Eco Travel in Bali: Top Tips to Reduce Your Environmental Impact in Bali

Let’s face it: holidaying is not the most eco-friendly thing to do. Airplanes emit carbon dioxide in the air, contributing to global warming on a big scale; the pool drains the natural water recourses; the AC taking lots of energy. Sustainable travel should be a top priority for everyone who loves the countries they visit. How can you be more eco-friendly on your Bali trip? This article is all about how to make your trip greener and better, for you and the environment. Here is our guide to an eco-friendly trip in Bali:

First things first: before your flight to Bali

Eco Travel in Bali: Bring a reusable water bottle
These are also very basic things you can do to start with. Just little things that become big things if we all decide to put it into practice:
  • Get a refillable water bottle. I know it’s pretty basic but it is important! You will want to drink a lot of water in the tropical temperature of Bali. When you are thirsty, it’s all too easy to buy one of those little plastic bottles that cost almost nothing. Before you know it, you’ve drunk 3 or 4 of these bottles in a day and eventually they end up in the river or they will get burned on the side of the road.  Be smart and go get a reusable water bottle to bring along on your day trips.
  • Avoid plastic bags. You will get a plastic bag with everything you buy in Indonesia. Solution? Bring your own reusable shopping bag. Fold it up and bring it everywhere you go.
  • Say no to straws. You’ll get them with drinks. Say ‘no thank you’ and carry around your own steel, glass or bamboo straw. You can buy them on the island at places like Bali Budda and Earth Cafe and they come with smart straw covers
  • Use natural sunscreen. Most sunscreens have got the harmful ingredient oxybenzone inside. An ingredient that kills and bleaches coral reefs.

Flying over to ‘the island of Gods’

sustainable travel guide to Bali

Credit: Ben Grey on Flickr

Long intercontinental flights are the worst thing for the environment contribute heavily to global warming. During peak hours, there can be 10.000 planes up in the air on a global scale and it will only increase over the years. So, what to do? Here is what to keep in mind when you have no other option than to travel by plane:

  • Book non-stop flights
    A non-stop would be the best option for it’s the take-offs and landings that add up the most to an airplane’s carbon emissions.
  • Pack light
    Pack as light as possible – the more you pack, the heavier your suitcase is and the more fuel it takes to transport your luggage.
  • Travel less and stay longer
    Extend your weekend stays! It is much better for the environment if you travel less often and when you travel, stay for a longer period of time. This way, you will reduce your carbon footprint.  Flying over to Bali just for a short weekend break is not the best option to fully enjoy the island either.
  • Be a slow traveller
    Spend more time in one place and if you want to travel around, see if you can take public transport. For instance, take the boat from Bali to get to the Gili Islands instead of flying over to Lombok and taking the boat from there.
  • Choose airlines that are environmentally conscious
    Air travel is not really great for the environment, but many airlines are trying their best to reduce the impact. Before you book the flight, check if your airline has any eco-friendly program (e.g. Qantas).

Accommodation

eco villa bali

By booking your island accommodation through Villa-Bali.com, you are already giving something back to planet Earth. We love our planet and we love Indonesia and as a villa business, we also felt we had to do something to contribute to sustainable holidaying. Apart from selecting our villas carefully and promoting eco-friendly practices, we now teamed up with ReforestAction. For every villa we rent out, we plant one mangrove tree in the north of Sumatra to preserve the rainforest that is being cut down on a massive scale for the palm oil industry.

book a villa, plant a tree

How does a “Villa-Bali.com Forest” sound?

Bali also happens to have some pretty amazing eco villas out there, beautifully built with local materials such as teak wood and other timbers, bamboo, rattan and natural stone. They are stunning villas that blend in seamlessly with the tropical surroundings of the island. These inspiring eco-friendly villas that are often hidden away in the mountains, rice fields, and river valleys, prove how sustainability and luxury can go together like cake and egg.

Eco villas are set out with solar panels, solar water heaters and smart water management systems such as rainwater harvesting. Some villas have their own organic gardens so you can be sure that the juices you drinks and the food you eat are locally grown and super healthy. Some awesome eco villas to check out are Mantra Nature Retreat, Villa Jeda, Villa Hansa and Villa RedDoor.

Related: 4 Eco Villas for an Eco Vacation

Apart from booking your island stay through Villa-Bali.com and seeking out a gorgeous eco villa, there are more little things you can do to make your holiday to Bali even more green like the island’s rice fields:

  • Save power: turn off the AC and lights when you are out.
  • Save water: don’t shower longer than necessary and why not try a cold shower for a change? It can be quite refreshing on a hot day and it is also a healthy practice.
  • Reuse your towels and tell the staff you will
  • Bring/buy organic biodegradable soap and shampoo

Dining

Sustainable travel guide to Bali

Credit: jiasingh on Instagram

More and more organic, vegan, vegetarian and raw-food restaurants are popping out the ground in popular places in Bali like Ubud and Canggu. Going green is not only a healthy thing to do but it is also cool! Using fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, these eating places support the local communities and they are perfectly eco-conscious and sustainable. Check out Bali Budda, Alchemy, Sari Organik, Eat Clear, Zibiru, the Cashew Tree and Samadi, just to name a few. The vegetarian and vegan food industry uses a whole lot less water and land than the animal farming industries. Slowing down on your meat and dairy consumption is an essential step towards sustainability and environmental consciousness. Bali is a great place to dive into this world of healthy food and you’ll be pleased to find out that it’s pretty darn tasty, too!

eco travel guide to Bali

Credit: ubudraw on Instagram

Don’t worry, you don’t have to miss out on your daily latte or cappuccino – try it with coconut, almond or cashew milk instead and have it with a slice of raw chocolate to go straight to guiltfree foodie heaven.

