Before
you travel to Indonesia, learn about
Geography,
Climate,
Dress Code,
Security Passports and
Visas,
Staying
Healthy,
Currency
and Credit Cards,
on
Arrival,
Shopping,
Internet
Access,
Domestic
flights,
Trains,
Buses,
Car
Rental,
Pedicabs
and Ojek,
All about
Food,
Off the
Beaten Track,
Traveling
with Kids,
Where to go and
what
to see,
Traveling
with a disability.
Find more details in our free e-Book
Visiting Indonesia.
This
is Indonesia
A tropical archipelago of more than 18,000 islands, stretching along
the Equator between Malaysia and Australia. Most of the islands are not
inhabited. The major islands, in terms of population density are Java,
Sumatra and Bali.
Java alone is home to almost 50 percent of the total
population of 260 million Indonesians. Indonesia is the world's fourth
most populous country, after China, India and the USA.
There are 714 ethnic groups, speaking more than 700 indigenous languages.
Indonesia has three
time zones and could easily span the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia
to Portugal or from Ireland all the way to Greece.
Climate
Temperatures at sea level range from 24 to 37 degrees Celsius all year
round. Humidy is high. It is cooler at higher altitudes.
Bring
warm clothes for mounting hiking as temperatures can drop below zero at
night. Bring plenty of water. And don't hike or climb without
an
experienced guide.
Indonesia has a rainy season
and a dry season. South from the Equator the rainy season generally
lasts from November to April. North from the Equator it is from May to
October. The effects of climate change are obvious: farmers find it
increasingly challenging to guess when the rains will fall and when to
seed their lands.
Dress
code
Indonesians dress modestly.
Although you may see men wearing shorts, outside of the big cities the
norm is to wear a shirt and pants or jeans.
Women
will most likely wear pants, jeans or long skirts. They usually wear
long sleeves. The majority of Muslim women wear head scarves (
kerudung,
jilbab or
hijab).
When
you visit a village, it is best to adjust to the local dress code to
some extent. For women that implies no sleeveless tops, cleavage or
shorts. Men can wear jeans and short sleeved shirts.
Nudity on beaches is strictly forbidden.
Passport and Visa
Visa-free arrival is granted to nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Viet Nam. The Free
Visa is valid for 30 days and cannot be extended.
Nationals of
87 countries are allowed to apply and pay for an e-visa through one of these sites:
Two types of visas are available:
- The On
Arrival Visa (VOA) is valid for 30 days and can be extended once for
another 30 days at Immigration Offices;
- The Tourism Visa which is valid for 60 days.
Other e-visas are available for
students, businessmen and for social/cultural purposes for arrival in Jakarta. Full details at
Indonesia evisa.
As of January 2023 travelers must submit an
online Customs Declaration, 48 hours before arrival in Indonesia.
Beware:
Indonesia has capital punishment for smuggling and possession of
narcotics. Do not carry even the smallest amount of soft or hard drugs.
Staying
Healthy
Arriving travelers only need to have Yellow Fever vaccination if
they have visited a Yellow Fever region. Depending on your destination
within Indonesia you may want to take precautions against catching malaria,
typhoid, cholera and hepatitis.
Malaria is endemic in most parts of the country with the exception of
West and East Java.
Tuberculosis is common in the eastern provinces (the islands east from
Bali).
During the rainy season (October through April) Dengue Fever occurs.
Use
a good mosquito repellent (tropical formula). In Indonesia you may want
to buy Soffell, which is widely available in pharmaacies and
supermarkets, or a similar product.
Unfortunately it is not
safe to drink from the tap. Bottled mineral water is available in even
the remotest locations and is safe. Drink plenty of water to prevent
dehydration.
Be careful if you like to get a sun tan. Sunburn may occur in
as little as 15 minutes. Have you wondered why
Indonesians avoid the sun and remain in the shade? It is because the
sun is too hot to expose yourself to.
After arrival it is best
to take it easy for a few days. Allow your body to get used to the new
time zone and the climate.
