Nyepi Day (Silence Day) in Bali, Indonesia

Nyepi Day (Silence Day) in Bali, Indonesia

By: Elite Voyages

The Balinese celebrate their new year like no other. One of the most well-known Balinese public holidays, celebrations last for six days and include parties, parades, prayers, and a whole Day of Silence, also known as Nyepi Day. Visitors to Bali at this time are encouraged to join in the festivities, especially the memorable Ogoh-Ogoh parade on the second day. However, visitors are required to respect Silence Day, the most unique day of the festivities. 

If you’re traveling to Bali in March, these insights will help you prepare to blend with the locals and truly enjoy the experience.   

The official Nyepi Day in Bali in 2025 is Saturday, March 29, 2025.  

Melasti Day 

Two days before Nyepi, on the first day of the start of a new “Caka” year, Hindus from different villages get together and walk in long colorful processions toward the coastline. It’s a wonderful parade and one of the best opportunities to capture an iconic Balinese tradition on camera. The ritual is meant to purify sacred objects that belong to several temples. At the same time, people acquire sacred water from the sea. 

Melasti Ceremony

Ogoh-ogoh Parade 

The highlights of the day before Nyepi without a doubt are the Ogoh-Ogoh parades. During sunset (between 5 pm and 6 pm) the Balinese parade the streets of their village with gigantic statues that take approximately two months to build. Ogoh-Ogohs are made of bamboo and paper and represent evil creatures. During the parade, a passionate but deafening mixture of the kulkul, claxons, Gamelan (traditional Balinese musical instrument), and drum music is played. The idea is to make as much noise as possible to scare away evil spirits. 

Parades take place all over the island, but the most famous ones can be observed in the streets of Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak. If you’re not one to enjoy a long and loud procession, then check with the reception of your hotel, as many hotels build and parade their own Ogoh-Ogoh as well. In an attempt to put an end to any evil influences in life, the statues are burned after the parade, followed by a great party when the Balinese drink and feast till late. 

Ogoh-Ogoh Parade

Nyepi Day 

The most important and sacred Hindu holiday in Bali, Nyepi Day, is also a general public holiday throughout the rest of Indonesia. Nyepi Day is part of the six days lasting Balinese New Year celebrations. As opposed to most other cultures in the world, where people often flock to the streets to celebrate the arrival of the new year with music, dance, and fireworks, in Bali the streets go empty, and the island turns all dark and quiet. That’s why Nyepi Day is also often referred to as Silence Day. 

This unique celebration happens on the third day of the Balinese New Year and falls the day after the dark moon of the spring equinox. On this day, day and night are of equal duration. The name Nyepi means “to keep silence,” and even Ngurah Rai, the international airport of Bali, closes for 24 hours. 

So, why are the Balinese spending a long day in complete silence? The reason is that they use this day to connect more deeply with God, through prayer, self-reflection, fasting, and meditation. On this day people do not work, eat, or play. Anything that could disturb the connection with God is prohibited. The complete silence is based on the four general rules of Catur Brata: no fire or light, no form of physical working, no movement or traveling, fasting, and no entertainment. 

However, there’s also another story to this unique Day of Silence in Bali: after all the exuberant celebrations of the first two days of the Balinese New Year, the island goes into hiding to protect itself from evil spirits. By observing complete silence and darkness, evil spirits will pass over and either not notice that there’s an island beneath them or believe that it’s a deserted island; either way, they will continue their journey to another place. 

Important remarks if you are on the island on this Silence Day: 

  • Many visitors to the island purposely chose this day to be in Bali to experience this unique Hindu tradition/religion that has been observed for hundreds of years.  
  • No planes will land or take off for just one day (24 hours). All traffic across Bali will be stopped. All shops are closed. No pedestrian traffic is allowed on the beach or the streets. 
  • Tourists are free to do as they wish on this day but must stay indoors and make sure that any lights cannot be seen from the outside. What it means as a guest in a hotel, you’re free to roam the hotel grounds on this day without stepping outside the hotel vicinity.  
  • Some visitors might balk at the idea of spending 24 hours of their vacation subject to restricted activity, but the meditative silence of Nyepi, the most sacred day of the year in Bali, is powerful and worth experiencing. 

About the author: 

                                                 Ricko Tindage, Director of Sales and Marketing at Elite Voyages 

Ricko Tindage is Director of Sales and Marketing at Elite Voyages. His task besides sales and marketing to the travel agent community…is also creating new tour products. 

Originally from Bali, Indonesia, Ricko has called Los Angeles home since 1981. 

His academic background was in hotel management. He has had hotel stints in Jakarta, Indonesia; Brussels, Belgium and Los Angeles. Instead of a career in the hotel industry, the tour and travel industry has shaped the majority of his professional career. 

