Indonesia, Asia

Bali in August

Peak season continues at peak prices. Independence Day festivities mid month add flags and ceremonies everywhere. Book months ahead.

GoodDry and breezy, highs near 84F (29C)

Temple guardian statue at Tanah Lot, Bali — BaliPhoto: Anandajoti, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

August is a good month to visit Bali. Peak season continues at peak prices. Independence Day festivities mid month add flags and ceremonies everywhere. Book months ahead.

Weather: Dry and breezy, highs near 84F (29C)
Crowds: 5 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What August is like in Bali

August stays dry and breezy, with highs near 84F (29C). It is peak season at peak prices, with the southern beaches and Ubud crowded. Indonesian Independence Day on August 17 brings flag ceremonies, village games, and red-and-white bunting across the island. Surf season continues on the west coast.

It suits families on school holidays and travelers who value sure weather over quiet. Book everything well ahead, and consider staying in Sanur or the east for more space. If you can wait a few weeks, September offers the same dry weather with better rates.

Make the most of August

What is especially good about Bali this month.

Independence Day on August 17

Villages hold flag ceremonies and fun games like sack races. It is a warm, local celebration kids enjoy.

Dry-season surf

Uluwatu and Canggu still have strong, clean waves. Beginners can take lessons on the gentler breaks.

Sanur's calm beaches

Sanur's protected water suits little kids, and it is the easy launch point for Nusa Penida boats.

What to pack for August

Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat
A rash guard for long swims
Water shoes
A sarong for temples

Our timing tip

Book months ahead, and try to catch a village's Independence Day games on August 17 rather than staying at the resort.

Book Bali for August.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Bali
Opens a hotel search for Bali in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for August
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Bali
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Bali
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Bali for August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in August

Galungan and Kuningan

Dates shift on the 210-day Balinese calendar, occurring roughly twice a year

The island's great homecoming festival: streets line with penjor bamboo poles and temples fill. Dates move; if your trip coincides, you are lucky.

Peak surf season, west coast

May through September

Dry-season trade winds groom Uluwatu, Padang Padang, and Canggu. The east coast takes over in the wet season.

Indonesian Independence Day

August 17 every year

Flag ceremonies, village games, and red-and-white bunting across the island.

Things to do in Bali

Full guide

Uluwatu Temple at sunset

Clifftop temple, crashing surf, and the nightly kecak fire dance. Hold your sunglasses; the resident macaques are professional thieves.

Tickets and tours →

Ubud's rice terraces

Tegalalang is the famous one and crowded by 9am; the Campuhan Ridge walk and Sidemen valley deliver the same green with a fraction of the traffic.

Tickets and tours →

Nusa Penida day trip

The Kelingking clifftop view and manta-ray snorkeling. Fast boats run from Sanur; seas are calmest in the dry season.

Tickets and tours →

Mount Batur sunrise trek

A pre-dawn volcano hike rewarded with sunrise above the clouds. Dry season offers the most reliable views.

Tickets and tours →

Tirta Empul water temple

Balinese Hindus perform purification rituals in the spring-fed pools. Visitors may respectfully join; sarongs are provided.

Tickets and tours →

Canggu to Seminyak beach scene

Surf schools, beach bars, and Bali's famous sunsets. Wet season brings seasonal debris to these west-facing beaches; dry season is postcard clean.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Split your stay: base in Ubud or the east (Sidemen, Amed) for the quiet half, then take the southern beaches in a shorter dose. Trying to day-trip everything from one southern base means hours in traffic.
Do famous photo spots (Tegalalang, Lempuyang's gates, Kelingking) at sunrise; by mid morning in high season the lines rival theme parks.
Travel in May, June, or September for peak-quality weather without July and August density.
Traffic is Bali's real crowd. Plan one area per day, use ride-hailing apps where allowed, and never schedule a tight airport run in evening traffic from Ubud or Canggu.

Know before you go

Nyepi shuts the entire island for 24 hours, usually in March with the date shifting yearly: the airport closes, streets empty by law, and hotels keep guests inside with lights low. Book flights around it deliberately.
Wet season (roughly November through March) closures are practical, not official: fast boats to Nusa Penida and the Gilis cancel in rough seas, sunrise treks lose their views, and some dive operations pause after storms.
The Christmas to New Year fortnight is a full-price, full-island peak despite falling in the rainy season. Book it like high season.
Galungan and Kuningan (dates shift on the 210-day calendar) close some family shops and warungs while ceremonies take precedence; tourist infrastructure largely carries on.

Bali in August, quick answers

Is August a good time to visit Bali?

August is a good month to visit Bali. Peak season continues at peak prices. Independence Day festivities mid month add flags and ceremonies everywhere. Book months ahead.

What is the weather like in Bali in August?

Dry and breezy, highs near 84F (29C).

Is Bali crowded in August?

August is peak crowd season in Bali; expect lines at the headline sights.

What is happening in Bali in August?

Galungan and Kuningan (dates shift on the 210-day balinese calendar, occurring roughly twice a year); Peak surf season, west coast (may through september); Indonesian Independence Day (august 17 every year).