My experience: how much does it cost to go to Bali, how to relax, what to see?

We did not have to think about this trip for a long time, because if you just see a photo on the Internet, it is impossible not to fall in love with the dense rainforests and sunset on the Indian Ocean.

In addition, on the expanses of the Russian global network you can often find praising odes to the stunning island. IndonesiaBali.

Help:

• Weather: All year round is kept at 28-32 degrees Celsius.
Currency: Indonesian rupee, exchange rate of approximately 219 rupees per ruble.
Language: Bali, Indonesian (dialects differ), English is spoken almost everywhere.

Interesting fact: despite the fact that in Russia the correct pronunciation is Bali with an emphasis on the first syllable, on the island itself, the versions of Bali and Bali are both correct, since the language does not stress.

We decided to travel with a company of 7 people, three families, 6 adults and 1 child 10 years old. All prices for convenience I will write for two.

Contents

1. Is it worth going to Bali on a tour?

2. How much does it cost to fly to Bali from Yekaterinburg?

3. How much does housing cost in Bali?

4. Packing things and starting a journey

5. Transfer in Qatar, walk through the airport

6. Flight to Denpasar, check-in

7. Where and how to change money?

8. How much does food cost in Bali?

9. What excursions to Bali to choose?

Is it worth going to Bali on a tour?

To begin with, we decided to ask how much a tour to Bali will cost from different travel companies. Often, this method of traveling is more profitable due to the rental of a whole aircraft (charter) by a travel company and the sale of a large number of tours at once.

Since we departed from Yekaterinburg, and due to high prices for an unpopular destination, our travel companies do not organize charter flights, the cost of the tour for 10 days was 140,000 rubles for two. This is just a flight through Moscow and a hotel. And we needed excursions, food and souvenirs.

We began to consider independent travel without using the services of travel companies.

How much does it cost to fly to Bali from Yekaterinburg?

The selection of tickets on various search engines began, we were interested in dates from January 29 to February 8. It turned out that from Moscow it was necessary to fly to Qatar, wait about two hours in the airport transfer zone, and then fly to the capital Bali airport in Denpasar for 10 hours. The flights were operated by QatarAirways, which received very high ratings from tourists.

Flight for two from Moscow to Denpasar It cost us 85 000 rubles in economy class.

It is also worth adding a flight from Yekaterinburg to Moscow in both directions - another 28,000 rubles.

How much does housing cost in Bali?

Next, we started looking for a hotel that was not too expensive and was close to the ocean. We decided to stay not in the budget area - Seminyak, as according to the reviews of tourists, it was relatively clean and well-groomed with all the amenities right near the ocean.

We found a good 4-star hotel Taman Ayu 100 meters from the shore, booked it through booking, paying the entire cost at once according to the booking conditions.

The room for 10 days cost us 21 000 rubles. The room had a large double bed, shower, balcony, and on the territory of the hotel there was a swimming pool.

If you have the opportunity to rent a room with a pool, be sure to do so.

• You don't have to go to it like the ocean.
• This is a great time for children;
• Excellent background for photos;
• Clean and unsalted water of comfortable temperature;
• No waves.

Packing things and starting a journey

We read in advance on the Internet what things to take with you to the island.

In principle, the set is standard: open summer shoes, light things, hats, sun protection, swimsuits, a minimum first aid kit (required, since medicines in Bali are very expensive). Towels, shampoo, soap and water were given to us at the hotel.

Changing things from winter to summer

Separately, it is worth highlighting the moment of changing into summer clothes from winter, because we drove from thirty-degree frost to thirty-degree heat.

From Yekaterinburg you flew in a full set of winter things. In Moscow, we had one day for a walk, so we had the opportunity to prepare as much as possible for the change of wardrobe. If you do not have this opportunity, then dress for Moscow weather in things that are easy to remove. Be sure to take a bag with you on the plane under warm clothes, which you will remove directly on the plane.

So we walked around Moscow and got on a plane to Qatar, put the winter stuff in our bags.

Transfer in Qatar, walk through the airport

Qatar It is one of the richest countries in the world that emirates She got rich on oil. From the plane to the capital Doha, there was a stunning view of the blue waters of the Persian Gulf, skyscrapers in the middle of the desert.

The airport was amazing – friendly workers, huge squares, floors covered with carpets, the perfect cleanliness and wealth of the country, which is visible in all the details.

All two hours of transfer we were not bored at all – we looked at expensive cars at exhibition stands, went to boutiques of world brands and walked around souvenir shops. By the way, the budget for any purchases at the airport is not small, so we did not buy anything.

