Best time to visit Bali: Guide to the best month, season and things to see and do in Bali

Sheriden Rhodes travel writer
  • HIGHLIGHTS OF BALI. Truly gob smacking scenery: Get out of the main tourist areas, and see Bali's world heritage listed rice terraces, watch a farmer herding his flock of ducks, see a woman perched side saddle on a motorbike on her way to the temple. Take a walk and meet the locals. Photo: Shutterstock
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  • Truly gob smacking scenery: Get out of the main tourist areas, and see Bali's world heritage listed rice terraces, watch a farmer herding his flock of ducks, see a woman perched side saddle on a motorbike on her way to the temple. Take a walk and meet the locals. Photo: Shuttterstock
    of
  • Truly gob smacking scenery: Get out of the main tourist areas, and see Bali's world heritage listed rice terraces, watch a farmer herding his flock of ducks, see a woman perched side saddle on a motorbike on her way to the temple. Take a walk and meet the locals. Photo: Shutterstock
    of
  • Truly gob smacking scenery: Get out of the main tourist areas, and see Bali's world heritage listed rice terraces, watch a farmer herding his flock of ducks, see a woman perched side saddle on a motorbike on her way to the temple. Take a walk and meet the locals. Photo: AFR
    of
  • Truly gob smacking scenery: Get out of the main tourist areas, and see Bali's world heritage listed rice terraces, watch a farmer herding his flock of ducks, see a woman perched side saddle on a motorbike on her way to the temple. Take a walk and meet the locals. 
    of
  • The drinks are incredible, and cheap: Bali sure knows how to make a fab cocktail. Some of the best can be found in bars, beach clubs and restaurants in Seminyak and Legian. Beer is also cheap. Photo: iStock
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  • The drinks are incredible, and cheap: Bali sure knows how to make a fab cocktail. Some of the best can be found in bars, beach clubs and restaurants in Seminyak and Legian. Beer is also cheap. Photo: Getty Images
    of
  • The drinks are incredible, and cheap: Bali sure knows how to make a fab cocktail. Some of the best can be found in bars, beach clubs and restaurants in Seminyak and Legian. Beer is also cheap. Photo: Getty Images
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  • There are a lot of Ketuts: All Balinese share the same four names - Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut - whether they're male or female, and are named by order of birth. If a family has a fifth child, they will start again and call him or her Wayan. Photo: iStock
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  • You will get sick of nasi goreng but you should try it: Balinese cuisine is not world-renowned, but it's tasty and inexpensive. You should at least try the babi guling (suckling pig), nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice) and sate lembat. Double-Six Seminyak room service delivers a knockout nasi goreng. Bali's restaurant scene is world class, with some of the most incredible food you'll find anywhere in the world. Photo: iStock
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  • You can't drink the water: Drink bottled water only, and brush your teeth in it too. Bottled water is cheap and many hotels and resorts provide complimentary water. It's advisable not to have ice in your drinks either, unless it's a reputable hotel, restaurant or bar. Better be safe than suffer Bali belly, which unfortunately does happen - particularly to first timers. Photo: iStock
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  • The shopping's amazing, but not the bargain it once was: The markets are fun for first timers, and haggling is expected. However shopping in Bali is now incredibly sophisticated, particularly in Seminyak, Legian, Canggu and Ubud. Amazing boutiques, high-end home ware stores, silver jewellery and antiques can al be found. Many of the items cost what they do back home, so hunt around for sales.  Photo: iStock
    of
  • The shopping's amazing, but not the bargain it once was: The markets are fun for first timers, and haggling is expected. However shopping in Bali is now incredibly sophisticated, particularly in Seminyak, Legian, Canggu and Ubud. Amazing boutiques, high-end home ware stores, silver jewellery and antiques can al be found. Many of the items cost what they do back home, so hunt around for sales.  Photo: Shutterstock
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  • You'll be there before you know it: There's a reason Bali is so popular with Australians; it's cheap and only takes five-six hours to get there. Except in peak season (July-August and Australian school holidays) when airfares and accommodation prices soar.  Photo: iStock
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  • You don't need to wear a helmet, but you'd be mad not to: Lots of tourists hire motorbikes and drive around without helmets, in shorts and thongs - throwing caution to the wind. Don't do it. Falling off hurts even more when you don't wear protective gear. There's no public transport to speak of but Bluebird taxis are metered, super cheap and clean. Photo: Getty Images
