Bali, Indonesia, often referred to as "the island of the gods", is gaining popularity among Kenyan travellers, putting pressure on traditional destinations like Dubai, Zanzibar and Turkey.
According to travel experts, inquiries and bookings to Bali have increased in recent years, largely due to easier visa access, high-value luxury offerings at affordable rates and a growing appetite for experiential travel among Kenyans.
Urbanus Mbili Ngao, founder and director of Urbann Vacations, a Nairobi-based tours and travel company that has been organising trips to Bali since 2019, says: "There is a definite increase in Kenyans travelling to Bali. This trend started around three years ago, and we now handle up to 10 bookings every month, up from one to two groups per month."
The majority of these bookings are made up of couples and groups of women with four or more members, primarily aged between 30 and 45.
"In the past year, we've also booked a lot of couples travelling to Bali for an anniversary or honeymoon."
While Dubai and Zanzibar remain popular — Dubai for its shopping and business offerings, and Zanzibar for its proximity, clean beaches and exotic resorts — Mr Ngao says Bali occupies a slightly different niche.
Urbanus Mbili Ngao, founder and director of Urbann Vacations, says demand for Bali holidays has risen steadily over the past three years.
Photo credit: Pool
The Indonesian island is often compared to Malaysia and Singapore, both of which are renowned for their incredible cultural diversity, varied dining options and a blend of tropical landscapes and modern, accessible infrastructure.
A key driver of Bali’s rising popularity is Indonesia’s visa-upon-arrival policy for Kenyan passport holders, negating the need for lengthy pre-travel visa applications.
"Kenyans can acquire an Indonesian visa from the Indonesian Immigration department at their point of entry for around $50 (Sh6,450)," says Mr Ngao. "The process is very easy and straightforward, and it allows you to not only travel to Bali, but also to other places within Indonesia, such as Jakarta."
Winnie Mwikali, a tour consultant from TrippyGO Tours & Travel, says they began facilitating trips to Bali in mid-2024. However, it wasn't until 2025 that they started seeing increased interest. Since then, they have seen a 41 percent increase in Bali-bound travellers.
"Bali became particularly popular among women's groups in 2025. From around May, we began to experience a surge in inquiries and confirmed bookings," says Ms Mwikali. "Also, due to visa restrictions in Dubai, many clients shifted their focus to Asian countries with visa-free or visa-on-arrival options."
Ms Mwikali reveals that most of their clients are solo female travellers or groups of women, who are drawn to locations like Kintamani and Ubud, which offer exceptional backgrounds for social media content.
"Some popular destinations and experiences that attract our clients to Bali include the picturesque Bali Swing near Ubud, the Kintamani Volcano and the Ubud rice terraces."
According to Kui Kimani, the CEO of Travel et Vogue, a destination management company, these experiences are why Kenyans keep going back to Bali.
“I’ve been to Bali three times, and I’d go back another three times without hesitation,” she says. "Bali offers the rare champagne lifestyle on a beer budget. It’s luxury at a pocket-friendly price.”
Gushing about Bali’s dreamy sunsets, Ms Kimani points to the experiences that continuously draw Kenyan travellers. These include private villas with pools and floating breakfasts, lush tropical settings, and rich cultural rituals such as fire dancing and cleansing ceremonies.
Visitors can also enjoy waterfall visits, rafting, quad biking, island hopping in Nusa Penida and treks through Ubud’s monkey forest.
"The Instagram-worthy swings and hidden waterfalls entice people to come, but it's the variety that keeps them there," shares Ms Kimani.
Travel experts note that the average tourist spends four to eight nights in Bali, often splitting their time between different locations, but they also combine these trips with tours of neighbouring countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Costs tend to differ based on activities, booking season and level of luxury. On average, Kenyan tourists spend between $1,550 (Sh200,000) and $8,000 (Sh1,032,036) on an all-inclusive package to Bali.
Flights to Bali commonly route through Doha or Dubai, with lay-overs averaging two to three hours.
"For easy entry, Kenyans can apply for their visa through the official immigration website. They will also need to fill out a digital arrival declaration form at least 72 hours before arrival," advises Ms Mwikali. Other requirements include a valid passport, a return air ticket and hotel vouchers. Sometimes, they will be asked to show their bank statements.
Industry players say the rise of the Indonesian destination simply reflects the love Kenyans have for travelling to nice and safe destinations that offer value for money. While interest in other destinations, such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan and South Korea, is growing in Kenya, the experts are confident that Bali will continue to be a popular destination.
