March vs June

Worth considering

Rain easing but Rinjani still closed — south coast surfing begins to improve.

• ↑March sits at the turning point: rainfall is dropping and by mid-month the pattern begins shifting. South coast waves (Kuta Lombok, Mawi) start improving as the monsoon swell begins modulating into cleaner offshore conditions.
• ↑Gili crossings become more reliable by late March — the fast boat from Padang Bai (Bali) resumes more consistent scheduling, and Gili Meno and Gili Air offer genuinely uncrowded snorkelling at this time of year.

Best match

Peak dry season perfection — Rinjani, Gilis, and south coast all at their best before crowds arrive.

• ↑June is the finest weather Lombok produces: 9.1 sunshine hours, 29mm of rain, and lower humidity than May. The Rinjani crater lake is accessible from the crater rim by a steep descent — camping beside the hot springs at Segara Anak Lake (2,000m altitude, with Rinjani's perfect cone reflected in the water) is one of the most spectacular campsites in Indonesia.
• ↑The Gili Islands in June offer snorkelling and diving conditions that rival the Maldives at a fraction of the cost: flat water, extraordinary visibility, and turtle encounters on almost every dive. The no-motorised-vehicle policy on all three Gilis means the only sounds are birdsong, cicadas, and the call to prayer from the mosque on Gili Meno.