Best Time to Visit Lombok: Month-by-Month Weather and What to Pack

Information as of August 2026

The best time to visit Lombok is the dry season, June to September. In this article we set out a monthly guide to temperature and rainfall, the timing of Rinjani treks and the Bau Nyale festival, and what to wear and pack in each season, from the point of view of us at Semelar Beach Village, who are based in Sekotong on Lombok.

Lombok’s climate basics: two seasons, dry and wet

Lombok has a tropical climate close to the equator, and rather than four seasons it is made up of two seasons, dry and wet. Temperatures vary little through the year: daytime highs are generally around 29 to 32°C, and even mornings and evenings usually fall only to around 24°C. There is basically no “cold season”.

Figure: Lombok’s dry and wet seasons

Jan–Mar
Wet season

Apr–Oct
Dry season (Jun–Sep is best)

Nov–Dec
Wet season

* The boundaries between seasons (around April to May and October to November) shift from year to year. Rain in the wet season seldom lasts all day (as of August 2026)

What the dry season (around April to October) is like

The dry season is a time of continuing clear days and relatively low humidity. From June to September in particular, the south-easterly monsoon winds cut rainfall sharply, and monthly rainfall is said to be a few tens of millimetres or less, with hardly any rain in some months. The air is crisp and comfortable, and it is the best time for outdoor activities such as the beach, snorkelling and trekking Rinjani.

What the wet season (around November to March) is like

It doesn’t rain all day, every day in the wet season. More often a short, heavy shower (squall) falls from afternoon into the evening, and then it clears. December and January in particular are said to see the most rain and the most rainy days of the year. On the other hand, the whole island turns a deeper green, there are fewer tourists, and room rates tend to fall. For people who want a quiet stay or to keep accommodation costs down, choosing the wet season on purpose is also a way to look at it.

In a video on our operations team’s YouTube channel (published in December 2025, in Japanese), a team member who runs a business in Sekotong says that half the year is dry season, roughly April to October, and that as of early November 2025 the rainy season had just begun (video). In the same video he says that around 6am Sekotong is very cool at that time of year (video). In another video, published in November 2025, he says that once the rainy season starts there are many days with afternoon squalls, but mornings are basically clear and sunny (filmed at the end of October 2025, video).

Note that the boundaries between the seasons (around April to May and October to November) shift from year to year. It is also said that in recent years climate change has made the start and end of the rainy season harder to predict, so we recommend checking the latest local weather information as your trip approaches.

Monthly guide: temperature, rainfall and how recommended each month is

The following is a monthly guide based on the long-term averages on several climate data sites. Actual temperatures and rainfall vary from year to year, so please treat it only as a guide to the broad pattern.

← Scroll the table sideways

Month	Temperature guide (low to high)	Rainfall guide	Character	How recommended for travel
January	24–30°C	Heavy (around 250–330mm)	Peak of the wet season. Frequent squalls	★★☆☆☆
February	24–30°C	Somewhat heavy	Wet season continues. Bau Nyale festival season	★★☆☆☆
March	24–31°C	Somewhat heavy	End of the wet season. Rinjani is closed	★★★☆☆
April	24–31°C	Moderate (moving into the dry season)	Start of the dry season. Rinjani usually reopens	★★★★☆
May	24–31°C	Rather light	More settled sunny weather	★★★★☆
June	23–30°C	Light	Dry season proper. Comfortable	★★★★★
July	23–29°C	Very light	Driest of the year. Winds somewhat strong	★★★★★
August	23–29°C	Among the lowest of the year	Peak of the dry season. Strong UV	★★★★★
September	23–30°C	Light	Dry season continues. Comfortable	★★★★★
October	24–31°C	Moderate (moving into the wet season)	End of the dry season. Afternoon showers start to increase	★★★★☆
November	24–31°C	Rather heavy	Start of the wet season	★★★☆☆
December	24–31°C	Heavy	The year-end holidays are the wet season proper	★★☆☆☆

* The above is a guide based on general climate data, not measured values for any particular year. Please always check the local weather forecast just before you travel.

Month-by-month guide to spending your time

Peak dry season (June to September): the most recommended time

This is the time of year with the highest share of sunny days and relatively settled temperatures. Sea visibility also tends to improve, so it pairs well with snorkelling and diving. July and August, which coincide with the summer school holidays, are also a peak tourist season worldwide, and in popular areas hotel rates can rise and boats to the southern Gili Islands can get crowded. If quiet matters to you, June or September is the time to aim for.

