The Indonesian island of Bali is a great destination for your adventure travel bucket list, but if your stay overlaps with March 28 through March 30, 2025, you’ll have to put some of that adventuring on hold. This marks a holy holiday in Balinese culture known as Nyepi, or the Hindu Day of Silence. It’s also the start of the Balinese New Year. The exact days vary each year with the lunar calendar, but they typically land in March.
From 6 a.m. March 29 through 6 a.m. March 30, Nyepi is a day for quiet reflection. Locals observe the self-restraint principles of “Catur Brata Penyepian,” which include abstaining from work, pleasure, entertainment, and travel. Lights are kept off, businesses shut down, and everyone stays indoors. Some simple cultural etiquette rules tourists in Bali should follow during Nyepi include dimming the lights or closing curtains if you have lights on, being silent (or at least extremely quiet), and appreciating the sanctity of the day.
Tourists should be aware that the airport closes, and even tourists are not permitted to leave their hotels. Officials have said they’ll make travel as smooth as possible leading up to and after Nyepi but warned that travelers should expect some congestion — so plan to leave early if you must, otherwise, there’s a chance you could get stuck. However, staying in Bali during Nyepi can be a unique cultural and spiritual experience. It’s also the perfect time for stargazing since the island’s darkness lets the night sky appear at its clearest and brightest.
Planning for the Nyepi holiday in Bali
