Bali Tourists Must Be Aware Of Upcoming Nyepi Road Closures

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Bali’s Nyepi Day is coming up on the 11th of March.

Also known as the Day of Silence, it has strict rules for both locals and tourists, including no travel for the duration of the holy day. 

While Nypei Day technically starts at 6 am on the 11th of March and the silence is broken at 6 am on the 12th of March, there are festival-related restrictions in place for up to 48 hours covering the half day before and a half day after Nyepi itself.

Road closures come into effect across communities in Bali from late afternoon on March 10th in preparation for community ogoh-ogoh parades. If traveling away from Bali to avoid Nyepi Day, it is advisable to depart on March 9th at the latest and return on March 13th.

Although regency-organized parades will not be happening this year, every community village is hosting an ogoh-ogoh parade of its own. This means that pecalang security will be closing roads, diverting traffic, or limiting vehicle access from around 4 pm on the 10th of March. 

@mateinsoq Exploring motorcycle-friendly toll roads in Indonesia with stunning coastal views along the way. 🏍️🌊 #bali #tolbalimandara #travelpotography #wonderfulindonesia ♬ suara asli – mateinsoq

Most shops, cafes and restaurants will close around midday on the 10th of March. Although some attractions and eateries will operate for longer, as tourists its best to assume that you won’t be able order after lunchtime.

One of the most significant road closures to be aware of is the 36-hour closure of the Bali Mandara Toll Road. The Finance Director of the Mandara Toll Road, Wayan Eka Saputra, said, “Operations of the Bali Mandara Toll Road will be temporarily closed starting on the 10th of March at 11 pm local time and will reopen on the 12th of March at 7 am local time, after Nyepi Day.”

@balibybilly An Evening on Toll Road #fyi #bali #kutabali #airporttransfer ♬ Theme from "A Summer Place" – Percy Faith And His Orchestra

The road will remain open for emergency vehicles that must be accompanied by vehicles from the local pecalang security teams.

Saputra also confirmed that traffic officers from the toll road will be supporting traffic flow during ceremonies held before Nyepi Day.

On the 8th of March a huge Melasti ceremony will be held in Pedungan Village which will also involve temporary road closures and diversions. 

Saptura said Benoa Police, Traffic Corps, and pecalang would secure traffic moving from the Pesanggaran intersection toward Benoa Harbor to the ceremony’s location.

For the next few days, tourists must anticipate more traffic than usual gathering at the Pesanggaran intersection. 

@adrianpardede Last night's Nyepi stargazing in Bali was simply breathtaking. Even after 8 years of living on this island, Bali still knows how to surprise me! #fyp #bali #DayOfSilence #BalineseNewYear ♬ original sound – Adrian

Leaders in Bali are calling on tourists to honor and respect the rules of the Nypei festival, as last year saw a number of foreigners outrightly disregarding the restrictions of the holy day.

Footage emerged in 2023 of tourists arguing and even trying to fight local pecalang security during road closures for the Melasti ceremony in Uluwatu. Pecalang also caught tourists camping out on beaches and trying to go on hikes. 

While the festival is honored by Balinese Hindus, all people on Bali, regardless of their faith or nationality, are required to honor the basic rules of the day.

Tourists are allowed to walk around their resorts and hotels but will be encouraged to stay as quiet as possible; no one is allowed to leave their homes, hotels, or resorts unless in an absolute emergency.

While tourists do not need to adhere to complete silence, the request is that tourists and non-Balinese Hindus honor the conditions needed for practicing Balinese Hindus to fully revere the day. 

Both the police and local security teams have confirmed that they will be on standby over the festival to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

The Head of Denpasar Police, Commissioner Pol Wisnu Prabowo, told reporters, “Denpasar Police and its staff have sufficient response capabilities to prevent the threshold of disturbance, the potential for disturbance to become a real disturbance.”

He added, “It is very necessary to carry out well-planned security involving related agencies and stakeholders so that the implementation of the Nyepi Holy Day series can run well.”