Solo Female Travel in Bali: How To Make the Most of It

Are you wondering what it’s like to travel solo in Bali?

Maybe you’re considering booking a trip but want to check that it’s a safe and accessible destination. Or if you’ve already booked your flight, then you’re probably feeling excited but also curious about what solo female travel in Bali is REALLY like!

Well, I’ve been exactly where you are now. But after travelling to Bali alone, I’m here to share my best tips and advice so you know exactly what to expect!

BALI ESSENTIALS

Bali e-SIM card

Copy of Lonely Planet Bali

Pre-book your airport to hotel transfer

Accommodation: Hotels on Booking.com // hostels on Hostelworld

Tours: GetYourGuide / Viator

Travel insurance: True Traveller (European travellers) / Hey Mundo (other nationalities) / Safety Wing (digital nomads)

Read next: the ultimate Bali itinerary

Yes, the island of Bali in Indonesia is an excellent destination for solo travellers in Asia! With endless activities for every type of traveller and a large community of digital nomads and expats, there’s a reason why travellers flock to Bali every year.

While solo travel to Bali has its challenges to be aware of (read more on that below), it’s generally considered to be one of the easiest places to travel alone, even for first-time travellers.

Although Bali is already a very popular destination, this can be a bonus for nervous solo and first-time travellers. Many locals speak English, and there are tons of expats around to offer advice. This means it’s relatively easy to solve any problems you encounter during your trip.

Good things about solo travel in Bali

• Bali is affordable – you can have a ‘luxury-style’ holiday for a fraction of the price elsewhere, or not worry about breaking the bank by booking a private room or having a nice meal out. 
• Due to many tourists, Bali is considered an easy destination to make friends. The busy tourist scene also doubles as a safety net if something goes wrong or you just need some advice.
• You’ll find plenty to do in Bali, and it’s the ideal solo travel destination if you enjoy beach days and surfing, yoga and meditation, or nature hikes and waterfalls. 
• Most locals speak English in touristy areas
• Many cafes and restaurants in touristy areas serve vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, so it’s suitable for people travelling with dietary requirements.

Challenging things about solo travel in Bali

If you don’t ride a scooter, my tip is to moderate your expectations and not worry about trying to see EVERYTHING on the island. Instead, bundle things you REALLY want to do together and get a driver for the day. 

The Mount Batur sunrise hike, Uluwatu day trips, visiting Lempuyang Gates of Heaven and snorkelling/scuba diving are all excellent options for solo travellers looking for people to split costs with.

Since there are lots of wonderful places to visit in North Bali but absolutely 0 public transport, I’d suggest tours for this region, for example a waterfalls tour or Ulun Danu Temple tour.

Yes, Bali is safe for solo travellers. However, there are definitely things you should be aware of. There are threats to women in every part of the world, so in that regard, Bali is no different.

When it comes to solo female travel safety in Bali there are, unfortunately, sporadic reports of theft and sexual harassment. If you go to Bali alone, stick to the touristy areas after dark, keep your belongings safe and book a Grab rather than walk through any unfamiliar areas at night.

General tips for Bali solo travel & what to pack

• I recommend getting a Bali SIM card for extra safety and reassurance, even though the Wi-Fi is good in most hostels and restaurants. I love Airalo for e-SIMs; they have a selection of Indonesia packages and an 18-country Asialink card
• Make sure you bring a reusable water bottle, hand sanitiser, mosquito repellent and reef-safe sunscreen.
• Another essential is travel insurance. I use True Traveller (UK & European travellers only) as they’re affordable with great coverage. For other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo for holidays & backpacking, and Safety Wing for long-term and digital nomad travel.
• If you’re a first-time solo traveller, arriving at Denpasar airport and haggling for a taxi can be overwhelming, as many taxi drivers are standing around trying to get you to pick their company. Walk through the crowds and hire a Bluebird taxi, or save the stress and prebook your airport transfer. If you’re feeling a bit nervous, this is worth a little extra money to start your trip off stress-free.
• It’s easy to find cheap 24-hour laundry services in Bali, so there’s no need to overpack. Bring your favourite cool summer outfits, sandals, and don’t forget a warm layer and sneakers if you’re planning on hiking in any mountainous regions.

Getting to Bali

Flying is by far the easiest way to get to Bali. Use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights to Denpasar Airport.

If you’re travelling to Bali from Java, you can also get the ferry from Ketapang port to Gilimanuk Bali. From there, take a bus from the ferry terminal to your specific Bali destination. 

How to get around Bali

Grab and GoJek: Getting a car taxi or motorbike taxi is definitely the easiest way to get around alone! They’re also very cheap to use. 

Taxi tours: For a longer day trip, you can hire a car and driver to take you anywhere you want to go. However, this can be pricey for one person, so to reduce the cost of your Bali solo trip, splitting this with another traveller is best. If you’re struggling to make friends, I still think it’s worth doing maybe once or twice on your trip so you don’t feel like you have to miss out. 

Book a half-day tour or a full-day tour.

Group tours: Alternatively, book a group tour for specific activities you really want to do. For day trips, look on GetYourGuide for the best deals.

My favourite tour operator for multi-day trips is G Adventures. This ethical company partners with locals to provide fun, fast-paced, and budget-friendly tours that will show you the best of Bali. Browse their Bali tours.

