Nowhere does a budget-friendly, easy, tropical vacation quite like Bali. Whether you're looking for nightlife and surf in Kuta or Seminyak, relaxation in a resort in Nusa Dua, or a romantic getaway in Uluwatu, you need to make sure you also budget for travel insurance. The short flight time from Australia adds to the appeal, particularly from Perth and the west coast.
Our experts have examined thousands of quotes for travel insurance to Indonesia to find the policies with the best prices, and gone through their fine print so you don't have to. Below, we reveal the cheapest policies for Indonesian travel, and the policies that provide the best bang for your buck.
On this page:
- Do you need travel insurance for Bali?
- What activities does travel insurance cover in Bali?
- Checklist for your Bali holiday
- How much does travel insurance for Bali cost?
- What is the cheapest travel insurance for Bali?
- Best value travel insurance policies for Bali
Do you need travel insurance for Bali?
If you're heading to Bali, travel insurance is a must-buy. Travel insurance provides cover for when things go wrong, like medical care in case of an accident, alternative accommodation if something interrupts your travel, and cancellation costs. Medical evacuation, for example, can cost tens of thousands of dollars, so cover for this is essential.
Medical Cover
The standard of Indonesia's medical care is typically lower than in Australia, and can be quite basic in regional areas. Hospitals expect families to support patients, including all financial support, and may require confirmation of medical insurance before providing treatment. Cover for medical repatriation is essential in case you need to be transported to a place with better medical facilities.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, read the fine print to make sure you understand whether you're covered if you need medical treatment for the condition while in Bali. Some insurers will only cover pre-existing conditions for an extra fee and pending a medical assessment – so read your PDS.
Smart Traveller warns of drink spiking incidents in Bali, where urgent medical attention can be life saving – highlighting the importance of both vigilance and medical cover when enjoying the nightlife in Bali. Make sure you also read their guide to partying safely.
Natural disaster cover in Bali
Flooding and storms may interrupt travel around Bali, particularly during the wet season (November to March). There are 76 active volcanoes in Indonesia, including Mount Agung and Mount Batur in Bali, bu tthey don't have to be in Bali to disrupt your holiday plans. Ash clouds from volcanoes anywhere in Indonesia can cause flight disruptions and airport closures with little to no notice. Volcanic alert levels and exclusion zones may rise quickly. Indonesia also suffers from the occasional earthquake and tsunami, so make sure you check travel advice sites like smart traveller before travelling.
Download the BMKG multi hazard early warning system onto your phone for real-time updates when you're travelling. And be sure to choose a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides natural disaster cover. Most travel insurance policies cover medical expenses related to natural disasters, but ensure you check that your policy also covers cancellation and travel delay for natural disasters.
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano in Indonesia threw ash clouds over Bali in November 2024 and June 2025 that shut down flights in and out of Denpasar. Many insurers will list on their website when they will cut off cover for claims that result from the volcano. Some insurers stopped cover in June 2025, but others cut off cover earlier, in November 2024. See our advice on natural disaster cover in travel insurance to understand your travel insurance cover.
Terrorism
Smart traveller warns that there's an ongoing risk of terrorist attack in Indonesia, and that popular tourist areas may be the target of attacks. It's important to keep across government warnings and check your travel insurance policy's product disclosure statement (PDS), which will outline the cover in case of terrorism. Watch out that you're at least covered for medical and cancellation costs in the event of a terror attack.
Scooter and motorbike cover
Most insurers only cover you for riding scooters and mopeds if you have an Australian motorbike license and many require you to wear a helmet. Motorcycle accidents in Bali are not uncommon. Make sure you think about how you're going to get around and read the fine print of your policy documents if you need cover for scooter, moped, or motorbike riding.
CHOICE tip: Do a 'find' (Ctrl F) on your PDF and search for 'natural disaster', 'terrorism', or 'moped' to check for cover or exclusions. Don't rely on ChatGPT or other AI tools to do it for you (we've tried it, it's not always right).
What activities does travel insurance cover in Bali?
Many businesses in Indonesia do not follow safety and maintenance standards. This includes providers of adventure sports such as bungee jumping, paragliding and scuba diving. Australians have been seriously injured or died when participating in such activities in Indonesia. If you are going to participate in any adventure sport, first make sure that it's covered by your travel insurance, then insist on minimum safety requirements.
Swimming at beaches around Bali can be hazardous. Several Australians drown each year in rough seas and strong rips at popular tourist beaches in Indonesia, including in Bali. Swimming conditions can change rapidly. Many beaches are not patrolled and do not have warning signs, and local rescue services may not be of the same stand we're used to in Australia. Conditions can change frequently so checking weather reports regularly is essential, as is making sure your travel insurance policy covers you for any planned water activities.
Many insurers will cover you for scuba diving with some special conditions, for example to a certain depth, and many offer further cover as an optional extra for an additional fee and some special conditions.
Checklist for your Bali holiday
- Read the Bali Government's Dos and Don'ts advice for tourists.
- Read the Australian Government's full advice for visiting Indonesia on the Smart Traveller website.
- Check if your passport is still valid, and if not, renew your passport online.
- Keep a printout of your travel insurance details with you at all times while on your trip. It''s also a good idea to share your insurance details with family or friends before you leave.
How much does travel insurance for Bali cost?
A couple will pay about $175, a family about $180 and a single person an average of $95 for travel insurance for an eight-day trip to Bali. These estimates are based on over 4000 quotes for travellers aged under 55 years.
How long your trip is, the comprehensiveness of your cover, your age, how far in advance you buy travel insurance and the policy's excess will all affect the cost of travel insurance.
What is the cheapest travel insurance for Bali?
We analysed a database of over 36,000 quotes, varying all these factors, to reveal the cheapest insurance policies for a trip to Bali.
Note that medical-only policies provide medical cover and cover for medical repatriation, this is why they are cheap. They don't provide cover for things like cancellation costs, lost baggage or missed connections. See further down for travel insurance policies that also provide good cover.
AHM Medical Only
- Price score for Bali travel 100%
- Medical cover only.
Tick travel insurance Basic
- Price score for Bali travel 95%
- Unlimited medical cover; no cover for cancellation.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Medical Only
- Price score for Bali travel 93%
- Medical cover only.
Tick Travel Insurance Budget
- Price score for Bali travel 91%
- Unlimited medical cover; $5000 cancellation cover.
Medibank Travel Insurance Medical Only
- Price score for Bali travel 90%
- Medical cover only.
Insureandgo Bare Essentials
- Price score for Bali travel 90%
- Unlimited medical cover; no cover for cancellation.
However, the cheapest travel insurance policy isn't always the best. To find out the policies that provide the best bang for your buck – that is the best cover for the cheapest price – log in or become a CHOICE member.
Best value travel insurance policies for Bali
Exclusively for CHOICE members, we've listed the best value travel insurance policies for travelling to Bali.
Below, we reveal the best value policies. Log in to unlock this members-only content, or join CHOICE to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.
Unlock this article and more
- Information you can trust
- See the best brands
- Avoid the worst performers
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