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  • Bali's beaches are nothing on ours: It shouldn't really come as a surprise given Australia has some of the best beaches on the planet, but the first time you take a dip can be disappointing. The water at many popular beaches is generally not clear, and you mightn't see anything of note while snorkelling. There are exceptions.  Photo: Alamy
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  • Bali's beaches are nothing on ours: It shouldn't really come as a surprise given Australia has some of the best beaches on the planet, but the first time you take a dip can be disappointing. The water at many popular beaches is generally not clear, and you mightn't see anything of note while snorkelling. There are exceptions.  Photo: Shutterstock
    of
  • Bali's beaches are nothing on ours: It shouldn't really come as a surprise given Australia has some of the best beaches on the planet, but the first time you take a dip can be disappointing. The water at many popular beaches is generally not clear, and you mightn't see anything of note while snorkelling. There are exceptions.  Photo: Louise Kennerley
    of
  • Bali's beaches are nothing on ours: It shouldn't really come as a surprise given Australia has some of the best beaches on the planet, but the first time you take a dip can be disappointing. The water at many popular beaches is generally not clear, and you mightn't see anything of note while snorkelling. There are exceptions.  Photo: iStock
    of
  • Bali's beaches are nothing on ours: It shouldn't really come as a surprise given Australia has some of the best beaches on the planet, but the first time you take a dip can be disappointing. The water at many popular beaches is generally not clear, and you mightn't see anything of note while snorkelling. There are exceptions.  Photo: Luis Enrique Ascui
    of
  • Kuta is really that bad, but it's not the real Bali: Kuta is seedy, tasteless and full of tourists who find that sort of thing appealing, but don't judge the whole of Bali on it. It'd be like visiting Surfers Paradise during schoolies, and writing off the whole of Australia.  Photo: Getty Images
    of
  • Kuta is really that bad, but it's not the real Bali: Kuta is seedy, tasteless and full of tourists who find that sort of thing appealing, but don't judge the whole of Bali on it. It'd be like visiting Surfers Paradise during schoolies, and writing off the whole of Australia.  Photo: Nic Walker
    of
  • Kuta is really that bad, but it's not the real Bali: Kuta is seedy, tasteless and full of tourists who find that sort of thing appealing, but don't judge the whole of Bali on it. It'd be like visiting Surfers Paradise during schoolies, and writing off the whole of Australia.  Photo: Getty Images
    of
  • Kuta is really that bad, but it's not the real Bali: Kuta is seedy, tasteless and full of tourists who find that sort of thing appealing, but don't judge the whole of Bali on it. It'd be like visiting Surfers Paradise during schoolies, and writing off the whole of Australia.  Photo: Getty Images
    of
  • Kuta is really that bad, but it's not the real Bali: Kuta is seedy, tasteless and full of tourists who find that sort of thing appealing, but don't judge the whole of Bali on it. It'd be like visiting Surfers Paradise during schoolies, and writing off the whole of Australia.  Photo: Getty Images
    of
  • Culture is everywhere you look: The true Bali, with its rituals, festivals and ancient culture, is everywhere you look. The Balinese carry out their religious obligations with pride and everyone takes part from the youngest child, through to grandparents, all dressed immaculately for the temple. Photo: Getty Images
    of
  • Culture is everywhere you look: The true Bali, with its rituals, festivals and ancient culture, is everywhere you look. The Balinese carry out their religious obligations with pride and everyone takes part from the youngest child, through to grandparents, all dressed immaculately for the temple. Photo: Getty Images
    of
  • Culture is everywhere you look: The true Bali, with its rituals, festivals and ancient culture, is everywhere you look. The Balinese carry out their religious obligations with pride and everyone takes part from the youngest child, through to grandparents, all dressed immaculately for the temple. Photo: iStock
    of
  • Culture is everywhere you look: The true Bali, with its rituals, festivals and ancient culture, is everywhere you look. The Balinese carry out their religious obligations with pride and everyone takes part from the youngest child, through to grandparents, all dressed immaculately for the temple. Photo: Shutterstock
    of
  • Culture is everywhere you look: The true Bali, with its rituals, festivals and ancient culture, is everywhere you look. The Balinese carry out their religious obligations with pride and everyone takes part from the youngest child, through to grandparents, all dressed immaculately for the temple. Pictured, a Balinese man kicks up the fire during the "Mesabatan Api" ritual ahead of Nyepi Day in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia. Photo: Getty Images
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Being so close to the equator means Bali is warm year-round. But, surprisingly, there's quite a disparity between its two seasons – wet and dry. Both seasons offer their pluses and minuses – cost being but one of them. Here we outline the best time to visit the ''Island of the Gods''.

