Season by season
Dry season (May–October)
Reliably sunny and windy, with cool mornings and brown, grassy hills by August. This is the main surf season, with the most consistent swell, and the best time for beach-hopping and paragliding. July and August are busy; the MotoGP weekend, usually in September or October, is the one time rooms sell out completely.
Wet season (November–April)
Hot and humid, with heavy but short-lived storms and hills that turn vivid green. Waves are smaller and friendlier for learners. Some back roads become muddy. Outside Christmas and New Year it is quiet and inexpensive.
Sea conditions & crossings
There is no sea crossing to worry about if you fly into Lombok. If you are linking with the Gilis or Bali by fast boat, the usual caution applies between December and February. Swimming beaches are calmest in the wet season; the dry-season trade wind raises chop and stronger rips.
Month by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C | 23°C | 250 mm | Quiet |
| February | 31°C | 23°C | 230 mm | Quiet |
| March | 31°C | 23°C | 200 mm | Quiet |
| April | 32°C | 23°C | 120 mm | Quiet |
| May | 31°C | 22°C | 80 mm | Quiet |
| June | 31°C | 21°C | 45 mm | Busy |
| July | 30°C | 21°C | 30 mm | Very busy |
| August | 30°C | 21°C | 15 mm | Very busy |
| September | 31°C | 22°C | 35 mm | Busy |
| October | 32°C | 23°C | 110 mm | Quiet |
| November | 32°C | 23°C | 200 mm | Quiet |
| December | 31°C | 23°C | 250 mm | 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
- Bau Nyale (February or March, set by the Sasak calendar): thousands gather before dawn at Seger beach to catch the sea worms said to be the transformed Princess Mandalika, with a festival of music, poetry and stick-fighting.
- MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix at the Mandalika circuit (typically September or October): the biggest event of Lombok’s year.
- Other race weekends at Mandalika, including superbike rounds in some years, bring smaller surges.
- Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr: local warungs keep reduced daytime hours; tourist cafés are open. Transport is busy at Eid.
- Independence Day (17 August): village parades and games.
Our advice
For beaches and surf, May to October is ideal, with May and June still green. For the scenery at its most beautiful and the fewest people, try March or April, after the heaviest rain. Whatever month you pick, check the Mandalika race calendar first. The whole-region overview is in when to go.
