Bali and Lombok Motorcycle Tours: A Planning Guide
Motorcycle trips in Indonesia split cleanly into two kinds, and it helps to know which one you want before you look at dates. One is dirt riding on Bali: enduro bikes, jungle single track, black sand around Mount Batur, usually from a base you return to each night. The other is road touring on small adventure bikes, hopping by ferry from Bali or Lombok to Sumbawa or East Java. They suit different riders, run in different months and cost very different amounts.
This guide covers both: what is on offer, when it runs, the ferries, the paperwork and what to budget beyond the tour price. For the destination overview, see our Indonesia motorcycle tours hub.
Dirt riding on Bali or road touring across the islands?
| Enduro on Bali | Road touring, Bali and beyond | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical length | Half day to 7 days | 5 to 10 days |
| Bikes | Kawasaki KLX 140, KTM 300 EXC and similar | Kawasaki Versys 250, Hunter Maverick 500 |
| Terrain | Jungle trails, rice field tracks, beach sand, volcanic dunes | Mostly sealed roads, some light off road |
| Experience needed | Beginner trails exist; technical routes need off road hours | Intermediate road riding |
| Season | All year, muddier in the wet | Dry season only, May to October |
| Group size | From one rider | Minimum four to six riders |
The group minimum on the road tours is worth noticing early. A departure needs enough riders to run, so if you are travelling alone, ask the operator which dates already have bookings.
Every Indonesia tour listed on Moto Mass
Two operators currently list tours in Indonesia. Prices below are the listed starting price per rider. Rupiah figures are converted at roughly 17,900 to the US dollar, the rate in mid 2026, so treat the dollar amounts as approximate and check the current rate and price with the operator.
Enduro and dirt bike trips (Bali Dirt Bikes)
| Tour | Days | Base | Listed from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Tabanan Trail | 1 | Tabanan | IDR 1,700,000 (about US$95) |
| Jungle Tabanan Trail | 1 | Tabanan | IDR 1,700,000 (about US$95) |
| Volcano Kintamani Trail | 1 | Kintamani | IDR 2,600,000 (about US$145) |
| 4 Days Tabanan Enduro Tour | 4 | Tabanan | IDR 17,800,000 (about US$995) |
| 4 Days Kintamani Enduro Tour | 4 | Kintamani | IDR 21,400,000 (about US$1,195) |
| 7 Day Enduro Tour | 7 | Canggu | IDR 49,000,000 (about US$2,740) |
The multi-day packages list hotels, meals, bikes, riding gear and airport transfers as included. The beach day is described as suitable for complete beginners, with the route set by the tides. The jungle day is the technical one, with logs, rocks and river crossings and around 1,460 metres of climbing.
Road and adventure tours (Intrepid Moto)
| Tour | Days | Distance | Islands | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bali Treasures | 5 | 436 km | Bali | May to October |
| Lombok and West Sumbawa Explorer | 6 | 950 km | Lombok, Sumbawa | May to August |
| Smoking Volcanoes: Bali to Bromo | 8 | 950 km | Bali, East Java | May to September |
| Lombok and Sumbawa Epic | 10 | 1,640 km | Lombok, Sumbawa | May to August |
| Dragon Rider | 10 | 1,640 km | Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo by boat | May to August |
Prices for these are on request. Send the operator a message from the tour page with your dates and group size and they will quote.
When to go
Bali is driest from roughly April to September, with rain building again through October and a wet season from November to March. Long-term averages for Denpasar show about 53 mm of rain in August, the driest month, against about 328 mm in January, the wettest (Weather2Travel's Denpasar climate table). The wet season mostly brings heavy afternoon storms rather than all-day rain.
For road touring that settles it: every listed island-hopping tour runs inside May to October. Enduro riding is different. The Bali operators ride all year, and wet season trails are slower and muddier rather than closed. If your only window is December or January, a dirt trip is the realistic option.
Ferries between the islands
Island-hopping tours use the public car ferries, because the fast boats that carry foot passengers between Bali, the Gilis and Lombok do not take motorcycles (Ferryhopper).
- Bali to Lombok: Padangbai to Lembar on the ASDP car ferry. Allow around four to five hours on the water, plus queueing and loading at the port.
- Lombok to Sumbawa: Kayangan in east Lombok to Poto Tano in West Sumbawa, a shorter crossing that runs around the clock.
- Bali to Java: Gilimanuk to Ketapang, the short hop used by the Bromo tours. The crossing itself is under an hour, but delays at busy times can stretch it well beyond that.
On a guided tour the operator handles tickets and loading. What you need to know is that ferry days are short riding days, and schedules slip. A tour that builds slack around the crossings is planning sensibly, not padding.
Licence, permit and entry costs
Carry your home licence with a motorcycle entitlement and an International Driving Permit that also covers motorcycles. A car-only permit is not enough. Indonesian authorities have reminded tourists that the IDP is required for riding in Bali (Australian Automobile Association), and Bali police have run operations aimed at riders without the right paperwork (InDaily, May 2025). Travel insurance that covers motorcycling usually depends on being properly licensed too.
Foreign visitors to Bali also pay a tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per person, in place since 14 February 2024 (Embassy of Denmark in Indonesia). It is paid online through the official Love Bali system or on arrival, and it is separate from your visa.
What to budget beyond the tour
- Flights to Bali (DPS) or Lombok (LOP). The multi-day enduro packages include airport transfers. Check whether a road tour includes the transfer to its start point in Canggu, Ubud, Senggigi or Sekotong.
- Visa and the Bali tourist levy. Check current visa rules for your passport before booking.
- Insurance that covers motorcycle riding, including off road if you are doing an enduro trip.
- Single room supplements and pillion prices on the longer tours. Ask when you request a quote.
- Riding gear. The enduro packages include gear. For road tours, ask what is supplied and bring your own helmet if you prefer it.
Riding on your own
If you would rather try a road before joining a tour, we have free self-guided day rides on Bali and Lombok with GPX files: Canggu to Jatiluwih and Bedugul, Ubud to Kintamani and Mount Batur, and Malimbu and the Pusuk Pass from Senggigi. The same licence and IDP rules apply on a rental bike.
Frequently asked questions
Can a complete beginner ride a dirt bike in Bali?
Yes, on the right trail. The Beach Tabanan day is described as suitable for complete beginners, and the multi-day packages adapt the route to the group's level. Leave the jungle day and the steeper volcanic sections until you have some off road hours.
What is the best month for a motorcycle tour in Bali and Lombok?
For road touring, June to August: inside the dry season and inside the window when the Lombok and Sumbawa tours run. For enduro riding on Bali, any month works, with drier and faster trails from April to October.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to ride in Indonesia?
Yes. Bring your home motorcycle licence and an IDP with the motorcycle category. A car-only licence or permit does not cover a motorcycle, and police checks in Bali's tourist areas are routine.
How much does a motorcycle tour in Bali cost?
Listed guided enduro days start at IDR 1,700,000, about US$95, and the listed multi-day enduro packages run from about US$995 for four days to about US$2,740 for seven, with hotels, meals and transfers included. Road tours across the islands are priced on request.
Can I take a motorcycle on the fast boat from Bali to Lombok?
No. Motorcycles go on the public car ferry from Padangbai to Lembar, which takes around four to five hours. The fast boats are for foot passengers only.
Can I join a road tour on my own?
Yes, but each road tour needs a minimum of four to six riders to depart. Ask the operator which dates already have a group forming.