Should you get travel insurance for Bali?
Travel insurance can provide assistance when things don’t quite go according to plan — whether that’s lost items, cancelled flights, medical emergencies or natural disasters. Any number of issues can occur on your travels, even in a popular destination like Bali.
Is travel insurance required to go to Bali?
Travel insurance is not a requirement to enter Bali. However, as the Australian Government won’t pay for overseas medical costs, Smartraveller strongly advises that you have a policy that covers medical care, including emergency treatment and medical evacuation. Without travel insurance, you could be left significantly out of pocket, especially if you require medical care.
How do you choose the right travel insurance for Bali?
The cheapest option is not always best and, in the case of travel insurance, it’s important to buy the cover that suits your needs and what you plan to do on your trip.
The first step is to consider your holiday plans, where you’ll be going and what you’ll be doing, so you have a clear picture of what sort of coverage you’ll need.
Once you’ve decided on your level of coverage, you can start comparing travel insurance with Canstar. You can search for policies that cover you for travel to Bali and Indonesia and see the limits from each policy provider for overseas medical and hospital cover, as well as cancellation and lost luggage.
You can also further filter your results to show policies that cover a range of options that may be applicable to your trip to Bali. For example, if you plan on riding a motorbike or enjoying water sports while in Bali, these activities may not be included as standard and could require add-on coverage.
What does Bali travel insurance cover?
The list of things generally covered by travel insurance policies for Bali includes:
- Medical or dental emergency: Hospital admission, emergency care and medical evacuation.
- Lost or stolen luggage, passport or other items: One of the most common reasons for filing a travel insurance claim is replacing luggage and travel documents.
- Cancelling your trip unexpectedly: Cancellation due to illness, accident, revoked holiday leave or a natural disaster at home or at your intended destination.
- Legal liability: If you break a local law and need a lawyer/interpreter (e.g. if you injure someone or are held accountable for damaged property).
- Optional extras: Some policies offer a variety of useful extras depending on which one you get, such as rental vehicle excesses, cover for kennels and catteries for your pets at home, and even cover if you suffer a loss of income or a permanent disability while overseas.
- Repatriation: If tragedy strikes while you are away, repatriation covers the cost of flying your body and belongings back home. Some policies also include a separate sum for funeral expenses.
What doesn’t Bali travel insurance cover?
Your travel insurance policy won’t cover everything that happens to you while travelling in Bali, as there are a number of common exclusions, as well as things that could void your cover, such as:
- Riding without a helmet: Your travel insurance will not cover you if you are found to be riding without a helmet.
- Being under the influence: Incidents experienced by travellers under the influence will likely not be covered.
- Pre-existing conditions: While you can sometimes pay a bit extra to get them covered, an exclusion may apply if, at the time of purchasing the policy, you were aware of something that could lead to you making a claim under the policy and didn’t inform the insurer. It is worth checking the terms and conditions of your policy to find out if you’re covered for your condition.
- Unreported and unattended items: You can be covered if your possessions are stolen or lost, but leaving them unattended will often void your cover. In the event your possessions are lost or stolen, you may need to report the loss to the local authorities within a certain amount of time (such as 24 hours). Some insurers may have a timeframe for when you need to make a claim — but check your insurance PDS for these details as they’ll differ between insurers.
- ‘Do not travel’ advice is ignored: If there is a ‘do not travel’ warning in place and listed on the Smartraveller website for your destination, you may not be covered.
What are some other considerations for travel insurance for Bali?
Thousands of Aussies visit Bali each year, but there are some potential issues to be cautious about that could impact your travels.
Natural disasters
Indonesia is home to more than 100 active volcanoes, and major volcanic eruptions can cause flight cancellations and airport closures. The country is also prone to events like earthquakes and tsunamis. Consider the impacts a natural disaster could have on your trip and look for natural disaster coverage in a travel insurance policy.
Terrorism
While terrorism-specific events may not be covered by travel insurance policies, look for insurance policies with coverage for emergency medical situations and cancellations which could arise from these situations.
Drink spiking and methanol poisoning
The Smartraveller website advises travellers to Bali (and Indonesia) to be cautious of drink spiking and methanol poisoning. It is recommended to not leave drinks or food unattended. Looking at insurance policies with coverage for medical emergencies could help if you’re ill or hospitalised from drink or food tampering.
How much does travel insurance cost for Bali?
At the time of writing, the average cost of travel insurance premiums is $144 for a traveller aged 30 on a 14-day trip to Bali (based on a selection of international policies rated in Canstar's 2025 Travel Insurance Star Ratings & Awards, November 2025, calculated October 2026.). Prices for policies will vary depending on the provider and level of cover and inclusions that you need.
What activities are covered in Bali?
When comparing travel insurance for Bali, it is important to make sure your policy has all the inclusions you’ll need. It’s possible to purchase travel insurance that covers water sports, motorcycles, moped riding and rock climbing, but do not assume that these come standard with every policy. If you are planning on doing these activities, you will need to make sure that your policy covers them, or that you can purchase cover as an optional extra.
Can you get motorbike and scooter insurance for Bali?
Riding a moped or motorcycle in Bali is very popular – particularly given the traffic congestion. However, there are always dangers associated with driving a motorbike, which are magnified in this part of the world due to the lack of road regulations, so motorcycle insurance can be a good idea.
Keep in mind many travel insurance policies will only cover you for a 250cc or less motorcycle, and only if you have an Australian motorcycle licence. If you plan to ride a moped or motorcycle in Bali, it’s important to always wear a helmet and make sure your cover has a suitable overseas medical and hospital limit.
Can you get watersports insurance for Bali?
If you’re planning on hitting Bali’s beautiful beaches, then ensure that your Bali travel insurance covers you for any water sports you’re planning to try. Popular activities such as snorkelling, among others, are generally covered under a standard policy, but more extreme activities such as scuba diving might not be covered. It’s important to check that you have the cover you need before you go, and also make sure your cover has a suitable overseas medical and hospital limit.
