var wpbm_global1 = {"wpbm_ajaxurl":"https://the-travellist.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php","wpbm_plugin_url":"https://the-travellist.com/wp-content/plugins/booking-manager","wpbm_today":"[2026,11,12,17,18]","wpbm_plugin_filename":"index.php","message_verif_requred":"This field is required","message_verif_requred_for_check_box":"This checkbox must be checked","message_verif_requred_for_radio_box":"At least one option must be selected","message_verif_emeil":"Incorrect email address","message_verif_same_emeil":"Your emails do not match","wpbm_active_locale":"en_US","wpbm_message_processing":"Processing","wpbm_message_deleting":"Deleting","wpbm_message_updating":"Updating","wpbm_message_saving":"Saving"};
//# sourceURL=wpbm-global-vars-js-extra
function loadScript(a){var b=document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0],c=document.createElement("script");c.type="text/javascript",c.src="https://tracker.metricool.com/resources/be.js",c.onreadystatechange=a,c.onload=a,b.appendChild(c)}loadScript(function(){beTracker.t({hash:"77d6b1dab2de87fade951e8435e57335"})});
Etiquette, Customs, and Rules When You Are in Bali
Written by
The Travellist
Bali Etiquette at Temples and Ceremonies
The first rule of Bali etiquette in a temple is to never walk directly in front of people praying, so please be mindful of where you walk and pay attention to where the ceremony is happening.
Another important Bali etiquette rule: it’s generally acceptable to take photographs, as long as you are a reasonable distance away from people. Many religious pieces and ceremony activities may catch your attention, but do not take a photo too close. And definitely do not use a flash. Be aware of your position so you don’t disturb praying people, and do not climb anywhere in the temple or near the temple just to obtain a better angle or view. Please remember that what you are watching is not a show for entertainment, it is a genuine and sacred part of local people’s daily life.
A person with a bleeding cut or wound, or a menstruating woman is not allowed to enter a temple because blood into a holy place is considered taboo.
A woman who is 7 months or more pregnant, or a woman who has just given birth within the last 6 weeks, are also banned from entering a temple. This has to do with beliefs that pregnant women have the potential to attract unwanted spirits that might cause harm to both the mother and baby.
When sitting down in a ceremony or in a temple, do not point your feet to the altar. Feet are considered as impure because they are always in contact with the ground and dirt. Men usually cross their legs, and women usually kneel in prayers.
The higher someone sits, the more important they are. This is especially true in temples or during a ceremony. Make sure you are seated at a lower level than the priest and the offerings. Priests and elders are highly revered in Bali, and it is very disrespectful to sit or stand higher than them. You can easily identify priests in temples as they usually wear all white traditional attires. If you need to pass an elder while he/she is seated, bend forward slightly with your right hand extended while walking in front of them.
When entering a temple, a shrine, or when witnessing a religious ceremony you should wear the customary sarong and sash (selendang) over your normal clothing. The main point is to wrap up your lower limbs, especially the knees. Shorts or miniskirts are inappropriate and will cause offense. And you should cover your shoulders. Tank tops, cropped tops, low cut tops, backless tops and swimwear are not only considered inappropriate, but always very disrespectful.
There is normally no entry fee in temples. However, a small donation is expected and a nice gesture from visitors. While there is no fixed amount, Rp 10K is a good guide.
Don’t honk your horn if you are stuck in traffic due to ceremonies or processions – it’s rude in any country and won’t make the traffic move any faster!
Social Etiquette
Indonesians use the right hand for eating, whereas the left hand is for toilet business. Always use your right hand to give or receive something, especially food. In a situation where you must use your left hand in giving or receiving, acknowledge your mistake by saying, “Ma’af tangan kiri” which means “Excuse me for using my left hand in doing this”.
Pointing at someone directly with your index finger is considered impolite. Indonesians point with their thumbs, with the palms turned upward and fingers curled in.
In Bali the head is considered sacred, avoid touching adults or children on the head.
Before entering someone’s house, it is customary to take off your shoes, but if you aren’t sure, it is good to check with the host if footwear should be removed.
Don’t urinate on trees even when you are in nature – in fact, please don’t urinate in public. There are beliefs that some spirits may reside on the tree, or you could be unintentionally offending a holy site. Plus, it’s just bad manners!
General guide to follow
When you see an offering on the ground while you are walking on street, do not step over it or step on it as it is to appease the spirits. This is important especially for the offerings with incense still burning. Do your best to walk around the offerings whenever you can.
