It might look dangerous at first to plan a family vacation to Bali during the rainy season. The majority of people believe that the rainy season means spoiled vacation plans, crying children locked up inside, and spent cash on things you are unable to do. However, many tourists are surprised that Bali’s monsoon season, which runs from November to March, may be the most suitable period for families to come there.
Yes, there will be mid afternoon showers of rain. However, you’ll also benefit from cheaper costs, fewer visitors, beautifully green surroundings, and the opportunity to see Bali without having to deal with crowds of tourists at every beach and temple. Rather than all-day rainfall, the rain often falls in short but strong waves in the late afternoon. This means your mornings are usually bright and ideal for looking around.
I’ve created this guide to help you find best monsoon spots in bali for families, along with information on what makes each location unique and how to get the most out of your trip during the rainy season.
Understanding Bali’s Monsoon before you visit
Let’s just talk about what Bali’s monsoon really looks like before diving into the greatest locations. This is not the heavy, long monsoon rains of India. Warm temperatures between 27 and 31 degrees Celsius with significant humidity are typical of Bali’s rainy season. Tropical rains that last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours usually come in the late afternoon or evening.
Generally speaking, mornings are your best time. usually you’ll wake up to beautiful sky and sunshine, allowing you to spend four to six hours outside before the clouds arrive. If you modify your calendar to align with this pattern, organizing activities becomes surprisingly simple.
When it’s raining, switch to inside activities like cooking classes, spa treatments, or museum tours after spending the morning at the beach and exploring the outdoors.
The wettest months are typically December and January, with less rainfall in November and March. early December or late February might provide a good mix of suitable rain and off-season advantages if you are flexible with your vacation dates.
Best family-friendly monsoon spots in Bali
Even in the wettest months, some locations in Bali are excellent for families, while others become painful or even dangerous.
1 – Ubud
During the monsoon season, Ubud, which is located in the middle Bali highlands, takes on a lovely beauty. In contrast to the often hot conditions of the dry season, the milder temperatures make exploring much more comfortable. The rice terraces become an amazing green, and waterfalls rise to amazing volumes.
Ubud’s number of indoor and covered activities makes it perfect for families during the monsoon.
you never have to worry about what to do with bored children when it starts to rain in the afternoon. you may find safety in the town’s many museums, art galleries, cookery schools, and covered markets on wet days.
There are many of indoor choices in Ubud when it rains. Put your family in a cooking class so they may all learn how to prepare Balinese food. many schools provide kid-friendly versions in which parents handle harder recipes while kids work with simpler ones. Kids always love it since it’s interactive, informative, and you get to eat your creations later.
2 – Sanur
Sanur is to be at the top of your list if you have little children or if you want a slower pace. Even during the rainy season, this beach town on Bali’s southeast coast provides something that is becoming more and more rare in Bali: a peaceful, shallow beach perfect for young children.
Sanur’s beach is located in a more safe region than the beaches on the west coast, which can turn rough during the rainy season. children may safely splash on the soft beach created by the reef far away, which breaks up the waves.
Additionally, the beach features a lengthy sidewalk path that runs down the shore, making it ideal for walks in the evening in between rainfall or early bike rides.
Compared to party-filled destinations like Seminyak or Canggu, Sanur draws more families and senior tourists. As a result, the atmosphere remains casual and family-friendly, with cafes used to serving kids and events targeted at all ages rather than simply teens looking to have a good time.
3 – Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is the symbol of Bali’s resort region, which was created especially for tourists and has nice gardens, security gates, and family-friendly services. families may benefit greatly from this specially designed tourism area during the rainy season due to the resorts’ full indoor services.
If you are staying in Nusa Dua during the rainy season is like purchasing insurance against bad weather. The majority of these resorts include entertainment choices, restaurants, spas, indoor game rooms, kids clubs, and several pools.
You won’t be desperately looking for things to do if the weather gets very rainy for a day or two because the resort provides everything you need.
Additionally, compared to other places, Nusa Dua’s beaches are often cleaner and better kept. Like Sanur, a nearby beach keeps the sea rather calm. without having to worry about strong currents or high waves, your kids may enjoy beach time in the morning.
4 – Seminyak
Families with teens or teenagers are most appropriate for Seminyak than those with toddlers. During the monsoon season, this modern beach town provides charm along with family-friendly activities, making it a location that pleases both parents and older kids.
Swimming isn’t always the best option at Seminyak because the beach might grow rougher during the monsoon. The famous beach clubs frequently provide covered seating so families may watch surfing while having lunch or drinks, and that long stretch of sand is still excellent for morning walks.
Given that kids make up an important part of their customers, many beach clubs now provide kid-friendly menus and spaces.
Families come to Seminyak mostly by the variety of restaurants, cafés, and shops. You can get into any number of restaurants and spend hours dining, shopping, or simply relaxing when the afternoon rain hits. from beautiful international restaurants with kid-friendly menus to simple cafes selling Indonesian food, the region has it all.
5 – Tegalalang Rice Terraces
Even if you don’t stay overnight, the Tegalalang Rice Terraces are a must-see location for families during the monsoon season. these well-known high rice terraces, which are situated just north of Ubud in Bali, are at their most beautiful during the rainy season when everything is a colorful green.
You should arrive early to avoid tour busses and afternoon rain, usually around 8 or 9 AM. The terraces are quite beautiful and provide wonderful family photo possibilities. Kids love going along the walkways and enjoying these huge swing installations that have gained popularity on Instagram.
Families with kids old enough to do simple trekking will do better for the terraces than those with toddlers in carts because they need some walking on rough ground. Good shoes are important during the monsoon season since walkways can become muddy and wet after morning rains.
How to make monsoon family travel successful in Bali
Timing, flexibility, and reasonable expectations are the three main parts of a successful family vacation in Bali during the rainy season. By vacation standards, start your days extremely early. By 7 or 8 AM, have everyone ready and prepared to leave.
This allows you a good window of time in the morning to visit beaches, outdoor attractions or take part in activities before the usual afternoon rain.
Know what you’ll do indoor when it starts to rain if you have a beach day planned. This may be scheduling a food class for the afternoon, figuring out which museums or retail centers are close by, or just figuring that an afternoon at a resort spa fits well.
Is Bali safe for families during monsoon season?
In general, families are safe in Bali during the rainy season. The primary problems are slippery floors and sudden floods in lower locations, although these may be controlled with simple safety measures. Choose hotels in places like Ubud, Sanur, or Nusa Dua that are not at risk of flooding, avoid driving on flooded roads, and stick to morning activities when the weather is usually clear.
What should I pack for a family trip to Bali during monsoon?
Everyone should have a light rain jacket, waterproof electronics bags, quick-dry clothing, solid walking shoes, and an additional set of dry clothes in their daypack. additionally, because mornings can be hot and bright before afternoon rain occurs, pack hats and sunscreen. Above all, be flexible and have reasonable weather expectations.
Can kids still enjoy beaches during Bali’s monsoon season?
Of course! during the monsoon, mornings at beaches like Sanur and Nusa Dua are usually quiet and sunny. Before the afternoon rain starts, schedule beach activities for early in the day, from around 7 AM to 1 PM. Calmer east-coast beaches are still lovely even in the rainy season, and the water is always warm.
