Expensive Airfares: Bus and Train Offer Cheaper Alternatives to Bali

A holiday to Bali does not necessarily require air travel. As flight prices soar ahead of the long holiday period, tourists can opt for more pocket-friendly land-based travel alternatives. Currently, travellers have various land transport options to Bali, including trains and buses. By utilising a combination of trains and buses, journeys to the Island of the Gods can still be undertaken at a more affordable cost without compromising travel comfort.

The school holiday period is expected to fall from late June 202_6 to mid-July 2026, making early July 2026 an ideal time to plan family holidays. According to Online Travel Agent (OTA) websites, flight prices from Jakarta to Bali on 1 July 2026 range from approximately Rp 1.7 million to Rp 2 million for a one-way trip, with a flight duration of 1 hour and 50 minutes. Upon arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, travellers can proceed directly to nearby attractions such as Kuta Beach and Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK).

Airlines serving the Jakarta-Bali route on that date include AirAsia Indonesia, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air, Citilink, Batik Air Indonesia, and NAM Air. For those seeking land alternatives, intercity (AKAP) bus operators serving the Jakarta-Bali route include PO Alendra, PO Kramat Djati, PO Gunung Harta, and PO Pahala Kencana. A bus journey from Jakarta to Bali takes approximately 18 to 20 hours, with fares starting from Rp 550,000 one way. Additionally, DAMRI now provides a Jakarta-Bali route as an alternative land transport option, with fares starting from Rp 600,000 per person and a travel duration of 23 hours.