The quality of
healthcare varies wildly. In the main cities a growing number of
international standard hospitals are avilable. Even so, wealthy
Indonesians prefer to fly to Singapore to be treated.
Currency
and Credit Cards
The Indonesian Rupiah (Rp. or IRD) is the national currency. The exchange rate
fluctuates around Rp. 15,000 to the US$ and Rp. 16,000 to the Euro (August 2023).
ATMs are everywhere. Most accept foreign credit cards and
produce Rp
50,000 or Rp 100,000 bills. Money changers are widely available too. Be
alert when changing money. Unscrupulous money changers use a
variety of tricks to deceive you.
Most major international credit
cards, such as Visa, Master Card and, less frequently, American Express
can be used for flight tickets, hotels, tours, and also for your
groceries at supermarkets. Usually a minimum sales amount of Rp 50,000
is applied.
Be careful when using your credit card.
Unfortunately sophisticated international credit card fraud rings also
operate in Indonesia. It is best to always use your pin code.
On
Arrival
Taxis are on the ready in all airports. In several major airports
customers should pre-pay for their cab at a designated booth, either
inside the arrival hall or curbside. Rates are fixed and may already
include a surcharge for toll fees. The best taxi operator is Blue Bird
(also operates Black Bird and Silver Bird limousines).
If you
don't use the pre-pay facility, and hail a taxi at the curb, make sure
it has a meter (called Argo) and that the driver agrees to
use
it. Toll fees are not included.
Indonesia's ambitious tourism goals come with large
investments in airport infrastructure and hotel construction projects.
Hotels vary from 5 star hotels to guesthouses, modest
home stays and hostels where you need to bring your own towel and soap.
Shopping
Most shops open seven days a week from 08:00 or 09:00 AM through 09:00
or 10:00 PM.
Indonesia
is a true shopping paradise. All cities boast huge shopping
malls. Outside of those malls there are traditional markets,
neigborhood shops, supermarkets, boutiques, souvenir shops and
'antique' shops.
On the latter,
antik
in Indonesia does not necessarily mean antique. It is more inclined to
classic. Indonesian
antik
is usually just a few days old.
Souvenirs and handicrafts
are of good quality, varied and innovative. High quality wood carvings
(Bali) have become very costly.
Genuine and classic
Batik
is also worth its price.Batik designs vary locally. Be aware that the
colors may fade quickly when it is used to decorate your home.
Outside of Java, batik is replaced by intricately woven tradtional
cloths called
ikat.
The most sought after ikat is from the islands east from Bali.
Indonesia is well known for its 24 carat
gold and
silver jewelry and
gem stones. If you
don't find the design you like, just order it and it will be ready in a
few days.
Wood furniture
of tropical hardwoods is a major export earner.Exporters will be happy
to ship your order right to your doorstep.
International
brands are sold even in the most shoddy market. Don't buy these cheap
counterfeits. They will probably be confiscated at Customs when you
come home. Genuine branded products are availablle in all shopping
malls.
If offered souvenirs made from
ivory,
sea shells,
coral or
turtle shells, it is
best to refuse. Export is illegal. Offenders face steep fines
and even jail time.
Internet
Access
Online access is quickly improving. Yet, internet speeds remain among
the world's slowest. There are more and more free wireless hotspots. All shopping
areas and airports provide them.
Speeds may vary considerably.
Most
telecom providers offer USB modems, or portable wifi hotspots with a
weekly or monthly plan. Download and upload speeds are generally good.
If all else fails there are still some
Warnet (
warung internet or
internet shops) with cheap wired and wireless access. Many of these
warnet now struggle
to survive which is obvious from their ageing equipment.
Domestic
Flights
Indonesia boasts many domestic airlines. The national carrier is
Garuda Indonesia, a 5-star airline that obtained the 'World's Best
Cabin Crew' and 'Most On-time Performance' Awards.
Other airlines include low cost airlines Lion Air, Jatayu Air, Sri
Wijaya and full service airlines Batik Air, and Citilink as well as several
others.
