March has 231.1 mm of rain at Bali's airport on the long-run normals, less than February's 289.8 mm and more than twice April's 107.4 mm, with a mean temperature of 28.0°C. The calendar matters more than the weather. Nyepi on Monday 8 March stops the island for a day, Eid al-Fitr on 10-11 March starts an eight-day run of days off for much of Indonesia, and Easter on 28 March comes with the start of the school holidays in two Australian states. The terraces are green and the rivers are full.
By Alex Moskvin, Founder of SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Ubud Rice Terrace, Temple & Volcano Tour — From $65 per car, 10 hours.
Is March a good time to visit Bali?
Yes, if you plan around Nyepi on 8 March and the holiday dates. March has 231.1 mm of rain at the airport on the 1991-2020 normals, less than February's 289.8 mm, and mornings are usually usable. The terraces are green, rivers and waterfalls are full, and the island is quieter than in the dry months, except around the holidays.
This guide also answers:
- How much does it rain in Bali in March?
- When is Nyepi in March 2027?
- When is Eid al-Fitr 2027, and does it affect Bali?
Top picks from this guide
#1
Rice terraces in their green season
March is the last wet month, so the terraces are still green and the rivers and waterfalls still carry plenty of water. The usual pattern is a usable morning and a burst of rain later, so start early. The Ubud route is 10 hours for $65 per car, with entrance tickets of $22 per person on top.
#2
Nyepi week
Nyepi is Monday 8 March 2027, and the ogoh-ogoh parades are on the evening of Sunday 7 March. The airport closed for the 24 hours of Nyepi in 2025 and 2026, so arrive before the weekend and leave after Tuesday. Our Nyepi 2027 guide has the dates and the planning.
#3
White water rafting
The Ayung still carries wet-season water in March, so the rapids are faster than in July, and you finish soaked either way. Rafting is from $25 with gear and hotel pickup. Heavy storms can change the river from day to day, so keep a spare day in the plan.
#4
Mount Batur at sunrise
Guides run most mornings from November to March and cancel only in genuinely bad weather, but cloud can hide the sunrise. The jeep and hot spring tour is from $55, and booking needs no prepayment, so a second morning costs nothing if the first is clouded out. Our Batur rainy-season guide is honest about the odds.
#5
Nusa Penida with a spare day
March is still in the rougher-sea half of the year: our manta guide ranks November to March last on sea conditions and April and May first. The Nusa Penida west tour is $49 per car on the island; put it early in the trip with a spare day behind it, because boats are cancelled or rerouted when the swell is up.
Is March a good time to visit Bali?
Yes, if you plan around the calendar more than the weather. March is the last of the four wet months, December to March, on the long-run normals: 231.1 mm of rain at Ngurah Rai airport and a mean temperature of 28.0°C. That is less than February's 289.8 mm and more than twice April's 107.4 mm. The usual pattern is a usable morning and a burst of rain later in the day, so outdoor plans work best before 14:00.
The calendar is the harder part. The 2027 holiday decree puts Nyepi on Monday 8 March, Eid al-Fitr on 10-11 March with collective leave on 9, 12 and 15 March, Good Friday on 26 March and Easter Sunday on 28 March. That is one day with no flights, an eight-day run of days off for much of Indonesia, and the start of the Easter school holidays in two Australian states, all inside three weeks.
The downsides are the closed day, fuller flights and boats around the holidays, and a sea that is still rough for boat trips. The upsides are green terraces, full rivers and waterfalls, and fewer visitors than in the dry months: BPS Bali counted 472,070 foreign arrivals in March 2026, against 697,809 in July 2026.
How much does it rain in Bali in March?
On the Tokyo Climate Center's 1991-2020 normals for Ngurah Rai, March has 231.1 mm of rain, after 289.8 mm in February and before 107.4 mm in April. The mean temperature is 28.0°C in March and 28.1°C in April. The sun rises at about 06:23 all month and sets at 18:40 on 1 March and 18:24 on 31 March, by our NOAA calculation for Denpasar.
For 2026/2027, BMKG said on 22 September 2026 that a very strong El Niño would delay the rainy season. Bali and Nusa Tenggara Barat would start mainly in November and December 2026 and peak mainly in January and February 2027, and the season would be shorter than normal across more than half of the country. The release does not say when the season ends in Bali or when the 2027 dry season starts, so do not read a March forecast into it.
| Month | Rain, 1991-2020 normal | Mean temperature | Sunrise and sunset in Denpasar |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 289.8 mm | 28.0°C | 06:18 and 18:47 on the 1st; 06:23 and 18:40 on the 28th |
| March | 231.1 mm | 28.0°C | 06:23 and 18:40 on the 1st; 06:23 and 18:24 on the 31st |
| April | 107.4 mm | 28.1°C | 06:22 and 18:24 on the 1st; 06:22 and 18:11 on the 30th |
Rain and temperature: 1991-2020 monthly normals for Denpasar/Ngurah Rai airport, published by the Tokyo Climate Center of the Japan Meteorological Agency. Sunrise and sunset: our calculation with NOAA's solar position equations for Denpasar.
