The end of March and the beginning of April 2025 in Bali is set to be a “hot season” in terms of travel and tourism. This year, the Balinese Nyepi holiday (March 29) nearly coincides with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr (March 31). As a result, official holidays in Indonesia will extend from March 28 to April 7.
Every year, during Eid al-Fitr (locally known as Lebaran), Indonesian Muslims return to their hometowns and villages to visit relatives and pay respects at ancestral graves. After the holidays, they travel back to their places of residence and work. This results in tens of millions of Indonesians simultaneously traveling across the country to be with their families.
On Java and other predominantly Muslim islands, this mass movement of people turns into a huge travel phenomenon. Given that Indonesia has over 270 million residents (140 million of them on Java) and 87% are practicing Muslims, the transportation networks become extremely congested.
This period is usually the busiest time for ports, train stations, and airports. While all airports in Indonesia will be operating at full capacity, Bali’s airport will be closed for 24 hours on March 29 for Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence. The airport authorities are coordinating with relevant ministries to regulate flights during this peak period.
🔹 March 28, 2025 – The busiest travel day before Eid, with the highest congestion expected at airports, highways, and seaports.
🔹 April 6, 2025 (Sunday) – The peak of return travel, when people head back to their work cities.
Additionally, on March 29, the Gilimanuk-Ketapang ferry between Bali and Java will be closed for 24 hours, and ferry tickets for that day will not be available. To prevent overcrowding, larger-capacity ferries will be deployed.
🚢 Predicted Travel Numbers:
• 1.3 million people and 224,000 vehicles will depart from Bali.
• 1.1 million people and 146,000 vehicles will arrive on the island.
Bali’s Hotel & Tourism Boom
As Indonesia’s leading tourist destination, Bali is preparing to welcome over 20,000 domestic tourists between March 28 – April 6, 2025.
🏨 Hotel Booking Projections:
• 10-20% increase in bookings compared to last year.
• Overall hotel occupancy expected to reach 60-70%.
During Eid al-Fitr 2024, Ngurah Rai International Airport handled 1,059,069 passengers (combined domestic and international). In 2025, this figure is expected to increase by at least 10%.
Travelers, Take Note!
📌 Book accommodations early – hotels, villas, and guesthouses will fill up fast.
📌 Expect heavy traffic – road congestion is predicted to be 50% higher than usual.
📌 Peak traffic hours to avoid: 7:00–10:00 AM and 4:00–8:00 PM.
Traffic Changes in Kuta & Major Routes
🚗 Key road adjustments to ease congestion:
• Pudak Sari Street will become one-way from Kartika Plaza to Pudak Sari intersection to reduce holiday traffic jams.
• Simpang Karang Semadja will have new traffic regulations, with vehicles from Kendedes Street directed to the Ngurah Rai Bypass Road.
• Direct entry from the bypass to Kendedes Street will be restricted; vehicles must use Tuan-Lange Street instead.
• Traffic changes on Majapahit Street are still under review and will be announced soon.
Final Travel Tips for Bali Visitors
✅ Plan trips in advance – leave early to avoid missing flights, ferries, or hotel check-ins.
✅ Monitor traffic updates – Kuta, Seminyak, and Uluwatu may experience detours.
✅ Avoid peak hours – travel outside morning (7-10 AM) and evening (4-8 PM) rush hours.
Bali is preparing for one of its busiest travel periods in years. Visitors should plan ahead, be patient, and embrace the holiday atmosphere while enjoying their time on the Island of the Gods! 🌴✈️
Sources: radarbanyuwangi.jawapos.com, nusabali.com
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