May to Oct – Dry Season

Why you should go: Bali's dry season officially runs from May through to October when prevailing southeast winds bring dry air from Australia. In reality, the average number of rainy days and Bali's famous stickiness ramps up again come September. In dry season expect warm, blue sky days and in the evenings, lovely cool breezes, especially along the coast and in the highlands.

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The advantages of visiting in dry season are many: less humidity, the best surfing along Bali's famous west coast breaks everywhere from Uluwatu on the island's south western tip to Canggu (try surfing with Tropicsurf at the new Como Uma Canggu; tropicsurf.com, along with good conditions for diving.

The must-do highlights of Bali

From the famous rice terraces to the incredible coastal temples, these are the highlights no visitor to Bali should miss.

It's a great time for trekking (join a local guide for a trek though spectacular rice fields to the Bedugal Waterfalls at Sanak Retreat; sanakbali.com, cycling and any number of active, outdoor pursuits. It's certainly the best time to climb a volcano, suggests Marian Carroll, an Australian ex patriot living and working in Bali because, let's face it, no one wants a slippery slope on the return trek down.

See also: Ubud, Bali: The three-minute guide

The downside? Everyone else wants to visit Bali in dry season too. Expect shops, restaurants and hotels to be packed in Bali's peak season of July and August. Prices are higher and generally everywhere's much busier. If you can, visit during May, June and September (just steer clear of school holidays) for a more relaxed and generally less expensive stay.

Don't miss: A dawn trek up Mount Batur (1.5-2 hour climb). This relatively easy guided climb pinnacles at the top of the ancient volcano where you can watch the sun rise spectacularly over three volcanos – Mt Abang, Mt Agung, and Mt Rinjani in neighbouring Lombok. See balimadusari.com

Key events

Book lovers and authors from around the globe descend on Bali's cultural capital for the annual Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. The festival is the brainchild of Melbourne born writer, chef and restauranteur Janet DeNeefe. Past speakers include Tracks author Robyn Davidson, Wild Swan's Jung Chang, Saroo Brierley (of Lion fame) and  Britain's crime-writing king, Ian Rankin. In 2018 the festival runs from October 24-28. See ubudwritersfestival.com

Just north of Sanur at Padanggalak, look to the skies for the annual Bali Kite Festival that takes place across July and August, kicking off, appropriately, at the start of Bali's windy season.

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See also: Twenty things that will surprise first-time visitors to Bali

November-April – Wet season

Why you should go: In wet season, travellers may find themselves with permanently clammy armpits, and hunkering down in airconditioning to escape the worst heat of the day. Having said that, it's nowhere near as bad as it sounds. Even at the height of wet season (January), Bali's still terrific for a holiday.

The upside? It's way less crowded and cheaper too. You'll find it easy to get a table at Bali's best restaurants and trendy beach clubs while resorts and villas offer discounted rates. Just keep in mind though, a portion of wet season coincides with Australia's peak holiday season (mid-December through to the first week in January). For many Aussie travellers – wet weather or not – this is the time they visit Bali.

In wet season, Bali's average temperature remains at 31 degrees, but it's way steamier and the skies are often overcast. The rainiest months are December and January, with February not far behind. November has the fewest rainfall days, being on the cusp of wet and dry season.

See also: The coolest part of Bali: Three-minute guide to Seminyak

The wet season gives way to a different type of Bali holiday. Spend an entire day guilt-free in a spa. Seek shelter from an afternoon downpour at Spring Day Spa (springspa.com; in Seminyak Village and Petitenget), or soak in an allamanda and frangipani bath at the heavenly Spa at Maya Ubud (mayaubud.com). Join a cooking class (try Bali Asli; baliasli.com.au), do yoga, and with higher water levels, now is the time to take advantage of all that H²O and go white water rafting.

The particularly adventurous can swim, climb and rappel themselves through Bali's rain-filled gorges by going canyoning. Canyoning is at its best in wet season when Bali's rivers, valleys and hidden volcanic gorges are filled with water. For beginners, Adventure and Spirit runs a terrific canyoning trip at Kerenkali in Bali's north (adventureandspirit.com), or try canyoning Git Git Waterfalls with Bali Jungle Trekking (balijungletrekking.com).

Of course, floating in a pool is equally good in both the wet and dry season. I mean, you're going to get wet anyway right? When you're floating in a gorgeous infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean, or looking out over the jungle-clad Ayung Valley, you won't even notice the rain.

 

This way to a heavenly Ubud stay 🍸

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Don't miss: Go river rafting down Bali's longest river, the Ayung. Typically, the Ayung is not a ''wild'' river, and rafting will be more akin to a scenic floating tour. Wet season, however, sees water levels rise, offering just that bit more of an adrenalin rush. The Four Seasons Sayan offers a private rafting experience (open to in-house guests and those staying elsewhere), where participants, literally, land back at the resort's river front pool! Make like the Obamas and raft your way through the Ayung River Valley dotted with virgin jungle, rice terraces and towering trees. See fourseasons.com/sayan

Key events

Disconnect, reflect and enjoy the peace and quiet of Nyepi Day – Balinese New Year – a day of silence that only occurs in Bali. On Nyepi, everyone is expected to stay indoors (hotels and villas still have food and beverage outlets open), and no lights or candles are to be used. Just before this annual celebration, cleansing ceremonies occur through most villages and streets, while on Nyepi eve, a huge procession takes place of village-made characters meant to scare evil spirits away for another year. The next Nyepi Day falls on March 7, 2019.

Following on from Nyepi Day, is the Bali Spirit Festival, a modern celebration of yoga, music and dance in lush highlands of Ubud. See balispiritfestival.com

See also: The 14 best ways to spend $50 in Bali and beyond

See also: Traffic, temples and beach clubs: Confessions of a Bali virgin

Sheriden Rhodes travel writer
Traveller

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