Out of Jakarta and Bali (Denpasar) they
operate frequent flights to all corners of the archipelago, including
Medan, Palembang, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surakarta (Solo),
Surabaya, Mataram (Lombok) Labuan Bajo (Komodo), Kupang,
Makassar,
Balikpapan, Banjarmasin, Ambon, Manado, Biak and Jayapura.
Between Jakarta and Surabaya there are at least 20 return flights each
day.
Before Corona Jakarta's Soekarono-Hatta International Airport was the
world's 17th busiest airport.
The rapid growth of air traffic is now causing frequent delays.
Reservations
for most domestic airlines can be made through travel agents and
airlines abroad. However, it is more reliable, and a lot cheaper, to do
so after arrival in Indonesia.
Trains
In
Java and parts of Sumatra traveling by train is a good alternative to
cover long distances in relative comfort and for little money.
Most stations have banned vendors from the platforms.
Passengers have a choice of economy (
ekonomi), business (
bisnis) and
executive (
eksekutif) class.
Even in economy class there is now airconditioning and assigned, though
cramped, seats. Business class sports better seats.
Train trickets can be obtained at a number of outlets, including
mini-markets and railway stations. Before boarding the train,
passengers need to print a boarding pass using the bar code, printed on
the ticket. Make
sure to stand in the (usually long) check-in line well before the
train's scheduled departure.
Buses
With enough time in your schedule, it is interesting to experience the
sights, sounds and smells of Indonesia from an intercity bus. Buses are
by far the most popular means of transportation. You could travel from
Medan in North Sumatra all the way East to Surabaya in East Java. you
could even continue to the islands east from Bali.
All buses sport airconditioning. The seats may still be a challenge for tall
westerners. Be wary of pickpockets in the bus terminals and on the
buses. Refuse
unsollicited services and never leave your bags unattended.
Car
Rental
Car rental has become more common and more affordable in recent years.
What's more, GPS navigation has been introduced. Many international car
rental companies can be found in Jakarta and Bali, including Avis and
Hertz.
All you need to rent a car is an international driver's license and
your passport.
Local car rental companies send you on the road with a nearly empty
tank. That is the norm. You are not expected to return the car with a
full tank either!
A half day rental lasts for 12 hours in Indonesia. A full day is 24
hours.
There are traffic rules, but most drivers seem to ignore them or invent
their own rules on the go. It is helpful that most drivers agree to
drive on
the left side of the road. The bigger the vehicle, the better it is to
yield, even if you would have the right of way.
Not in the mood for this kind of adventure? Rent a car with a driver.
Daily rates hover around Rp. 400,000 not including fuel and meals for
the
driver. Most drivers are not fluent in English, but you may be lucky.
Alternatively, prepare some standard sentences in Indonesian.
If you just want to travel from A to B, you may want to
share the vehicle with other passengers. Locally this mode of travel is
known as '
travel'.
Travel
companies sell tickets through hotels, travel agents and their outlets.
GRAB Indonesia
works with the Tourism Department to offer a translation feature,
restaurant recommendations, food delivery and both self-drive and
chauffeur driven car rental.
Pedicabs,
Ojek and more
Travelers are surprised to find that several traditional means of
transportation have survived to this day. Horsedrawn carriages and
pedicabs co-exist with motorbikes and cars.
Ojek are motorcycle
taxis for short distances. Passengers are expected to haggle
about the price.
In the main cities
Go-jek
can be
summoned using a smartphone app.
Pedicabs are knows as
becak.
The cultural cities of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo) are by far the
best for a
becak
ride. Keep bags and cameras close to your body: very occasionaly bags
are snatched by thieves operating on fast bikes.
Becak are used on
short trips only.
Becak
fares are comparable to taxi fares.
Food
Indonesian cuisine is as varied as its people, their cultures and
locations. Rice is the staple food for most Indonesians. They eat it
with every meal. In the eastern provinces, Maluku and Papua maize and
tubers used to be the staple foods.
