When the sun is shining, Bali is the closest thing to perfection I have ever encountered. From May to September the sun shines most days, and visitors here come for the beautiful weather and abundance of outdoor attractions. You can laze or surf on the beaches, embark on hikes, island hop around the Nusa & Gili islands, and explore the endless rice fields.
But what about when it rains?
From October to April, monsoon season kicks in and the rain arrives! It can seem like a nightmare if your holiday coincides with some bad weather, but all is not lost! Here is your complete guide to the monsoon season in Bali, and things you can do when it rains.
Quick links
While you’re here, check out these posts to get ready for your trip:
- Bali Travel Guide
- The Best Restaurants In Seminyak, Bali
- The Cheapest Way To Fly From Europe To South East Asia
- Backpacking Essentials Checklist: Packing Guide For All The Gear You Need
Monsoon Season In Bali
Bali’s rainy season runs from October to April, with the wettest months usually being December and January. During these months, you can expect a tropical, warm and humid climate. Temperatures will remain around 28°C (82°F).
However, Monsoon season in Bali is unpredictable. Sometimes it rains for weeks at a time, and other times the rain is sporadic. Interspersed with the days / hours of rain will be beautiful sunny weather where you can go to the beach and enjoy everything Bali has to offer. However when booking your trip during the rainy season, it will be impossible to predict the weather.
The best thing you can do when booking a trip during the Monsoon season is to have some backup activities planned for a rainy day! That way, you won’t have to sit around your guesthouse waiting for the sun to come back out. I have some suggestions on activities below!
What To Expect
I often hear season in Southeast Asian countries described as ‘an hour of torrential rain followed by sunshine and blue skies’. And while this might be truer in countries like Thailand or Vietnam, it is not the case here.
In Bali, rain tends to be counted in days rather than hours. Often, if you wake up with rain, you’ll fall asleep with it too. Sometimes we have a series of sunny days, punctuated by one or two rainy ones, and other times it’s the other way around. Right now (January 2023), we have a 3 days of sunshine / 3 days of rain split.
You may arrive in Bali during a sunny stretch, or be unlucky and arrive during a downpour – but if your trip is a week or longer, it would be highly unlikely for you to see no sunny days. For that reason, many tourists travel to Bali during the Monsoon season.
When it rains during monsoon season in Bali, the rain arrives quickly and heavily. Roads can flood, rivers swell, and people stay indoors. There are often thunder and lightning storms, which can be more entertaining / enjoyable than frightening. There may also be power cuts from time to time!
Humidity
Humidity is very high during the wet monsoon season, so you won’t need to pack warm clothes. You can buy rain jackets and cover ups in any store here so if you don’t have one, you won’t need to bring it with you.
Mosquitoes
There are many mosquitoes during rainy season, so wear a lot of insect repellent if you’re here during monsoon season. You can buy an orange spray called ‘Soffell’ in any convenience store here which is great for keeping mosquitoes away. During Monsoon season, you may be at risk of Dengue fever – so make sure to keep yourself protected with spray.
Sunshine Days
When the sun is out during December and January it can be quite strong, and you may get sunburned easily. When you don’t have many sunny days, you might be tempted to lie out for longer – but you may regret it if you do. Even people who are living in Bali and spending a lot of time in the sun get burned during these months as the sun is so strong.
Driving
Most people in Bali get around by scooter, which is much cheaper and quicker than travelling by car. However when it rains, driving a scooter becomes less comfortable. It might be best to take taxis when it is raining here, or when it’s forecast to rain. You can order these on your phone using the Grab app or Gojek app.
Things To Do on Rainy Days in Bali
The rain in Bali can quickly put a stop to your planned activities. Beach plans are abandoned, pool parties are called off, and hiking is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous. Here are a few rainy-day activities you can enjoy in Bali.
Indulge a Spa Day
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Holidays are all about relaxation and chilling out – so instead of stressing out about the rain, head to your nearest spa for some R&R!