Flight to Denpasar, check-in

If we flew to Doha for only 5 hours, then we had to spend 10 hours in the sky to Indonesia. In the economy class, this task was not easy. Sleeping in a sitting position is quite difficult, there is also nothing special to do. Feed in a 5-hour flight 1 time, 10-hour 2 times.

Although there is not much to complain about, Qatar Airways aircraft are very good service, attentive conductors, good food and there are small TVs in each seat with games and even movies in Russian (there are fewer of them than in English, but you can see something).

So stock up on movies on phones, books, so that the flight was boring. We watched 3 movies on the road, read books and played games.

Arrival, check-in, taxi

We landed at the airport in Bali, passed a quick and simple check-in (you are simply asked in English about the purpose of arrival, put a stamp and all). It is better to take care of the transfer from the airport in advance, because taxi drivers in the airport. Denpasare The insolent and the price tags are very high. We fell for this bait and for a 20-minute (hour drive with traffic jams) gave 1200 rubles.

Bali has very narrow streets, so traffic jams here are a constant phenomenon, all roads stand all day long and move fastest on scooters.

We arrived at the hotel, waited a little before the time of check-in, showed printouts from Booking, went to check in.

Hotel

The territory of the hotel looked chic: dense trees, a clean pool, neat paths. Not to mention the numbers themselves. Towels are not particularly clean, there was rust in the shower, shampoo and soap very cheap, the shower is not fenced, so the water spilled throughout the shower. And, frankly, compared to the Russian service, it is 2-3 stars, but not 4.

But in general, the room was cozy, quite tidy and every day there were two 0.3 bottles of clean water on the table. We lived comfortably and were very satisfied with the price-quality ratio.

Where and how to change money?

In Bali, only local rupees are accepted everywhere, it is worth taking cash dollars with you in advance and changing them directly on the island itself. You can use a currency card, paying it in restaurants, it is also very convenient, the rate will be set by your bank.

Use only official exchange offices – usually closed booths or offices in buildings. On the streets offer a course much higher, but constantly deceived. So at one point we noticed that instead of the necessary 1,500,000 rupees ($100), we were given only 700,000, after which we began to change only at official points.

How much does food cost in Bali?

Food, of course, comes out very expensive. On average, 1 meal per person in a cafe costs at least 500 rubles. Thus, it comes out on 2-3 thousand r daily.

In Bali, some particularly delicious rice. Be sure to try local dishes with chicken, seafood and rice in different combinations. Carefully, these dishes are often served very hot sauces. We didn’t really like such food, so we often chose European food, which can be found in almost any cafe.

What excursions to Bali to choose?

So we settled in, went to the ocean to swim on the first day, met a stunning sunset, had dinner and went to bed. The next day, the tours began, from which you chose:

• Diving with mantas;
• Extreme rafting along the Ayun River (rafting);
• Elephant ride;
• Tropical buggies;
• Sightseeing tour;
• Rise and dawn on the Batur volcano;
• Surfing training.

Tip: be sure to visit the local markets, which have souvenirs, cosmetics, clothes and accessories. All sellers can be traded in English. It’s a pretty fun entertainment, as well as a great practice of English for very novice tourists like us. Do not buy anything more expensive than 150,000 rupees (750 rubles), you can often trade up to 100,000 rupees (500 rubles).

Manta diving

Mantas are the world’s largest stingrays, often congregating near one of Indonesia’s islands, and you can swim very close to them and enjoy their stunning dances.

This tour cost us $200 each and took us all day. First, we were instructed on how to behave under water, breathe through scuba, dive into water and “blow” our ears while submerged and underwater. They issued special diving suits and flippers.

Then we went by boat to the place immediately in the costumes under which we were in swimsuits. Be sure to lubricate the whole face with zinc ointment, since you need to go on a boat for about an hour in one direction under the sun, burns are not excluded. It is better to use zinc, since a regular cream cannot cope with such a load and does not withstand immersion.

Before diving, it is advisable to get training in the pool in your city or book a dive for beginners from the shore, as panic underwater for an unprepared person can interfere with the entire event.

Our group was divided into two camps – someone was impressed by the incredible size of stingrays and their smooth movements, similar to dancing in the water column, someone liked the second dive – to exotic fish, like from Cousteau’s programs, turtles and corals.

Instead of a second dive, you could choose a stop on the picturesque island of Nusa Penida. All the girls in our company did this, but the men decided to enjoy the underwater beauty.

Rest on Nusa Penid

Separately, it is worth highlighting this small island in the middle of the ocean. You can get to it not only as part of the tour, but also by boat. I recommend spending a whole day on it, which will allow you to enjoy pure blue, but slightly cool water, dense vegetation and chic views, as if from pictures.

An ideal place for a secluded holiday (there are few people on the island during the day) and take great photos.

Rafting, elephant ride and tropical buggies

These three tours were part of the same tour, costing us $200 and also a full day.

Rafting along the Ayun River begins with a long descent of 600 steps to the place of departure on inflatable rafts (rafts), which became an excellent training of caviar for us. Then we sat in a five-seat raft, each handed a helmet, a vest and a paddle, after which we set off along the very rough freshwater Ayun River.

Each raft had a local helmsman, perfectly steering the raft, giving commands to row and guiding along the way.

Important: if you choose such a tour, be sure to dress in the most waterproof clothes, because you will get wet through exactly, and the water in the river is very cold. I don’t recommend going in a swimsuit at all.

The emotions from this alloy we got very rich:

• This and fun distillations with other rafts (helmsmen actively pushed the rafts);
• And sailing under waterfalls (again, the helmsmen deliberately carried commands under water);
• Jumping on the thresholds, flipping the raft;
• Incredible views of tall green slopes and lianas hanging over the river.

An elephant ride through Bali’s Elephant Park is one of the most emotional excursions on the island. Because there is no substitute for the emotions of communication with kind and intelligent animals, which can be fed, communicate with them and observe their lives almost in natural conditions.

The tour includes an elephant ride through Elephant Safari Park, a small performance with an elephant and the opportunity to feed the animal and take a picture with it.

The experience of riding an elephant is amazing. From the unusual sensations of constantly swaying sitting, which seems ready to detach every minute, ending with the opportunity to see and hear a frightened little dog elephant.

After the walk, there is a 20-minute program with a trained elephant, which delights and surprises the abilities of the animals at the same time.

Then they give a free supply of favorite treats of elephants – bamboo stems, which can be given directly from the hands of the animal, sit on his leg and be photographed on horseback. Separately, you can buy a "dessert menu" - various fruits that bring elephants even greater joy.

Tropical buggies are also quite exciting entertainment. First, we were instructed on safety, handed out helmets and bandages on the face, showed how to control the buggy, after which it was possible to follow the guide along a narrow marked path in the forest.

Of course, if you know how to drive a vehicle, it will be much easier for you to drive a buggy, but if you only sat behind the wheel a couple of times, there will be nothing difficult in managing a buggy for you.

On a narrow path, our speed of 20 km / h seemed very high, so the extreme moment was felt very acute. A large number of turns added vivid feelings of danger.

Three laps seemed short, but the trip was a lot of fun.

Surfing Training – There are several Russian-speaking surf schools in Bali that employ Russian kids living on the island. In one of these schools, we decided to take a surf lesson.

The first class cost us $ 100 per person, half of which was a safety briefing, and the second half – working out equipment and the first ride on small waves.

At the briefing and training everything seemed simple and understandable, but in the waves themselves had to turn over several times. But we even managed to ride the waves on the boards. Indescribable sensations of flying and sliding on water. Be sure to try.

Dawn meeting at Batur volcano

There are many volcanoes in Bali, many of which are active, but there are also dormant or long extinct. One of these is the Batur volcano, which has become a meeting place for tourists breathtaking dawn in the mountains.

The cost of such a tour cost us about $ 70 per person. At one o'clock in the morning we left the hotel in Seminyak and drove for about an hour to the foot of Batur. We were given pancakes with tea for a snack, after which we went on the rise.

Tip: be sure to wear durable shoes, preferably branded mountain or just sports sneakers that are able to withstand the difficult terrain of rocky frozen lava. One member of our team just fell apart by the end of the journey, almost went barefoot.

Take blankets and warm clothes with you because it is cool and windy at the top.

For about two hours we had to climb the steep slope to a height of 1700 meters along the most dangerous paths of frozen lava, which was impossible to grasp because of the severity of the peaks, the trails were constantly looping, and stopping was simply dangerous. In addition, the whole climb took place at night. The groups were led by several local guides.

Although even an unprepared tourist to overcome such a route is quite realistic. By dawn we were already at the top, given a boiled egg, banana and tea included in the tour price.

Tip: do not leave food and things unattended, as arrogant monkeys, who know that every morning on the volcano is full of tourists and food, be sure to snatch everything that lies badly. There are quite a few monkeys on top.

Finally dawn came. The sun’s rays gently enveloped the slopes of mountains and volcanoes, pouring a bright stream through the valleys, making the heart beat harder.

Conclusion

In total, we spent about 200,000 rubles on the trip, taking into account the flight, accommodation and excursions. But every ruble spent was worth the feeling of peace, harmony and warm tropical air to the sound of the ocean.

The island has some special magic that makes you forget about the bustle of the city, discover yourself and stop, realizing what is really important.

It covers a feeling of complete happiness, which is worth visiting Bali at least once, wanting to return again and again. Better stay here forever.

Text and photos: Oksana Lesnikova