Bali for travellers with disabilities

At first glance, Bali doesn’t appear to be the ideal place for travellers with disabilities.

In many urban and beachside areas, sidewalks are either non-existent, blocked by scooters, or riddled with chicanes.

Natural wonders like waterfalls, historic attractions like temples, and cultural attractions like villages and festivals often have long staircases, big crowds, and a mountainous topography, making access challenging.

But the wonderful Balinese people are always willing to lend a hand and with careful planning and assistance, the island’s unique culture and landscape CAN also be discovered by people with disabilities.

Here’s some advice on where tourists with disabilities can stay and how they can get around, as well as the names of some groups and businesses that can help.

BEFORE YOU GO

There are several Facebook groups dedicated to travellers with disabilities in Bali where you can ask questions about specific challenges and problems, and get replies from other travellers and Bali-based service providers like Rollin Adventures in Bali (rollinadventures@gmail.com), which provides insight on transport, villas, dining and beach paths for people in wheelchairs, as well as people with low vision, epilepsy, autism and cerebral palsy. The most popular page is Bali Travel with Autism and Disabilities, which has 3300 members, followed by Bali Wheelchair Travel and Tours, which has 1800 members.

GETTING AROUND

When my father, who lives with disability, visited me in Bali last month, he notified his airline, who spoke to Bali’s international airport, who sent a bloke called Made to meet him at the passenger boarding bridge with a wheelchair. Made not only wheeled dad through passport control but helped him fill in all the paperwork and got him past customs in a breeze. Once in the arrival lounge they were met by another guy called Made (it’s a common name in Bali) who had been sent by our hotel, the wheelchair-friendly Anvaya Beach Resort (theanvayabali.com) in Kuta, to pick up my dad and take him straight to the hotel. If your hotel or villa doesn’t offer an airport pick-up service, Bali Wheelchair Rental (bali-wheelchair-rental.weebly.com) has a fleet of maxi-taxis. It also rents a wide range of disability aids: mobility scooters, crutches, toilet seats, etc.

WHERE TO STAY

Despite new investments in public works, Seminyak and Canggu, the two most popular beach towns in Bali, are not wheelchair or disability-friendly. Ditto with Ubud, the spiritual capital in the island’s centre, and Uluwatu, a surfing mecca in the deep south. The north and west of the island are beautiful, but you won’t find any good hospitals there. Your best bet is Nusa Dua, a gated community with wide streets, perfect footpaths, easy parking, world-class private hospitals, and whisper-clean beaches on Bali’s lower east coast. Bali.com, a travel agency, lists several accessible and wheelchair-friendly hotels in Nusa Dua, though they are all five-star and expensive. Travellers on a tighter budget can try Sanur, another beach town on Bali’s lower east coast that’s popular among retirees and families with small children. It has wheelchair-friendly hotels and villas at different price points.

ATTRACTIONS

+ Tirta Empul, a Hindu Balinese water temple near the town of Tampaksiring, and Taman Ayun Temple in Mengwi, home to Bali’s most beautiful gardens, feature ramps and are easy to navigate in wheelchairs. Tanah Lot, a famous seaside temple in Bali, has a partially accessible route, while Uluwatu Temple has ramps in the courtyard but not in the main temple area. Not to be confused with the more popular Ubud Monkey Forest, Sangeh Monkey Forest is wheelchair-accessible and has paved pathways throughout, as does the Bali Botanic Garden in Bedugul.

+ The only elephant park in Indonesia certified by Asia Captive Elephant Standards, Mason Elephant Park and Lodge (masonelephantlodge.com) in Taro has wheelchair-friendly pavements and disabled toilets. The Beachwalk Shopping Centre in Kuta, Icon Bali Mall in Sanur, Living World in the capital Denpasar, and Bali Collection Nusa Dua are also wheelchair-friendly.

+ The biggest and baddest waterpark in Indonesia, Waterbom (waterbom-bali.com) in Kuta was specifically designed to be inclusive, with wheelchair-accessible rides and pools, and has disabled toilets, changing rooms and showers.

“We also offer discounted entry and give disabled and handicapped guests a special wristband so our team can be alerted if they need help on slides or more support at areas,” says Kylie Turner, head of marketing at Waterbom.

“But we are still considered an extreme sport, so we have to be careful to also make sure the guests are safe. It’s a tough position sometimes.”