Spring Spa in Canggu is my go-to spot for a day of pampering. They offer incredible massages, manicures & pedicures, facials, brow & lash treatments, and excellent hair treatments (I love their ‘Hair Rescue’ treatment). They are based in Canggu, and also have branches in Seminyak, Uluwatu, and Nusa Lembongan.
Here are some alternative options for spas in Canggu.
Bali Botanica Spa in Ubud offers full day spa packages, with transportation to and from your hotel. Enjoy an Ayurvedic massage, facial, full body scrub, refreshing flower bath or hair treatments and you can also have lunch here. They do couple indulgence packages, or solo / friend packages too. You can find more details on the packages here.
Here are some alternative options for spas in Ubud.
AWAY Spa in Seminyak is part of the W hotel and is open 24 hours. The spa features a chill bar, an oxygen lounge and an interior to match a swanky members club. Indulge in a 24 carat gold facial, an oxygen facial, a relaxing massage, or a man/pedi. There is a restaurant, hair salon, plunge pool, steam room and fitness center on site for you to use also.
After you have finished your treatments, if the rain has dried up then check out their onsite bar WooBar to watch the sunset by the beach.
Here are some alternative options for spas in Seminyak.
Do an Escape Room
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Escape rooms are a popular pastime around SE Asia, and Bali has a few of its own for you to enjoy! If you haven’t been to an escape room before, they are physical adventure games where you are locked in a room and have to solve a series of puzzles to get out. Every room has a different theme and puzzle, and you can take part with a couple, or a whole group of people. Each Escape Room location usually offers multiple adventures, so it’s possible to try a few different ones in a day.
I’ve visited many escape rooms in SE Asia, and they are such a fun way to spend a few hours. The puzzles are interesting, you get hints if you’re stuck, and don’t worry – they’re not scary at all!
There are currently four escape rooms in Bali:
- Pandora Experience Escape room – This is the most established escape room in Indonesia, with 4 locations in Jakarta, Bali, Bandung, and Surabaya. Located in Kuta, this place gets excellent reviews for it’s challenges (4.7 on Google). 1 hour and 2 hour challenges are available for groups of 2 – 8 people, with varying degrees of difficulty and ‘Fear Factor’. I’m trying out this escape room next week, so I’ll report back with my review!
- Totem Room Escape – Located near Double Six beach in Seminyak, this escape room is very popular. There are 6 different adventures to choose from, 5 for adults and 1 for kids.
- Escape Room Bali – This escape room offers 4 challenges, ranging from difficulty level 3 (an Up themed escape room for kids) to the more sinister ‘Abandoned Factory’ where you have 45 minutes to escape the room before a ‘bomb’ detonates.
- Escape Room SOS from the Deep – Located in Sanur, this is the first marine conservation themed escape room in Indonesia. As you would imagine, this is catered more for families and children. It’s a fun way to learn about the ocean while taking part in the game. I don’t know a huge amount about this escape room as I have not been, but it gets great reviews online and people say it’s educational as well as mentally challenging.
If you’re new to escape rooms, take a look at the websites I’ve linked to read more about them!
Go Axe Throwing
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Axe throwing is the new craze sweeping the globe right now. Canadian bar Mother Huckers is a recently opened axe throwing club in Batu Belig, between Seminyak and Canggu.
A session at Mother Huckers is IDR200k (around a tenner) per person, and lasts between one and two hours depending on how many are in your party. They want to ensure everyone gets a go, so if your party is large you’re allocated more time.
Closed toe shoes are required (for obvious reasons!), and while they do accept walk ins, if your group is large I would recommend booking ahead. There’s a bar onsite that serves cheap beer and cider, as well as smoothies. It might be best to visit this after your session though!
Safety-wise, you’re given a brief safety demo when you arrive, and staff are on hand to ensure nothing goes awry. Other than that it’s up to you to aim straight!
Channel your inner lumberjack, and enjoy good some music, cold beer and a new hobby!
Do a Cooking Course
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A great way to spend the afternoon, and learn about the local culture is to take part in a Balinese cooking course.
