Queues at Gilimanuk Still Snaking Ahead of Nyepi Tomorrow

Operations at Gilimanuk Port, Jembrana Regency, Bali, will be completely shut down in connection with the Holy Day of Nyepi for the Saka New Year 1948 starting tomorrow, Thursday (19/3/2026) at 05:00 WITA. However, up to H-1 before the closure, outbound traffic from Bali is still observed to be heavy, dominated by private vehicles. Vehicle queues today, Wednesday (18/3/2026), around 15:30 WITA, reached the Cekik Forest area of Gilimanuk or about 7 kilometres (km) from Gilimanuk Port. As a result, concerns have arisen that many holidaymakers will be trapped in Gilimanuk during Nyepi. Based on official information from ASDP, crossings from Gilimanuk Port will be stopped starting Thursday (19/3) at 05:00 WITA until Friday (20/3) at 06:00 WITA. Meanwhile, Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi will close earlier, starting Wednesday (18/3) at 17:00 WIB, to clear the port for holidaymakers coming from Bali. “This afternoon, the queue had already reached Cekik Forest, and we have reactivated the cargo terminal for private vehicle queues. Hopefully, all holidaymakers can cross before Nyepi,” stated Jembrana Police Chief, AKBP Kadek Citra Dewi Suparwati, when confirmed by detikBali on Wednesday (18/3/2026). Citra explained that the earlier closure scheme at Ketapang aims to smooth the outbound holiday traffic from Bali. With no passenger loading from Java to Bali in the afternoon, ships can move faster to pick up and transport holidaymakers from Gilimanuk. To anticipate the swelling number of holidaymakers, Polres Jembrana has prepared all its sub-district police stations as vehicle storage locations. This aligns with the directive from the Minister of Transportation to ensure all holidaymakers can cross before Nyepi begins. “All sub-district police stations are on alert for holidaymakers’ vehicle storage. Yesterday, the Minister of Transportation also conveyed that it is ensured holidaymakers will cross before Nyepi,” emphasised Citra.