Island of the gods in twelve hours
Best routes via Dubai (Emirates, FlyDubai) and Doha (Qatar). Emirates Dubai–Denpasar direct — 9 hours. Total from Moscow — 13–14 hours.
Not just an island. A spiritual magnet.
Best fares
Villas and hotels in Bali, for every taste
Private pool villa in Ubud, surf camp in Canggu, luxury resort on the Bukit — each district has its own character.
Bali districts for every mood
When to fly to Bali
Dry season (April–October) is optimal. Rainy season (November–March) — brief but frequent showers. Prices 25% lower.
Curated tours to Bali
What you need to know before you go
Bali visa
Free visa-free entry for 30 days. Or Visa on Arrival (VOA) for $35 — also 30 days, extendable for another 30 days at immigration. Passport valid 6 months.
Money in Bali
Rupiah (IDR). 1,000 IDR ≈ 5.6 roubles — mind the zeros. Withdraw from BCA or Mandiri ATMs with UnionPay — no issues. Cash needed everywhere except major hotels.
Transport
Gojek or Grab taxi from 100 roubles. Bike rental 600–800 ₽/day (licence required). Driver for the day 2,500–3,500 ₽. Most convenient — hire a personal driver.
Connectivity in Bali
Telkomsel SIM card — 150,000 IDR (800 ₽) for 30 days with 20 GB at the airport. Sales.Travel eSIM — from 4 € per week, QR activation. Current plans on the eSIM page. 4G across the island.
Must-try experiences
Rice terraces at 6:00 — mist in the valleys, first sunlight, silence. By 10:00 — 500 tourists with swings. Arrive before dawn.
Tegallalang — Bali's most photogenic rice terraces, 15 minutes north of Ubud. Pay 150,000 IDR at the gate and descend the narrow paths into the valley: cascading terraces, coconut palms, tropical rain in distant mountains. Best time — 6:00–7:00: mist in the valleys, soft light, not a single tourist swing in frame. By 10:00 there's a crowd of 500.
Fire dance on the cliff edge above the ocean at sunset. Daily at 18:00. 100 men, torches, Ramayana. Tickets sold at the temple.
Kecak — ancient Balinese dance without musical instruments: 100 men in sarongs sit in a circle around fire and chant 'chak-chak-chak' for an hour, enacting the Ramayana. The stage — on the very edge of Uluwatu cliff, 100 meters above the Indian Ocean. Performance at exactly 18:00 every day, ends with sunset. Ticket 150,000 IDR — sold at temple entrance from 17:00, best to arrive by 17:30.
Kuta — ideal beach for beginners: long waves, instructors from 800 ₽/hour, board included. Best time — 6:00–9:00.
Kuta — Bali's easiest beach for first-time surfing: long 'soft' waves, sandy bottom, board and instructor included in 800 ₽/hour. Surf schools line the beach. Best time — 6:00–9:00 (cleaner waves, fewer people). Two lessons enough to stand on the board and ride your first wave. For progress — 4–5 days.
Traditional Balinese massage — blend of acupressure and aromatherapy. In Ubud — 1 hour for 150,000 IDR (850 ₽). Best at Komaneka spa.
Balinese massage — blend of Thai acupressure techniques, Swedish massage and aromatherapy with frangipani essential oils. In Ubud an hour costs 150,000 IDR (~850 ₽), in Seminyak — twice that. Komaneka Spa, Karsa Spa and Sang Spa — three best addresses in Ubud. Book in the morning for same day; in high season evening slots fill a week ahead.
Temple on a rock in the sea. Sunset — every day at 18:15–18:45. Waves crash against the rock. Best shot — from the left shore.
Tanah Lot — 15th-century Hindu temple on a sea rock, 30 km from Seminyak. At high tide the temple becomes an island; at low tide you can walk to it. Sunset here is Bali's main tourist ritual: 18:15–18:45 every day, thousands along the shore. Best shot — from the north, left shore near a small cliff. Entry 60,000 IDR, parking separate.
Mountain river through jungle. 2 hours on the raft, class 2–3 rapids, waterfalls. Starts near Ubud. Family-friendly.
Ayung rafting — a mountain river flowing through Ubud's jungle. 12 km route, about 2 hours in water, class 2–3 rapids (suitable for families with children 7+). Along the way — waterfalls into the river, Balinese carved rock sculptures, jumps from rocks into pools. Included: guide, equipment, lunch at finish, hotel transfer. Price from 3,400 ₽ per person.
Volcano 1,717 m. Start 3:30, sunrise at the crater. Guide mandatory — 500,000 IDR (2,800 ₽). 2-hour climb up.
Batur — active volcano, 1,717 m in the caldera of an ancient volcano. Ascent begins at 3:30 a.m. from Toro-Bukit village, 2-hour climb up loose ash. At the crater you greet sunrise over a sea of clouds, cook eggs in hot fumarole steam, drink coffee. Guide mandatory (500,000 IDR ≈ 2,800 ₽), trail not open without one. Bring warm layer: +10°C at summit.
Balinese spit-roast suckling pig — national dish. Best — Ibu Oka in Ubud. Queue from 11:00, sold out by 13:00.
Babi guling — Balinese suckling pig roasted on a spit over coals with turmeric, garlic, lemongrass and kunyit leaves. World's best — at Ibu Oka in Ubud: three locations in town centre, open from 11:00. Queue starts at 12:00, pig finishes by 13:30 and place closes. Portion from 50,000 IDR (~200 ₽) — rice, meat pieces, crackling, sambal sauce. Best 200 ₽ on the island.
Potato Head Beach Club — Asia's finest sunset. Cocktail poolside, DJ, Indian Ocean. Reserve sunbed 2 days ahead.
Potato Head Beach Club in Seminyak — Bali's premier sunset spot since 2010. Infinity pool level with the ocean, four bars, Kaum brunch restaurant, DJ set from 17:00. Minimum deposit for poolside sunbed — 1,000,000 IDR (~5,500 ₽), but returned as bar credit. Book via website 2 days ahead. Free alternative — plenty of beach space, cocktails from 600 ₽ to go.