He started in the travel industry in 1990, Ricko has always been in the hospitality industry, even his spouse was a former director of sales at a major U.S. hotel chain. Before working for Elite Voyages he served in several major U.S. tour operators namely UNIWORLD River Cruises and SITA World Tours. In between, he has developed and created small boutique-style tour operators specialized in incentive travels, honeymoons, destination weddings, luxury travels, and leasing private jets. One of these tour companies was Romance Travel Concierge, a luxury boutique outfit based in Pasadena, CA, and he was president of the company. 

                                                                       About Elite Voyages: 

Bespoke journeys are our specialty at Elite Voyages. Founded in 2019 as a luxury entity for Chinatour.com (established in 2002) our parent company, we have been strongly a believer in providing the most authentic and enriching tour experiences for our discerning travelers through the relentless commitment of our earnest and knowledgeable team before, during and after all journeys. Nothing is left to chance when every itinerary is carefully planned – selecting the best accommodation guests can enjoy, exciting connoisseurs with select culinary exploits, and amazing travelers with must-see sights and entertainment – so that every guest can always be assured of top quality and uniqueness in travel experiences. 

Where I Fell in Love with Travel

The moments that turned us into lifelong explorers.

By Tyler Protano-Goodwin, Marketing Executive at Audley Travel

 

In the world of travel we talk a lot about our favorite countries, but what about the places we first fell in love with? The place that changed our idea of travel forever.

Where did you realize that travel was something that you would never stop doing? Below we share our own stories about how we went from people interested in travel to people determined to see as much of the world as possible.

An Italian adventure with family

Jo Tudisco Guntert, Japan Country Specialist 

The first international trip I took was when I went to Italy with my family after my high school graduation. My mom was determined that we would experience our Italian heritage before I left for college and I quote “take one more family trip together since we’ll never have the time again”. We look back now and laugh since that trip was just the first of what has now been 9 international adventures. However, that first trip to Italy was everything. I fell in love with the ancient streets, the delicious smells, the friendly shouts and laughter from vendors and voyeurs alike. I fell in love with the glitter of sunshine off Venetian waterways and the smell of grapefruit on the worn road to Pompeii. Most importantly I fell in love with what it feels like to discover new places, to notice details that we miss in our everyday lives, to glimpse a world so outside our own that our thoughts can’t help but turn to dreams. When I tell people that I love travel, that trip with my family is the one that I think of.

DSC00303 (1325374)

Sharing the gift of travel in Colombia

Matthew Nilsson, Latin America Senior Product Executive 

Standing on the Pacific shores of Colombia at daybreak, my brother beside me, we watched as newborn turtles made their way to the sea for the first time. Having lived in Colombia for over a year I was already enchanted by this vibrant country, but the joy of watching travel transform someone else was a new feeling entirely. I was elated to share the moment with my brother who was at the time in the Navy. After our experience in Colombia it wasn’t a week before we were both home and I got a call from him to say that the moment had swayed his decision to leave the Navy and move on to the next chapter in his life. An unlikely affirmation for myself that travel is unwavering in its generosity to transform anyone who is open to it.

Turtle release on Lankayan Island (7998070)

Connecting with Irish culture

Shannon Dirrane, UK and Ireland Product Executive

Before Freshman year of college I traveled to the island, Inis Mor in Ireland with my dad for a family wedding. The beauty of the island was overwhelming, but what changed my idea of travel forever was the people. A culture so similar to my own was in reality so unique and different. Tea and scones are a way for the people to connect with one another and the packed pubs foster important face to face interactions. The lively sense of community and the hardworking spirit of the locals inspired me to return, I felt a sense of calm in a place that puts such a high value on connection. I went back and lived in Ireland for close to a year and afterwards have kept exploring – eager to find more places where the people are more important than the landscapes.

Jerpoint Farm Kilkenny - local farmer giving a guided tour and sheep dog demo

Witnessing the unknown in Tanzania

Jack Morris, Africa Regional Manager 

It’s a long journey by light aircraft to get to Greystoke Camp in western Tanzania, and this is partly the reason why it’s so special. The camp sits on a lake and I knew before arriving that it would be an experience not to forget. The lake itself is crystal clear, drinkable in fact, and you can see the cychlids and yellowbelly fish swimming every which way. Plus there was the reason I’d come all this way – trekking into the jungle to visit the M community of chimpanzees. Clambering through the thick jungle vines and through the steep rocky streams of the Mahale Mountains to find them was something from a childhood dream. Traveling to see things I couldn’t have even imagined felt almost mystical in a sense and it was in this moment, staring at the chimps, that I knew I would never stop visiting new places.