Dry-season shoulder months (April to May and October): a good time to aim for

Some rain remains, but sunny days are the norm and temperatures are stable. Compared with the peak of the dry season there are fewer travellers, and flight and hotel prices tend to be calmer, which makes it a recommended time for those who put value for money first. However, the chance of meeting a sudden squall is higher than at the peak of the dry season.

Wet season (November to March): a time to enjoy greenery and quiet

The wet season can’t simply be called a time “to avoid”. Mornings are often sunny, and if you sit out the afternoon squall there are many days when sightseeing is perfectly fine. It is also the season when the rice fields and jungle are at their most beautiful. On the other hand, December and January bring more rain and more rainy days, and flooded roads and worse sea conditions are more likely, so if you are planning an itinerary built around activities, we recommend the dry season.

Best timing for Rinjani treks and festivals

Rinjani treks are dry season only

Trekking Mount Rinjani (3,726m), Indonesia’s second-highest active volcano, is officially closed each year from around 1 January to 31 March for safety and conservation, and the usual pattern is for it to reopen from around 1 April through December. However, depending on the weather and trail conditions that year, the opening and closing dates can shift. If you are visiting Lombok to trek, please always check the latest information from the official trekking authority or a local operator just before you travel. The best season for the trek itself is said to be around July to September, when there is less worry about the trail being slippery with rain.

Traditional events such as the Bau Nyale festival

In the Kuta area of southern Lombok, a traditional Sasak event called the “Bau Nyale festival” is held every year from around February to March. It is timed to coincide with the appearance of nyale (a kind of sea worm) that gather in the sea to spawn, and the date changes every year according to the traditional Sasak calendar. If you want to time your trip to the festival, please plan with the fact in mind that this period deliberately falls in the wet season.

What to wear and pack

On Lombok, where temperatures are high all year round, the basic approach to clothing is much the same in any season. On top of that, here are the points to bear in mind for the dry and wet seasons.

What to bring in every season

• Breathable short-sleeved tops and light clothing (quick-drying fabrics are also easier to wash)
• Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses (as described below, UV is quite strong even in the dry season)
• One layer to put on (for adjusting your body temperature on air-conditioned flights and in restaurants)
• Both sandals and comfortable walking shoes (using one for the beach and the other for town walks and temple visits is more comfortable)
• A cover-up or scarf that keeps your skin covered (as good manners when visiting mosques and traditional villages)

What to add in the dry season (April to October)

• Stronger sun protection. With fewer clouds in the dry season, UV levels tend to be among the highest of the year
• It is also a somewhat windier time, so a hairband or a large scarf against hair-blowing and sand comes in handy
• Mornings and evenings can feel cooler than you expect, so a thin long-sleeved top is reassuring

What to add in the wet season (November to March)

• A folding umbrella or raincoat (squalls are short but come down hard)
• A waterproof bag or zip bags that can get wet (for valuables such as your phone and passport)
• Quick-drying clothes (humidity is high and laundry is slow to dry at this time)
• Choose sandals with non-slip soles, which are reassuring on roads wet with rain

Honest cautions for each season

It isn’t as simple as “the dry season is perfect and the wet season is a write-off”. Each season has cautions worth knowing in advance.

Figure: Dry season or wet season: which to choose?

Staying in Sekotong as an option

The way of thinking about the best season set out above applies just as well to Sekotong, our base in southwest Lombok. The calm seas of the dry season are ideal for snorkelling and boat trips to the southern Gili Islands, and some people come for the quiet and deep green that only the wet season brings. We at Semelar Beach Village run a stay programme rooted in local life in Sekotong. If you have already experienced Bali and are looking for the quiet island time beyond it, please consider a stay in Sekotong, whose face changes with the seasons, as a candidate for your next trip.

Sources for this article

• Long-term averages from several climate data sites (monthly temperature and rainfall guides)
• Information published by Mount Rinjani’s official trekking authority and local operators (opening and closing periods)
• General travel information (as of August 2026)
• Our operations team’s YouTube channel, “Building a town on Lombok” (in Japanese; the dry and wet season timing and how the weather feels, videos published in November and December 2025)https://www.youtube.com/@Pengembangan-Kota-di-Lombok