Do not go out of the house or compound during the Nyepi celebration. This 24-hour day of silence starts at 6 am and finishes the next day at 6 am. Buy enough food at least a day before the celebration and turn off lights at night.
When entering a government office, avoid wearing sleeveless tops, shorts or a short skirt as this is considered impolite. Put on a shirt that covers your shoulder and a long skirt or pants that cover your knees.
Displaying outbursts of emotion or anger is considered funny for the Balinese because they place a high value on self-control and manners when in public. Having said that, laughter is an emotion that is always welcome and often contagious! Practising good Bali etiquette consistently — which means observing these customs across temples, restaurants, and social interactions — is the best way to show genuine respect — from temple dress to table manners — will enrich every interaction you have on the island. Learn more about Balinese Hinduism on Wikipedia and explore our guide to Balinese ceremonies.
The broader principle behind all Bali etiquette is one of genuine respect rather than rule-following. Visitors who approach the island with curiosity and humility — who ask before photographing, who dress modestly at sacred sites, who lower their voice in ceremonies — consistently report a warmer and more connected experience than those who treat these customs as inconvenient obligations. Bali etiquette is not a barrier to enjoying the island; it is the gateway to experiencing it fully.
<< If you liked this article, you may also like our other articles >> To chat with our marketing partner about your business, please contact The Travellist
window.maspikGuardConfig = {"honeypot":true,"honeypotName":"full-name-maspik-hp","honeypotLabel":"Leave this field empty","advancedKey":true,"keyName":"maspik_spam_key","keyValue":"pUoDQrdRACqDR6uCLikaghWVQswqp9OuNEIKXYrWWBg8ZzxuVgpekzV0ikVD7NUo","atomicHpId":"maspik_atomic_hp","atomicKeyId":"maspik_atomic_sk","atomicSignalsId":"maspik_atomic_sg","signals":true,"signalsName":"maspik_signals","signalsVersion":1,"signalsProbes":false,"skipSelector":""};
//# sourceURL=maspik-guard-js-before
var elementorFrontendConfig = {"environmentMode":{"edit":false,"wpPreview":false,"isScriptDebug":false},"i18n":{"shareOnFacebook":"Share on Facebook","shareOnX":"Share on X","pinIt":"Pin it","download":"Download","downloadImage":"Download image","fullscreen":"Fullscreen","zoom":"Zoom","share":"Share","playVideo":"Play Video","previous":"Previous","next":"Next","close":"Close","a11yCarouselPrevSlideMessage":"Previous slide","a11yCarouselNextSlideMessage":"Next slide","a11yCarouselFirstSlideMessage":"This is the first slide","a11yCarouselLastSlideMessage":"This is the last slide","a11yCarouselPaginationBulletMessage":"Go to slide"},"is_rtl":false,"breakpoints":{"xs":0,"sm":480,"md":768,"lg":1025,"xl":1440,"xxl":1600},"responsive":{"breakpoints":{"mobile":{"label":"Mobile Portrait","value":767,"default_value":767,"direction":"max","is_enabled":true},"mobile_extra":{"label":"Mobile Landscape","value":880,"default_value":880,"direction":"max","is_enabled":false},"tablet":{"label":"Tablet Portrait","value":1024,"default_value":1024,"direction":"max","is_enabled":true},"tablet_extra":{"label":"Tablet Landscape","value":1200,"default_value":1200,"direction":"max","is_enabled":false},"laptop":{"label":"Laptop","value":1366,"default_value":1366,"direction":"max","is_enabled":false},"widescreen":{"label":"Widescreen","value":2400,"default_value":2400,"direction":"min","is_enabled":false}},"hasCustomBreakpoints":false},"version":"4.3.6","is_static":false,"experimentalFeatures":{"additional_custom_breakpoints":true,"container":true,"theme_builder_v2":true,"hello-theme-header-footer":true,"nested-elements":true,"import-export-customization":true,"e_pro_atomic_form":true,"e_pro_collection_loop":true},"urls":{"assets":"https:\/\/the-travellist.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/","ajaxurl":"https:\/\/the-travellist.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","uploadUrl":"https:\/\/the-travellist.com\/wp-content\/uploads"},"nonces":{"floatingButtonsClickTracking":"5ca7fd2e30","atomicFormsSendForm":"7fe643a1f3"},"swiperClass":"swiper","settings":{"page":[],"editorPreferences":[]},"kit":{"body_background_background":"classic","active_breakpoints":["viewport_mobile","viewport_tablet"],"global_image_lightbox":"yes","lightbox_enable_counter":"yes","lightbox_enable_fullscreen":"yes","lightbox_enable_zoom":"yes","lightbox_enable_share":"yes","lightbox_title_src":"title","lightbox_description_src":"description","hello_header_logo_type":"logo","hello_header_menu_layout":"horizontal","hello_footer_logo_type":"logo"},"post":{"id":3872,"title":"Bali%20Etiquette%3A%20Customs%20and%20Rules%20for%20Respectful%20Visitors","excerpt":"In a temple, it is considered rude to walk directly in front of people praying, so please be mindful of where you walk and pay attention to where the ceremony is happening. ","featuredImage":"https:\/\/the-travellist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dos-Donts-When-You-Are-in-Bali-6-1024x773.jpg"}};
//# sourceURL=elementor-frontend-js-before
(function(){
"use strict";
