How to Stay Safe in Indonesia
1. Introduction
Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago nation, comprising over 17,000 islands spread across 5,000 kilometres of ocean between Southeast Asia and Australia. It is the fourth most populous country in the world (275 million people) and the world’s largest Muslim-majority democracy. Indonesia’s tourist attractions are extraordinary in their diversity: Bali’s Hindu temples and rice terraces, the Komodo dragons of Nusa Tenggara, the orangutans of Borneo (Kalimantan), the ancient Buddhist temple of Borobudur and Hindu Prambanan in Java, the volcanic landscapes of Lombok and Java, and the pristine marine environments of Raja Ampat.
The capital is Jakarta (moving to the new capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan). The currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). The official language is Bahasa Indonesia. Tourism is largely concentrated in Bali, Yogyakarta, Lombok, the Gili Islands, Flores, and Labuan Bajo (Komodo access point).
2. Security Landscape
2.1 Terrorism
Indonesia has experienced significant terrorist attacks historically, including the 2002 Bali bombings (202 dead), 2005 Bali bombing, 2009 Jakarta hotel bombings, and 2016 Jakarta attack. The threat from Islamist extremism, primarily linked to groups affiliated with ISIS and Jemaah Islamiyah, persists. Major attacks in tourist areas have been rare since 2016 due to successful counter-terrorism operations, but the threat is not eliminated.
| WARNING — Terrorism Awareness: Remain vigilant in crowded public places, particularly in major cities (Jakarta, Surabaya) and popular tourist areas. Follow hotel security guidance. Be aware of unattended bags in public spaces. |
2.2 Natural Hazards — Volcanoes & Earthquakes
| WARNING — Volcanic Activity: Indonesia sits on the ‘Ring of Fire’ and has 127 active volcanoes — more than any other country. Major eruptions at Merapi (Java), Agung (Bali), Rinjani (Lombok), Sinabung (Sumatra), and Anak Krakatau have affected tourists. Check volcanic alert levels (PVMBG Indonesia) before visiting any volcanic area. |
| WARNING — Earthquakes & Tsunamis: Indonesia experiences frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes. The 2018 Lombok earthquake (7.0M), 2018 Palu tsunami, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (in Aceh), and 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake demonstrate the ongoing risk. Coastal areas are at tsunami risk. Know your hotel’s tsunami evacuation route. |
2.3 Crime
Bali experiences significant tourist-targeted crime: bag snatching, motorbike theft, accommodation theft, and scams. Pickpocketing on the Kuta and Legian strip is common. Drug-related crime is a serious concern in Bali’s nightlife areas. Violent crime against tourists is rare but does occur, particularly after drink-spiking incidents.
3. Safe & Unsafe Areas
| TIP — Safe for Tourists: Bali (Seminyak, Ubud, Nusa Dua more upscale and safer; Kuta higher crime), Yogyakarta, Lombok (Senggigi, Gili Islands), Labuan Bajo, Raja Ampat — all popular and generally safe with precautions. |
| WARNING — Exercise Caution: Papua (areas with OPM/Free Papua Movement activity — check current situation). Poso and Palu (Central Sulawesi) — historically had sectarian conflict and terrorist activity. Maluku (North Maluku historically). Aceh — conservative sharia law applies. |
4. Transportation
Domestic flights connect major islands — Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Batik Air, Citilink are main carriers. Road travel in Bali and Java is busy and accident-prone. Motorbike rental is popular in Bali but accidents are extremely common — Bali’s hospitals treat foreign motorbike accident victims daily. Ferries connect islands — the ASDP ferry network is government-run and generally safe; private speedboats between islands have a poorer safety record.
| WARNING — Motorbike Safety: Never ride a motorbike in Bali or anywhere in Indonesia without a helmet and appropriate experience. Traffic drives on the left. Roads are narrow and traffic is heavy. Always carry an international driving permit. Without a valid international licence, your insurance may be void. |
5. Health & Medical
Medical facilities in Bali (BIMC Hospital, Siloam Hospitals) meet reasonable standards. In Jakarta, international hospitals (Siloam, RS Pondok Indah) provide good care. Elsewhere, facilities are more limited. Medical evacuation insurance is essential.