With rice, either boiled or fried, come one or more side dishes of
vegetables, meat or fish. Most of the food is spicy. The varieties are
overwhelming.
Vegetarians are finding it increasingly easy to find veggie menus,
especially in the cities. In the countryside vegetarian dishes are:
gado-gado,
pecel,
ketoprak,
karedok,
siomay, tofu and
tempe.
If you don't mind to 'fish' around in a dish, ask for
sayur lodeh or
sayur asem. Or ask
the waiter to preapre one of the items on the menu without meat or
chicken.
On the
eBooks page you
will find an e-booklet with a few easy to
prepare Indonesian dishes. Also check out our
Recipes
page.
A good way to try Indonesian food is at one of the many Padang
restaurants. You don't have to order anything: the waiter will put the
complete menu on the table. You will only pay for the dishes you eat.
Just in case you feel a sudden craving for burgers or pizza, don;t
despair. Pizza Hut, KFC, Burger King and McDonald's have become
household names in all major cities.
Pork is available in major hotels nd supermarkets that cater to expats
and tourists.
The Government has introduced strict alcohol regulations, making it
harder to obtain a beer or a glass of wine. However, it is left to the
local administrations to enforce the law or relax it. Bali is largely
unaffected. Even so, liquor is not cheap in Indonesia.
Even though Indonesia allows foreigners to bring one bottle of liquor
into the country, Customs officials are notorious for confiscating
liquor.
Every year dozens of men die in Indonesia after boozing on bootleg
liquor. Always reject any offer of sharing a bottle with the
guys if you are not fully convinced of the drink's origins.
Tipping
Whatever amount you's like to tip is appreciated. Essentially,
Indonesian workers don't expect to be tipped. The exception is in 4 or
5 star hotels, where staff have grown accustomed to be tipped. Tourist
guides must be tipped, because they cannot survive on their basic
salaries -if they have one at all.
Off
the Beaten Track
Indonesia has a tremendous and largely undiscovered potential to be
enjoyed by travelers.
The small islands of Nias and Sibolga in northern Sumatra are only one
example. Other islands big and small offer opportunities for diving and
snorkeling.
You may go hiking in the island of Flores, or see the Komodo dragons in
Komodo island.
Even relatively nearby Madura island (north from Surabaya, East Java)
holds surprises, such as traditional bull races.
In the island of Lombok (eats from Bali), Indonesia's tallest volcano,
Mount Rinjani offers long and short hikes. Always do so with an
experienced local guide.
In Sulawesi or Bali you may board a traditional motorsailer called
pinisi for an
island hopping and diving cruise.
In the island of Kalimantan a river cruise visiting traditional Dayak
communities is a great way of exploring the island.
See more travel suggestions
here.
Traveling
with Kids
Should you bring a suitcase full of diapers and baby food? Probably, as
your diapers (suited to the tropical climate) are widely available.
Baby formula and baby food in Indonesia are a little different, but
tasty and healthy. Baby food comes in freeze-dried sachets. Popullar
brands include Promina, Sun, and SGM.
For older children fries and burgers are widely available.
Indonesia offers lots of entertainment for kids. Such as theme parks in
Jakarta, safari parks in Bogor and Trestes, the elephant park
in Bali, boat rides, water parks, games, beach fun and lots more.
Before the trip, prepare children about what to expect. Tell them about
different traditions, language, climate and how adventurous it will be
to discover it all.
Indonesians adore children and will miss no opportunity to say 'hi', to
touch them (especially if they are blond and have blue eyes) and to
pass sweets. Sometimes, all the attention may become overwhelming.
Traveling
with a Physical Disability
Disabled travelers may find it a challenge to travel Indonesia. All
cities and towns have high curbs. There are very few ramps and building
designs have not considered accessibility for wheelchairs. Thanks to
advocacy by interest groups, awareness to the needs of the physivally
challenged, change is in the air.
Preparing your trip, check about accessibility before booking hotels
and tours.