Bali – Geography and Climate

Geography

Located out of the west coast of Australia, Bali is a world-renowned tropical island paradise, with large expanses of jungle, beach and even volcanic mountain ranges. Bali is part of Indonesia and is just one of the 13,677 islands that make up the nation covering an area of 5,636km and stretching 80km from north to south and 140km from east to west.

Bali lies between neighbouring islands Java and Lombok, and shares the same time zone as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Perth, as it sits approximately 8 degrees south of the equator. Despite not being a country itself Bali does have a capital city, Denpasar, and is home to around 4.8 million people.

Bali’s landscape features many mountains and volcanic peaks, in fact, it is a mostly mountainous landscape and this heavily influences the island’s weather and climate. The highest peak is Mount Agung, which towers 3,142m (10,308 feet) above sea level and is known locally as the “navel of the world.” However, It has a dark past when it proved itself as a volcano in 1963 after a 120-year dormant period, killing more than 1,500 persons and leaving thousands homeless. The second highest peak is Mount Batukaru which sits at 2,275m above sea level and, if you’re brave and fit enough, can be trekked on a nine-hour journey to the summit. The main lowland is south of the central mountains.

The island is surrounded by stunning coral reefs that are ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving and volunteers can take part in coral reef restoration at our project in the north eastern part of the island. Interestingly, beaches in the south tend to have white sand while those in the north and west have black sand. The black sand beaches between Pasut and Klatingdukuh are being developed for tourism, but apart from the seaside temples of Tanah Lot, they are not yet used for significant tourism.

Bali has no major rivers/waterways, although the Ho River is navigable by small boats known as sampan boats.

Climate

As a tropical island destination, Bali enjoys a warm and balmy climate all year round, characterized by high temperatures and high humidity throughout the year.

Bali has two distinct seasons to bear in mind when deciding when to visit: the wet, falling between October and March, and the dry, spanning between April and September. Bali’s weather is characterised as a tropical monsoon, where the summer months receive high amounts of humidity and rainfall.

During the dry season, temperatures typically range between 80-90°F (27-32°C) and humidity is relatively low, while there is often a nice and cool breeze which is very pleasant.

During the rainy season, Bali experiences more rainfall and higher humidity than during the dry season. The temperatures during this time of the year are still warm, typically ranging from 75-85°F (24-29°C).

The best time to visit would be during the dry season if you want to enjoy sunny and dry weather, but the island is a popular destination year-round and offer many activities to do even in the rainy season.