function wpbc_init__head(){_wpbc.set_other_param( 'locale_active', 'en_US' ); _wpbc.set_other_param('time_gmt_arr', [2026,11,12,9,18] ); _wpbc.set_other_param('time_local_arr', [2026,11,12,17,18] ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'today_arr', [2026,11,12,17,18] ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'availability__unavailable_from_today', '0' ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'url_plugin', 'https://the-travellist.com/wp-content/plugins/booking' ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'this_page_booking_hash', '' ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__on_this_page', [] ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__first_day', '1' ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__max_monthes_in_calendar', '2y' ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'availability__week_days_unavailable', [999] ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__days_select_mode', 'dynamic' ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__fixed__days_num', 1 ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__fixed__week_days__start', [-1] ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__dynamic__days_min', 1 ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__dynamic__days_max', 300 ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__dynamic__days_specific', [] ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__dynamic__week_days__start', [-1] ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'calendars__days_selection__middle_days_opacity', '0.75' ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'is_enabled_booking_recurrent_time', true ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'is_allow_several_months_on_mobile', false ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'is_enabled_change_over', false ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'is_enabled_booking_timeslot_picker', true ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'update', '12.0' ); _wpbc.set_other_param( 'version', 'biz_s' ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_check_no_selected_dates", "Please, select booking date(s) at Calendar." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_range_selection_click_last_date", "Start date selected. Now click the last day of your booking to complete the date range." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_range_selection_has_unavailable_dates", "The selected date range includes unavailable or already booked dates, so the selection was cleared. Please choose a range that contains only available dates." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_dates_times_unavailable", "These dates and times in this calendar are already booked or unavailable." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_choose_alternative_dates", "Please choose alternative date(s), times, or adjust the number of slots booked." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_cannot_save_in_one_resource", "It is not possible to store this sequence of the dates into the one same resource." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_check_required", "This field is required" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_check_required_for_check_box", "This checkbox must be checked" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_check_required_for_radio_box", "At least one option must be selected" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_check_email", "Incorrect email address" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_check_same_email", "Your emails do not match" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_check_valid_date", "This field must be a valid date like {date_example}" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_check_digits_only", "This field must contain only digits" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_check_digits_count", "This field must contain {digits} digits" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_error_start_time", "Start Time is invalid. The date or time may be booked, or already in the past! Please choose another date or time." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_error_end_time", "End Time is invalid. The date or time may be booked, or already in the past. The End Time may also be earlier that the start time, if only 1 day was selected! Please choose another date or time." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_error_range_time", "The time(s) may be booked, or already in the past!" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_error_duration_time", "The time(s) may be booked, or already in the past!" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_booking_saving", "Saving" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_duplicate_booking_resource_on_page", "More than one calendar or booking form for Booking Resource ID {resource_id} is present on this page. A hidden copy still conflicts with the visible form and can prevent booking submission. The site administrator must keep only one calendar or form for this Booking Resource. After the page is corrected, reload it and try again." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_booking_form_context_required", "This booking form is not connected to a valid calendar for Booking Resource ID {resource_id}. This can happen when the same Booking Resource is used more than once on the page, including in hidden content, or when the page cache is outdated. Reload the page and try again. If the problem continues, ask the site administrator to remove duplicate forms for this Booking Resource and clear the page cache." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_booking_form_context_expired", "This booking form was generated by an older or cached version of the page for Booking Resource ID {resource_id}. Reload the page and try again. If the problem continues, ask the site administrator to clear the page cache and remove any duplicate calendar or form for this Booking Resource." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_unexpected_server_response", "The server returned an unexpected response. Please reload the page and try again. If the problem continues, contact the website administrator." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_http_conflict_cache_hint", "A cached or optimized version of this page may be outdated. Clear the browser cache and reload the page. Website administrators should also purge page, server, and CDN caches and regenerate minified or optimized files." ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_resource_selector_summary_label", "Booking Resource" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_resource_selector_start_over", "Start over" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_appointment_summary_label", "Your appointment" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_appointment_start_over", "Start over" ); _wpbc.set_message( "message_captcha_incorrect", "The code you entered is incorrect" ); _wpbc.set_message( 'message_processing', "Processing" ); _wpbc.set_message( 'message_deleting', "Deleting" ); _wpbc.set_message( 'message_updating', "Updating" ); _wpbc.set_message( 'message_saving', "Saving" ); _wpbc.set_message( 'message_inline_preview_submission_disabled', "This is a request-local preview. Booking submission is disabled, and no booking will be created." ); _wpbc.set_message( 'message_error_check_in_out_time', "Error! Please reset your check-in\/check-out dates above." ); console.log( '== WPBC VARS 12.0 | 11.6.1 [biz_s] LOADED ==' );}
(function(){
if (window.__wpbc_boot_done__ === true) return;
var started = false;
function run_once(){
if (started || window.__wpbc_boot_done__ === true) return true;
started = true;
try { wpbc_init__head(); window.__wpbc_boot_done__ = true; }
catch(e){ started = false; try{console.error("WPBC init failed:", e);}catch(_){} }
return (window.__wpbc_boot_done__ === true);
}
function is_ready(){ return !!(window._wpbc && typeof window._wpbc.set_other_param === "function"); }
if ( is_ready() && run_once() ) return;
var waited = 0, max_ms = 10000, step = 50;
var timer = setInterval(function(){
if ( is_ready() && run_once() ) { clearInterval(timer); return; }
waited += step;
if ( waited >= max_ms ) {
clearInterval(timer);
// Switch to slow polling (1s) so we still init even without user interaction later.
var slow = setInterval(function(){ if ( is_ready() && run_once() ) clearInterval(slow); }, 1000);
try{console.warn("WPBC: _wpbc not detected within " + max_ms + "ms; using slow polling.");}catch(_){}
}
}, step);
var evs = ["wpbc-ready","wpbc:ready","wpbc_ready","wpbcReady"];
evs.forEach(function(name){
document.addEventListener(name, function onready(){ if (is_ready() && run_once()) document.removeEventListener(name, onready); });
});
if (document.readyState === "loading") {
document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(){ if (is_ready()) run_once(); }, { once:true });
}
window.addEventListener("load", function(){ if (is_ready()) run_once(); }, { once:true });
window.addEventListener("pageshow", function(){ if (is_ready()) run_once(); }, { once:true });
document.addEventListener("visibilitychange", function(){ if (!document.hidden && is_ready()) run_once(); });
var ui = ["click","mousemove","touchstart","keydown","scroll"];
var ui_bailed = false;
function on_ui(){ if (ui_bailed) return; if (is_ready() && run_once()){ ui_bailed = true; ui.forEach(function(t){ document.removeEventListener(t, on_ui, true); }); } }
ui.forEach(function(t){ document.addEventListener(t, on_ui, true); });
})();
})();
//# sourceURL=wpbc_all-js-after
var wpbc_booking_appointment_config = {"ajax_url":"https://the-travellist.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php","action":"WPBC_AJX_BOOKING_APPOINTMENT_RESOLVE","validate_action":"WPBC_AJX_BOOKING_APPOINTMENT_VALIDATE_TIME","nonce":"349e017e77","error":"The Appointment form could not be loaded. Please try again.","validation_error":"This Appointment time could not be verified. Please try again.","initialization_error":"The Appointment form could not be initialized. Please start over and try again.","duplicate_provider":"This Provider already has an open Appointment form on this page. Complete or restart that Appointment before opening another form for the same Provider.","service_found":"Service found.","services_found":"Services found.","provider_found":"Provider found.","providers_found":"Providers found."};
//# sourceURL=wpbc-booking-appointment-js-extra
var wpbc_booking_resource_selector_config = {"ajax_url":"https://the-travellist.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php","action":"WPBC_AJX_BOOKING_RESOURCE_SELECTOR_RESOLVE","nonce":"4cf2cd180e","error":"The booking form could not be loaded. Please try again.","initialization_error":"The booking form could not be initialized. Please start over and try again.","duplicate_resource":"This Booking Resource already has an open booking form on this page. Complete or restart that booking before opening another form for the same resource.","resource_found":"Booking Resource found.","resources_found":"Booking Resources found."};
//# sourceURL=wpbc-booking-resource-selector-js-extra
