Short answer: yes, you have to pay the Bali tourist levy. It is Rp150,000 per person (roughly AUD 12 at early October 2026 rates), paid once per trip, and the official place to pay it is the Love Bali site run by the Bali provincial government. Most visitors need 7 to 12 days, the dry season runs April to October, and Gili T is a fast boat from Padang Bai of roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. The levy is not the same thing as your visa: for entry rules, check Indonesia’s official immigration site.
Facts below were checked on 27 October 2026 against the Love Bali site (Bali provincial government), the Bali governor’s circular on foreign tourists, Indonesia’s tourism site, Smartraveller and Indonesian government holiday decisions. Fees and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you fly.
Questions: the Bali tourist levy
How much is the Bali tourist levy?
The Bali foreign tourist levy is Rp150,000 per person. At about 12,400 rupiah to the Australian dollar (early October 2026), that is roughly AUD 12, but the rate moves. The amount is set by Bali provincial regulation and is on the Love Bali FAQ.
Do I have to pay the Bali tourist levy?
Yes, if you are a foreign tourist. It is a provincial levy, not a suggestion. The Bali government has said only around 43% of foreign arrivals had paid by August 2026, and it has been stepping up checks, including announcing the levy on international flights to Bali from late August 2026 (reported by Bali Discovery). Pay it in advance so it is not a problem on the day.
Is the Bali tourist levy compulsory?
Yes. Love Bali describes it as a levy on foreign tourists to protect Balinese culture and the environment, and the provincial government says it will carry out routine voucher checks at tourist destinations. Treat the QR voucher as part of your trip paperwork.
Do children have to pay the Bali tourist levy?
Assume yes. The levy is Rp150,000 per person, and the exemptions on the Love Bali FAQ are for holders of diplomatic and official visas, transport crew, KITAS and KITAP residents, family unification, student and Golden visa holders and other non-tourism visas. Children travelling as tourists are not on that list.
How and where do I pay the Bali tourist levy?
Pay on the official Love Bali website, lovebali.baliprov.go.id, before you travel. You enter your details and pay by card, bank transfer or QRIS, and a voucher with a QR code is emailed to the address you entered. Only use that address, and be wary of look-alike sites charging extra. Counters at the airport and ports also exist, but paying online first is quicker.
When should I pay the Bali tourist levy?
Before you land in Bali, ideally a few days out, so the QR voucher is saved on your phone. Love Bali says the levy is paid once while travelling in Bali, before you leave Indonesia, so you can technically pay later, but arrival is when queues and checks happen.
How long is the Bali tourist levy valid?
It is a one-off payment for your trip. Love Bali says you pay once during your travel in Bali, before you leave the Republic of Indonesia. Come back on another trip and you pay again.
Is the Bali tourist levy the same as the visa on arrival?
No. The levy goes to the Bali provincial government. Your visa or entry permission is a separate matter handled by Indonesian immigration. For what applies to your passport, check Indonesia’s official immigration site, because we cannot advise on visas.
Questions: how long and when
How many days do you need in Bali?
Seven to twelve days suits most first-timers. A week covers the south coast and one other area. Twelve days adds Ubud and a volcano sunrise, or lets you fit Gili T without rushing. Our group tours are 9 and 12 days; the 9 vs 12 day comparison shows what the extra three days buy.
Is 9 days or 12 days better in Bali?
Nine days is better for beaches, surf and Gili T on a short leave budget. Twelve days is better if you want the inland side too. The first eight days of our two tours are the same route (Canggu, Lovina, Gili T), then the 12-day adds three nights in Ubud. See Bali Adventure, 9 Days from $1,299 and 12 Days from $1,799.
When is the best time to visit Bali?
The dry season, April to October, is the best time for weather. Indonesia Travel puts the wet season at November to March. For crowds and prices, the best time to visit Bali guide breaks down each month.
When is peak season in Bali?
July and August, and December into January. Travel guides name July, August and December as high season, when crowds and prices rise. Book flights and tours earlier for those months.
Questions: cost and group tours
Is Bali expensive?
Not for Australians, but the total depends on how you travel. Flights are the big variable and are not in any tour price. On the ground, a Canggu surf and stay starts from $249 for 3 days with a dorm bed, breakfast and a daily surf lesson. The full picture is in how much a Bali group tour costs.
How much does a trip to Bali cost?
For a guided trip, from $1,299 for 9 days. That covers accommodation, 9 meals, transport including the island boats, a group leader and the listed activities. Flights, travel insurance, visas and the tourist levy are extra. All options are on our Bali tour prices page.
Is a Bali group tour worth it?
For a first trip or solo travel, usually yes. Transport, boats, check-ins and the activities are organised and paid for before you land, and you travel with a group leader and other 18 to 30-somethings. If you would rather surf every morning and plan the rest yourself, a Canggu surf and stay is the lighter option. Also see Bali vs Thailand group tour.
How much does a Bali group tour cost?
From $1,299 for 9 days and from $1,799 for 12 days. Prices are per person in AUD and vary by departure date. The tour pages list every date with its price.
Questions: safety and etiquette
Is Bali safe for solo travellers?
Mostly, with sensible precautions. Smartraveller advises a high degree of caution in Indonesia overall, and notes petty and violent crime, including reports of sexual assault in tourist areas such as Bali. It also warns of methanol poisoning in drinks in Bali and Lombok: drink only branded, sealed drinks and stick to licensed venues. Travelling in a group removes much of the day-to-day risk, and you should buy travel insurance.
What are the do’s and don’ts in Bali?
Dress modestly at temples, respect offerings and keep your behaviour low-key. The Bali provincial government’s official do’s and don’ts include respecting local culture, dressing appropriately, driving legally with a licence and not littering. It also lists not walking on offerings, not posing disrespectfully at religious sites and not haggling too aggressively.
What should I wear to a temple in Bali?
Cover your shoulders and knees. Indonesia Travel and the governor’s circular both ask for modest clothing at temples, and sarongs and sashes are usually available at the entrance. Tourists are not allowed into the inner sacred areas of temples unless they are worshippers in traditional dress.
Why shouldn’t you use your left hand in Bali?
It is considered impolite. Use your right hand when giving or receiving things, and do not touch anyone’s head, which is regarded as sacred in Balinese belief.
When is Nyepi, the Day of Silence, in 2027?
Monday 8 March 2027, according to Indonesia’s 2027 national holiday decision. The whole island goes quiet for the day, so plan to be wherever you are staying and expect no normal tourist activity. Ogoh-ogoh parades happen the night before. Check dates before booking flights for March.
Questions: getting around
Can you get to Gili T from Bali?
Yes, by fast boat. Boats run from Padang Bai on Bali’s east coast to Gili Trawangan, with typical crossings of about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the operator and sea conditions (checked on a ferry timetable site). Our 9-day tour includes the boat to Gili T and finishes there.
How long does it take to get from Canggu to Gili T?
Allow most of a day. You need a transfer from Canggu to the harbour before the boat, and the earliest boats typically leave in the morning. On our tours this is organised for you.
Book it
Start with Bali tour prices for every trip and date, or the Bali destination page. The Bali Adventure, 9 Days from $1,299 and 12 Days from $1,799 are the two group tours, and a Canggu surf and stay, 5 days from $499 is the simpler option.
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