Which holidays fall in March 2027?
Every date below comes from the joint decree of three ministers on 2027 holidays, signed on 15 September 2026, except the parades on 7 March, which follow from the Nyepi date, and the school holidays, which come from state education departments in Australia.
| Date | What it is | What changes for a visitor |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 7 March | Ogoh-ogoh parades on the eve of Nyepi | Roads close in the afternoon; be at your accommodation by early afternoon |
| Monday 8 March | Nyepi, the Day of Silence (decree: Hari Suci Nyepi, Tahun Baru Saka 1949) | The airport closed for it in 2025 and 2026; we run no tours |
| Tuesday 9 March | Collective leave before Eid; the day after Nyepi | The airport reopens if the 2026 pattern holds; flights are busy |
| Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March | Eid al-Fitr 1448, national holiday | Government offices close; the Minister of Religious Affairs confirms the final date |
| Friday 12 and Monday 15 March | Collective leave | With the weekend, an eight-day break for many Indonesians from 8 to 15 March |
| Thursday 25 March | Collective leave before Good Friday | Four days off in a row until Easter Sunday |
| Friday 26 March | Good Friday, national holiday | School holidays start in Victoria and Queensland (Term 1 ends on 25 March) |
| Sunday 28 March | Easter Sunday, national holiday | The Easter weekend, with Easter school holidays under way in Victoria and Queensland |
Nyepi and Eid dates: Sekretariat Negara, joint decree signed 15 September 2026. School terms: Victoria and Queensland education departments, 2027 term dates.
Bali is mostly Hindu, so daily life changes little for visitors during Ramadan or Eid; the Bali Sun noted in February 2026 that tourists are typically not affected by Ramadan. The effect is travel: flights and boats fill in the days around Nyepi and Eid. Our Nyepi 2027 guide covers how the two holidays line up, and our guide to the 2027 public holidays has the whole year.
Who is in Bali in March, and what does it do to prices?
BPS Bali counted 472,070 foreign arrivals in March 2026, 4.11% fewer than in February. Australia was the biggest market with 119,777, about a quarter of the month, and arrivals from China fell 58.79% from February to 32,497 once the Chinese New Year month was over. April 2026 was higher, at 553,328.
Those figures were lower than a year earlier. BPS Bali said that March to June 2026 were each below the same month of 2025 and blamed global geopolitical dynamics and flight cancellations. Read them as the shape of the season, not as its level.
We found no published hotel-rate index by month. Our reading of the calendar, not a price survey: rooms and flights are most likely to cost more around 5-15 March and 25-28 March, and March is quieter outside those dates.
Which tours work best in March?
The river and the interior. Rafting on the Ayung from $25 runs at good water, and the Ubud route and the UNESCO heritage tour, both $65 per car plus entrance tickets, carry on in light rain. Our waterfalls by season guide says which falls hold their colour after heavy rain.
Mount Batur runs most mornings with cloud as the risk. The sea needs the most flexibility: book Nusa Penida early in the trip, because November to March is the roughest half of the year for boats. For surfers, our surf season guide describes March as the turn: until March the west wind makes Nusa Dua, Sanur, Serangan and Keramas the clean side, and in April the west coast switches back on.
We run no tours on Monday 8 March, and the days around it need flexible plans. A private car with a driver from $59 per car works better on 7 and 9 March than a fixed route.
What comes before and after March?
A March trip often starts in February or runs into April, so these are the neighbouring dates and guides.
