Rabies in Bali: Dog & Monkey Bites, Vaccines and Treatment

Rabies in Bali sounds scary when you first start reading about it, but it’s not something most tourists need to worry about during a normal holiday.

Rabies is still present on the island, mainly among dogs, which means there is a genuine risk if you’re bitten or scratched.

This page covers the rabies situation in Bali in 2026, including the risk from dogs and monkeys, whether you should get vaccinated, what to do after a bite, and where to get rabies treatment in Bali.

Note: This is general travel information, not official medical advice. If you’re bitten or scratched by an animal in Bali, seek medical treatment immediately.

Is Rabies Common in Bali?

In 2026, rabies is still present in Bali, so it is worth knowing the basics before you arrive. But it is not something most tourists need to worry about day to day.

The vast majority of people visit Bali, spend time around dogs and monkeys, and never have an issue.

The simple rule is to give free roaming animals a bit of space. Do not feed them, touch them, or try to get a close photo with them. Easy enough.

Bali’s street dogs are the main animal linked to rabies in Bali, although a bite or scratch from a monkey or cat should be taken seriously too. This is mainly relevant if the skin is broken, or saliva gets into an existing cut, your eyes, mouth, or nose.

Bali has clinics, hospitals, and public Rabies Centres that deal with animal bites regularly, so there is a clear process if something does happen. A small scratch does not mean you have rabies. It just means you should clean it properly and let a medical professional tell you whether any treatment is needed.

If an animal bites or scratches you in Bali, don’t spend the next hour Googling whether it “looks like it has rabies”. Wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes, put antiseptic on it, then go and get medical advice that day.

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Which Animals Can Carry Rabies in Bali?

In Bali, the animals tourists need to be mindful of are dogs, monkeys, and cats. You will see all three around the island, and most will leave you completely alone if you return the favour.

• Dogs: Dogs are the main concern for rabies in Bali. Many street dogs belong to local families or are looked after by a neighbourhood, but you cannot tell whether a dog is vaccinated simply by looking at it.
• Monkeys: You are most likely to run into them at Ubud Monkey Forest, Uluwatu Temple, Sangeh, and a few other tourist spots. Rabies is not the reason to avoid these places.
• Cats: Cat bites and scratches are less common for tourists, but they still need the same common-sense response if the skin is broken. This can happen when someone tries to pick up or feed a stray cat or kitten.
• Bats: It is rare for tourists to have any contact with bats in Bali. Still, do not handle an injured or fallen bat, even if you are trying to help.

⚠️ Important: The animal does not need to look ill, aggressive, or “rabid” for a bite or scratch to be worth checking. If the skin is broken, wash it properly and get medical advice. That is the sensible bit, not a reason to become scared of every dog you see on the street.

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How to Avoid Animal Bites in Bali

You don’t need to spend your Bali holiday avoiding every dog and monkey you see. A bit of common sense around animals goes a long way.

Most importantly, don’t touch unfamiliar dogs, even if they look friendly. Yes, I know it’s tempting. Plenty of Bali dogs are used to people, but you don’t know their vaccination history or how they’ll react when approached.

A few simple precautions for your 2026 Bali trip:

• Don’t pet unfamiliar dogs: Especially dogs sleeping, eating, nursing puppies or hanging around outside someone’s home.
• Give street dogs some space: If one starts barking or acting territorial, don’t run. Keep your distance and calmly move away.
• Don’t feed monkeys: Food is one of the easiest ways to get yourself surrounded by monkeys very quickly.
• Keep loose items hidden around monkeys: Sunglasses, hats, phones and dangling bags are easy targets.
• Never try to grab something back: If a monkey takes something, get help from staff rather than wrestling a macaque for your Ray-Bans.
• Watch children around animals: Kids are more likely to approach dogs and monkeys without recognising when an animal wants to be left alone.
• Follow staff instructions at monkey attractions: They deal with these animals every day and know which behaviours are likely to cause problems.

You’ll see dogs all over Bali and monkeys at several major tourist attractions. There’s no reason to be frightened of them. Give them space, don’t encourage interaction, and let Bali’s animals get on with their day while you get on with yours.

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Dog Bites in Bali

Dogs are the main source of rabies in Bali, so any dog bite or scratch that breaks the skin needs to be taken seriously.

Don’t assume a wandering dog is a stray. Many Bali dogs belong to local families or are looked after by the surrounding community, even if they’re free to roam around the neighbourhood.

If a dog bites or scratches you:

• Move away from the dog without trying to catch or restrain it.
• Remember exactly where the incident happened.
• If it’s safe, take a photo of the dog from a distance.
• Ask nearby residents, staff or your accommodation whether they know who owns or looks after it.
• If an owner can be identified, ask whether the dog has a current rabies vaccination and whether they have a vaccination record.
• Don’t let finding the dog or its owner delay you from cleaning the wound and getting medical treatment.