Related: Go Green: Vegetarian Eats in UbudOrganic food in Seminyak

Shopping

It is sad but true, a big percentage of the ‘Balinese’ souvenirs are actually made in China. How to avoid buying these Balinese souvenirs made in China? Buy directly from local indigenous artisans. This way, you are supporting the local community and artists directly, you are really giving something back to the island and the Balinese people. This way can be sure it is natural, handmade and really worth your money. No, it won’t be dirt cheap but you will return home with true gifts of value.

So, where to shop in Bali?

ethical shopping bali

For starters, go stroll around on the Samadi Organic Sunday Market in Canggu where you can meet local farmers and artisans. This market is all about organic, sustainability and uniqueness. You can score a nice healthy breakfast here, too, and the ambience is lovely with a mix of locals, expats, tourists and lots of kids. The market is held every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm.

sustainable shopping

Credit: balizen_livingstore on Instagram

Then, there are all of the eco-friendly shops to visit during your island stay. Shops such as Bambooku where you can buy clothes, towels and bedsheets made from world’s most sustainable crops in the world: bamboo. Bamboo needs no pesticides to grow, it needs only a little water and it grows fast. Bali has got more than plenty of bamboo and it makes such a great alternative to cotton! There are also lots of shops around with sustainable fashion and homeware. Check out Indigo Luna, La Boheme, Balizen, WE’AR, SOUQ and many more. Kou Bali and Kou Cuisine are cool little shops in Ubud to get handmade (palm oil free) soap and homemade jams. Indosole makes footwear from tire waste and Threads of Life supports local women who make beautiful handmade textiles. Like I said, you can just keep on shopping – completely guiltfree!

Related: Yoga Wear shopping in Bali

Eco-friendly Island Activities

Bali is a stunning place with a unique culture. During your eco-inspired holiday to this gorgeous little island, surely you will be exploring the beaches. Go swim in those azure and turquoise waters, ride the waves and explore the colourful world beneath the surface full of coral gardens and exotic marine life. Make sure not to litter, not to touch the corals and to wear oxybenzone-free sunblock. Also, pay a visit to some beautiful Balinese temples and go see some of the island’s waterfalls (bring your bathers, too!) Other than that, here are some perfectly eco-friendly island activities you can do:

1. Cycle through Bali’s rural landscape with Bali Eco Tours

eco friendly things to do in Bali

Credit: satu_bidadari on Instagram

Bali Eco Tours offers amazing cycling tours through the unblemished countryside of Bali. Cycling is the best and most eco-friendly way to explore the landscape and villages of Bali. The trail is mostly down-hill, also suitable for families with kids.

2. Cooking Class at Paon

eco things to do

Credit: chingweiyehon Instagram

Paon Cooking School is a family-run business located in a little Balinese village just outside of Ubud. Sign up for a traditional Balinese cooking class and you will not only be giving something back to the community, but you will also be provided with hands-on tools to prepare authentic Balinese dishes. Ancient family recipes and traditional cooking methods are shared with you at Paon Cooking School and you will also meet the local farmers. A pick-up from your private villa in Ubud is included. Once you are back home, you can cook up a delicious meal for your family and friends – now ain’t that the best island gift you could possibly bring?

Related: Best cooking classes in Bali

3. Get inspired at Green Village Bali

eco guide to bali

Source: Green Village Bali

Just by looking at the photo above, you can tell that at Green Village Bali, they can do magical things with bamboo. Green Village has its own bamboo forest, bamboo factory and permaculture garden. Everything is a 100% sustainable – they even have a compost toilet. Green Village Bali is truly an interesting and inspiring place and it is a definite must-visit on your sustainable holiday to Bali. Read more Green Village Bali here.

4. Mindblowing views with a Sunrise Hike in Bali

Eco activities in Bali

Credit: jakhei89 on Flickr

Nothing more amazing than watching the sunrise on top of a volcano, overlooking lands and oceans. In Bali, you can climb up Mount Agung and Mount Batur, starting in the middle of the night and reaching the summit just before the sunrise strikes with all its colours and magic. Mount Agung is a much harder trek than Mount Batur and due to its activity in the last few months, you may not be allowed to climb it at this very moment. Mount Batur makes a perfect alternative with views to blow you away. It is outdoors, eco-friendly and unforgettable.

5. Learn new skills: workshops

Eco Guide to Bali

Studio Sari Api. Credit: pervushkina_marina on Instagram

Want to master the skills of local artisans? There are more than plenty of fun, educational and inspiring creative workshops to do in Bali.  Take your pick between painting, pottery, silversmithing, Batik, ceramic, woodcarving, fruit carving, Balinese dance and many more. You can even learn to make your own organic spa products.

Be a sustainable traveller

beautiful Bali

Credit: Dion Hinchcliffe on Flickr

A sustainable traveller keeps his/her footprint as invisible as possible, respects the local culture, nature and the wildlife. A sustainable traveller is a ‘slow traveller’, taking more time in one place, using local transport instead of another plane to get somewhere as fast as possible. Choose your accommodation carefully, eat local food, do eco-friendly activities and shops ethically. It’s actually not a hard thing to travel sustainably, we just need to pay a little more attention to where we go and what we do so that the money we spend goes right back to the island and its people 🙂


See our villa collection in Bali. Selected and Inspected by Villa-Finder.com

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