Chimpanzee, Malahe Mountains National Park (248711)

 

Tyler Protano-Goodwin is a marketing executive at Audley Travel who create customized trips for curious adventurers around the world. Each trip is designed by someone who is deeply passionate about the art of travel and who believes that travel has the power to be transformative. Our handcrafted itineraries provide the framework for life changing moments to unfold for you. 

 

 

 

5 Reasons Icelanders Are So Happy

By Lisa Young, Product Manager with Authentic Vacations

Lisa Young is a product manager and writer for Authentic Vacations. Travel experiences involving food, wine, art, live music, wellness and engaging with locals make her heart sing.

 

Remember The Partridge Family, an American sitcom from the early 1970s?  The show’s theme song was, “Come On, Get Happy!”  Perhaps the Partridges were secretly Icelandic.  Iceland consistently ranks near the top of the annual “World Happiness Report”.  Let’s explore five potential reasons why:

1. Stunning and Stimulating Scenery.

Often referred to as the “Land of Fire and Ice” due to its unique dichotomy of active volcanoes and massive glaciers, Iceland’s otherworldly landscape is a mesmerizing fusion of scenic glory.

Most Icelanders maintain sunny dispositions despite the lack of winter daylight hours.

Being surrounded by magical skies, spectacular mountains, magnificent waterfalls, peaceful fjords, dramatic geysers, tranquil rivers, calming lakes, black sand beaches, geothermal pools and mossy lava fields – how could these environs promote anything other than an enduring sense of wonder and happiness?

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Photo of Seljalandsfoss waterfall courtesy of David-Mark from Pixabay

2. Culture of Creativity.

Literature.  For years, Iceland held the position of publishing most book titles per capita than any other country.  Iceland claims that one in ten of its citizens will publish a book during his or her lifetime.  Reykjavik (literally “smoky bay”) was the fifth city in the world to receive the UNESCO City of Literature title.  Storytelling is apparently in the blood, dating back to the Viking sagas.  Expand your literary horizons and crack open a contemporary Icelandic novel.

Music.  For music as otherworldly as the performers’ native land, enjoy the sounds of Björk, whose career has spanned four decades, and the “avant-rock” band Sigur Rós.

Visual Art.  Iceland’s notable visual art production does not date back as far as other countries, though some incredible works of art are being produced by the country’s contemporary visual artists.

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Photo of Björk courtesy of Raph_PH-Flickr

3. You Are What You Eat.

Taking a cue from the famous movie line in When Harry Met Sally and adopting an “I’ll have what she’s having” attitude when it comes to the traditional Icelandic diet could be a healthy choice.  Big homemade breakfasts, fresh seafood, and quality meat and dairy are the mainstays of a typical diet in Iceland.

Lysi (aka cod liver oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids) is regularly consumed, even given to children at preschools and daycare.  Skyr, a popular dairy product akin to yogurt, is low in fat yet high in protein and calcium.  The focus on clean, renewable, and sustainable energy results in healthier, fresher and more delicious food.

Even the famous Icelandic hot dog is, debatably, a healthy option since it is lamb-based, supplying iron and those beneficial omega-3s.

Restaurants and food shops in Iceland are increasingly catering to vegetarians and vegans, including Gló, the country’s first raw food restaurant.

Fun fact:  Icelanders have been growing vegetables in greenhouses heated by geothermal energy since 1924!

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Photo courtesy of Marco Verch

4. The Active Lifestyle.

Icelandic people enjoy being active outdoors, exploring the country’s three national parks, numerous nature reserves, and hiking trails.  They place a high degree of importance on nature, treating the vast and unspoiled landscape with deep reverence and care.  Efforts are continuously made to preserve the unique flora and fauna. 

Furthermore, they remain active in other ways, often holding more than one job.  Rather than earning extra money for survival, this is primarily to keep themselves engaged and purposeful, warding off any threats of depression during the months of limited light.

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Photo of Blue Lagoon courtesy of Chris Lawton from Unsplash

5. SSS.

Stable.  Iceland is an island, but its inhabitants feel anything but isolated.  The way Icelanders band together in times of crisis is truly inspirational.  Two powerful, overarching characteristics are embedded in Icelanders—optimism and resilience.

Safe.  The least populated country in Europe, Iceland claimed just under 340,000 people in 2018.  The country maintains an impressively low crime rate with only five prisons in Iceland housing less than 200 prisoners among them!

Socially Progressive.  Iceland is consistently ranked number one by the World Economic Forum in gender equality.  Proof exists in the form of a female Prime Minister and more women currently enrolled in university than men.

Let’s make like the Partridges, book a trip to Iceland, and soak up the happiness!

 

For over two decades, Authentic Vacations has been crafting highly personalized, unique, and immersive experiences that connect travelers with locals.  Destinations include Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand.  Our passionate Destination Experts are ready to help you plan your next trip – perhaps to happy Iceland! Visit www.authenticvacations.com today.