Lombok in July and August: Dry-Season Weather, Sea, 2027 Holidays and Mount Rinjani

6 November 2026

July and August are the middle of Lombok’s dry season, the least rainy part of the year. Long-term averages for Mataram, the island’s capital, show about 3 rainy days in July and 1 in August, with around 10 hours of sunshine a day. It is a good time for island hopping, snorkelling and climbing Mount Rinjani, but it also overlaps with school holidays abroad and Indonesian public holidays, so more people travel.

For this article we opened and read, on 6 November 2026, the weather averages on weather2travel, a news report on what the Indonesian weather agency BMKG said about the 2026 dry season, the Indonesian State Secretariat’s list of 2027 holidays, the school calendars published by the education departments of Western Australia and Singapore, and news reports about Mount Rinjani. We then set out what matters when planning a trip for July and August.

It is written for anyone thinking about a trip to Lombok and Sekotong in the dry season or summer holidays of 2027.

Information as of November 2026

What this article covers

✓Rain, temperature and sunshine in July and August (Mataram averages)
✓Sea temperature and UV
✓What BMKG said about the 2026 dry season
✓2027 public holidays and overlapping school breaks
✓Crowds and cold nights on Mount Rinjani
✓Spending July and August in Sekotong

In short

July and August have little rain, so island days are easy to plan. In 2027, Western Australian schools are on holiday in the first half of July, and Indonesia has public holidays on 15 and 17 August, while Mount Rinjani enters its busiest season. Book early and prepare for strong sun and cold on the mountain.

Contents

What is the weather like in July and August?

weather2travel’s long-term averages for Mataram give July a high of 30°C and a low of 20°C, with 48 mm of rain on about 3 days. August has a high of 31°C and a low of 20°C, with 34 mm of rain on about 1 day. For comparison, January, in the rainy season, has 317 mm of rain on 21 days, so July and August get roughly a seventh to a tenth of that rain.

The low of 20°C is the coolest of the year, so mornings and evenings feel cooler than the daytime. Both months average about 10 hours of sunshine a day. Mataram is on the west side of the island, and these are not Sekotong figures. Rainfall varies from year to year, so treat the numbers as a guide.

Figure: July, August and the months either side: rainfall (Mataram averages)

Month-by-month weather for Sekotong is in Sekotong Weather by Month, and for the whole island in Best Time to Visit Lombok.

How warm is the sea, and how strong is the sun?

In the same averages, the sea off Mataram is 27°C in both July and August. That is on the cool side for the year, one to two degrees below the 28 to 29°C of the rainy months from November to February. It is still warm enough to swim, but a long snorkel can leave you chilled, so a thin long-sleeved rash guard helps.

The UV index is 10 (very high) in July and 11+ (extreme) in August. With few clouds and long sunshine, bring a hat and sunscreen, and something to give you shade on the boat and the beach. Plan to be on the water in the morning and late afternoon rather than in the midday heat.

Take care

UV in July and August is in the very high to extreme range (weather2travel)
The sea is 27°C, on the cool side for the year
The averages are for Mataram, not for Sekotong or the islands

What did BMKG say about the 2026 dry season?

According to Metro TV (22 July 2026), an official at BMKG’s meteorological station in Lombok said the 2026 dry season would peak in August across almost all of West Nusa Tenggara (89 to 90 percent of the province). He linked this to the Australian monsoon bringing dry air, and put the chance of rain on Lombok in late July at under 10 to 20 percent.

That was about 2026. No outlook for the 2027 dry season had been published when this article was written. Even in the long-term averages, though, July and August are the driest months of the year. Plan more for dry air, strong sun and drinking plenty of water than for rain.

2027 holidays and busy periods in July and August

The Indonesian State Secretariat’s list (15 September 2026) has two public holidays in July and August 2027: Maulid, the Prophet’s birthday, on Sunday 15 August, and Independence Day on Tuesday 17 August. There are no collective leave days (cuti bersama) in these two months, and because 15 August is a Sunday and 17 August a Tuesday, they do not make a long weekend in 2027.

School holidays abroad overlap too. Public schools in Western Australia (whose capital is Perth) are on holiday from 3 to 18 July 2027. In Singapore the June school holidays end on 27 June, and July and August are term time.

