Where is Bali? The island, the country and how far it is from the Gulf
Bali is an island in Indonesia, in Southeast Asia, just east of Java and just south of the equator. It is one of Indonesia's provinces, not a country of its own, and it is about nine to ten hours' flight from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha.
A great many people search for where Bali is before they search for anything else about it, and there is no reason to be shy about the question. Here is the short answer, then what is where once you are there.
Which country is Bali in?
Indonesia. Bali is one of the country’s provinces, with its own capital, Denpasar, and its own provincial government, which is why it charges a tourist levy of its own on top of Indonesia’s visa. It is not an independent country, and a visa for Indonesia is a visa for Bali.
Where is Bali on the map?
In Southeast Asia, in the chain of islands that runs east from Java. Java, Indonesia’s most populous island and home of Jakarta, lies a short ferry crossing to the west; Lombok lies to the east. Bali sits about eight degrees south of the equator, which is why it is warm all year and has a wet season and a dry season rather than a summer and a winter.
The island is small: roughly 150 kilometres from east to west and a little over 100 from north to south. A day trip reaches almost any corner of it from the south coast.
How far is Bali from the Gulf?
About nine to ten hours’ flight from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha, which all have nonstop flights. From Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Bahrain and Muscat you change planes once. Bali is five hours ahead of Riyadh and four ahead of Dubai. Our guide to flights to Bali from the Gulf has the routes city by city.
What is where on the island?
- The south-west coast: Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, with the airport at the southern end. Beaches, sunsets, shopping, and most of the hotels, ours included.
- The Bukit peninsula: the hilly southern tip, with Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and the cliffs of Uluwatu, where the Kecak is danced at sunset.
- Ubud and the centre: inland, among the rice terraces and river valleys. Craft villages, jungle, waterfalls and the glass bridge.
- The mountains: a volcanic spine across the north and east, with Mount Agung, the highest peak, and Mount Batur, climbed or driven up by jeep for the sunrise.
- The east and the lakes: Lempuyang temple and its gate, and the lake temple of Ulun Danu Bratan, both on our Lempuyang and Bratan day.
- Nusa Penida: a separate island off the south-east coast, reached by boat, with Kelingking and Diamond Beach.
Is Bali a Muslim country?
Indonesia has more Muslims than any other country in the world, but Bali itself is different: most Balinese are Hindu, and the temples, offerings and ceremonies you see everywhere are part of daily life. There are mosques and halal restaurants, especially in the south, and our guide to halal Bali says where.
What language, money and time zone does Bali use?
- Language: Indonesian is the national language; Balinese is spoken at home. English is widely spoken in hotels and tourist areas.
- Money: the Indonesian rupiah. Card payment is common in hotels and larger restaurants; carry some cash for small places.
- Time: Central Indonesia Time, eight hours ahead of GMT all year.
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