Responsible Travel in Bali & Indonesia: Your Guide to Eco-Friendly and Ethical Holidays
Travel gives us the opportunity to experience new cultures, landscapes and communities, but how we travel matters too.
At The Seven Holiday, we believe incredible journeys should have a positive impact on the places we visit. As a Bali-based travel company, we encourage our guests to explore Bali and Indonesia with respect for local communities, culture, wildlife and the environment.
From supporting local businesses and reducing waste to respecting sacred places and choosing ethical wildlife experiences, this guide shares practical ways to travel more responsibly while experiencing the very best of Indonesia.
What Does It Mean to Travel Responsibly?
Responsible travel means being conscious of the impact your journey has on the environment, local communities and the places you visit. It’s about making thoughtful choices, respecting local cultures and traditions, supporting local communities, and helping protect the natural environments that make Bali and Indonesia so special.
Simple, Impactful Ways to Travel Responsibly
1. Reduce plastic and waste.
Plastic pollution remains a challenge across Bali and Indonesia. Carry reusable bottles and bags, avoid unnecessary single-use plastics and packaging, and dispose of waste responsibly. At The Seven Holiday, we include a reusable water bottle in our welcome kits to help our guests reduce single-use plastic while travelling.
2. Support local businesses and communities.
Choose locally owned restaurants, shop for locally made crafts, fashion and souvenirs, and support independent artisans and vendors. Spending locally helps tourism benefit the communities you are visiting and often leads to much more memorable experiences along the way.
3. Choose ethical wildlife experiences.
Not every animal attraction is an ethical one. We strongly discourage experiences that exploit wildlife, including dolphin chasing tours in Lovina, captive dolphin swimming experiences, posing with animals offered by street vendors, elephant riding, and attractions where animals are used primarily for entertainment. We also recommend avoiding Kopi Luwak produced through captive civet farming. Instead, choose responsible wildlife and conservation experiences where animal welfare comes first.
4. Respect local culture, temples and ceremonies.
Bali’s traditions and religious practices are an important part of everyday life, not simply tourist attractions. Dress appropriately when visiting temples, follow local rules, respect ceremonies and sacred spaces, and listen to the guidance of your local guide. We provide a sarong in our welcome kits for guests to use during temple visits on guided tours. Learning a few simple Bahasa Indonesia greetings is another small but appreciated way to connect with the people you meet.
5. Protect Indonesia’s oceans and natural environments.
Whether you’re snorkelling in the Gili Islands, exploring Komodo or spending time on Bali’s beaches, enjoy these environments without leaving a negative impact. Never touch or stand on coral, disturb marine life, remove shells or natural materials, or leave rubbish behind. Choose responsible operators for marine and nature-based activities and follow the guidance of local guides.
6. Eat, shop and bargain locally and fairly.
Indonesian food is one of the great pleasures of travelling here, and eating at locally owned restaurants and warungs directly supports local businesses. When shopping at markets, bargaining is common and perfectly acceptable, but keep it friendly and fair. Saving a tiny amount may mean very little to you but considerably more to the person you’re buying from.
7. Be respectful when taking photographs.
Always ask before photographing people, particularly in villages, markets or during religious ceremonies. Be especially mindful around temples and sacred events, where photography may be restricted or inappropriate. If you’re travelling with one of our guides, they can help you understand when photography is welcome and when it’s better to put the camera away.
8. Choose accommodation and experiences thoughtfully.
Look for hotels, resorts and tour operators taking meaningful steps towards more responsible tourism, whether through reducing plastic and waste, conserving water and energy, employing local people or supporting surrounding communities. Not every property needs an eco-label to be making a positive contribution. We work with a range of accommodation and experience partners across Bali and Indonesia and can help recommend options that align with your priorities.
Know Before You Travel
Bali has official guidelines for international visitors designed to protect the island’s culture, communities and sacred places. We encourage all guests to familiarise themselves with local rules and customs before travelling. Your Personal Assistant and guides are also available throughout your journey if you’re ever unsure about appropriate etiquette or local practices.
Responsible vs Sustainable Travel
Responsible and sustainable travel share the same goal: creating a positive future for the places we visit.
Sustainable tourism looks at the bigger picture, including how destinations, businesses and communities manage tourism over the long term. Responsible travel focuses on the choices we can each make along the way, from supporting local communities and respecting culture to protecting wildlife and reducing our environmental impact.
Small decisions may seem simple, but collectively they can make a meaningful difference.
Responsible Travel FAQs
What should I wear when visiting temples in Bali?
Visitors should dress respectfully when entering temples and sacred sites in Bali. Shoulders should generally be covered, and a sarong may be required to cover the legs. Always follow the rules of the individual temple and the guidance of your local guide. The Seven Holiday provides sarongs in our welcome kits for guests to use during temple visits on our guided tours.
Which animal experiences should I avoid in Bali?
We recommend avoiding activities where animals are exploited for entertainment or where their natural behaviour and welfare are compromised. This includes elephant riding, captive dolphin swimming, dolphin chasing tours in Lovina, posing with wild animals offered by street vendors, and Kopi Luwak experiences involving captive civets.
When planning wildlife experiences, our Travel Experts prioritise responsible options where animal welfare comes first.
How can I reduce plastic waste while travelling in Bali and Indonesia?
Carry a reusable water bottle and shopping bag, avoid unnecessary single-use plastics, refuse plastic straws and dispose of waste responsibly. Many hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses across Bali are actively reducing their reliance on single-use plastics.
We provide a reusable water bottle in our welcome kits to help guests reduce single-use plastic during their journey.
How can I support local communities while travelling in Indonesia?
Choose locally owned restaurants and businesses, buy locally made products, use local guides and support community-based experiences. When shopping at traditional markets, bargain respectfully and remember that spending locally helps ensure tourism directly benefits the communities you are visiting.
Why Travel Responsibly With The Seven Holiday?
Responsible travel isn’t only about the choices our guests make. It also influences the experiences and partners we choose.
As a Bali-based travel company, our team lives and works in the destinations we promote. We want tourism to support local communities, respect Indonesian culture and protect the wildlife and natural environments our guests come here to experience.
Our approach includes:
- Working with local guides and partners across Indonesia
- Supporting locally owned businesses, artisans and communities
- Avoiding exploitative wildlife activities, including elephant riding, captive dolphin swimming and dolphin chasing tours
- Recommending responsible wildlife and nature experiences where animal welfare comes first
- Working with hotels and resorts that are taking meaningful steps towards more sustainable operations
- Designing journeys that connect guests with Indonesian culture, communities and nature
- Providing reusable water bottles and sarongs in our welcome kits to encourage more responsible choices during each journey
- Helping our guests understand local customs and make informed choices while travelling
Final Thoughts: Responsibility Starts With You
Responsible travel doesn’t mean giving up the experiences that make a holiday extraordinary. It means experiencing a destination with greater awareness of the people, culture, wildlife and environment around you.
From the choices we make when designing your journey to the choices you make while travelling, small actions can have a meaningful impact.
Whether you’re discovering Bali, exploring Komodo, travelling through Java or venturing further across Indonesia, we invite you to experience it with curiosity, respect and care, helping protect what makes these places extraordinary for generations to come.
Ready to explore Indonesia your way? Let our Travel Experts create a journey that reflects how you want to travel.
