Is Bali accessible for people with mobility issues?

Bali is not an accessible destination by European or North American standards, and it is more workable than it first appears if you choose the right places and plan the ground.

The honest problems

Footpaths. Intermittent, uneven, frequently blocked by parked scooters, and often with open drainage channels. Even in Seminyak, walking any distance in a wheelchair is difficult.

Steps everywhere. Villas, restaurants, temples and shops routinely have level changes with no ramp.

Beach access. Most of the Bukit's beaches are at the bottom of long cliff staircases. Waterfalls involve hundreds of steps.

Transport. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles exist through a small number of specialist operators, and standard taxis and ride apps are not adapted.

Temples. Most have steps, uneven stone and no ramps. Some larger sites have improved access at the outer areas.

Where it works

Sanur is the best base on the island. The beachfront path is flat, paved and continuous for several kilometres, the sea is shallow and calm, and the older hotels are largely low-rise with level access.

Nusa Dua is the other strong option: resorts built to international standards with lifts, ramps and accessible rooms, a paved promenade and calm water.

Jimbaran and Tuban for calm beaches and large hotels.

Ubud centre has some accessible hotels and restaurants but hilly, uneven streets and a great many steps.

Choosing accommodation

Ask specific questions rather than relying on a listing's "accessible" tick:

• Step-free access from the car to reception, and from reception to the room.
• Door widths and whether there is a lift.
• A roll-in shower or a bath with a seat.
• Grab rails.
• Level access to the pool and whether there is a shallow entry or hoist.
• Restaurant access without steps.

Ask for photographs of the actual room and its bathroom. Large resorts in Nusa Dua are the most likely to have genuinely adapted rooms.

Getting around

A private driver with a spacious vehicle, booked for the whole trip, is the practical solution. A folding chair goes in the boot and the driver will help. Specialist accessible-transport operators exist in the south and should be booked well in advance.

Distances are short, roads are slow, and being dropped at the door of everything solves most of the problem.

What you can still do

Sunset at Tanah Lot and Uluwatu from the viewing areas. The Jimbaran seafood beach. A Balinese cooking class in a hotel. The Bali Safari Park, which is largely level and has vehicle-based sections. Boat trips from Sanur and Benoa. Spa treatments. The beachfront promenades at Sanur and Nusa Dua. Plenty of restaurants in the flat parts of the south.

Medical and equipment

BIMC and Siloam in the south are international-standard facilities used to foreign patients. Pharmacies are everywhere.

Wheelchair and mobility-equipment hire is available through a small number of providers in the south. Arrange it before arrival rather than on the day, and bring spare parts and any specialised equipment with you, since availability is limited.

Travelling with older parents

The same planning applies, plus heat. Midday humidity is hard work for anyone with a heart or respiratory condition. Plan mornings, stay somewhere flat, and use the pool.

Flights and the airport

Ngurah Rai has lifts, ramps and assistance services, and wheelchair assistance should be requested with the airline at booking and reconfirmed 48 hours out. Immigration queues are long at peak times; assistance staff can usually route you to a priority lane.

Arrival and departure both involve outdoor sections and long walks between areas, so request assistance even if you can normally manage a short distance.

Boats and islands

Fast boats to Nusa Penida, Lembongan and the Gilis frequently beach directly onto sand, and boarding means wading and climbing a ladder. There is no adapted access. For anyone who cannot manage that, the islands are effectively out of reach, although some operators at Sanur harbour with a proper jetty can help with a wheelchair.

Asking the right way

When you contact a hotel, do not ask "is it accessible", which gets a yes almost everywhere. Ask how many steps there are between the car and the room, how wide the bathroom door is, and whether the shower has a lip. Ask for photographs. The answers to specific questions here are generally honest; the answer to a general one is optimistic.