That doesn’t mean you need to panic every time a Bali dog gets a little too friendly. Plenty of dogs around the island are vaccinated, including many pets and community dogs.

The issue is that unless you know the dog and can confirm its vaccination history, you can’t safely assume it’s protected against rabies in Bali.

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Monkey Bites & Scratches in Bali

Monkey bites and scratches are fairly common among tourists in Bali, especially around places such as the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Uluwatu Temple and Sangeh Monkey Forest.

The risk of rabies in Bali from monkeys is much lower than from dogs, but a bite or scratch that breaks the skin still needs to be medically assessed.

The same applies if monkey saliva gets into an existing wound or your eyes, nose or mouth.

If you’re bitten or scratched, don’t rely on staff telling you the monkeys are healthy or vaccinated. Clean the wound immediately and follow the same rabies treatment steps below.

Also, don’t try to retrieve sunglasses, phones or food from a monkey yourself. That’s how a surprisingly peaceful temple visit can turn into a trip to the clinic.

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What to Do if You Were Bitten or Scratched in Bali

If a dog, monkey, cat or other mammal bites or scratches you in Bali, deal with it straight away. This doesn’t mean the animal had rabies, and in most cases it won’t.

The problem is that you can’t really tell just by looking at the animal, so the safest approach is to treat any possible exposure seriously.

Here’s what to do:

1. Wash the Wound Immediately

Before worrying about hospitals, vaccines or anything else, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes.

And I mean properly wash it. Don’t just give it a quick rinse under the tap.

If you’re at a beach, temple, monkey attraction or somewhere without proper facilities, clean it as best you can immediately, then find somewhere with soap and running water as soon as possible.

After washing, apply an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine (Betadine) or alcohol if you can get your hands on some.

This first step is genuinely important. Thorough wound washing helps remove rabies virus from the wound and is part of the recommended treatment following a possible rabies exposure.

⚠️ Don’t wait until you get back to your hotel. If you’ve been bitten or scratched, start washing the wound as soon as possible.

2. Get Medical Treatment the Same Day

Once the wound has been cleaned, go to a hospital or medical clinic that provides rabies treatment.

Don’t wait to see whether the animal becomes sick, and don’t leave it until the next morning because the bite looks small.

Even a minor scratch can count as a rabies exposure if the skin has been broken. Saliva getting into an open wound or onto the eyes, nose or mouth can also require treatment.

At the clinic, tell the doctor:

• what animal bit or scratched you
• where in Bali it happened
• whether the skin was broken or bleeding
• whether saliva may have entered the wound, eyes or mouth
• whether you’ve previously had a rabies vaccination
• when the exposure happened

They’ll assess the exposure and decide what post-exposure treatment you need.

3. Start Rabies Post-Exposure Treatment if Recommended

If the doctor considers it a possible rabies exposure, you’ll usually need rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

For someone who hasn’t previously been vaccinated against rabies, this can include:

• a course of rabies vaccines
• rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) for more serious Category III exposures

RIG is given into and around the wound where possible and provides immediate antibodies while your body starts responding to the vaccine.

If you’ve already completed a recognised rabies vaccination course, treatment is generally simpler. You’ll normally still need booster doses after an exposure, but RIG is usually not required.

The exact vaccine schedule can depend on your vaccination history and the treatment protocol being used, so follow the schedule given by the treating doctor rather than trying to work it out yourself.

💡 Pro Tip: Take a photo of your vaccination record and keep every document you’re given at the clinic. If you’re travelling elsewhere in Bali or leaving Indonesia before completing the course, another hospital will need to know exactly which vaccine you received and when.

4. Don’t Stop Treatment Because the Wound Looks Fine

A small monkey scratch can disappear within a couple of days. That doesn’t tell you anything about rabies risk.

Rabies treatment is about the exposure, not how nasty the wound looks afterwards.

If you’ve started a vaccine course, make sure you receive the remaining doses on the dates advised by the doctor. If you’ll be leaving Bali before the course is finished, ask the clinic for written details of the vaccine you’ve received so you can continue treatment at your next destination or back home.

What if the Bite Happened a Few Days Ago?

Still get medical advice.

If you were bitten or scratched several days ago and didn’t receive treatment, don’t assume you’ve missed your chance to catch rabies in Bali.

Wash the area if it hasn’t been properly cleaned and go to a medical facility that handles rabies exposures as soon as you can.

Rabies has an incubation period before symptoms develop, and PEP can still be given after a delay. The important thing is not to delay it any further.

Once symptoms of rabies appear, the disease is almost always fatal. That’s why doctors treat a possible exposure before there are symptoms rather than waiting to see what happens.

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Where to Get Rabies Treatment in Bali

There are designated centers for treating rabies in Bali where you can be assessed and receive care after a potential rabies exposure.

