If you want to go high, and also keep dry, the best time to go to Bali for hiking well off the tourist trail is when the local people are happy to host you. Because our tours are all about having a truly local experience while hiking in Bali’s remote highlands. And, as you stay in small, locally-owned accommodations, with daily treks and tours led by private guides, they’re the experts in knowing when the best time is to visit. This is between mid-March and the beginning of November. Which is, for the most part, the dry season, with some short crossover periods of rainy days. As for rambling in the rainy season, it’s seriously humid and our Balinese friends would just laugh at us for hiking when you’re dripping.
Far from a land of beach clubs and surf bars, our Indonesian season isn’t a party one. It’s one where you get to witness the rice harvest, take time out with traditional farmers in Tabanan villages when they aren’t in the middle of a monsoon, and trek through tropical forests when the flowers are having their own natural festival. It’s also a time when the local farms are at their most fecund, and you get to feast on produce as it falls off the trees, fished straight from the rivers or picked straight off vine.
“The sumptuous rice was paired with chicken satay skewers, golden corn fritters, shredded green beans and sambal matah – a spicy, citrusy relish that became an instant favourite of mine. It was unlike any lunch experience I’d ever had: we were in the heart of nature, eating sustainably-sourced food which was delivered right to our shady spot in between the Megati and Kemetug villages.” – Les Latchman, in our blog, My hidden Bali experience.
What is the weather like in Bali during the dry season?
It’s trekking heaven but also tropical, so it’s worth remembering that temperatures are always high in Bali, averaging between 20C and 33C throughout the year. In addition, humidity is consistently above 75%, so pack lots of moisture-wicking gear. However, in the dry season, between April and October, humidity is lower and there is definitely less chance of rain. The average temperature is 27C, with highs of 33C in summer months.
August is usually the driest month, with between 15-40mm of rain which is pretty light. To put it into perspective, the rainy season peak in January sees around 350mm of warm but seriously wet weather. In the shoulder seasons of mid-March and early April, or in late October to November, there will be more chances of rainfall, but with showers happening in the afternoon, which bring some cool relief after the heat of the morning.
Which is the quietest time in Bali when the weather is good?
With a pretty big travel window open to you here, and tours running between March and November, there are still times when the island gets busier, which means that flights will be more expensive. The quietest time for travel is during the shoulder seasons and outside the school holidays. Especially the Australian long winter holiday, which is from the end of June to mid-July. Most families won’t go hiking in the highlands anyway, but airports and airfares will reflect the upsurge in Bali-philes. Similarly, UK and European school holidays run from mid-July to the beginning of September, so things will be quieter after that.
Best time to visit Bali for rich flora
As our adventures take you into the heart of Bali’s highlands and rainforest of the Tabanan region, their flora are at their juiciest just after the monsoon has shared its rainy riches. So if you travel in mid-March when our tours open, or as late as April or early May, the Banyan trees will be buzzing, banana trees burgeoning, and orchids bursting through. Marigolds are also an important feature of Bali, as they symbolise life and positive energy, and are grown by local people in many places. You are more likely to see them in fields later in the dry season, when the rice is harder to grow. Hibiscus and frangipani flowers are also grown throughout the country, with the former blossoming in the rainy season, and the latter between April and October. No matter when you visit Bali, however, there will be flowers, as they play an important role in hospitality and sacred offerings.
Best time to visit Bali for cultural festivals
Bali’s festivals are generally a thing of beauty and serenity, with most of them linked to sacred events. During the times that our tours take place, there are some significant festivals, which are celebrated island-wide in villages and large towns alike. Bali is also the only province in Indonesia to have predominantly Hindu cultural heritage, and so these sacred events are even more special here.
The most important is Nyepi, or Balinese New Year, an important spiritual time at the end of March. It lasts six days, and is preceded by Melasti, which is a purification ceremony in preparation for Nyepi, and takes place near the coast or water. Balinese people take the new year so seriously, they even have a Day of Silence when everything stops, including air travel. So if you see a gap in flight timetables, that will be why.
Galungan is another Hindu festival, which marks a time when ancestral spirits make their presence known. It’s not a fearful time though, it’s a family one with a lot of flowers, food and festivities, and temple visits too. It takes place over ten days and its dates vary as they’re based on the Balinese Pawukon calendar. In 2025, it’s at the end of April and 19 November and, for the next few years after that it’s 17 June 2026, 13 January and 11 August 2027, and 08 March and 04 October 2028 (some years it happens twice with the way the calendar falls). One of the most visible signs of Galungan is an array of bamboo poles that line the roadsides, all brightly decorated with offerings and greetings. Balinese people mark their farewell to ancestors and the festivities with Kuningan, when there are more offerings of gratitude scattered throughout the country.
If you’ve enjoyed learning about the best time to go to Bali, you may also enjoy our guest blog: From crowds to connection: my hidden Bali experience. And, as Bali is a particular favourite for those seeking a mindful travel experience, you may also enjoy this blog. For any more information about our trekking tour into hidden Bali, don’t hesitate to contact our adventure specialists.
