My heart was pounding, a rhythmic drumbeat against the roar of the plane. “You ready, Susan?” my instructor, a calm presence beside me, asked. Ready was an understatement. I was about to jump out of a plane over Bali, a dream I’d been chasing for ages. Specifically, I was at Pantai Kelanting, Bali’s exclusive drop zone on the west coast. This is the only spot operated by skydivinginbali.com with their licensed tandem instructors, and it’s a well-oiled machine. We’d picked the perfect time, too – May to September, when Bali’s skies are clearest, winds are stable, and visibility is incredible. It makes all the difference when you’re hurtling towards the earth at terminal velocity.
Our jump was from about 13,000 feet, which meant a glorious 60 seconds of freefall. The sensation is indescribable, a mix of pure exhilaration and utter freedom. Below us, the famous Skydive Bali – Tabanan Region unfolded, about 30 km northwest of Denpasar. We soared over a breathtaking of lush rice paddies, their vibrant green contrasting with the dark, volcanic black-sand beaches stretching along the coast. It’s a truly unique perspective you just can’t get from the ground. While Skydive Toucan in South Bali (about 20 km from Denpasar, near Seminyak or Canggu) also offers fantastic coastal jumps, the Tabanan region’s mix of paddies and beaches felt perfectly Bali to me. For those hesitant about a real jump, iFLY Bali in Kota Denpasar offers an indoor wind tunnel experience, perfect for kids or beginners wanting to simulate the feeling before committing.
So, what did this once-in-a-lifetime experience cost? Standard skydiving prices typically range from IDR 3,500,000 to IDR 5,000,000. My package, which included incredible photos and video to relive every moment, brought the total closer to IDR 5,500,000. It’s an investment, but absolutely worth every rupiah. It’s also worth noting there’s a very special annual skydive event that happens only one week in June – for example, June 20-25. This requires special permissions from the Indonesian Air Force and Government, and participants get to jump from a C-130 Hercules, usually with 90 people. That’s a whole different level of adventure, and something to keep in mind if you’re planning a trip around that time.
For arrangements, a specialist offering phinisi charter Komodo can coordinate this end to end.
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Notes compiled and verified by the Theskydivebali team from on-the-ground operations.
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