Lombok in January to March: Rainy-Season Weather, the Sea and the 2027 Holidays

5 November 20266 November 2026

January to March is the second half of Lombok’s rainy season. In long-term averages for Mataram, the island’s capital, rainfall peaks at 317 mm in January and eases to 254 mm in February and 206 mm in March. Even so, there are seven to eight hours of sunshine a day and the sea is 28 to 29 degrees, so a trip built around time on the water in the clear spells and rainy spells indoors or at the beach cafe works.

In 2027 this period also brings Chinese New Year on 6 February, the expected start of Ramadan around 8 February, Nyepi in Bali on 8 March and Eid al-Fitr (Lebaran) on 10 and 11 March. Mount Rinjani’s trails close every year from January to the end of March. For this guide we read the climate site weather2travel, the Indonesian State Secretariat’s 2027 holiday announcement, reporting on the forecast by Indonesia’s weather agency BMKG and the state news agency Antara, among others, on 5 November 2026, and set out what affects trip planning.

This guide is for people thinking of Lombok or Sekotong between January and March, whether for a winter break, a long weekend or a gap between seasons.

Information as of November 2026

What this article covers

✓Rain, temperature, sunshine and sea temperature from January to March (Mataram averages)
✓The outlook for the 2026 to 2027 rainy season
✓Public holidays and collective leave days, January to March 2027
✓How Ramadan, Nyepi and Eid affect travel
✓The Rinjani closure and the Bau Nyale festival
✓Spending time in Sekotong, and who this season does not suit

In short

January to March is wet, but rain peaks in January and eases towards March, and there are sunny spells. In 2027 Ramadan is expected to begin in early February, and travel is busy around Nyepi on 8 March and the Eid break from 9 to 15 March. Rinjani is closed, so this is a season for the sea and village life.

Contents

What is the weather like from January to March?

In weather2travel’s long-term averages for Mataram, highs are 30 degrees in January and February and 31 in March, with lows of 23 every month. There are 21 rainy days in January, 19 in February and 17 in March, with 317 mm, 254 mm and 206 mm of rain. April drops to 105 mm over 12 days as the dry season arrives.

Sunshine averages seven hours a day in January and February and eight in March, so even in the rainy season it does not rain all day every day. The UV index is 11 or more, rated extreme, in January and February. Sunrise in Mataram is at 6:00 on 1 January and 6:20 on 28 February, and sunset is around 18:43 in late January.

These are figures for Mataram, north-east of Sekotong, not measurements from Sekotong itself, and they vary from year to year. For the sea through the seasons, see Sekotong weather and sea seasons.

Figure: Rainfall and rainy days, January to March (Mataram averages)

What is the outlook for the 2026 to 2027 rainy season?

BMKG released its outlook for the 2026 to 2027 rainy season on 22 September 2026. According to CNBC Indonesia (26 September), the season will arrive in stages, and in about 61 per cent of the country (61.08%) it is expected to start later than normal. The peak is expected in December 2026 across the largest area (36.94% of Indonesia’s land), followed by January 2027 (25.68%) and February 2027 (16.79%).

The report gives no figures specific to West Nusa Tenggara, the province that includes Lombok. Just before you travel, check BMKG’s forecasts for the days with heavy rain. Ideas for wet days are in things to do on Lombok on a rainy day.

Which public holidays fall between January and March 2027?

The Indonesian State Secretariat’s announcement (15 September 2026) lists the following holidays and collective leave days (cuti bersama, days off the government recommends) for January to March 2027. Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6 February, so Friday the 5th is a collective leave day, making a three-day weekend. Eid falls on 10 and 11 March, with collective leave on the 9th, 12th and 15th. Together with Nyepi on the 8th, some people will be off from Saturday 6 March to Monday 15 March.

← Scroll sideways to see the whole table

Date (2027)	Holiday or leave	Effect on travel
Fri 1 January	New Year’s Day	End of the year-end holidays; busy through the weekend
Tue 5 January	Isra Mi’raj (the Prophet’s ascension)	Public holiday; offices and some shops close
Fri 5 and Sat 6 February	Chinese New Year (5th is collective leave)	Three-day weekend; more domestic travel
Around Mon 8 February	Start of Ramadan (estimate)	Daytime eating and drinking changes
Mon 8 March	Nyepi (Bali’s day of silence)	Bali’s airport closes (2026 example); affects connections via Bali
9 to 15 March	Eid (10 and 11 are holidays; 9, 12 and 15 are collective leave)	Boats and flights busy with people going home
25 to 28 March	Good Friday and Easter (25th is collective leave)	Four-day weekend

Source: Indonesian State Secretariat, Inilah SKB 3 Menteri Libur Nasional dan Cuti Bersama 2027 (15 September 2026). The start of Ramadan is the estimate reported by Metro TV (2 September 2026).

