How do I avoid Bali belly?
Checked October 2026 · 4 sources
Bali belly is travellers' diarrhoea, usually caused by contaminated water, ice or food. To lower your risk, drink only sealed or properly filtered water, avoid tap water and homemade ice, eat freshly cooked hot food, and wash or sanitise your hands before eating. Most cases are mild and clear within a few days.
In detail
Stick to sealed bottled water or refill stations that use treated water, and use it for brushing your teeth too. Ice in established restaurants and bars is usually commercial, while cloudy or irregular cubes from small stalls are more likely to be made from untreated water.
Choose busy places where food is cooked to order and served hot. Be careful with raw salads, pre-cut fruit and buffet dishes that have been sitting out. Fruit you peel yourself is a safer choice.
Carry hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol for times when there is no soap. Only drink branded, sealed alcohol from licensed venues, because counterfeit spirits and homemade arak have caused methanol poisoning in Bali.
If you do get sick, drink plenty of fluids and use oral rehydration salts. See a doctor if you have a fever, blood in your stool, severe symptoms or diarrhoea that lasts more than a few days, or if a child or older person is affected. Ask a travel-health professional about a medical kit before you leave.
Good to know
- Pack oral rehydration salts and hand sanitiser.
- Use bottled or filtered water for brushing your teeth.
- Avoid unbranded spirits and arak cocktails.
On Bali Reply
More questions about health & safety
Sources
Rules and prices in Indonesia change often. Always check official sources before you travel.