Indonesia is experiencing a serious forest and land fire season in September 2026, with large areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan affected by smoke and poor air quality.
For travelers, this is more than an environmental story. Thick haze has already reduced visibility around airports and disrupted flights in parts of Indonesia. Conditions can also change quickly as smoke moves with the wind.
If you are traveling through Kalimantan or Sumatra in September 2026, checking air quality and transport conditions before departure is particularly important.
What Is Happening in Indonesia?
Indonesia is in the middle of a particularly dry period, with forest and land fires affecting several provinces across Sumatra and Kalimantan.
According to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), satellite monitoring on September 2 detected 463 high-confidence hotspots in Kalimantan and another 264 in Sumatra.
Smoke from the fires has been detected in several areas and can spread depending on wind direction.
The situation is being intensified by unusually dry conditions associated with the current El Niño pattern. Indonesian authorities have warned that September is a critical month for the fire season, with more meaningful rainfall potentially not arriving until early October.
Which Parts of Indonesia Are Most Affected?
The main areas of concern are currently in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Among the areas affected by smoke are parts of:
- West Kalimantan
- Central Kalimantan
- South Kalimantan
- South Sumatra
- Central Sumatra
- other areas where fires and smoke are being detected
The exact areas affected can change from day to day because smoke does not remain directly above the fire. Wind can carry it considerable distances.
For this reason, travelers should check conditions for their specific destination rather than assuming that the entire island of Sumatra or Kalimantan has the same air quality.
Has the Haze Already Disrupted Flights?
Yes.
One of the clearest travel impacts has been reported at Supadio International Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.
Severe haze reduced visibility around the airport and forced the rescheduling of 10 flights on one morning.
This is important for travelers because aviation disruption caused by smoke does not necessarily mean that an airport is closed. Flights may instead be delayed, rescheduled or cancelled when visibility falls below safe operating conditions.
Similar problems can occur elsewhere if smoke becomes sufficiently dense.
Is It Safe to Travel to Indonesia Right Now?
There is no nationwide travel shutdown because of the fires.
Most of Indonesia’s major tourist destinations continue to operate normally. The current problem is concentrated in particular areas, especially parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
However, travelers going to affected areas should take the haze seriously, particularly if they are planning outdoor activities or have connecting flights through airports where visibility may be affected.
The situation is also dynamic. An area with acceptable air quality today can experience worse conditions tomorrow if smoke moves into the region.
What Should Travelers Do?
1. Check Air Quality Before Outdoor Activities
If you are staying in an area affected by haze, check the local air-quality index before spending extended periods outdoors.
Indonesia’s disaster management agency, BNPB, has specifically advised people in Sumatra and Kalimantan to monitor the Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU).
This is particularly important when smoke becomes visible or when local authorities issue warnings.
2. Check Your Flight Status
If you are flying through an airport in Sumatra or Kalimantan, check your flight status before travelling to the airport.
Reduced visibility can result in operational changes even when the airport remains officially open.
This is especially important if you have a separate connecting flight or a pre-booked tour at your destination.
3. Build Some Flexibility Into Your Itinerary
If your itinerary depends on several domestic flights, ferries or tightly scheduled connections, leave some extra time between major travel segments.
A short delay caused by haze can otherwise result in a missed connection or lost hotel or tour booking.
For general information about getting around the country, see our Indonesia Transport Guide.
4. Consider Indoor Activities During Severe Haze
When local air quality deteriorates significantly, reducing prolonged outdoor exposure is a sensible precaution.
Travelers should follow local government advice and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities when authorities recommend staying indoors.
Does the Haze Affect Bali?
The current fire crisis is primarily concentrated in Sumatra and Kalimantan, not Bali.
Travelers heading to Bali should not assume that reports of severe haze in West Kalimantan or Sumatra mean that Bali is experiencing the same conditions.
Smoke movement depends on wind and atmospheric conditions, so conditions should always be checked locally.
For Bali-specific weather information, see our Indonesia Weather by Month guide and Best Time to Visit Bali.
What About Jakarta?
Jakarta is not currently the main center of the forest-fire crisis. The largest concentrations of hotspots are in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
However, smoke conditions can change as air masses move, and Jakarta’s air quality can also be affected by its own urban pollution.
Travelers should therefore check the current local air-quality conditions rather than using reports from another part of Indonesia as a direct indication of conditions in Jakarta.
Why Could the Situation Get Worse in September?
September is particularly important because Indonesia is approaching the most difficult part of the current dry season in several regions.
BMKG has warned that hot and dry conditions remain in place in parts of the country, while high-confidence hotspots remain concentrated in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has described September as a critical month for controlling the fires. According to recent reporting, significant rainfall may not return to some affected areas until early October.
That means travelers should not assume that the current haze will disappear within a few days.
Are Indonesian Authorities Fighting the Fires?
Yes. The government has deployed ground teams and aircraft to fight forest and land fires and has intensified monitoring and enforcement.
Authorities are using a combination of:
- ground firefighting operations;
- water-bombing aircraft;
- weather modification and cloud-seeding operations;
- satellite and hotspot monitoring;
- investigations into companies and land concessions associated with fires.
The scale of the response reflects the seriousness of the current fire season.
Could the Haze Affect My Travel Plans?
It can, particularly if your itinerary includes West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan or parts of Sumatra.
The main travel-related risks are:
- flight delays or cancellations;
- reduced visibility at airports;
- poor air quality in affected destinations;
- reduced visibility during road travel;
- temporary restrictions on outdoor activities in areas with severe pollution.
These problems are not necessarily present everywhere in the affected provinces. Conditions can vary substantially between locations.
Should You Cancel Your Indonesia Trip?
For most international travelers, there is no reason to cancel an entire Indonesia trip solely because of the current fires.
The situation is regional rather than nationwide, and Indonesia’s major tourist destinations continue to operate.
However, if your itinerary specifically includes areas experiencing severe haze, you should monitor local conditions and remain prepared for changes to transportation or outdoor activities.
Bottom Line for Travelers
Indonesia is experiencing an unusually serious forest and land fire season in September 2026, with the greatest concentration of hotspots currently in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Smoke has already become a practical travel issue. Haze reduced visibility at Supadio International Airport in Pontianak and caused 10 flights to be rescheduled.
For travelers, the most important point is that conditions vary by location. This is not a nationwide travel shutdown, but anyone visiting affected areas should check air quality and flight status before travelling.
September is expected to remain a high-risk period, so travelers heading to Sumatra or Kalimantan should keep their itineraries flexible and follow official local updates.
Sources
- BMKG — Indonesia Weather Forecast, September 4–10, 2026
- ANTARA — BNPB urges residents in Kalimantan and Sumatra to monitor air quality
- ANTARA — Forest fire haze disrupts flights at West Kalimantan airport
- CNA — Indonesia forest fires and haze, September 2026
- NASA Earth Observatory — Peatland Fires Darken Skies in Indonesia
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