Bali Cooking Class: Discover the Flavors of Indonesia

Our favorite time to travel to Indonesia is between April and October, although Bali is a great year-round destination that offers memorable experiences for all kinds of adventures. July to August is high season. In the western to central part of the country the weather is warm and it is the most popular time for travelers to visit during the holidays. While you want to travel from October to April, the eastern part of Indonesia, such as Banda and Raja Ampat, would be the best option.

If you want to have a relaxing trip in Bali with fewer crowds, the months of April to June and September to October are ideal and a little cheaper. If you can only travel in “high season” but want to avoid the crowd, don’t worry because Indonesia still has many places little traveled by mass tourism.

The tropics are a warm and often sweaty place, especially if you have Borneo or Sulawesi included in your trip. Check out our guide on how to prepare your trip to Indonesia:

• Comfortable and lightweight shirts and at least a pair of long sleeves.
• Comfortable walking shoes or trekking specials if your trip includes some more demanding trekking.
• Shorts and long pants.
• Some pairs of socks.
• Waterproof Jacket.

Depending on the type of trip, you may also need these on your What to bring list:

Underwater Trip:

• Diving insurance.
• Diving certificate.
• Nitrox Certificate (for those using Nitrox)
• Diving equipment except tanks and weights. Consult your travel expert to find out if or not the equipment is included in your booking.
• Swimsuit / diving suit.
• DIN or INT adaptor
• Flashlight.
• Sunscreen SPF +40.
• Waterproof bags.

Land Tour & Trekking:

• Small backpack for important items daily.
• Travel insurance, covering hiking and sports risk.
• Trekking shoes (check with your travel expert if you need a Goretex or just a walking shoe)
• Pullover (in some areas like Bromo Volcano and some other places at high altitude, the temperature can drop up to 0 degrees)
• Hats/Caps.
• Small or front flashlight.
• Towel (preferably quick-drying microfiber towel)
• Air tickets (save the copy on your mobile)
• Valid passport with Visa (or check if you are allowed entry with Free Visa)
• Travel insurance
• Personal medication (includes contact lenses)
• Waterproof bag to store all important documents.
• All documents for your trip: travel vouchers, tickets, contact numbers.
• Credit card (credit cards are widely accepted in restaurants and shops. But in some major cities, a small fee may apply)
• Cash in euros or US dollars (you can switch to Rupee in local currency when you get here)
• Camera, battery and charger.
• Adapter (220 V used in Indonesia)
• Toiletries.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses.
• International driver’s license (if you plan to drive on your own)
• Mosquito repellent with DEET.
• Hygienic travel kits (mask, disinfectant or antivirus spray, etc.)

By Plane

The gateway to enter Bali on a flight route is via Ngurah Rai International Airport. International and domestic flights are available throughout the day, to bring you to the Island of the Gods.

Bali Airport closes once a year for 24 hours to commemorate the Balinese Nyepi or Silence Day ceremony. During this day no one can go out on the streets, or work and rest is given to all electronic products as well as cars, motorcycles, boats or planes. It’s a day of instrospection, leaving the whole island in absolute silence and darkness. Check with your travel agent for the date that corresponds to each year (changes according to the moon) and the conditions you have to follow if you are in Bali that day.

By land

You can enter Bali by land from Java. If this is your case, you have to prepare for a long road.

By sea

Bali is accessible by ferry from Lombok in western Nusa Tenggara and from the Gilis Islands. In Lombok, you can explore the beauty of Rinjani Volcano (if you’re on demanding trekking) and the pristine beaches of the Gili Islands and South Lombok.
From the island of Java, you can reach Bali by taking a ferry from Banyuwangi. .

We have classified our tours into 3 different types of difficulty. Always check which one is right for your condition. If you have any questions, you can consult our travel expert.

Easy: Suitable for most people in good health. These trips can include short walks for days with around 2 to 3 hours on good roads and at low altitude.

Medium: A reasonable level of physical or technical condition is required, as these trips may require sustained resistance levels and travel may include longer days of approximately 5-6 hours of activity and/or higher altitudes as well as snorkeling in strong currents.

Hard: These trips are physically demanding and more suitable for people with a high level of endurance, good level of physical condition and regular exercise. The days can last about 7-8 hours of activity, often at high altitudes, in remote regions and sometimes without a nearby support vehicle. Travelers may need to carry their backpack or travel with trekking at night without access to normal bathrooms or accommodations.