Best time to visit Bali

You asked, and we listened. Say hello to our new Bali Island Hopping trip. We’ve done the research of all the hottest places to go, things to see, and what to do! One of the key questions you’re going to have is when the best time is to visit Bali, so we’ve broken it down for you.

Firstly though, if you’re ready to start saving for your next trip, and need some inspiration of where to go, checkout some of the best places to visit in South East Asia. In this article I have broken down what to expect during different times of the year in Bali. All things weather, all things festivals & celebrations.

Bali is one of the many islands that makes up Indonesia. Indonesia is made up of approximately 17,500 islands, bordering with Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. If you’ve come this far, you may as well travel to all of them. For more trips in this region, check out our other best-selling Contiki Asia Trips.

Bali is a traveller’s hotspot hidden away in South East Asia. The island itself is known for its traditional Balinese culture, with Hinduism and temples covering the island, delicious Indonesian food, funky cafes and coffee shops, dive sites with ship wrecks and numerous tropical fish, popular surf breaks for all levels, a laidback lifestyle of the locals, incredible accommodations and the out of this world rock formations like seen in Nusa Penida and Nusa Dua.

In this article I am going to break down the best time to visit Bali. I am going to talk about the pockets of peak seasons, the great weather, the worst weather, religious festivals, some times of the year to avoid if they’re not for you, the cheapest time to travel, and even drop some of my favourite destinations for you.

What are the best months to visit Bali?

The overall best time to visit Bali is between the months of April to October. This is what is locally recognised as Bali’s dry season, the peak season for tourism, and the driest time to go. Between April and October you can expect long, hot, sunny days. Ideal temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius making it the perfect time of year for water sports; such as snorkelling, diving and surfing.

If you’re a beginner at white water rafting the best time to go is May–September when the water levels are stable, and the weather is sunny. If you’re an intermediate and experience rafter the best time for you to go is November–March during the wet season when there are stronger water flows.

July and August are the busiest times to travel to Bali – I would suggest booking early for accommodations, flights and transfers to the other islands of Indonesia.

What is the rainy season for Bali?

With every sunny dry season, comes the opposite here in Bali, meaning the wet season falls between November to March. Locals know it as the monsoon or rainy season. The weather during this time is unpredictable. You can experience long daily downpours or extreme showers during the mornings or evenings. 

Despite the rain interfering with your poolside hangs and beach days, this is the perfect time to get the best surf, to temple hop and visit the nearby jungles. There will be less tourists around, and prices will be lower as it’s the off season. There’s plenty of inland activities, ranging from local festivals like the Ubud Food Festival and religious holiday Nyepi.

If travelling during the rainy season, my top tip to you is to invest in a decent rain jacket, and a waterproof dry bag for your daily needs, and make sure your backpack or suitcase has a waterproof casing on it too. Travel sandals like Tevas are a good option, they do well in the wet weather, are quick drying, and are multipurpose functional between outdoor activities and nights out.

What is the hottest month in Bali?

If travelling in the best time to visit in Bali in April or October prepare yourself as this is the hottest time on the island. Temperatures average around 32 degrees Celsius, factoring the humidity of around 75% on top of that.

Days like this are perfect spa days. After long days on the beach, water activities, hikes, jungles and temples, there’s no better way than to finish off with a spa day. Traditional Balinese massages, and boutique spas can be found all across the island.

Prices for local massages start as low as 150,000 IDR depending on where you are. Spa packages can be around 500,000 IDR including massages, facials and body scrubs.

What is the cheapest time to go to Bali?

Travelling on a budget? The best time to visit Bali is between February and early June, and then again from October to early December. Hotelprices, and activity prices will drop significantly during this time.

You might even score cheap flights, making it a very affordable holiday. I always choose to travel during the low seasons like Novemberasthe beaches, cultural sites and restaurants are quieter, you can get really good deals on hotel prices and other styles of accommodations; villas, guesthouses and homestays.

What major festivals are in Bali, and when are they?

Bali has a huge mixture of culture, customs and religion that share this beautiful island. All across the island you see the daily practices, offerings and blessings taking place before you. Quite often you’ll find rock blockages for funerals, processions and other cultural activities. As travellers we need to respect the locals, and their customs. As a multicultural country, Indonesia has many holidays and festivals. Many are celebrated in Bali, March, August, June and September being some of the major holidays.

Make sure to research when you’re going to be in Bali, some of the festivals such as Nyepi (Balinese New Year, the day of silence) are celebrated using the 4 principles which include; not working, lighting fires, travelling or engaging in entertainment. This means the whole island shuts down. All businesses, restaurants and even the airports close. People are not allowed to be on the streets, at the beach, flights, boats and buses stop their services. Nyepi is celebrated every Isakawarsa (Saka New Year) which is based on the Balinese calendar. Usually Nyepi falls around March each year.

Other festivals in Bali, such as the Ubud Food Festival are celebrated by all. 3 days of foodie heaven, local and international chefs including Michelin star chefs get involved. This festival happens mid-year, at the end of May/early June.

The Bali Arts Festival (also known as PKB Pesta Kesenian Bali) has been running every year since 1979, preserving, developing and celebrating traditional Balinese culture and arts. It runs for about a month, start the second weekend of June. During the festival there are competitions, seminars, and exhibitions of art, handicrafts and authentic local cuisine.

Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) falls on the 17^th August each year, celebrating Indonesia’s independence from the Dutch, after they ruled the country for approximately 350 years. Hari Merdeka is celebrated with the Indonesian flag, red & white in colour, decorating streets, businesses and homes. Formal and informal celebrations happen across the nation.

September is a profound period in Bali’s cultural calendar. The island prepares for Galungan and Kuringan – two of the most sacred religious ceremonies and festivals. These rituals symbolize the victory of dharma (good) over adharma (evil).

Bali is full of adventure, relaxation, cultural activities, religious ceremonies and festivals. There is truly something here for everyone. During the wet and dry seasonal months you can explore different pockets and corners of the country, and if the above doesn’t convince you why to add this destination to your list, then here are another 10 reasons why you should visit Bali once in your life.