What's on in Canggu (Bali), Indonesia through the year

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year peak, Year-end break in Indonesia

• Rule

  Bali tourist levy

  1 Jan – 31 Dec

  Foreign visitors pay a one-off provincial levy on arrival, payable online before you land or at the airport counter. Keep the voucher: it is spot-checked at some attractions. Source ↗

Still on: Monsoon trash on the beach (1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)), Christmas and New Year peak (18 Dec – 5 Jan)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Monsoon trash on the beach (1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Lebaran domestic peak, Lebaran (Idul Fitri) break in Indonesia

• Closure

  Nyepi, the day of silence

  19–20 Mar

  The whole island stops for twenty-four hours: no traffic, no beach, no flights in or out, and hotels ask guests to stay inside with the lights low. The ogoh-ogoh parades are the night before. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Lebaran domestic peak

  5 Mar – 15 Apr · usuallyRamadan & EidCrowdedBook early

  Java takes its long holiday and much of it flies to Bali. Traffic on the Canggu shortcut backs up all day and the beach clubs run at capacity for about ten days. Source ↗

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Monsoon trash on the beach (1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))

Busy — Lebaran domestic peak, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  West coast surf season

  1 Apr – 31 Oct · usually

  The dry-season trade wind blows offshore onto Echo and Berawa most mornings and the Indian Ocean swell is at its most consistent. Dawn is the only uncrowded hour.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Nyepi, the day of silence (19–20 Mar), Lebaran domestic peak (5 Mar – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Dry season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Dry season

  1 May – 30 Sep · usuallyCrowded

  Rice terraces inland are cut and replanted, the rain comes in short bursts if at all, and the sunset traffic on the Batu Bolong road is at its worst. The high season proper.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), West coast surf season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Dry season, Mid-year break in Indonesia

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), West coast surf season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Dry season, Mid-year break in Indonesia

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), West coast surf season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Dry season, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), West coast surf season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Dry season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), West coast surf season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), West coast surf season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year peak, Year-end break in Indonesia

• Hazard

  Monsoon trash on the beach

  1 Dec – 15 Mar · usually

  The wet-season current carries plastic from Java onto Bali's west-facing sand by the tonne, and crews clear it at dawn before it comes back on the next tide. Worst after a night of heavy rain. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year peak

  18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  Australian school holidays and the new-year crowd arrive in the middle of the wet season. Villas go at their highest rates of the year and the beach clubs sell tickets rather than tables. Source ↗

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec)