Season by season
Dry season (May–October)
Clear skies, low humidity and almost no rain from June to September. This is the best time for visibility under water and for the sunset view of Mount Agung. July and August are the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year; May, June and September give the same weather with fewer people.
Wet season (November–April)
Hotter, stickier and greener, with heavy showers that usually pass within an hour or two — though January and February can bring whole grey days. Prices drop, the island is quiet outside the Christmas–New Year peak, and the diving goes on.
Sea conditions & crossings
Fast boats from Bali are most often cancelled between December and February, when the west monsoon pushes swell into the Lombok Strait, and occasionally on very windy days in July and August. The short crossing from Lombok is far less affected. The sea stays around 27–30°C all year.
Month by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C | 24°C | 230 mm | Busy |
| February | 31°C | 24°C | 210 mm | Quiet |
| March | 31°C | 24°C | 170 mm | Quiet |
| April | 32°C | 24°C | 100 mm | Busy |
| May | 31°C | 23°C | 70 mm | Busy |
| June | 31°C | 23°C | 40 mm | Busy |
| July | 30°C | 22°C | 25 mm | Very busy |
| August | 30°C | 22°C | 15 mm | Very busy |
| September | 31°C | 23°C | 30 mm | Busy |
| October | 32°C | 24°C | 90 mm | Busy |
| November | 32°C | 24°C | 170 mm | Quiet |
| December | 31°C | 24°C | 220 mm | Very busy |
Temperatures and rainfall are approximate long-term averages for the area, rounded; individual years vary and the islands themselves have no long-running weather station.
Festivals & events
- Ramadan (dates move about eleven days earlier each year): the island stays open and tourist restaurants serve as normal, but party music is reduced and it is polite not to eat or drink in the village lanes in daylight.
- Eid al-Fitr (Lebaran): the end of Ramadan brings Indonesian holidaymakers, fuller boats and some closed local businesses for a few days.
- Nyepi, Bali’s Day of Silence (usually March): not observed on the Gilis, but no boats or flights leave Bali for 24 hours, and many travellers come over beforehand. Book ahead around the date.
- Indonesian Independence Day (17 August): flag ceremonies, races and games in the village, in the middle of the high season.
- Christmas and New Year: the island’s biggest party week, with beach fireworks and peak prices.
Our advice
For the best balance of weather, price and space, come in May, June or September. If you can only travel in July or August, book boats and rooms well ahead and stay north or west of the harbour. In the wet season, keep your Bali–Gili crossing flexible and never schedule it for the day of a long-haul flight. See the region-wide when to go guide for a month-by-month view.
