Bali is one of our travellers' favourite tours, and the one people come back raving about. Everyone mentions the same three things: how affordable it is, how green it is, and how welcoming the people are. Bali rarely disappoints.

This guide covers the swing day everyone photographs, the difference between Ubud and the coast, what the exchange rate does for you, and the long flight nobody warns you about properly.

Why people love it

Ask anyone who has toured Bali with us and you get the same answers.

It is genuinely affordable once you land. The exchange rate works hard in your favour. A good meal is R80 to R150. A massage is around R150. You can eat well and be pampered for a fraction of what the same week costs in Europe.

It is extraordinarily green. Rice terraces, jungle, waterfalls and gorges — the landscape is the thing photographs never quite manage.

The people. This is the one that comes up most, and it is difficult to convey in a guide. Balinese hospitality is not performed. It is why people rebook.

The swing day

The highlight for most of our group, and the day that fills everyone's camera roll.

• Multiple swings out over the jungle and rice terraces — there is more than one, at different heights
• The koi fish photo shoot on a small boat
• Vintage car rides through the countryside
• Flower swings and flower baths
• Floating breakfasts

Some of these are included and some are optional extras at the venue. Your tour leader will walk you through what is what on the day.

Ubud or the coast?

Bali has two very different characters, and which of our tours you choose determines how much of each you get.

Ubud is inland. Rice terraces, temples, waterfalls, jungle and the arts scene. Green in every direction, cooler than the coast, and where most of the cultural experiences are.

Nusa Dua is coastal. Calm beaches, water sports and resort comfort — flyboarding, sea walking, snorkelling, parasailing and jet boating.

Our standalone Bali tour splits the time — three nights in Ubud, three in Nusa Dua. That is why it works. You get the culture and the coast without having to choose.

Our Dubai & Bali combination stays in Ubud throughout. There is no Nusa Dua leg on that itinerary. Worth knowing before you book, because it is a genuinely different trip.

What else to do

• Mason Elephant Sanctuary at Taro, near Ubud — feed, observe and photograph rescued Sumatran elephants. Entry is included at no extra cost on our standalone Bali tour
• ATV quad biking through jungle tunnels and the gorge
• Tegenungan Waterfall — swim in the natural pool
• Tegallalang rice terraces
• FINNS Beach Club in Canggu — Bali's most iconic beach club, optional
• Spa treatments, which cost so little they are worth doing more than once
• Temple visits — entrance fees are optional and paid locally

The flight is long. Plan for it.

Around 15 to 18 hours with one connection, usually through Doha, Dubai, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. This is genuinely long-haul, and considerably further than Dubai or Zanzibar.

It is why we build the first day in Bali as a rest day rather than packing it with activities. You arrive, check in, settle, and start properly the following morning. Anyone who has tried to hit the ground running after that flight understands why.

Bali is six hours ahead of South Africa, so expect a day or two of adjustment.

What it costs

Our Bali tours start from around R26,800 per person sharing, including return international flights, accommodation split between Ubud and Nusa Dua, all breakfasts, welcome and farewell dinners, the Ubud and Nusa Dua tours, Mason Elephant Sanctuary entry and a tour leader throughout.

Budget from R5,000 in spending money, which goes a long way here. Add more if you plan FINNS Beach Club, several spa days or significant shopping.

Entry requirements

South African passport holders get a visa on arrival in Indonesia, valid 30 days and extendable once. There is a fee payable at the airport — bring a card or cash, and expect a queue.

Your passport needs at least six months' validity and two blank pages. Travellers under 18 need an unabridged birth certificate and an affidavit from any parent not travelling.

Requirements change. Confirm before you book flights.

Practical things

• Traffic is the real hazard, not crime. Be careful crossing roads, and think twice about hiring a scooter — this is where tourists get hurt in Bali
• A sarong for temple visits. Most temples provide them, but having your own is easier and more hygienic
• Light clothing, swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen and insect repellent
• A light rain jacket if you travel October to March — showers are short and heavy rather than all day
• Plugs are Type C and F, the European two-pin
• Bottled water throughout

When to go

May to September is the dry season and the reliable choice, though July and August are peak European holiday months and priced accordingly.

October and November are our pick for value, and where our departures sit. Showers return but they are brief, prices ease and the crowds thin.

Can I combine Bali with somewhere else?

Yes, and it is worth considering given the flight length. We run a Bali & Singapore combination and a Dubai & Bali combination. Both add a second destination on the way without paying for two separate long-haul flights.

Who this trip suits

Almost everyone, but particularly travellers who want a mix of culture and comfort, photographers, and anyone who wants a long-haul trip that does not require a long-haul budget once they arrive.

It suits solo travellers well — most of our group arrives alone, and Bali is a relaxed, easy place to be.

Booking and paying

Pay a R3,000 deposit online to secure your spot. We invoice the balance with a card payment link, or you settle by EFT in instalments before departure. No interest, no credit check.