Sometimes known as the island’s spiritual and cultural capital, Ubud is a great place for solo female travel in Bali. Around 3 days in Ubud is an ideal amount of time to spend visiting temples and traditional museums and taking yoga classes.

Ubud is also a wonderful base for getting out into nature, with lush rice fields and roaring waterfalls just around the corner. Foodies will be in their element with options for brunch, coffee and affordable local fare at Ubud warungs. It’s also the best place to take cooking classes!

Things to do in Ubud include Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Tegenungan Waterfall, Pura Tirta Empul Temple and Tibumana Waterfall. Don’t miss Ubud Craft Market and Campuhan Ridge Walk. The latter are fab walkable options if you don’t want to pay for a driver!

Staying in Canggu or Seminyak when you arrive is the perfect place to begin a solo trip to Bali. Filled with cute cafes, beachside bars and healthy restaurants, there are plenty of places to get to know new friends and enjoy the fantastic Bali food scene at the many Canggu restaurants.

Solo travellers can also unwind at a spa with a Balinese massage or book a sunbed at the beach. Another fun way to meet people would be to take a surf lesson in Canggu!

For a calmer side of Bali life, Uluwatu’s breathtaking sandy beaches show off the natural scenery for which Bali is famous. 

Visiting Uluwatu Temple is definitely one of the best things to do in Bali for solo travellers! The coastal views are amazing, and the temple complex is spectacular due to its cliff-top position.

Other things to do in Uluwatu include visiting Padang Padang Beach, Karma Beach or Green Bowl Beach before winding down your day with a sunset drink at Single Fin or Rock Bar. 

The island is less-developed the Bali, and this is the one place it is NOT recommended to drive a scooter, as the roads are rocky and uneven. Lots of accidents happen here! Instead, book a driver for the day while staying on the island, or take a day tour from Bali rather than staying overnight (although personally, I preferred having a few days there to explore at my leisure).

Other Nusa islands worth visiting include Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan

As you might imagine from a beach destination, there isn’t a strict dress code so don’t stress too much over your Bali packing list. Around the touristy areas – like Canggu and Seminyak – it’s normal to see people in bikinis or walking around wearing shorts and a vest top.

That said, although revealing clothes won’t make you unsafe, there are still places you should cover up for example, in places regularly frequented by locals. Conservative locals may feel uncomfortable if you’re not dressed appropriately – don’t wear a bikini in a warung (local-style restaurant)! 

When visiting spiritual places such as temples, cover your shoulders. I usually travel with a sarong to quickly cover up as and when I need to. 

Best time of year to visit Bali

There is no ‘wrong time’ to visit Bali! The island is warm year-round and has dry spells when you can do activities, even in the wet season. However, many travellers understandably prefer to avoid the rain altogether.

Dry season in Bali (April to September): If you’re visiting for a beach holiday, want to learn to surf, or explore without the interruption of rainy days, then you should visit Bali in the dry season.

However, Bali’s peak season falls in July and August. While great for social butterflies who love that bigger crowds mean bigger parties, some solo female travellers find Bali too overwhelming during these busy months.

The shoulder season (April, May and September) is the best time for going to Bali by yourself if you love exploring, having quieter beach days, and want to avoid the crowds.

The wet season in Bali (November to March) is the low season and a great time to visit Bali with fewer tourists and lower prices. In addition, you can often book excellent hotels and tours last minute – great for those who hate planning in advance!

On the downside, there will be days with heavy rain that make some activities impossible. But with so many photogenic cafes to enjoy, you’ll hardly get bored!

Just remember that Bali will be very busy during the Christmas break. This isn’t an ideal time for travelling to Bali solo, as it’s very crowded, potentially rainy and not as budget-friendly as the other months in the wet season.

Remember that tap water is not drinkable in Bali, and unfortunately, Bali belly is often seen as a right of passage for backpackers.

Bali is one of the best destinations for foodies, so you want to make sure you can enjoy the fantastic food on offer stress-free. 

With cuisines from all over the world, including some creative Western options and, of course, delicious Indonesian cuisine – you’re definitely not going to go hungry. (Make sure you try the local warungs for the cheapest and BEST food in Bali!) 

Tips for avoiding Bali belly:

• Never drink the tap water – use a reusable water bottle (and reusable straw) or a purifying water bottle
• Make sure ice cubes have holes in them – these are made from filtered water
• Don’t brush your teeth with tap water, and try not to open your mouth in the shower
• Eat at reputable places where they don’t wash salad in tap water
• Eat at spots where locals eat! And try not to pick the food which looks like it’s been sitting around for ages.

The good news is that if you get sick, many people are around to help! Most hostels will help you get medicine, but if you’re staying alone, ask for advice on a Bali Facebook group.

If you’ve had a Bali belly for over a few days, you can find a friendly English-speaking doctor who can give you some medicine, as you may have a bacterial infection or parasite. Siloam Hospital Denpasar and BIMC Hospital have both been recommended.

If you’re too sick to get out of bed, did you know you can WhatsApp an English-speaking doctor and ask them to come and check on you and bring medicine? Ask ex-pats for advice, or you can try messaging Dr Ari on Whatsapp (+62 8123954567).

With all that said, it’s worth remembering that thousands of people have terrific, trouble-free trips to Bali every year! I’m proof of that.

Doing more solo female Asia travel? See my guide to solo travel in Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia