Bali & East Java Indonesia - July 2025

[9w6vx]

Will be heading for my next bike tour in Indonesia in early July.

21 days of riding and this will be tour #11 and my second tour of Indonesia.

Flying into DPS Denpasar and picking up a Yamaha Nmax 155 which was the bike I used in Sumatra in 2024.

Will update trip report when possible.

I have not decided on my next tour yet after this coming Bali/East Java tour. Plan to do another tour either in September/October/November. Thinking of Bangkok/Northern Thailand or Tokyo, Japan.

Anyway, got to complete all the Bali/East Java route planning first within the next few days and then figure where I want to go for my next tour.

Overall route:
Starting from Seminyak, Bali to:
Nusa Dua
Ubud
Sideman
Amed Beach
Lovina
Munduk
Pemuteran Beach
cross over to East Java by ferry
Jember
Malang
Batu
Tumpak Sewu
Jember
Banyuwangi
cross back to Bali
Balian Beach
Seminyak

If time permits, I would like to continue to Central Java from Batu but we will see as I am finalizing my routes.

[9w6vx]

Overall route on Gmap.

[9w6vx]

I would actually like to continue to Central Java and visit a few places but from Batu it would be like 400+km 1 way to Dieng Plateau, Semarang, Yogyakarta.
That would make it easily around 900km both ways.

I have about 3 days extra based on my route calculation. That is insufficient for the Central Java leg based on the typical average speed/distance in 1 day.

Surabaya is up north from Batu and is the second largest city in Indonesia but I hate being in traffic and there aren't any interesting POI's.

[9w6vx]

FYI, this are the requirements for foreigners to enter Indonesia. Bear in mind I am a ASEAN country passport holder and might differ on #(II) depending on your passport.
The others apply to all foreigners entering Indonesia.

#(I) SSHP Satusehat health pass form. To be completed within 48 hours of departure to Indonesia.
Cost FREE
https://sshp.kemkes.go.id/
App available on Apple and Google play store.

#(II) Auto gates at Bali international airport (DPS). For e-Visa/e-VOA & VEA (Visa exemption arrangement) countries.
https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/

#(III) e-CD Customs Declaration form. To be completed up to 3 days before arrival.
Cost FREE
https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/

#(IV) Bali tourism levy. Applies only for Bali. IDR150,000. To be paid online before arriving in Bali. I understand you can pay it at the DPS airport too.
https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id/

Will update if any more relevant information.

[9w6vx]

Updated info on Bali tourism levy.

When paying online the fee is IDR154,500. There is a additional IDR4,500 when paying online.

I read somewhere that after paying the Bali tourism levy online, some got their cards compromised.
I used a digital card from Wise instead my normal physical Visa debit card.
After paying the fee I froze the digital card so that it could not be used again.

[Homers GSA]

Have fun mate!

[9w6vx]

Thanks mate.

Cheers

[Homers GSA]

Can you share where you are renting from?

[9w6vx]

Of course mate.

I am renting from Dodo Rental Bike.
I contacted them about 6 months ago when I started my research.
So far they have been responsive on Whatsapp. I told the owner that before I pick up the bike I would like to drop by 2 days before the actual rental to check the NMAX out and he was good with that.

As I typically rent a bike for about 3 weeks I tend to be concerned on the bike's condition.

I will arrive DPS, Bali on 1/7 and bike rental starts on 5/7. Spend a few days at Seminyak before I start the tour.

My experience in Medan, Sumatra on the bike rental (NMAX) was superb and I hope it will be the same in Bali too.
I have intention to go back to Medan, Sumatra and finish the southern part of Sumatra in another tour.

[9w6vx]

Update on the SSHP health pass for Indonesia.

Installed the app on the phone. You do NOT need to verify your mobile number.

I tried to verify my mobile number but could not get the confirmation code.
Found out that it is flaky and you don't need it to get the SSHP QR code.

[9w6vx]

I'm into the last week of riding in East Java/Bali.

Will be heading back to Bali in a few days time.

Will update ride report when I get home.

[9w6vx]

Quick update on the bike rental in Bali.

Dodo Rental Bike is top notch in Bali. The owner speaks English and his prices are competitive compared to the other rentals in Bali.
I am a cheap bastard and I analyzed the prices.

You can't go wrong to book your bike from him if you are in Bali.
Bike pick up point is at Seminyak.

[9w6vx]

1/7/2025

Early morning 0600 flight from BKI/KUL/DPS.
Arrived Denpasar DPS at 1530hrs and I had already booked a ride on Klook. The driver was already waiting for me.
Arrived at the hotel at 1730hrs.

Walked out for dinner and back to hotel as it was a long day.




Room is decent and conveniently located.



Dinner

[9w6vx]

2/7, 3/7 & 4/7

Just chilled and explored a bit in the Seminyak area.
I am glad I did not rent a bike yet as the traffic is atrocious even for bikes on certain roads. The roads are narrow.

Restaurants are taxed heavily at the touristy area. 11% government tax + 10% service charge. And at these places you could hardly see any locals eat there unless they were well off.
The guesthouse I was staying was off the main street and there were a few cafes where locals ate. It looked decent so I ate there and it was considerably cheaper. And no taxes or service charge too.
I had food poisoning on my last tour in South Vietnam and wanted to avoid the 'Bali belly'. That meant being picky on where I ate.

Went out to get a e-sim. I had already purchased a e-sim for Bali from home valid for 3 days only so that I could communicate with the Klook driver upon arrival at DPS.
I had previously used Telkomsel in Sumatra and it had good coverage.
When I went to the shop, the packages for Telkomsel were quite complicated. The data would mainly work on Bali island and at Java there were would be less data.
I then went to another shop selling SIM and the lady said the data package would work on Bali and Java. I bought the e-sim package and walked back to the guesthouse. That was when i discovered the data wasn't working.
Had to go back to the shop and fortunately it was only a 15minute walk back. Had it sorted out.

View of the guesthouse garden

[9w6vx]

Honestly Bali is too crowded with tourists and I was looking forward to pick up the bike and get out of Seminyak.