The main danger to health and safety in Bali is the climate. Visitors who arrive here from winter or any time of the year in cooler Europe or the United Kingdom may be woefully underprepared for the heat and humidity that will greet them the second they arrive at the airport in Denpasar.

Bali is very hot and humid all through the year and though this makes for a tropical island party paradise it also brings substantial health risks. Sunscreen, hats and protective clothing need to be worn by all visitors to avoid sunburn which can happen only after a few minutes unprotected exposure to the hot, tropical sun.

Sunstroke is a real possibility too and the symptoms of this are headache, lethargy and fatigue. Dehydration can also result from excessive perspiration or alcohol consumption and cooling down in a swimming pool or the surf can be deceptive and waiting until thirst occurs is usually an indication that dehydration is already underway. Salts and plenty of water will help both sunstroke and dehydration but in severe cases medical attention should definitely be sought.

The notorious Bali Belly is encountered by many visitors due to spicy food or food that has been reheated improperly and as a result filled with bacteria. Anti-diarrohea medication should be carried by most visitors but it is available for purchase in all chemists in Bali.

Motorbike rental is popular all over Bali and many visitors enjoy putting around the island for a day or two. Accidents are very common and abrasions resulting from gravel rash or impact with dirt roads should be treated with antiseptic wipes and of course serious injuries or broken bones need medical attention.

There is a 24 hour emergency clinic in Kuta, at 100 Ngurah Rai 100 at the Kalan Bypass. Staff here speak English but the treatment is not free – travel insurance will need to cover things like motorbike accidents (most policies will not) and other such accidents.

Bali is primarily reached by air, since many visitors fly directly in and out of Denpasar. Other travellers come to Bali as part of wider journey through Indonesia and the region, and they invariably arrive by boat.

Getting to Bali by Air | Getting to Bali by Sea

By Air

Ngurah Rai is the name of Denpasar International Airport, one of the largest and busiest airports in Indonesia. The main arrival point for around 90% of visitors to Bali, the airport has 17 gates and is served by a very wide range of carriers and destinations including:

Domestic
Garuda Indonesia (who fly to Jayapura, Makassar, Mataram, Balikpapan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Timika, Yogyakarta)
Lion Air (Jakarta, Makassar, Manado)
Merpati Nusantara Airlines (Bandung, Bima, Mataram, Maumere, Merauke, Jakarta, Kupang, Surabaya, Waikabubak, Waingapu)
Wings Air (Surabaya, Yogyakarta)

International
Air Asia (Kuala Lumpur)
Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong)
China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai)
Eva Air (Taipei-Taoyuan)
Garuda Indonesia (Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong, Singapore,  Nagoya-Centair, Osaka-Kansai, Tokyo-Narita)
Japan Airlines (Osaka-Kansai, Tokyo-Narita)
KLM (Amsterdam, Singapore)
Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon)
Malaysian Airlines (Kuala Lumpur)
Qatar Airways (Doha, Kuala Lumpur)
Royal Brunei Airlines (Bandar Seri Begawan)
Singapore Airlines (Singapore)
Thai Airways International (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi)
Transaero (Moscow-Domodedovo)
Uni Air (Kaohsiung)

The above is by no means an exhaustive list. Many more airlines are queued to start regular services out of Ngurah Rai and also, many seasonal and charter jets serve Chinese and Australian locations.

The airport is located about 13kms south of Denapasar and holiday makers relaxing on Kuta Beach can see the jumbo jets landing just towards the cape at the very far end of the main beach.

Bali by Boat

The main ferry service to and from Bali runs from Ketapang, a pier on the west side of Bali, to Gilimanuk in the island of Java. These services run very regularly – several times an hour – and the jounrey takes about thirty minutes. The three-and-a-half hour ferry journey from Padang Bai to the neighbouring island of Lombok and these leave every three hours.

Beautiful Bali

One of Asia’s most popular destinations continues to draw the crowd, with its fantastic beaches, excellent hospitality, lovely landscapes, intriguing temples, tropical gardens and exotic Balinese culture. Whether you’re coming for a party or some peace and quiet, the island offers all that and more, both in the mountains and beside the sea.

This Bali guide and blog is the pre-cursor to a full travel guide to the island, featuring dozens of pages and images to help you plan your trip and get the most from your visit. From spas to surfing, food to festivals we have it covered here with our expert travel writers. It’s part of a larger series on Southeast Asia travel destinations.

Bali has recovered from it’s terrible bombing and offers a safe and relaxed destination that epitomises the best of tropical Pacific islands. Come on in to this site to see it for yourself before you’ve left home. Before planning your trip consider saving money on flights, travel deals and hotels with discount vouchers offered by some sites.