Visiting Indonesia in February

The rainy season is still in full force across most of Indonesia, although the wet weather is starting to ease slightly in some areas of the country.

Sumatra

The sun comes back out in North Sumatra this month, so it’s a great time to spot orangutans in the jungles around Bukit Luwang without the crowds of peak season – team it with a magical stay in the heart of Lake Toba on Samosir Island. South Sumatra is still very wet though, and the downpours can make some roads inaccessible, so stick to the northern side of the island if you’re visiting.

While the rain is easing in Kalimantan, which is moving from its wettest months to the lighter rainy season, you’ll be lucky to spot orangutans here as they’re more likely to be hidden away under shelter.

And in the north-east, Raja Ampat and the central Moluccas are still basking in sunshine this month.There’s fantastic diving at Raja Ampat, with a chance of spotting manta rays, although as in January, the south-eastern islands in the Moluccas are wetter with strong wind and heavy rainfall in the Banda Islands.

Bali

Bali is wet and humid, with rough seas making it a bad time for a holiday to Indonesia if you’re hoping to go diving, while there’s often flooding in west Java and Jakarta this month. East Java is slightly less rainy, but it’s still not the best time to visit the area, and climbing Mount Bromo or Ijen is definitely not recommended. And while Nusa Tenggara isn’t as wet as Bali, you can still expect it to be rainy, with inter-island transport often disrupted.

Festivals: Chinese New Year (date varies, usually late January/early February) is a public holiday in Indonesia with plenty of celebrations throughout the country to welcome the start of the new lunar year.

The Pasola war festival is also held in Sumba, with men on horseback re-enacting old tribal battles. There are usually two rounds, first in the west and the second in the east, taking place on varying dates during February and May.

Ramadan takes place this month (dates vary) with Indonesia’s majority of Muslims observing the festival and you’ll find you may be limited as to where you can eat and drink during the day. It’s observed less in Bali, which has a majority Hindu population.

Best for: Orangutans in north Sumatra, Raja Ampat, Central Molucca Islands