Bali January — lush green rice terraces in monsoon season

Bali · Indonesia

January

Peak monsoon: flooding in lowlands, grey skies, and infrastructure delays are routine.

Worth considering

#10 of 12 months

There are better months for Bali — see the full ranking below.

See when to go instead →

Climate

High

30.2°C

Low

23.8°C

Rain

300mm

Sun

5.1hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How January scores in Bali

Weather
Below average
Value
Very good
Crowds
Good
Events
Above average
Atmosphere
Good

What you gain in January

  • Prices 25–35% lower than July–August peak
  • Rice terraces at Tegalalang vivid green and genuinely lush
  • Fewer Western tourists — more genuinely local atmosphere in Ubud

What you sacrifice

  • 300mm of rain across the month — not scattered showers but prolonged tropical downpours
  • Flood risk on low-lying roads between Seminyak and Kuta
  • Sea conditions rough — swimming at most beaches inadvisable

How January compares to May (best month)

FactorJanuaryMay
Weather
3
8
Value
7
7
Crowds
6
7

January in other destinations

Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Bali, not across destinations. Methodology →