Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Understanding local customs is where a journey begins. Find the topics that matter to you and feel at ease wherever you go.

Indonesia

0 rules found

No rules for this combination yet.

Site-specific notes 6

Taken from the "don'ts" on each site page here. Open a site for its full etiquette and background.

Bali

Don't hand things over with your left hand
don't touch people's heads (sacred)
don't be affectionate or loud inside temples
don't take stones or sacred objects from temples
on Nyepi (19 March in 2026) everyone on the island must stay indoors, turn off lights and keep quiet, and Ngurah Rai International Airport closes all day — visitors are no exception.

Borobudur

Don't carve anything or take stones
don't sit or lie on the stupas or strike inappropriate poses
drones need a permit.

Prambanan temples

Don't climb the temple stones or reliefs
don't litter
don't strike disrespectful poses in front of the deities

Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest

Don't bring food or plastic bags in, and don't feed the monkeys
don't stare into a monkey's eyes or bare your teeth at it (they see it as a challenge)
don't enter the temple sanctums

Tanah Lot

Don't climb the barriers into the temple
by local custom, menstruating women don't enter temple grounds
don't step on offerings (canang sari) on the ground

Nyepi in Bali

On Nyepi visitors may not go out into the streets or to the beach either
no loud noise and no bright lights
during the ogoh-ogoh parade don't block the procession or climb the effigies