Bali has two seasons rather than four, and knowing which one you are landing in changes the shape of your holiday more than the hotel you choose. The dry season runs from April to October, the wet season from November to March, and each has a case to make.
April, May and September are the sweet spot. The rain has cleared, the crowds of July and August have not arrived, and villa rates sit roughly twenty per cent below peak. Diving visibility around Nusa Penida is at its best, and the rice terraces are green rather than harvested.
July and August bring the busiest weeks of the year. Book villas and popular restaurants six to eight weeks ahead, and plan Ubud sightseeing before nine in the morning if you want photographs without a queue in them.
The wet season is not a write-off. Rain usually arrives as a heavy afternoon burst rather than an all-day drizzle, waterfalls are at their most dramatic, and rates fall sharply. Avoid late January if you can — it is statistically the wettest stretch.
Whichever month you pick, keep the first and last day light. Denpasar traffic is unpredictable and no one enjoys a rushed transfer at the end of a good holiday.
Ananya Menon
Destination Specialist at Rare Holidays. A travel enthusiast with over 10 years of experience in exploring off-beat destinations.