Best Time to Travel to Sumatra, Borneo, Komodo and Flores

Climate table for Sumatra

Jan Feb March Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. Temperature in ° C 31 32 32 33 33 33 33 32 32 31 31 31
Min. Temperature in ° C 21 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22
Hours of sunshine per day 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 3 4
Water temperature in ° C 27 28 28 29 29 29 28 28 28 28 28 27
Rainy days per month 11 7 10 12 13 12 13 14 17 20 17 15

The best time to travel to Sumatra

According to Shoefrantics.com, Sumatra is the largest island that belongs to Indonesia. Sumatra is divided by the equator and therefore also influenced by it in terms of climate. Sumatra has a tropical, always humid climate with no typical dry and rainy seasons. Due to the southwest monsoon , precipitation hits the island all year round. Due to the even higher rainfall in the period from late October to early March, these months are defined as the rainy season. Therefore, you should not visit Sumatra during these months. The months from the end of April to mid-October are considered the best time to travel to Sumatra . From April to July you can also expect the hottest temperatures with 33 degrees Celsius and 4 to 5 hours of sunshine. The temperature fluctuations are minimal, but are reflected in the humidity. If you are looking forward to a swim in the sea, you have to be prepared for bathtub temperatures. The sea water has a temperature between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius all year round.

The best months to travel to Sumatra at a glance:

  • April:33 ° C, 4 hours of sunshine, 29 ° C water., 12 rainy days, 73% air humidity.
  • May: 33 ° C, 4 hours of sunshine, 29 ° C water., 13 rainy days, 72% air humidity.
  • June: 33 ° C, 4 hours of sunshine, 29 ° C water., 12 rainy days, 74% air humidity.
  • July: 33 ° C, 5 hours of sunshine, 28 ° C water., 13 rainy days, 77% air humidity.
  • August: 32 ° C, 4 hours of sunshine, 28 ° C water., 14 rainy days, 76% air humidity.
  • September: 32 ° C, 3 hours of sunshine, 28 ° C water., 17 rainy days, 75% air humidity.
  • October: 31 ° C, 4 hours of sunshine, 28 ° C water., 20 rainy days, 75% air humidity.

Activities at the best time to travel to Sumatra

When visiting the beautiful island, you should definitely stop by the Gunung Leuser National Park . This was set up to preserve the beauty of the rainforest and to protect the endangered animal species that live there. Your jungle trekking route leads you past trees covered with lianas as well as through rivers. If you’re lucky, you might see an orangutan or tiger in their natural habitats. It is best to book a guide, because he knows exactly where to look for the animals. Usually you can plan the tours individually with your guide. So there is something for every fitness and adventure level. Let off steam while hiking and enjoy the uniqueness of nature.

Climate table Borneo (Kalimantan)

Jan Feb March Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. Temperature in ° C 31 31 31 32 31 31 30 31 31 31 31 31
Min. Temperature in ° C 23 23 23 22 20 19 20 20 21 22 23 23
Hours of sunshine per day 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5
Rainy days per month 15 14 11 8 7 4 3 2 2 6 11 15

Best time to visit Borneo (Kalimantan)

The island of Borneo is divided among the three countries Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Indonesian part is also called Kalimantan . This region is again subdivided into West, South, East, North and Central Kalimantan. Borneo has a tropical climate. This climate is characterized by consistently warm temperatures, high amounts of precipitation and high humidity. The best travel time for Borneo is in the months of June, July, August and September. During this time there is less rainfall than in the rest of the year and you can look forward to up to 6 hours of sunshine per day. The hot temperatures combined with high humidity are not always easy to bear. Therefore, remember to drink a lot and, during the warmest hours, to withdraw into the shade from time to time.

Monthly overview for Borneo (Kalimantan):

  • June: 31 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 4 rainy days
  • July: 30 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 3 rainy days
  • August: 31 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 2 rainy days
  • September: 31 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 2 rainy days

Climate table Labuan Bajo (Flores)

Jan Feb March Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. Temperature in ° C 31 31 31 32 31 30 31 30 31 31 31 31
Min. Temperature in ° C 23 23 23 21 21 20 20 20 22 22 23 23
Hours of sunshine per day 5 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 6 6 6 4
Rainy days per month 15 14 11 8 7 4 3 2 2 6 11 15

Best time to visit Komodo, Flores

The best travel time for the islands of Komodo and Flores is in the dry season from mid-April to mid-November . At this time you can expect sun rays and little to no rainfall. The months of August and September are particularly dry with only 2 rainy days a month. The transition months of April and November still have 6 hours of sunshine, but also more rainy days. But that’s not a big problem, as the rain showers are short and heavy and you can enjoy the rest of the day even if the weather is nice. In the months from December to March, the monsoon winds hit the islands and bring rain and wind in their luggage. These months are less suitable for a trip to Indonesia.

Monthly overview for Labuan Bajo (Flores):

  • April:32 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 8 rainy days
  • May: 31 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 29 ° C, 7 rainy days
  • June: 30 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 4 rainy days
  • July: 31 ° C, 7 hours of sunshine, 3 rainy days
  • August: 30 ° C, 7 hours of sunshine, 2 rainy days
  • September: 31 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 2 rainy days
  • October: 31 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 6 rainy days
  • November: 31 ° C, 6 hours of sunshine, 11 rainy days

Activities at the best travel time in Komodo and Flores

Komodo is especially known for its residents. Many tourists come to Komodo to see the Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. The best travel time to observe the impressive animals is the dry season. In the rainy season the animals are less active and only come out at lunchtime to soak up the sun. Alternatively, you can visit the not yet so touristy neighboring island of Rinca . There you also have the opportunity to marvel at Komodo dragons. Of course, there is no guarantee that a monitor lizard will appear. Since you cannot stay overnight on Komodo, boat tours with overnight stays on the boat are often offered. You will find beautiful diving areas around Komodo and Flores. So why not combine a trip to the Komodo dragons with a diving course? You can find suitable diving schools and offers in Flores. Since Flores is a smaller island, you should find a hotel room or Airbnb in good time.

The best time to travel to Sumatra