Visiting Indonesia in March

The wettest weather is finally starting to ease across Indonesia, with conditions getting better throughout the month – it’s still very unsettled in most places, and the rainy season definitely hasn’t ended yet though.

For guaranteed sunshine, you’ll need to head east to Raja Ampat and the Moluccas, still best in the central islands but with drier days across the whole archipelago. Both Kalimantan and Sumatra in the west are finally starting to enjoy better weather too. South Sumatra is seeing some more sun towards the end of the month, while North Sumatra sees occasional downpours and hotter weather. There’s still a good chance of seeing orangutans in the Sumatran jungles, and exploring around Bukit Luwang.

There’s more chance of sunny days amid the rain in Kalimantan too, although while the weather is improving, it’s still better to postpone a visit for the drier months if you can.

Java is getting hotter but still quite wet, especially in the west, while Bali is humid despite the heavy afternoon rain showers. The humidity in Lombok is also high, reaching as much as 85%, and the rest of Nusa Tenggara is still seeing plenty of rain.

Festivals: Nyepi, or the Balinese Day of Silence is a celebration to mark the New Year (date varies, usually in March/April). A public holiday across the country, people fast and spend the day quietly and in meditation – expect streets to be silent, most places to be closed, even internet to be shut off, with everyone expected to abide by the restrictions. The following days are for families and friends to perform certain rituals together, with parades taking place.

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.

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