Asia's Most Beautiful Island Sets Travel Ban for Nyepi Day

Bali, which was recently named Asia's most beautiful island, will pause all tourism operations for one day on March 29th. This suspension aims to respect Nyepi Day when the entire island observes silence.

Commonly referred to as the Balinese Day of Silence, Nyepi stands as the holiest celebration for Balinese Hindus. During this time, everyone residing in or visiting Bali must respect the custom, irrespective of their religious beliefs. The Bali Sun reported.

The Balinese calendar marks Nyepi for this year on Saturday, March 29. For an entire day, the island will observe total silence—lights, music, and noise will all be banned, transport services will cease operations, and residents are required to stay inside their homes.

Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport will temporarily halt all operations starting at 6 a.m. on March 29 until 6 a.m. on March 30. During this timeframe, travelers transiting through the airport will need to remain within the terminal building.

Bali was awarded as Asia's most stunning island during this year's annual event. Reader's Choice Awards by travel magazine DestinAsian .

Last October, Bali was also recognized as Asia’s most stunning island by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler In their Readers' Choice Awards.

Famous for its distinctive mix of Hindu-Balinese customs, Bali boasts a vibrant cultural legacy marked by elaborate dances, enchanting ceremonies, and historic shrines.

In 2024, the island received 6.3 million international travelers, exceeding numbers from before the pandemic. The target for this year is to bring in approximately 6.5 million tourists to Bali.