Travel advice for Indonesia
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Indonesia
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Delays are common to all forms of transport in Indonesia – including major flights – caused by weather, mechanical failure, or simply not enough passengers turning up, so you’ll save yourself a good deal of stress if you keep your schedule as flexible as possible.
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Bali's Beaches and Temples
Experience Bali's brilliant beaches and temples with this stunning trip. Marvel at ancient temples like Tanah Lot and Pura Besakih, soak in stunning sunsets, stroll bare-footed along the best beaches in Bali and haggle at local markets – experience all of this, and much more, with this unique trip!
customize ⤍The Best of Bali
This trip will take you from the modern-day Bali to the traditional one. Bali has many adventures to offer, tour the countryside with a Vespa or glide through the hidden canyons. You will also be able to enjoy visits to enchanting villages, where you can take in the local way of life.
customize ⤍Java and Lombok - culture and beaches
Start your trip in Yogyakarta (also called Jogja) with its rich cultural past such as the Borobudur temple. From there continue to hike Mount Bromo and explore more of East Java in Malang and Surabaya. End your trip on the dreamy beaches of Kuta/Lombok, dubbed 'the next Bali'.
customize ⤍Singapore & Bali - A Unique Exploration
Combine Southeast Asia's smallest country Singapore with its largest country: Indonesia. Spend a few days exploring the metropolis before flying to the magical island of Bali. Temples, volcanoes and ceremonies are part of your itinerary, as are the gorgeous beaches of Nusa Lembongan.
customize ⤍Culture, volcanoes and dragons - Bali, Flores & Komodo
Combine several islands on one trip - start in Bali's cultural capital Ubud before heading to the rice fields in Sidemen. A short flight to Flores allows you to explore volcanoes and local villages before hopping on a cruise around Komodo and other islands close to Labuan Bajo. Dragons included!
customize ⤍Love trip to Bali
Celebrate your love union on this magical island. Included are couples massages at relaxing spas, a blessing ceremony by a Balinese priest, an authentic cooking class and of course - a beautiful white sandy beach on Nusa Lembongan to relax towards the end of your trip.
customize ⤍Unknown Java and Bali - an overland adventure
A fast-paced itinerary packing plenty of highlights: discover the temples of Prambanan and Borobudur and sunrises at Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen before heading to Bali: a beautiful underwater world and the landscapes of Ubud and Sidemen await.
customize ⤍Java Discovery
Experience the magic of Java, the third-largest of the Indonesian Islands, with this stunning trip! Discover stunning ancient temple complexes, ride a bicycle through idyllic rural villages, climb to Mount Ijen's crater at sunrise and laze around on palm-fringed tropical beaches!
customize ⤍Nature in Borneo and Relaxation in Riau
Experience the best of both worlds with this unique trip to Indonesia. Embark on a cruise up the Rungan River, where you will discover incredible wildlife and traditional villages, before continuing on to the Telunas Resort, a deserted island paradise that will be your home for a few days.
customize ⤍Exploring Bali's Culture & Gili's beaches
Dive deep into Balinese culture from Ubud and Sidemen. Visits include rice field walks, the Gates of Heaven, water temples like Tirta Empul and Tirta Gangga as well as a traditional cooking class. Your trip ends with the beaches of Gili Air and Jimbaran.
customize ⤍In cities, colour-coded or numbered minibuses known as angkots (also called bemos, oplets or microlets) run fixed circuits, although routes are often adaptable according to their customers. Once on their way, they’re faster than buses and cheaper; fares are handed over on board.
A more pleasant alternative to big buses and angkots is tourist shuttle buses. Though far more expensive than local services, these air-conditioned vehicles will take you between points as quickly as possible. The longest-established firm on Bali and Lombok is Perama.
Check up-to-date route information and buy tickets, available two or three days before departure, at the local Pelni office. Alternatively, pay an agent to reserve tickets as early as possible.
On-board accommodation is usually divided into two or four classes, the most expensive of which come with double bed, washroom, air-conditioning and large luggage lockers. If full, the only option is to sleep in the corridors, stairwells or on deck.
Conditions are not suitable for inexperienced drivers, with heavy traffic on major routes. Drivers must always carry an international driving licence and the vehicle registration documents.
Other standbys include ojek, single-passenger motorbikes, and becak, cycle-rickshaws capable of squeezing in two or three passengers. Jakarta also has motorized becak, called bajaj. Negotiating fares for these vehicles requires a balance of firmness and tact. Taxis are generally cheaper than a bajaj, and in most cities use a meter (argo), though bajaj can prove useful when in a hurry during the peak-hour mess.
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Indonesia
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 26.04.2021
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