The full holiday calendar is also covered in Friday prayers, holidays and Ramadan on Lombok.

How do Ramadan, Nyepi and Eid affect a trip?

Metro TV (2 September 2026) expects Ramadan 2027 to begin on Monday 8 February. This estimate comes from the Muhammadiyah calendar, and the official date is set by the government. During Ramadan many people on Lombok do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. The UK government’s travel advice suggests not eating, drinking or smoking outdoors in daylight, and notes that restaurants and hotels serving food during fasting hours may screen off non-fasting guests.

Nyepi on 8 March is Bali’s day of silence, and the UK government’s advice (2026 example) says Bali’s airport closes for the day. If you connect through Bali to reach Lombok, avoid that date. Before and after Eid, boats and flights fill with people travelling home, and fares tend to rise. More on both is in Ramadan and Nyepi in Indonesia.

Take care

The start of Ramadan is an estimate; confirm the official date when the government announces it
Bali’s airport closes on Nyepi (8 March), so plan connections via Bali for the days before or after
Book boats, flights and transfers early for the Eid break (9 to 15 March)

What about Mount Rinjani and Bau Nyale?

Mount Rinjani’s trails close every year from January to the end of March for safety in the rainy season and to let the ecosystem recover, and usually reopen on 1 April (Antara, June 2025). In 2026 they were closed from 1 January to 31 March and reopened on 1 April. We could not find the 2027 closure notice at the time of writing. If you want to climb, plan for April or later.

Bau Nyale, the festival on Lombok’s south coast where people catch nyale sea worms, is dated by the Sasak calendar. According to detikBali (4 December 2025), the 2026 dates of 7 to 8 February were agreed by Central Lombok regency and traditional elders, with Seger beach in Kuta Mandalika as the venue. We could not find the 2027 dates at the time of writing (the 2026 dates were set the previous December). More in the Bau Nyale festival.

How to spend January to March in Sekotong

Island-hopping and swimming off Sekotong are easiest in the morning, when wind and rain are lighter, heading out early and coming back after midday. Keep two possible days for an island trip in case rain or waves keep boats in, and spend the other days in the village or at the beach cafe.

At Semelar Beach Village, the beach cafe SAKURA CAFE and SEMELAR MARKET are open 10:00 to 22:00 (closed Mondays). The bamboo restaurant is scheduled to open on 7 November 2026, with planned hours of 10:00 to 22:00, closed Mondays. Paddle and pedal kayaks (seven boats) are also scheduled to start on 7 November.

Figure: A day in Sekotong, January to March

A note from Sekotong

For January to March, we suggest keeping a possible island-trip day in both the first and second half of your stay. Even in wet January there are about seven hours of sunshine a day, so it does not rain all day every day. With the stay programme, which includes transport and a guide, it is easier to swap days around on the day depending on the weather.

Downsides, and who a January to March trip suits

The downsides first. January to March is the wettest time of year, with rain on more than half the days of the month. Some days boats cannot go out because of waves or wind, and the water tends to be less clear than in the dry season. Rinjani is closed. In 2027 Ramadan runs from early February, and domestic travel is busy over the Eid break in March.

It still suits people happy to wait for clear spells to get on the water, and those who want slow days in a village and on a beach. Semelar Beach Village’s stay programme runs from 3 nights and 4 days to 5 nights and 6 days at Rp4,800,000 per person, including airport transfers, transport, a guide, a welcome dinner and a massage (flights and accommodation are separate). Because the length is flexible, you can swap plans around on bad-weather days. Where to stay is on Stay.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Does it rain all the time on Lombok in January?

In Mataram averages, January has 21 rainy days and 317 mm of rain, the most of any month. There are still about seven hours of sunshine a day, so it does not rain all day every day.

Q. When does Ramadan start in 2027?

It is expected to start around Monday 8 February (Metro TV, 2 September 2026). The government sets the official date.

Q. Which dates should I watch if I connect through Bali in March?

Bali’s airport closes on Nyepi, 8 March. The Eid break runs from 9 to 15 March, and boats and flights are busy.

Q. Can I climb Mount Rinjani from January to March?

No. The trails close every year from January to the end of March and usually reopen on 1 April.

Q. Can I swim in the sea from January to March?

The sea is 28 to 29 degrees. Mornings on calm days are best, and leave some slack in case boats cannot go out.

Summary

January to March is the second half of Lombok’s rainy season, with rain easing from 317 mm in January to 206 mm in March (Mataram averages). Sunshine averages seven to eight hours a day and the sea is 28 to 29 degrees.

In 2027 Chinese New Year on 6 February, Ramadan from around 8 February (estimate), Nyepi on 8 March and the Eid break from 9 to 15 March follow one another, and Rinjani is closed until the end of March. For a trip built around the sea and village life, keep two possible days for an island trip (as of November 2026).