You don’t need to travel all the way to Denpasar if you’ve been bitten somewhere like Ubud, Amed or Nusa Penida.

If you need rabies treatment in Bali, stick to a major Bali hospital or established medical clinic that regularly deals with tourists. You do not need a huge list. These are some of the most useful options depending on where you’re staying:

• BIMC Hospital, Kuta: One of the main private hospitals used by tourists in South Bali, with a 24-hour emergency department. Convenient for Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and the airport area.
• Siloam Hospital, Denpasar: Large private hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and a practical option if you’re staying around Denpasar or South Bali.
• BIMC Hospital, Nusa Dua: Private hospital with 24-hour emergency care, convenient for Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa, Jimbaran and Uluwatu.
• BIMC Ubud Medical Centre: One of the easiest options for tourists staying in Ubud and the surrounding area for assessment and treatment following an animal bite or scratch.
• Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah Hospital, Denpasar: Bali’s major government referral hospital and an important option for more complicated rabies exposures or when specialist treatment is required.
• RSUD Sanjiwani, Gianyar: Major government hospital in Gianyar and a useful option if you’re staying around Gianyar, eastern Ubud or central Bali.
• RSUD Karangasem, Amlapura: Main government hospital in Karangasem and one of the more practical options if you’re staying in Amed, Candidasa, Tirta Gangga or elsewhere in East Bali.
• RSUD Buleleng, Singaraja: Major government hospital in North Bali and a useful option for travellers staying around Lovina, Singaraja or the north coast.

⚠️ Important: Rabies vaccine and especially rabies immunoglobulin (RIG/SAR) stock can vary between facilities. If you need RIG, call ahead where possible and specifically ask whether they currently have it available. Don’t delay your initial wound treatment or medical assessment while trying to find a particular hospital.

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Rabies Treatment Cost in Bali

Treating rabies in Bali can be [retty cheap if you use a government Rabies Centre, but private hospitals are a different story.

For the rabies vaccine itself, you’re generally looking at around IDR 850,000 to 1.3 million per dose at a private clinic or hospital.

Remember that’s per dose, and you’ll usually have consultation and wound-treatment fees added to the bill as well.

The one that can really hurt the wallet is rabies immunoglobulin (RIG/SAR). If your exposure requires it, you’re potentially looking at several million rupiah.

The amount you need is also based on your body weight, so there isn’t one simple price that applies to everyone.

Here’s a rough idea:

• Rabies vaccine (VAR): IDR 850,000 to 1.3 million per dose
• Doctor and wound treatment: Usually charged separately
• Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG/SAR): Several million rupiah and potentially much more
• Government Rabies Centres: VAR may be available free when medically indicated

If you’re insured, keep absolutely everything: receipts, medical reports and the record showing which rabies vaccine you received and when. Apart from making an insurance claim much easier, you’ll need that vaccination record if you have to finish the course somewhere else.

💡 My Advice: Don’t choose where to get treated based purely on price. Get the bite assessed first. You can worry about whether your travel insurance is about to earn its keep afterwards.

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Travel Insurance & Rabies Treatment

Rabies treatment is one of those unexpected Bali bills that can get expensive pretty quickly, especially if you need multiple vaccine doses or rabies immunoglobulin (RIG).

Most decent travel insurance policies for Bali cover emergency medical treatment after an animal bite, but don’t assume everything will automatically be paid upfront.

Depending on your insurance and the hospital, you may need to pay yourself and claim the money back afterwards.

Before leaving the hospital, make sure you keep these:

• Every receipt and invoice
• The doctor’s medical report
• Your rabies vaccination record
• Details of any RIG you received
• Any prescriptions or medication receipts

If you anticipate your bill will be on the higher end, contact your insurer as soon as you can. They might be able to deal directly with the hospital or tell you exactly what documentation you’ll need.

👉 Travel Insurance: If you haven’t arranged cover yet, World Nomads is the travel insurance provider I recommend for Bali. Their policies are designed for international travellers and can include emergency medical cover, depending on the policy and your country of residence.

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Rabies Vaccine Before Visiting Bali: Is It Worth It?

For most tourists visiting Bali for a week or two in 2026, a rabies vaccine before travelling isn’t usually necessary.

It’s more worth considering if you’re staying for an extended period, travelling through remote parts of Bali, working with animals or travelling with young children.

The main benefit is what happens if you do get bitten. You’ll still need medical treatment and rabies booster shots, but you generally won’t need rabies immunoglobulin (RIG), which can be expensive and harder to find in Bali.

If you’re unsure whether it’s worthwhile for your particular trip, speak to a travel doctor before you travel.

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FAQs About Rabies in Bali

Here are some of the most common questions people have about rabies in Bali, including the risk from dog bites and monkey bites, rabies vaccines and what to do if you’re bitten or scratched during your trip in 2026.

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• Hospitals in Bali
• Travel Insurance for Bali

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