Gay travel in bali

Gay Friendly Guide • BALI | Itineraries, Tips and What to See | Practical Complete LGBT Friendly

  • World Mappers
  • Jun 19,
  • 20 min read

Updated: Apr 3,

Travel solutions with itineraries to discover all the wonders of this destination, places not to be missed, advice on where to sleep and what to eat, and above all special suggestions to construct the most of your trip!

Welcome to Bali, the island of Gods.

An adventure between rice fields and temples, heavenly beaches

and delightful forests, meditation and spirituality.

Are Bali and Indonesia sound for gay travellers? Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country and therefore very conservative. However, unlike many other Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia does not criminalize same-sex relationships. Furthermore, Bali is predominantly Hindu and has always been more liberal on these issues than the rest of the country. That said, sex is a taboo subject in society, and public displays of warmth are still frowned upon, whether straight or same-sex attracted. Homosexuality has never been a sin here and it remains

“The Island of the Gods!”

And in our humble opinion: “The Island of the Gays”!

Bali is the quintessential tropical island getaway high up on most travelers' bucket lists, particularly amongst those of us inspired by the Julia Roberts movie, “Eat, Pray, Love”. Surprisingly, Bali has historically been quite a famous gay haven in Asia: remember this is part of Indonesia, a state that has over the years change into increasingly more homophobic.

Bali stands strong in the face of this rising tide of hatred toward our LGBTQ people in Indonesia thanks to its unusual Hindu heritage and the diverse international community across the island.

For LGBTQ travelers, Bali proposals a tropical paradise, gorgeous beaches, world-class restaurants, plenty of welcoming gay hotels, and an entire strip of lively gay hangouts in Seminyak. We've deposit all of this right here in our lengthy queer travel guide to Bali based on our first-hand trial.

Heads up: We just wanted to let you recognize that this publish contains affiliate links. That m

Contrary to popular belief, being male lover in Bali is not only accepted but in some ways, celebrated. With an influx of gay-friendly bars and hotels causing a stir from the coast of Seminyak to the cultural hub of Ubud, being an LGBT+ traveller in Bali has never been easier.  

I understand this may be surprising to some, considering Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world. However, what with the predominant Hindu influence and tourism hitting an all-time high, Bali has a far more relaxed attitude relative to other parts of Indonesia. In short, the aptly named ‘Island of the Gods’ is proud to welcome all travellers.

We recently spent a lot of time in Bali, and we can surely validate that this popular travel destination is worth all the hype. From magnificent mountains to rugged coastlines, and majestic waterfalls to smouldering volcanoes, the abundant Balinese nature is unlike anywhere else we’ve been. Combine this with the rich and vibrant Balinese culture, and you have everything you need to have a truly fantastic time.  



Gay Bali · Island Guide

Bali

Bali is one of more than 17, islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago. The island is famous for its rugged coastlines, sandy beaches along with its hilly and mountainous interior.

This beautiful landscape is place to about 4 million people and measures almost km from east to west and 80 km from the most northern point to the southern tip.

Gay Scene

Bali is Indonesia's most important tourist destination accounting for almost 80% of all international visitors to the country. The island attracts over 2 million tourists a year - particularly from Australia and China.

The growth in tourism over the past few decades has contributed to the development of a thriving, although relatively small, gay scene in the southwest coastal area of Seminyak. The nightlife is focused around a number of popular Queer Bars on Jalan Camplung Tanduk (also known as Dhyana Pura). These venues are open all year around and generally get working every evening from around 11pm-midnight.

The overwhelming majority of gay visitors stay at mainstream resorts or in private