The single most common Bali honeymoon mistake is treating the island as small. On a map it looks like an easy hop from the beach to the rice terraces to the temples. In practice, Bali has no expressways to speak of, and the drive from Seminyak to Ubud that Google promises in fifty minutes routinely takes two hours.
Couples who plan three or four bases spend their honeymoon in a car. Couples who plan two — one south, one in Ubud — get the trip they imagined.
The visa, in plain terms
Indian passport holders need a Visa on Arrival for Indonesia. It is not visa-free. Two routes, same document:
- e-VOA — applied for online before you travel, approved in roughly 24 to 72 hours, and delivered as a QR code by email. This is the route we recommend: you walk past the airport queue.
- VOA on arrival — bought at Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar. Same fee, longer queue after a long overnight flight.
The government fee is IDR 500,000 per person, roughly ₹2,650 depending on the rate. It is valid for 30 days and can be extended once for a further 30.
Separately, there is the Bali Tourist Levy of IDR 150,000 per person, around ₹800, which is a different charge from the visa. Pay it online through the official portal before you fly and keep the QR code; it can be checked on arrival. These two are frequently confused, and paying one does not cover the other.
Standard entry conditions apply: a passport valid at least six months beyond arrival, a confirmed onward or return ticket, and proof of accommodation.
What a Bali honeymoon actually costs from India
Bali’s reputation as a budget destination is half right. The island itself is inexpensive. Getting there, and moving around it, is where the money goes.
- Air fare — no direct service from Ahmedabad; expect a connection through Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Total journey time is long, often 12 to 16 hours with the layover. This is the biggest line by some margin.
- Villa versus hotel — the private-pool villa in every Bali photograph is real and often costs less than an equivalent 5-star hotel room. It is also usually further from anything walkable. Decide whether you want seclusion or convenience; you rarely get both.
- Private driver — hired by the day and genuinely good value. This is the right way to see Bali and should be in your package, not improvised daily.
- Activities — Nusa Penida day trip, Mount Batur sunrise trek, ATV rides, water sports at Tanjung Benoa, cooking classes. Nearly all excluded from base packages.
- Honeymoon inclusions — floating breakfast, flower-bath turndown, candlelit dinner. Frequently advertised, often conditional on a minimum number of nights. Ask what triggers them.
Where the budget quietly leaks
- Nusa Penida. The fast boat, the island’s own transport and the entry fees add up, and the roads there are genuinely rough. Worth it, but budget it properly.
- Temple entry and sarong hire at Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Besakih and Tirta Empul — small individually, constant across a week.
- Airport taxi rates versus a pre-arranged transfer. The gap is large enough to matter after a night flight.
- Card surcharges. Many smaller villas, warungs and drivers add two to three percent for card payment, or take cash only.
The two-base plan that works
For a seven-night honeymoon:
- Nights 1–3, Ubud. Rice terraces at Tegallalang, the Campuhan ridge walk, Tirta Empul, a cooking class, the monkey forest. Ubud is green, cool in the evenings and much quieter than the south. Start here while you are adjusting to the time.
- Nights 4–7, the south. Seminyak for restaurants and beach clubs, Nusa Dua for calm water and resort comfort, Uluwatu for cliffs and sunsets. Pick by temperament rather than by photograph.
Slot Nusa Penida as a day trip from the south, not from Ubud — the boat leaves from Sanur and the transfer from Ubud makes an already early start brutal.
If you have ten nights, add Gili Trawangan or Lombok as a third base. If you have five, do the south only and go slowly.
When to go
- April to June — our pick. Dry, green, before the July–August crowd and pricing.
- July to August — peak. Excellent weather, highest prices, busiest sites.
- September to October — dry season tailing off, quieter, good value.
- November to March — the wet season. Rain is typically heavy and short rather than all-day, and prices drop, but boat trips to Nusa Penida and the Gilis are cancelled more often.
One date to know: Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, usually in March. The entire island shuts down for 24 hours — the airport closes, lights stay off, nobody leaves their accommodation. It is a remarkable thing to experience deliberately and a very poor surprise.
Practical notes
- Vegetarian food is easy in Ubud, which has a strong plant-based scene, and manageable in the south. As in much of Southeast Asia, watch for shrimp paste and fish sauce in dishes that read as vegetarian.
- Drink bottled water only, and be cautious with ice outside established restaurants.
- Traffic is the constraint on everything. Two significant outings in one day is optimistic; one is realistic.
- Bring the marriage certificate if you are booking honeymoon inclusions — some resorts ask for proof of a recent wedding.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians get visa on arrival in Bali?
Yes. Indian passport holders are eligible for the Indonesian Visa on Arrival, either as an e-VOA applied for online before departure or bought at the airport. The fee is IDR 500,000, valid 30 days, extendable once. The Bali Tourist Levy of IDR 150,000 is a separate charge.
How many days are enough for a Bali honeymoon?
Seven nights is comfortable — three in Ubud, four in the south. Five nights works if you stay in one region. Fewer than five is difficult to justify against the flying time from India.
Is Bali expensive for Indian couples?
On the ground, no — food, drivers, spas and even villas are good value against Indian metro prices. The flights and the visa are the expensive parts. Budget more for getting there than for being there.
Bali or Maldives for a honeymoon?
Bali if you want variety — temples, rice fields, restaurants, nightlife, day trips. Maldives if you want to do nothing beautifully in one place. Bali suits couples who like to explore; Maldives suits couples who want stillness. They are not really competing for the same trip.
Planning a Bali honeymoon from Gujarat?
Anjani Tourism arranges Bali honeymoons and family trips from Ahmedabad, Botad and across Gujarat — e-VOA guidance, named villas and resorts, private drivers and the tourist levy handled before you fly, so nothing is a surprise at the airport. Tell us your dates, or browse our tour packages.