says a UK licence on its own is not valid. Riders need an International Driving Permit and a fitted helmet.
You'll never be bored.
From sunrise on a volcano to sunset cocktails with a view, Bali moves at exactly your pace.
Sunset Horse Riding
Seminyak and Canggu both offer beach horse rides at sunset. Book for the hour before golden hour and you'll have the shot of a lifetime. Check the current price when you book, and tip your guide well.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Go at 6:30am before the selfie sticks arrive. Walk the ridge paths, buy a coconut from a local stall, and have the whole thing to yourselves for about 45 magical minutes.
Uluwatu Kecak at Sunset
Sit on the cliff edge above the Indian Ocean and watch Kecak fire dance performers as the sun goes down behind the temple. One of those moments that earns its cliché. Book ahead.
Amed Snorkelling
East Bali's calmer waters are home to WWII shipwrecks, coral gardens and sea turtles. The Liberty Wreck at Tulamben is accessible even for beginners. Rent fins for a fiver and jump in.
Eyes wide open.
Bali throws beauty at you constantly. Here's what deserves your time.
Mount Batur at Sunrise
The 4am start hurts. The view from the summit as the clouds break below you at sunrise does not. Guided treks from £20, bring a warmer layer than you think you need.
Tanah Lot Temple
A sea temple on a rock stack, silhouetted against an enormous sunset. Touristy? Yes. Jaw-dropping? Also yes. Get there an hour early to beat the crowds and explore the sea caves below at low tide.
Sacred Monkey Forest
Ubud's monkey sanctuary is chaotic, funny and slightly terrifying. Hold your bag tight, put sunglasses away, and don't try to eat anything. The macaques have zero respect for personal space.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
An easy two-kilometre walk through Ubud's rice fields and coconut groves, mostly traffic-free. Best in the early morning when the mist sits in the valley. End at a café for nasi goreng.
The Bali Kit.
Island life needs the right kit: the beach, the temples and the flight in between.
What to pack for Bali
- Cotton Beach Towel, Bali beach clubs charge for loungers without your own towel
- Beach Towel Clips, keeps it anchored in the ocean breeze
- Waterproof Phone Case, water temples, pools and snorkelling days
- Satin Eye Mask, the 12-hour flight from Heathrow is long
- Memory Foam Travel Pillow, arrive fresh, not crumpled
- Travel Plug Adapter, Bali uses Type C sockets
- Collapsible Water Bottle, 38°C in July, stay hydrated
- Keycode Luggage Lock (another brand's item, not GO PAC: see our Amazon travel picks), for villa lockers and hostel storage
- Travel Packing Cubes (other brands' cubes, not GO PAC: see our packing cubes guide), temple sarong and bikini in the same bag, sorted
- Reef-safe sun cream, the ocean reefs depend on it
For the flight, compare five travel pillows in our best travel pillow UK guide.
Stopping in Europe on the way? Read our guides to ETIAS for UK travellers and EES border checks at Dover, St Pancras and UK airports.
Travel Plug Adapter
Two USB-A ports, so a phone and earbuds charge off one socket. Bali uses Type C sockets, which the Europe plug fits.
£14.99 View the adapter →Free UK shipping · 30-day returns