Essential Bali Customs and Etiquette

While beautiful Bali beckons with bohemian beaches, lush jungle valleys and ornate temples sure to spark wanderlust, visiting this exotic island still requires respecting sacred traditions and etiquette standards that preserve its distinctive identity. Before embarking on Paradise Tours’ customized adventures revealing the region’s nature, culture and spirit, brush up on customs for moving mindfully around both sacred sites and everyday scenes without committing faux pas.

Cover shoulders and knees when entering any temple as a sign of respect. Such modest dress tells locals and deities alike you revere these sacred spaces. Attempting to enter in revealing beachwear risks offending guards. And never point your feet toward shrines when seated, as feet represent the impure lower body in Hinduism.

Learn the significance of daily offerings artfully placed throughout neighborhoods to appreciate how Bali’s distinctive brand of spirituality permeates daily life. Never disturb or remove these palm woven works honoring deities. Simply walk around or over them without direct contact.

Understand polite gestures like placing both hands together prayer-style with a slight bow when greeting new acquaintances. And don’t beckon people with gestures like crooked pointer fingers, which connote anger. With insider guidance from Paradise Tours on respectful norms and customs, you’re free to fully immerse in cultural connections.