← Scroll sideways to see the whole table

Dates (2027)	Holiday	Effect on travel
3 to 18 July	Western Australian public school holidays	Family travel season
15 August	Maulid (Sunday)	Indonesian public holiday
17 August	Independence Day (Tuesday)	Indonesian public holiday

Sources: Indonesian State Secretariat (15 September 2026), Western Australia Department of Education “Term dates”.

What happens on Independence Day and how it affects getting around is covered in Indonesian Independence Day (August 17) in Lombok.

Climbing Mount Rinjani in July and August

The national news agency Antara (25 June 2025) describes June to August as the most suitable time to climb, with clear weather and gentler winds, but also says June to September is the busy season, when climber numbers rise sharply, bookings need to be made well ahead and discounts should not be expected. If you plan to climb in July or August, arrange your guide and porters early, along with the rest of your trip.

The mountain gets cold at night and in the early morning in the dry season. According to Metro TV (3 June 2026), the head of the Mount Rinjani National Park office warned climbers that night and morning temperatures drop sharply once the dry season begins, and that the cold raises the risk of hypothermia, especially when resting or in exposed, windy places. Even on a tropical island, bring warm layers for the climb.

How to plan the climb is explained in Mount Rinjani Trekking Guide.

Spending July and August in Sekotong

Sekotong is a peninsula in the south-west of Lombok, with small islands offshore known as the South Gilis. With little rain in July and August, it is easy to pick days for island-hopping boats and to see the sea on clear days. A good pattern is to cross to the islands in the morning, rest through the hot middle of the day, and wait for sunset on the beach in the evening.

In the village in Sekotong, kayak rental (7 kayaks) is due to start on 7 November 2026. A paddle kayak for two or three people will cost Rp120,000 for an hour. The beach cafe SAKURA CAFE is open from 10:00 to 22:00 and closed on Mondays.

A note from Sekotong

The sun is strong in July and August, and there is almost no shade out on the water. On island days, bring a hat, sunscreen and drinking water, plus one layer to throw on, so you are ready for both the sun and the wind on the boat.

Downsides, and who July and August suit

First, the downsides. July and August overlap with school holidays abroad and are a busy time. Mount Rinjani has many climbers and needs early booking. UV is in the very high to extreme range, and the sea is on the cool side for the year. If your dates fall on a long weekend at home, book flights and accommodation early.

This is a good time for people who want to avoid rain and spend plenty of time on the islands and the sea, and for those who want to climb Mount Rinjani. The Semelar Beach Village stay programme runs from 3 nights and 4 days to 5 nights and 6 days and costs Rp4,800,000 (about US$270) per person, including airport transfers, transport during the stay, a guide, a welcome dinner and a massage (flights and accommodation are separate). Sekotong is about 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport. Where to stay is on Stay, and how to get here is on Getting here.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Does it rain in Lombok in July and August?

Mataram’s long-term averages show about 3 rainy days in July and 1 in August, the driest part of the year.

Q. Is the sea warm enough to swim in July and August?

Yes. The average sea temperature off Mataram is 27°C. It is on the cool side for the year, so a thin long-sleeved top helps on long snorkels.

Q. Are there Indonesian public holidays in July and August 2027?

Yes: Maulid on Sunday 15 August and Independence Day on Tuesday 17 August. There are no collective leave days (Indonesian State Secretariat, 15 September 2026).

Q. Can I climb Mount Rinjani in July and August?

Yes. June to September is the busy season, so book early and bring clothes for cold nights and mornings.

Q. What can I do in Sekotong in July and August?

With little rain, it is easy to plan island hopping and snorkelling in the South Gilis. Kayak rental is due to start on 7 November 2026.

Summary

July and August are the heart of Lombok’s dry season, with about 1 to 3 rainy days a month and 10 hours of sunshine a day in Mataram’s averages. The sea is 27°C and UV is very high.

In 2027, Western Australian schools are on holiday from 3 to 18 July, Indonesia has public holidays on 15 and 17 August, and Mount Rinjani is in its busy season. Book early and prepare for the sun and the cold on the mountain (as of November 2026).