If this pandemic has made you feel trapped in some way, the best thing for you to enjoy a sense of freedom is a road trip from Jakarta to Bali. The open road, the amazing view along the way, can more than makeup for the length of time you’ve spent indoors throughout the global pandemic. It’s the perfect getaway for the entire family.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide that will help you learn more about how to reach Bali from Jakarta by land. This guide can help you plan your route from Jakarta to Bali and find some great stops along the way. 

Before setting off for your exciting trip from Jakarta to Bali by road, it’s important to understand the requirements for domestic travel. The good news is, since you’re figuring out how to get from Jakarta to Bali by land, you will most likely not have any problems. 

Until further notice, the following travel document requirements apply to Indonesian citizens (WNI).

Children under the age of 6 are exempted from vaccination, as long as they are accompanied by their parents/family as evidenced by a family card (Kartu Keluarga/KK), and fulfil the Rapid Test Antigen requirements according to the rules of the departure and destination ports.

For foreign traveler above the age of 18 must receive at least the second dose, while age of 6 – 17 are exempted from vaccination regulations.

It’s also important to check on local regulations for different Indonesian provinces if you plan to visit other areas. Travel health protocols for each province are issued by their respective governors.

Possible Travel Routes By Land

Get ready for an amazing drive as you travel from Jakarta to Bali by car. The distance from Jakarta to Seminyak is 1,188km, which totals approximately 17 hours and 45 minutes of land travel. This might seem like an endless drive, but the scenery along the way makes it more than worth it.

In travelling from Jakarta to Bali by land, you have three great options that will allow you to enjoy the trip the way you want it – no stops, one-stop or two stops. It all depends on how long you’re willing to drive and how restless you think you and your passengers will get throughout the drive from Jakarta to Bali by car.

Non-stop

The fastest way to get from Jakarta to Bali would be to drive non-stop. This would be ideal if another driver shared the drive with you. 

Note that you will all be asked for a negative antigen or PCR test (if you are not vaccinated – both on paper and a QR code) before being allowed to cross the border between Ketapang and Gilimanuk, so make sure you all get tested before departure. You will also be asked for proof of vaccination that shows everybody aged 12 and above having at least one dose of their vaccine.

One Stop:

Almost 18 hours of travelling from Jakarta to Bali can be overwhelming for some, so you can choose to make one stop along the way. For this, you should check out the Aston Inn Pandanaran – Semarang, which is located in the Centre of Semarang. From Jakarta Centre, you can reach this hotel within 5 hours.

The great thing about Semarang is the number of attractions that your kids will surely enjoy, like Fun and Play Semarang, Kids Fun Adventures Island and the TK YBMI Kids Fun House. Just make sure you check COVID-19 regulations before you leave to make sure these attractions are accessible during your stay in the area.

The price for one night starts at IDR 640 K and can reach up to 1,500 K, depending on your preferences.

Two Stops:

Knowing that the Jakarta to Bali travel time is quite lengthy, you could opt to make a second stop especially if you’re travelling with kids who might get restless along the way. ILLIRA Hotel Banyuwangi is a great second stop as it’s just 9 hours away from Semarang. This means that you can leave Semarang midday and be ready to check-in at the ILLIRA Hotel in the evening.

The hotel is just 15 minutes away from the port. Prices start at IDR 425 K a night. In case you haven’t gotten tested yet, you can take a PCR test at the Rumah Sakit Yasmin Banyuwangi.

Arriving in Bali

The ferry ride from the port to Gilimanuk should be an enjoyable part of the trip as well and will allow you to truly enjoy the ocean. Once you reach Gilimanuk, you’ll only have three hours left of land travel before reaching popular spots in Bali like Seminyak or Canggu. 

To truly enjoy your stay in Bali, you can book any of our child-friendly villas here at Sahana Villas and take advantage of any of our current promotions. Our in-house tour teams can offer a range of children’s programs so that you and your children can make the most out of Bali.

If you want to fully plan every detail of your trip ahead of time, feel free to reach out to us so that we can plan a child-friendly itinerary for you.

Price Breakdown

All in all, tolls per car for one way will be around IDR 700 K. That’s IDR 1,400 K for a round trip drive. As for the ferry ride from Ketapang to Gilimanuk costs around IDR 10 K each for adults and children and IDR 200 K for the car.