Indonesia in October
October marks the start of the wet season in Indonesia. While not many travelers enjoy the wet weather and the downpours , visiting the country now offers a different insight than visiting it during the high season. An advantage of traveling in October is the low airfare and hotel rates, but you’d better not plan any activities in the nature, as the roads can get quite muddy. Instead, stay in the cities and explore the urban jungle with its shopping malls, museums, bars, restaurants and interesting buildings.
Weather
Indonesia tends to have a fairy even climate year-round. The wet season spans from October to April and also coincides with the low travel season. Usually, rain comes in tropical downpours, but it’s possible to rain nonstop for days. Although it’s not usually a problem to travel in Indonesia during the wet season , the muddy roads aren’t exactly in good shape for getting around the country.
Depending on the island you want to visit, you should know that the wet season peaks in different month. On Sumatra, for example, in October the rain peaks in the northern part of the island.
Some sample temperatures:
Jakarta avg high 31C / avg low 24C
Bandung avg high 28C / avg low 18C
Manado avg high 30C / avg low 23C
Medan avg high 30C / avg low 23C
Semarang avg high 32C / avg low 25C
>>read more about Weather in Indonesia
Flights and accommodation in Indonesia in October
October definitely falls outside the peak travel season in Indonesia. That means you don’t need to worry about finding affordable hotels . When it comes to flights , you’ll most likely come to Indonesia via Singapore or Malaysia. Book ahead of time but expect lower rates than during the high season.
What to do
Unless you plan to explore the outdoors, you shouldn’t worry about visiting Indonesia in October. In Jakarta, you can explore Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park and if it happens to rain, just visit a museum to get out of the rain. Or you can head to one of the Shopping Malls. You can have fun shopping or you can try your bowling skills. Get on top of the viewing platform from Monas to see the city from above.
>>read more about Things to do in Jakarta
No matter which cities you plan to visit, there are plenty of temples and other religious buildings to visit. Just remember to wear appropriate clothing.
In between the rain showers, make sure to spend some time on the beach. There are plenty of lovely beaches in Indonesia , so you can choose the popular ones or the secluded ones.
If you plan to visit the province of Aceh, make sure to spend some time at the Tsunami Museum , which is also an educational center and an emergency disaster shelter.
Many places in Indonesia are well known for their nightlife. So, after you are done with the sightseeing, start exploring the bars and clubs.
Regardless of which area of Indonesia you plan to visit, make sure to taste the local food. It’s flavorful, spicy and exotic. If you are brave enough, eat an entire durian yourself. Anthony Bourdain loves it, while Andrew Zimmern hates it. Well, the fruit is known to smell like a latrine and have feel like vanilla custard.