Travel advice for Indonesia
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Indonesia
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Indonesia is a year-round destination with a tropical climate. Determining the best time to visit Indonesia depends on various factors such as weather, crowd levels, and your own preferences. The country's tropical climate and diverse geography offer unique experiences and opportunities throughout the year. If you're wondering about the best time to visit Indonesia, it's important to consider what you want to see and do during your trip. From trekking through lush rainforests to lounging on idyllic beaches, Indonesia has something for every type of traveller. Can't decide? We'll explore the different seasons and help you decide when is the best time to visit Indonesia for your next adventure.
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Bali's Beaches and Temples
Experience Bali's brilliant beaches and temples with this stunning trip. Marvel at ancient temples like Tanah Lot and Pura Besakih, soak in stunning sunsets, stroll bare-footed along the best beaches in Bali and haggle at local markets – experience all of this, and much more, with this unique trip!
customize ⤍The Best of Bali
This trip will take you from the modern-day Bali to the traditional one. Bali has many adventures to offer, tour the countryside with a Vespa or glide through the hidden canyons. You will also be able to enjoy visits to enchanting villages, where you can take in the local way of life.
customize ⤍Java and Lombok - culture and beaches
Start your trip in Yogyakarta (also called Jogja) with its rich cultural past such as the Borobudur temple. From there continue to hike Mount Bromo and explore more of East Java in Malang and Surabaya. End your trip on the dreamy beaches of Kuta/Lombok, dubbed 'the next Bali'.
customize ⤍Singapore & Bali - A Unique Exploration
Combine Southeast Asia's smallest country Singapore with its largest country: Indonesia. Spend a few days exploring the metropolis before flying to the magical island of Bali. Temples, volcanoes and ceremonies are part of your itinerary, as are the gorgeous beaches of Nusa Lembongan.
customize ⤍Culture, volcanoes and dragons - Bali, Flores & Komodo
Combine several islands on one trip - start in Bali's cultural capital Ubud before heading to the rice fields in Sidemen. A short flight to Flores allows you to explore volcanoes and local villages before hopping on a cruise around Komodo and other islands close to Labuan Bajo. Dragons included!
customize ⤍Love trip to Bali
Celebrate your love union on this magical island. Included are couples massages at relaxing spas, a blessing ceremony by a Balinese priest, an authentic cooking class and of course - a beautiful white sandy beach on Nusa Lembongan to relax towards the end of your trip.
customize ⤍Unknown Java and Bali - an overland adventure
A fast-paced itinerary packing plenty of highlights: discover the temples of Prambanan and Borobudur and sunrises at Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen before heading to Bali: a beautiful underwater world and the landscapes of Ubud and Sidemen await.
customize ⤍Java Discovery
Experience the magic of Java, the third-largest of the Indonesian Islands, with this stunning trip! Discover stunning ancient temple complexes, ride a bicycle through idyllic rural villages, climb to Mount Ijen's crater at sunrise and laze around on palm-fringed tropical beaches!
customize ⤍Nature in Borneo and Relaxation in Riau
Experience the best of both worlds with this unique trip to Indonesia. Embark on a cruise up the Rungan River, where you will discover incredible wildlife and traditional villages, before continuing on to the Telunas Resort, a deserted island paradise that will be your home for a few days.
customize ⤍Exploring Bali's Culture & Gili's beaches
Dive deep into Balinese culture from Ubud and Sidemen. Visits include rice field walks, the Gates of Heaven, water temples like Tirta Empul and Tirta Gangga as well as a traditional cooking class. Your trip ends with the beaches of Gili Air and Jimbaran.
customize ⤍However, temperatures remain high during the rainy season and rainfall is limited to short downpours. So it remains a great time to visit Indonesia — particularly if you want to visit temples and museums.
Arguably, when deciding when to go to Indonesia, the best time to visit is May, June and September. These are the shoulder months of the dry season. You’ll get clear days but you'll find the islands have fewer tourists and are less expensive.
Planning tip: If you prefer a quieter and more affordable trip, consider traveling during the shoulder seasons of April to May or September to November, when the weather is still good, but the crowds are thinner, and prices are more reasonable.
Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, kicks off at the end of March or beginning of April, which is a great local experience.
The tail end of the rainy season is the best time of the year to visit Indonesia for natural beauty. At this time, the jungle and rice fields are at their most lush, while rain showers are increasingly few and far between.
May is an ideal time for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and exploring the countryside. This is also a prime month for diving off the coast of Bali, Lombok and Komodo National Park.
Culture-seekers may like to time their visit with the Bali Arts Festival, which runs from June through to mid-July.
September is when one can catch the Erau Festival Tenggarong — a fantastic display of indigenous Dayak skills and dancing.
October is also when the Krakatau Festival Lampung takes place — five days of events highlighting Lampung’s cultural heritage.
In November, one can time their visit with the Kora Kora Festival. This is a great way to experience traditional longboat races in the Maluku Islands.
Many visit Indonesia for the Kasada Bromo. During this celebration, 0fferings are made to the gods and thrown into the crater.
During the peak season, tourist hotspots such as Bali, Lombok, and the Gili Islands can become quite crowded and accommodation prices tend to be higher than during the rest of the year. It's advisable to book in advance to secure your preferred travel dates and avoid disappointment.
If you prefer a quieter and more affordable trip, consider traveling during the shoulder seasons of April to May or September to November, when the weather is still good, but the crowds are thinner, and prices are more reasonable
It is easy to find good deals when visiting Indonesia in the low season. From October to April, you can travel with little advance booking and low prices. Despite frequent downpours, temperatures hover around 30 degrees, and a big plus is that the islands are less crowded and cheaper.
It is not a good idea to visit Indonesia during peak tourist season (between July and mid-September). This is when prices soar and rooms can be fully booked for weeks on end.
However, if you visit Bali during the shoulder season (April to June or September to November), you can still enjoy good weather and fewer crowds.
The wet season in Bali runs from October to March, and while it may be cheaper to travel during this time, heavy rain can disrupt travel plans and limit outdoor activities.
It's worth noting that the high season in Java falls between June and August, which means the island can get quite crowded and prices may be higher. The shoulder season in Java occurs from May to June or September to November, while the wet season runs from October to April. During the wet season, heavy rainfall may hinder travel plans and limit opportunities for outdoor activities.
Nevertheless, if you plan to visit Lombok during the shoulder season, which spans from May to June or September to November, you can still enjoy pleasant weather conditions and avoid large crowds.
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Indonesia
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 26.04.2021
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