Bali is a popular tourism destination for travellers from across Australasia

Thousands of tourists have been left stranded after a volcanic eruption in Indonesia.

Five airports remain closed, including those in tourism hotspot Bali, following the eruption of Mount Raung in East Java.

The eruption began earlier this week, with fears the resulting ash cloud could impact on aircraft safety.

Jetstar and Virgin Australia are among the airlines to have cancelled flights out of Denpasar Airport in Bali.

Indonesian transport ministry officials have said the re-opening of the airports would be based on the activity on Mount Raung, which is about 120 kilometres from the airport.

The four other affected airports are the International Airport in Lombok, Selaparang Airport also in Lombok, Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi, East Java and Notohadinegoro Airport in Jember, East Java.

The timing of the closures is expected to hit tourists travelling to the popular islands at the height of the school holidays, as well as Muslims travelling home for the holy month of Ramadan.