What's on in Ubud, Indonesia through the year

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

• Rule

  Bali tourist levy

  1 Jan – 31 Dec

  A one-off provincial levy on every foreign visitor, payable online before arrival. Pay it at the airport instead and you queue for it. Source ↗

Still on: 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)

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

• Closure

  Nyepi, the day of silence

  5 Mar – 5 Apr · usually

  The island stops for 24 hours — no flights, no traffic, no lights, and guests stay inside their compounds. In Ubud the ogoh-ogoh parades the evening before are the whole reason to time a trip to it. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Lebaran domestic peak

  5 Mar – 15 Apr · usuallyRamadan & EidCrowdedBook early

  Java's Eid week fills the hotels and the road down from the Kintamani rim. About ten days, and it moves earlier each year. Source ↗

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

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

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Nyepi, the day of silence (5 Mar – 5 Apr (usually)), 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

  The settled months for the ridge walks and the terraces at Tegalalang before the coaches, and the stretch when the town's yoga and retreat trade is at full tilt.

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

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

Nothing new starts in June.

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

Busy — Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

  15 Oct – 5 Nov · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Four days of sessions spread across venues in and around town each October. Central rooms and the good restaurants go early, and the streets are busier than the shoulder season suggests. Source ↗

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

Busy — Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Bali tourist levy (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (15 Oct – 5 Nov (usually))

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

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year peak

  18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The wettest fortnight of the year and also the fullest, at the highest rates. The Monkey Forest queue at midday is the measure of it. Source ↗

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