Have a tropical island escape without going over the budget.
Travelling in every season has its pros and cons, and a trip to Bali is no different. And if your biggest pro is just cheap, then travelling during the right months and avoiding school holidays is your key to savings.
TL;DR: When is the cheapest time to visit Bali?
The absolute cheapest time: October to March (except for the Australian school holiday periods). (Read more to see why)
The best-value time: November. (Read more to see why)
Our latest Bali travel deals that will help you save
When is the cheapest time to visit Bali?
When it comes to flights to Bali from Australia, travelling from October to March will herald the lowest fares. (With the exception of the December/January school holiday period.)
Flight aggregator Kayak gathered data to see when the most expensive months to fly to Bali are, based on the average price of tickets. The chart below is for flights from Sydney, but ones from Perth and other cities look quite similar.
The peaks you see in January, April, June, September and December? They all correlate to school holidays. Proof that you should avoid travelling those times if you want a deal, if you can.
Aside from school holidays, the Australian winter months, when it’s cool in Australia but warm and sunny in Bali, are some of the most desirable for an escape. And when that desire is shared by loads of eager travellers, prices get driven up by that demand. So, if you can avoid travelling in July and August.
Although technically sitting in the low-season, peak holiday periods like Easter and Christmas are some of the most expensive times to travel. Avoid going to Bali at this time if you can if you’re looking to save money.
How much will it cost to travel to Bali during those cheapest months?
While the chart above shows the cheapest average flight prices, we’ve been working in the travel deals business a long time and know you can get fares much cheaper.
Looking at recent Jetstar and Virgin Australia sales we’ve written about over the last few months, you should be able to find fares for the prices below during a sale:
- Perth: $138
- Darwin: $140
- Adelaide: $174-$224
- Cairns: $177
- Melbourne: $185-$289
- Brisbane: $186-$289
- Sydney: $199-$289
- Gold Coast: $224
When is the worst time to visit Bali, though?
We admit, it may just be the November to March. Often the cheapest time of the year is also the worst time of the year for just that reason.
And if more rain, humidity and heat are what will put a damper on on your Bali trip then you may find the bargain-friendly months of November to March are also the worst.
But, they don’t have to be. Hear us out.
What’s there to do in Bali from November to March?
Plenty! It may be, on average, wetter. But being a tropical island the rain often comes in heavy bursts rather than a slow drizzle that can dampen an entire day.
Here’s a few things you can do during the off season:
- Unwind at a spa. Bali is home to some incredible spas, and popping in for a massage during a downpour is a pretty great way to spend an hour or two.
- Enjoy fewer crowds. Travelling when it’s quieter will mean less people at each of those insta-worthy locations or taking up tables at those sunset bars.
- Explore the underwater world. November is still one of the best times to go scuba diving, according to PADI.
- Dive into a waterfall. It doesn’t really matter if you’re already wet when swimming under a waterfall, and rainier days usually mean a more powerful flow.
- Learn how to cook delicious Indonesian food. There’s plenty of cooking classes happening around the island that take place rain or shine. After all, most kitchens are inside or at least under a shelter!
When is the best-value time to visit Bali then?
We’re big fans of travelling during the shoulder season for the best value, and that’s no different for a trip to Bali.
November, which is only the beginning of the wet season will reward you with the winning combination of drier weather and still-affordable prices.
According to Bali.com, in November there’s an average of 17cm of rain (compared to 23-34 the rest of the season).