There are a large number of cooking courses on offer in Bali, but it’s best to choose one suitable for the weather. Don’t choose a course that includes a trip to the local market or a farm if it’s raining. Skip these parts, or choose a course without it so that you don’t get soaked.
Cooking courses allow you to try authentic Balinese food, and learn how to cook it for people back home. They often last a full day, so are a great way to spend the day when it’s raining.
BaliBible has compiled a massive list of cooking classes around Bali, so check this out to find the nearest one to you.
Go For Afternoon Tea
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I don’t know about you, but going for afternoon tea is one of my favourite ways to spend a rainy day. Or any day really! Lucky for me afternoon tea is not only very popular in Bali, but can be quite affordable (prices start at about €25 per person).
@parlourattheedge is a beautiful setting to indulge for the afternoon, and @pashaatelier has a very affordable IDR50k afternoon tea on offer.
Other afternoon teas that are highly rated on the island and indoors are:
Get Crafty
Let Balinese crafters teach you a new skill, and come home with a handmade souvenir instead of something from a market. Bali is so rich in culture and there are a variety of classes and workshops you can take to learn some new skills.
Batik, silver jewelry making, wood carving and mask carving are all popular workshops here, and allow you to learn from masters of the craft. If you’re in any way crafty, artsy, or interested in the history of craftsmanship in Bali I would highly recommend taking a class or workshop.
As the cultural capital of Bali, Ubud is where you will find most of the workshops and classes. It’s possible to find them in other popular areas, but you need to ask around as I can’t find much info online. Here are some good places in Ubud to go:
- Bali Culture Centre, located in Ubud, offers a whole range of classes and workshops for visitors. Learn about what’s on offer here.
- Try out this 3 hour mask carving workshop and have something beautiful to take home with you.
- Craft Workshop Bali offer batik, carving, silver jewelry and traditional painting classes. They also have Balinese dance classes.
- Katamama offers an 8 hour wood carving class from a third-generation master carver specialising in ornate wooden Garuda statues and traditional panelling. While you’re here, you can master your skills at Mepantigan: Balinese mud martial art. Or just watch if you don’t feel like getting dirty!
- Here are 5 silver jewelry workshops you can do in Ubud.
The best thing about these classes and workshops is creating a handmade souvenir that is one-of-a-kind.
Go Shopping & Watch A Movie at Beachwalk
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Usually I recommend avoiding Kuta, but Beachwalk shopping center is a glowing beacon of joy in the midst of the chaos and tackiness of Kuta. With a huge variety of international stores such as Zara, H&M, M.A.C, Seafolly, and Michael Kors, as well as local Balinese shops, nail salons and restaurants, there is plenty to keep you busy at Beachwalk.
Once you have indulged in retail therapy, some pampering and some lunch, head to the Beachwalk cinema and book into a VIP showing of a movie. You could happily spend most of a day here, although your bank account might suffer.
As the name suggests, Beachwalk is close to Kuta beach so if the sun does come out you’re just a hop, skip and jump away from being on the sand with a coconut.
If you’re not close to Kuta, here’s a list of good cinemas in Bali.
Get Productive
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Use rainys day to get some work done if you work online. There are plenty of co-working spaces around Bali where you can meet other people and drink good coffee. Many of them have social activities in the evening like networking events, talks and parties where you can get to know each other. These co-working spaces also offer Skype booths, air conditioned rooms, printing, storage lockers and even a postal address.
The most well known co-working spaces in Bali are:
- Canggu: Tropical Nomad and Outpost are two popular co-working spaces here, which have many events on.
- Ubud: Hubud is a popular one – it also runs events and is well reviewed by digital nomads.
- Nusa Dua: Check out Hub Bali, where you can get a free trial of the space on your first visit.
- Kuta: Lineup Hub is close to the beaches and surf spots, so if the sun does make an appearance you can be on the beach in minutes.
- Seminyak: Kembali charges IDR30k per hour, or 150k for the day.
That’s everything you need to know about monsoon season in Bali. I hope this helps to make your holiday a great one, no matter what the weather.
2 comments
Loved the tips on your site ?
Just looked at the weather for bali for the next week or so and this may be a life saver!