Short answer: April to October is the dry season and the safest bet. May, June and September give you the best combination of weather, fewer crowds and lower prices. If your dates are fixed to December or January, expect rain showers — and the cheapest hotel rates of the high season.
Month-by-month
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Wet season, humid, short heavy showers | Medium (post-New Year drop) | Low–medium | Great hotel deals after 10 January |
| February | Improving, occasional rain | Low | Low | Quiet beaches, good for Ubud |
| March | Transition, warm, some rain | Low | Low | Nyepi falls in March — see below |
| April | Dry season begins, 27–31°C | Medium | Medium | Excellent all-round month |
| May | Dry, clear, comfortable evenings | Medium | Medium | Best value in the dry season |
| June | Dry, breezy, superb visibility | Medium–high | Medium | School holidays begin in India |
| July | Dry, peak season | High | High | Book villas 60+ days ahead |
| August | Dry, peak season, windy south coast | Very high | Highest | Best for Nusa Penida snorkelling |
| September | Dry, quieter, warm sea | Medium | Medium | Our favourite month overall |
| October | Transition, warm, brief showers | Medium | Medium–low | Great value, lush rice terraces |
| November | Wet season starts | Low | Low | Good for spa and Ubud stays |
| December | Wet, very humid, festive | Very high (20 Dec onward) | Highest | Christmas–New Year surcharges apply |
Nyepi — the one day Bali shuts down
Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence, falls in March (Bali's Saka calendar). For 24 hours the entire island stops: the airport closes, hotels ask guests to stay inside, lights are dimmed and no one travels on the roads. It is genuinely special to experience — but if your trip overlaps and you have a flight that day, you must replan. We always check Nyepi dates before confirming March itineraries.
Where to stay, by month
- Dry season (Apr–Oct): south coast — Seminyak, Canggu, Uluwatu — for beach days and sunsets. Book early for July–August.
- Wet season (Nov–Mar): Ubud and the central highlands are actually more pleasant than the coast, with lower humidity and lush terraces.
- Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands: best sea conditions between April and October; crossings can be rough in January–February.
- Diving: manta rays at Nusa Penida year round; mola mola between July and October.
Cheapest weeks to fly from India
- Late January to mid-February (after the New Year rush)
- First two weeks of May (before Indian school holidays)
- Mid-September to mid-October
- Avoid: 20 December – 5 January, 1–15 June and Diwali week
Flights from Delhi or Mumbai to Denpasar with one stop generally range from ₹24,000 to ₹38,000 return. Direct flights are limited, so most itineraries route via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore — which is a good excuse for a two-night stopover.
What we recommend for a first trip
Six days in May or September: two nights in Ubud for terraces and temples, three nights on the south coast for beaches and sunsets, one day for Nusa Penida. That is exactly our Bali Island of the Gods package from ₹42,999 per person, and we will shift the hotels to suit your dates at no extra planning cost.