Bali is located only 8 o (375km) south of the equator. Thus, Balinese weather is tropical to say the least – reliably hot and sunny. Days are almost always 12 hours long. Around sunrise, 6.20 am, locals can be seen on the beach blessing the new day, playing with their families in the surf or harnessing their nets for a day of fishing. The sun then sets around 6.30 pm when families generally retreat inside. The daytime temperature averages between 80º F (27ºC) to 90º F (32ºC) in the southern lowlands. In Bali however, it is quite humid at about 75% so often times it feels much hotter. The mountains tend to be significantly cooler at around 70º F (21ºC) to 80º F (27ºC). At night the mountains can get pretty chilly.
Bali’s tropical monsoon climate has two distinct seasons: dry (between May to September) and wet (between October to April). Monsoon refers to the wind, not the rain. However even in the wet monsoon, in this tropical paradise it is still likely it will be sunny for a good part of the day. May, June and July are generally considered to be the best time to travel to Bali in terms of the weather. However, depending on whether the traveler is a surfer or explorer, preferences may change. During the dry season, May to October, the western side of the peninsula creates some of the world’s best waves. The best advice is to check the estimated weather during time of travel and pack accordingly.
Even when it is raining across most of Bali, you can often enjoy sunny, dry days on the Bukit Peninsula which receives far less rain than any other part of the island. On the other hand, in central Bali and in the mountains, you should not be surprised by cloudy skies and showers at any time of the year.
At higher elevations such as Bedugul or Kintamani, it gets distinctly chilly and you will need either a sweater or jacket after the sun sets.