Bali enjoys a sub-equatorial climate and is hot and wet most of the year. Cold weather is never experienced in Bali and temperatures usually exceed 30 degrees Celsius every day of the year.

There are two seasons in Bali, the Dry Season and the Wet Season. The Dry Season runs from May to September and the Wet Season runs from October through April. In the Wet Season rain can be expected daily and during the peak months of December to February torrential downpours are not uncommon.

In the hills of Bali cooler weather is encountered. Fogs and mists keep the very high Dry Season highs at bay but visitors should still expect very hot weather no matter which part of Bali they are staying in or travelling to. Mornings and evenings in the hills are cooled by breezes but midday temperatures soar.

Closer to the coast very hot weather is encountered and sea breezes are rare. Dipping into the water is one way to cool off while on the beach in Bali. The island of Bali enjoys a very similar climate to the rest of the Indonesian archipelago. Visitors to Bali should take care with their skin and wear sunscreen, hats and protective clothing.

New arrivals need to be especially careful of the weather in Bali since heat and sun related health problems are bound to occur especially for visitors arriving from winter in other parts of the world who will be shocked by the heat and humidity. Prickly heat and sunburn are common ailments.

Because Bali is a religious Island and because the main religion is Hinduism, visitors may mistake being here for spending time in India. Like the subcontinent, there is rarely a time when some form of festival is not taking place and these festivals invariably involve some form of coloured face make up, gigantic icon statues and puppets, and all kind of music, incense, colour and movement.

Balinese celebrate festivals together, or individually, when families celebrate and worship their personal house deities, for example.

Religious festivals in Bali include odalan, a festival that mark’s the anniversary of a temple’s opening and this festival can run for an entire week and are signified by flowers, flags and lots and lots of music and noise.

Another common religious festival is melasti. This is a festival of purification and many will dress up in their very best clothes and head towards the waters edge where they will bathe and play music. After this festival, a period of silence or at least general quiet, follows.

Nyepi is the festival that follows melasti and it falls at the beginning of the new lunar year which tends to occur each Spring in early April. Even holiday makers are expected to observe the calm and peace that is called for on this day and most businesses including hotels will be closed or at least, non-staffed.

Galungan is observed over the eleventh week of the Balinese calendar and marks creation of everything visible in the natural world. This is a family oriented festival and is marked by feasting and drinking (not alcohol, necessarily).

This major festival is followed by Kuningan which marks the end of the festive period. Water temples and most expecially the water temples of Ubud are centres of this very popular festival.

Many other Bali festivals have nothing whatsoever to do with religion. The Negara bull races take place between July and October and feature decorated bulls harnessed in chariots ridden by festive local jockeys. Watch out if a couple come barreling around a street corner in your direction.

The rice harvest festival is marked with dolls made from rice and a general sense of happiness and feasting, and Indonesian Independence Day is marked in Bali, naturally.

Balinese welcome foreigners into their festivals. The more the merrier, but be sure to dress appropriately – there is no need to dress up or follow festive costume, but flip flops and beach attire would be considered inappropriate.

Beautiful Bali

One of Asia’s most popular destinations continues to draw the crowd, with its fantastic beaches, excellent hospitality, lovely landscapes, intriguing temples, tropical gardens and exotic Balinese culture. Whether you’re coming for a party or some peace and quiet, the island offers all that and more, both in the mountains and beside the sea.

This Bali guide and blog is the pre-cursor to a full travel guide to the island, featuring dozens of pages and images to help you plan your trip and get the most from your visit. From spas to surfing, food to festivals we have it covered here with our expert travel writers. It’s part of a larger series on Southeast Asia travel destinations.

Bali has recovered from it’s terrible bombing and offers a safe and relaxed destination that epitomises the best of tropical Pacific islands. Come on in to this site to see it for yourself before you’ve left home. Before planning your trip consider saving money on flights, travel deals and hotels with discount vouchers offered by some sites.