A Seasonal Guide to Indonesia

Indonesia is a vast archipelago, so has a broad range of weather patterns.

As a result, researching when to go to Indonesia can bring up any number of answers – all of which are correct for different areas of the country. This makes things a little confusing, especially for the first-time visitor!

Generally speaking, most people choose to plan a holiday in Indonesia between April and October (depending on the island).

However, given that Indonesia stretches across 4,000km of sea and 17,000 islands, there are plenty of variations within this general rule. There are also many different cultural factors to consider when looking for the best time to visit Indonesia.

It’s safe to say that most of Indonesia’s islands are perfect during the European and US summer holidays. However, we argue that there is no single ‘best time’ for an Indonesian holiday – it simply depends on what you’d like to experience.

Below is a more detailed guide to the weather in Indonesia. Please get in touch with one of our specialists for personalised advice.

January – February

At the start of the year, Indonesia is firmly in its wet season, so if visiting in January or February, you can expect quite heavy rainfall and warm temperatures across most of the country. However, with temperatures hitting 30°C, the rain is often welcome as it helps take the edge off the heat. Rains fall off sharply in Sumatra, making this a tempting time to visit, though the Orangutans are elusive during these months. Rain also reduces in Sulawesi, particularly in the north, and while you can still expect rainfall in the south, that shouldn’t put you off as it is beautiful and green at this time.

March – April

Parts of Indonesia are starting to come into season as March turns into April. The wet season is tailing off in Flores, Sumba and Komodo, though humidity remains high. While Bali in March still experiences very high humidity, there is some respite inland, and the island looks lovely and green. Sulawesi is getting dryer in the south, and March is an excellent time for the wildlife in the north. As we get to April, Bali becomes extremely attractive again from a weather perspective – we think this is one of the best months to visit. There are usually fewer showers in Sumatra and Kalimantan as we move from March to April, and while Java remains overcast and rainy through March, this gives way to sunny skies in April. Indonesia’s weather in April is excellent islandwide for all kinds of trips and activities.

May – June

Long days of brilliant sunshine and no rain make May to June an excellent time to go to Indonesia, particularly considering school holidays are yet to begin. The beaches are sun-drenched, the mountains are crisp and dry, and the skies are clear across the country. The hot weather has not yet dried out the vegetation, so the islands look beautiful too. The real beauty of May and June is that the full peak tourist season is still to come, so tourist hotspots such as Lombok, Bali, Borobudur in Java and Komodo have far fewer visitors.

July – August

July and August are the primary holiday months throughout pretty much all of Indonesia, with Lombok, Bali, Java, Sulawesi, Flores and Sumba all in their peak season. There is very little rainfall and the humidity is low, making it a great time to visit. For these reasons, things get booked early, so make sure to secure your summer holiday in Indonesia with plenty of time ahead to have access to the best hotels and guides. It’s worth noting that in the further reaches of Indonesia – such as the Moluccas and Raja Ampat – you can occasionally find some monsoon winds that bring in a little rainfall during these months.

September – October

During September, Indonesia enjoys excellent weather. The benefit of September is that tourism numbers fall sharply, meaning you have the best of both worlds. This is true of Bali and Java, in particular, some of the most popular Indonesian destinations. October will see the slow return of the wet season, although there are still some pockets of excellent weather. The monsoon starts fully in December, so September and October in Indonesia present tremendous opportunities to enjoy dry sunshine and fantastic deals at the start of winter.

November – December

Indonesia’s wet season starts in earnest in November, meaning that by December, rainfall is generally heavy throughout the country. There are dry spells in Bali, Java and Sumba in November, so don’t rule it out entirely. Sulawesi, Sumatra and Kalimantan experience heavy rainfall from November onwards. In contrast, November and December are great months to sail Raja Ampat as this area sees little rainfall and has calm seas and clear visibility to spot magnificent marine life like massive manta rays.