Jimbaran, Bali · Singapore · Delhi NCR sales@travel-dmc.com | B2B only — trade partners
Planning reference

Bali transport & vehicle access

Bali's roads decide your itinerary more than your budget does. These are the physical limits our suppliers work to, published so you can size a vehicle before you confirm a hotel.

Vehicle access limits by area

Supplier terms, current contract year
VehicleAreaCan it enter?Condition
29 / 35 seat (medium) Ubud / Kuta / Kartika Plaza Yes
29 / 35 seat (medium) Canggu Only with patwal Medium bus is the ONLY bus that can reach Canggu
39 seat (OF 917) Ubud area NO — except the palace (puri) car park Patwal required otherwise
39 seat (OF 917) Kuta area NO Patwal required
39 seat (OF 917) Kartika Plaza area NO Patwal required
39 seat (OF 917) Canggu NO — no exception Not even with patwal
48 seat (BIG BUS) Ubud area NO — except the palace (puri) car park Patwal required otherwise
48 seat (BIG BUS) Kuta area NO Patwal required
48 seat (BIG BUS) Kartika Plaza area NO Patwal required
48 seat (BIG BUS) Canggu NO — no exception Not even with patwal
Hiace and cars Anywhere Yes

Why this matters more than the rate

A 48-seat coach is the cheapest seat on the island — but it cannot enter Ubud, Kuta or Kartika Plaza without a police escort (patwal), and it cannot enter Canggu at all. The 29 and 35-seat medium coaches are the only buses that reach Canggu, and then only with patwal.

In practice a 40-pax group staying in Ubud runs on multiple Hiace vehicles, not one coach. Quote it the other way round and the vehicle cannot reach the hotel door.

What is patwal?

A police escort required for large coaches in restricted areas of Bali. Without it, 39 and 48-seat vehicles cannot access Ubud, Kuta or Kartika Plaza.

Vehicle classes

Pax slabVehicleMax seatsNote
Pax slab Vehicle Note
1 – 5 Avanza 2023 5 Cheapest per seat of the cars
1 – 5 Innova Reborn 2023 5 Comfort tier — same seats, manual pick
1 – 5 Innova Zenix 2024 5 Premium tier — manual pick
4 – 7 Hiace 7 Same price as the 8-15 Hiace
8 – 15 Hiace 15
16 – 29 Bus MBO 29 seat 29 2 × Hiace would be 1,100,000 — bus saves 450,000
30 – 35 Bus 35 seat 35
30 – 35 Bus OF 917 35 seat 35 Premium tier at same seats — manual pick
36 – 39 Bus OF 917 39 seat 39
40 – 48 BIG BUS 48 seat 48 Cheapest per seat of the whole fleet

Transfer zones

Zones we price against. Rates are contracted and shared with registered agents.

ServiceTypeFromTo
Airport → Jimbaran Arrival transfer Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) Jimbaran
Airport → Kuta / Legian / Seminyak Arrival transfer Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) Kuta / Legian / Seminyak
Airport → Nusa Dua Arrival transfer Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) Nusa Dua
Airport → Sanur Arrival transfer Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) Sanur
Airport → Tanah Lot / Canggu Arrival transfer Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) Tanah Lot / Canggu
Airport → Ubud Arrival transfer Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) Ubud
Nusa Penida Boat Transfer (Sanur harbour) Boat transfer Sanur Harbour Nusa Penida
Service Name Category Pickup Dropoff
Full Day Bedugul / Ulun Danu Tour Day tour Hotel Hotel
Full Day Besakih Tour Day tour Hotel Hotel
Full Day Kintamani Tour Day tour Hotel Hotel
Full Day Tanah Lot Sunset Tour Day tour Hotel Hotel
Full Day Ubud Village Tour Day tour Hotel Hotel
Full Day Uluwatu + Kecak Dance Day tour Hotel Hotel
Full Day Tour (10 hrs) Disposal Hotel Hotel
Half Day Tour (5 hrs) Disposal Hotel Hotel
Inter-hotel transfer (South → Ubud) Hotel to hotel Hotel Hotel

What transport rates exclude

Billed on top of the vehicle almost everywhere in Bali. Budget them before you quote.

Toll (Bali Mandara)

The island's only toll road, linking Nusa Dua, Ngurah Rai Airport and Benoa.

Modest per crossing, and it applies only on those routes. Confirm the current tariff at quotation.

Parking (parkir)

Charged per stop at every attraction. Bus parking costs several times car parking.

On a full-day tour with four or five stops this is larger than the toll.

Attraction tickets (karcis masuk)

Entrance fees for the passengers at each paid site.

Quoted as a separate per-person line, never folded into the vehicle rate.

Crew tips

Customary for the driver, and for bus crew or helper on coach programmes.

Not optional in practice. Budget it per day.

Patwal (police escort)

Required for large coaches in restricted areas of Bali.

Can decide whether a large-group itinerary is possible at all — see the access limits above.

Driver accommodation

On overnight and multi-day programmes the hirer pays for the driver's accommodation.

Budget one room per driver for each night the vehicle is away.

Java ferry (penyebrangan)

The Ketapang crossing between Bali and Java.

Excluded from the vehicle rate, along with the driver's overnight.

Sizing a group?

Send pax count, hotel area and dates. We'll tell you which vehicle actually fits.

Ask the Bali team