Key health risks: dengue fever (year-round, peaks in wet season November-April); malaria (eastern islands — Papua, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Timur); typhoid; hepatitis A; rabies (Bali has a significant stray dog population and documented rabies cases); chikungunya; Zika (risk exists). Tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in Indonesia.
| WARNING — Bali Belly: Traveller’s diarrhoea (locally called ‘Bali Belly’) is very common. Avoid tap water, ice, raw vegetables from street stalls, and unpeeled fruits. Only drink bottled water with intact seals. |
6. Common Scams & Threats
| Scam Name | How It Works | How to Avoid It |
| Money Changer Fraud | Unofficial money changers in Bali (particularly on Kuta/Legian Strip) use rigged counting machines to shortchange tourists dramatically. | Use only authorised money changers (PT Central Kuta, BMC are reputable). Count your money before leaving the counter. |
| Motorbike Damage Scam | Rental operators claim you damaged a motorbike that was already damaged before you rented it. | Photograph the motorbike extensively before riding. Document all pre-existing damage on the rental form. |
| Taxi Overcharging | Non-metered taxis and touts charge inflated rates, particularly from Ngurah Rai Airport. | Use Grab or Gojek apps. Official Blue Bird taxis are metered and reliable. Avoid all touts. |
| Fake Petrol in Bottles | Remote areas sell petrol in bottles at highly inflated prices, claiming stations are far. | Plan fuel stops in advance. Most areas have petrol stations. |
| Ticket Touts at Temples | Unofficial ticket sellers charge inflated prices at Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, and other temples. | Buy tickets only at the official booth at the temple entrance. |
| Kecak Dance Ticket Scam | Touts sell fake or overpriced tickets for the famous Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu. | Buy tickets directly at the Uluwatu Temple box office on the day or through your hotel. |
| Drug Plant | A stranger befriends a tourist and plants drugs in their bag, then reports them to police (or poses as police), demanding a bribe. | Bali drug laws carry the death penalty. Never accept items from strangers. Be extremely wary of anyone offering drugs or claiming you are carrying them. |
| Beach Massage Pressure | Beach vendors and massage operators become aggressive when tourists decline services. | Be firm and polite. Move to a resort-controlled beach area if harassment continues. |
7. Legal Considerations
| WARNING — Drug Laws: Indonesia has extremely severe drug laws. Drug trafficking carries the death penalty — several Australians have been executed in Indonesia for drug offences (the ‘Bali Nine’). Even small quantities of drugs result in lengthy imprisonment. Never use, carry, or traffic drugs in Indonesia. |
Pornography laws are strict — this includes explicit material on laptops and phones. LGBTQ+ laws vary by region — Aceh province applies Sharia law and criminalises same-sex acts. In most of Indonesia, same-sex relationships are not explicitly criminalised federally but anti-pornography laws and local regulations are sometimes used against LGBTQ+ individuals. Exercise significant discretion.
8. Emergency Contacts
| Service | Number / Details |
| Police Emergency | 110 |
| Ambulance | 118 / 119 |
| Fire Service | 113 |
| Tourist Police Bali | +62 361 224 111 |
| BIMC Hospital Bali | +62 361 761 263 |
| Siloam Hospital Denpasar | +62 361 779 900 |
| UK Embassy Jakarta | +62 21 2356 5200 |
| US Embassy Jakarta | +62 21 5083 1000 |
| Australian Embassy Jakarta | +62 21 2550 5555 |
| PVMBG Volcano Alert | +62 22 7272606 |
9. Safety Checklist
- Check volcanic alert levels before visiting any volcano in Indonesia
- Know your hotel’s tsunami evacuation route — post it on your phone
- Use Grab or Gojek for transport — never accept street taxis at airports
- Use only authorised money changers in Bali — count money carefully
- Photograph motorbike thoroughly before rental — document all existing damage
- Use bottled water only — no tap water, no ice at low-end venues
- Apply DEET repellent against dengue — year-round risk
- Never carry, use, or traffic drugs — death penalty applies
- Carry first aid kit and oral rehydration salts for traveller’s diarrhoea
- Purchase comprehensive medical evacuation insurance
- Keep a photocopy of passport, visa, and insurance documents
- Register with your embassy’s travel registry
