When is the Best Time to Visit Bali?

If you’re planning on conquering some of Bali’s peaks, then May and June are the ideal months to visit. The weather is hot, dry and sunny. And because it’s not quite high season yet, you won’t find the trails all that crowded. Go exploring through lush jungles and hike up to Mount Batur’s stunning caldera lake. If you are visiting in November, when the rains arrive, you should not plan on any hiking, especially attempting to summit Mt Batur. Not only will visibility from the top be poor in the rainy months, but the climb can be treacherous in the wet weather.

If you’re visiting Bali in March, the humidity will have you hunting for the nearest swimming pool just to get some respite. But if you’re looking for a proper beach break, aim to visit in June just before high season starts, when the beach will be a little emptier. The beaches are most popular in July and August, when the days are sunny and warm and there is very little rain. This is when you’ll find the beach resorts are full of holiday-makers. If you’re going to be along the south coast in September, you’ll find the beaches of Jimbaran, Seminyak and Sanur a little emptier and more pleasant to visit.

With the arrival of drier weather in April, you’ll find good diving conditions in the protected waters around Menjangan and the West Bali National Park, as well as the east coast. Wait a little longer and you’ll be rewarded with excellent conditions in May. In July, diving is still good, but you’ll find that October is the latest you’ll be able to explore the world beneath the surface with much success.

West Bali National Park is home to around 160 species of bird and a variety of animals, like wild cattle, Javan Rusa and Indian Muntjac deer, wild boar, macaque monkeys, water monitors and leopard cats. Temperatures in the dry season are a little hotter than the southern parts of the country, so make sure you bring plenty of water and stay hydrated. To see the park at its most lush and beautiful, visit at the end of the rainy season over May and June, but before peak season begins. If you leave it until the end of peak season, the vegetation can be a little dry.