- The month before: Bali in February, with Imlek on 6 February and the rain peak
- The month after: Bali in April, with the rain easing and the Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud on 22-25 April
- Victoria and Queensland school holidays: 26 March to 11 April; New South Wales: 12-23 April (term ends 9 April); Western Australia: 10-25 April
Where these facts come from
- Tokyo Climate Center, JMA: monthly normals for Denpasar/Ngurah Rai — rain and mean temperature, base period 1991-2020, retrieved 2 November 2026
- BMKG press release of 22 September 2026 — very strong El Niño, onset and peak of the 2026/2027 rainy season for Bali, shorter season in more than half the country, no end date given, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Sekretariat Negara: joint decree on 2027 holidays, signed 15 September 2026 — Nyepi 8 March, Eid al-Fitr 10-11 March, collective leave on 9, 12, 15 and 25 March, Good Friday 26 March, Easter Sunday 28 March, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA via BCA Sekuritas, 5 May 2026: foreign arrivals in the first quarter of 2026 — March 2026 arrivals and the Australia and China figures, citing BPS Bali, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA, 2 June 2026: BPS Bali on April 2026 arrivals — 553,328 foreign arrivals in April 2026, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA, 1 September 2026: BPS Bali on July 2026 arrivals — 697,809 arrivals in July 2026, and March to June 2026 below the same months of 2025 because of geopolitics and flight cancellations, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 20 February 2026: Nyepi and Eid al-Fitr not on the same day — tourists are typically not affected by Ramadan, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Victorian Government: 2027 school term dates — Term 1 ends Thursday 25 March, Term 2 starts Monday 12 April, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Queensland Department of Education: 2027 term dates — Term 1 ends Thursday 25 March, Term 2 starts Monday 12 April, retrieved 2 November 2026
- NSW Department of Education: 2027 term dates — Term 1 ends Friday 9 April, autumn holidays 12-23 April, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Western Australia Department of Education: future term dates — Term 1 ends Friday 9 April, break 10-25 April 2027, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Bali Spirit Festival — Ubud, 22-25 April 2027, retrieved 2 November 2026
- NOAA solar calculator — the equations behind our sunrise and sunset times for Denpasar, calculated 2 November 2026
- Tour prices from SB Excursions tour pages, November 2026
FAQ
Is March a good time to visit Bali?
Yes, if you plan around Nyepi on 8 March and the holiday dates. March has 231.1 mm of rain at the airport on the 1991-2020 normals, less than February's 289.8 mm, and mornings are usually usable. The terraces are green, rivers and waterfalls are full, and the island is quieter than in the dry months, except around the holidays.
How much does it rain in Bali in March?
On the 1991-2020 normals for Ngurah Rai airport, 231.1 mm, with a mean temperature of 28.0°C. Rain usually comes as a burst later in the day, but a strong monsoon can string wet days together. BMKG's September 2026 release did not say when the rainy season will end.
When is Nyepi in March 2027?
Monday 8 March 2027. The ogoh-ogoh parades are on the evening of Sunday 7 March, and the airport closed for the 24 hours of Nyepi in 2025 and 2026. Arrive before the weekend and leave after Tuesday 9 March.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2027, and does it affect Bali?
Eid al-Fitr is listed for 10-11 March 2027, with collective leave on 9, 12 and 15 March. Daily life in mostly Hindu Bali changes little, but flights and boats fill around the dates. The Minister of Religious Affairs confirms the final date.
Do tours run in Bali in March?
Most of them, apart from 8 March, when we run none. Rafting, the Ubud route and the UNESCO heritage tour carry on in light rain, and Mount Batur runs most mornings. Boat trips are the first to be cancelled when the swell is up, so put Nusa Penida early in the trip with a spare day.
When is Easter 2027 in Bali, and are there school holidays?
Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Sunday is 28 March, both national holidays in Indonesia. Victoria and Queensland school holidays run from 26 March to 11 April, New South Wales from 12 to 23 April and Western Australia from 10 to 25 April.
Is Nusa Penida worth it in March?
Yes, if you can move the day. Our manta guide ranks November to March last on sea conditions and April and May first. The west tour is $49 per car on the island; put it early in the trip with a spare day behind it.
Is Bali crowded in March?
Less than in the dry season: BPS Bali counted 472,070 foreign arrivals in March 2026 and 697,809 in July 2026. The busy days are around Nyepi and Eid on 5-15 March and the Easter weekend on 25-28 March, when flights, boats and roads fill.
Recommended Bali tours for this guide
Ubud Rice Terrace, Temple & Volcano Tour
This private Ubud and Kintamani day tour is built for travelers who want Bali culture, scenery, and soft adventure without planning the route or doing the driving. It works especially well for first-time visitors because the route moves from craft villages and temples to volcano views, rice terraces, and the Ubud center in one organized flow.
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Area
- Kintamani, Ubud, and central Bali
- Format
- Private day tour by car
- Best for
- First-time Bali visitors
From $65 per car No prepayment
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Bali White Water Rafting, Ayung River
White water rafting is one of Bali's easiest adventure products to fit into a trip because it feels active without being overly technical. It is especially strong for guests who want something memorable that still works for mixed groups.
- Duration
- 4-6 hours
- Area
- Bali river routes
- Format
- Adventure activity
- Best for
- Families, couples, and active groups
From $25 No prepayment
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Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep & Hot Spring
This combo adds the one thing most volcano mornings skip: a warm-water finish before the drive back. It suits couples and small groups who want the complete Batur sequence — sunrise viewpoint, lava fields, and hot spring — in a single pre-dawn outing with no summit hike.
- Duration
- 6-8 hours
- Area
- Kintamani and Mount Batur
- Format
- Private or small group jeep trip
- Best for
- Sunrise seekers who want to end with a soak
From $55 No prepayment
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