Indonesia is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic society of about 229 million people spread out over almost 2 million square kilometers west to east right on the equator in South East Asia.
Neighbouring countries are Malaysia, Singapore and the Phillipines in the north, Papua New Guinea in the far east (sharing the border with West Papua, the former Irian Jaya), and Australia and East Timor in the south.
Local time varies from GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) +7 in Java to GMT +9 in West Papua.
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) is the official currency in Indonesia. Most resorts and larger restaurants accept international credit cards, though usually only in the main tourist hubs.
Many international airlines fly nonstop to Indonesia's main airports in Jakarta and Denpasar/Bali, and many Asian carriers also connect the smaller island airports directly from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur as well.
The national carrier is Garuda Indonesia. They compete for Indonesia-bound passengers mainly with Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Korean Air.
More small domestic carriers offer online schedules these days, but many can still only be ticketed by operators and agents within Indonesia.
Among the low budget carriers whose tickets can only be instantly purchased online, Air Asia offers the most frequent and covenient schedules from a variety of Asian cities.
Sorong Airport, the gateway to Raya Ampat is one of the most difficult places to reach. Lion Air, Merpati, Xpress Air and Batavia Air offer regular schedules from Jakarta/Makassar, Manado and Ambon. Balikpapan in Kalimantan is serviced by Lion Air and Mandala Airways among others.
For Komodo liveaboard cruises, flights between Labuan Bajo or Bima originate in Bali and are usually part of your cruise arrangements.
Airfares
We offer competitive airfares with Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines as well Emirates, Cathay Pacific and many other international carriers. Those airfares can be reserved for you and ticketed at a later point in time. Seat allocations and notification of necessary schedule or itinerary changes are all part of our service.
We offer research and ticketing of all published airfares, to find the least expensive and/or most convenient flight plan from any international gateway world-wide.
Air taxes are subject to strong fluctuations and can change daily or until your flight ticket has been purchased. Taxes generally include local airport/security fees, departure taxes, ground handling fees and fuel surcharges.
Many of the lowest available published airfares are instant purchase only, often online through booking engines of the airlines' own websites.
In general, airfares available for purchase online depend on day of departure and time of travel. Those instant purchase airfares require full payment at time of booking. For flights booked online, we won?t be able to provide any services for seat reservations, schedule or itinerary changes.
Baggage
Please note that baggage rules and regulations are subject to change at any time.
Malaysian Airlines: 20kg (44lbs) free baggage allowance + 10kg (22lbs) dive equipment allowance.
Singapore Airlines: 20kg (44lbs) free baggage allowance. Additional scuba diving equipment will be charged at a flat fee: First 15kg are charged at flat fee of 6kg (USD 8/kg) and the next 5 kg are charged at standard excess rates (USD 8/kg) should your dive bag weigh 20kg total.
Air Asia: 15-20kg (33-44lbs) free baggage allowance only depending the destination. Additional weight may be purchased online at the time of ticketing.
Please note that baggage allowance on any domestic flights ticketed separately may be limited to 15kg (33lbs) per person only, and any additional weight will be subject to surcharges per kilo.
Fragile items such as camera, regulator, dive computer etc., should be packed in a small bag and taken as carry-on luggage. Batteries from dive torches, strobes, cameras and other devices should be removed prior to check-in. Be sure your baggage is properly tagged.
International airport information
Major airports in Indonesia and neighbouring countries
Bali
Denpasar's international airport Ngurah Rai is just a few kilometers north of the Kuta region, and all Southern beaches can be reached in about 30 minutes.
Taxis and rental cars are available at the airport. We often arrange hotel stays including airport meet & greet and private car transfers. Chauffeured cars for transfers as well as island sightseeing are quite inexpensive for western standards.
Jakarta
Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta International Airport, completed in 1985, is located 12 miles (20km) northwest of Jakarta. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the city centre. There are taxis, rental car and hotel shuttle buses available.
Kuala Lumpur/ Malaysia:
Kuala Lumpur International airport is located about 50km away from the city centre. Airport hotels and retails spaces are a short walk away from the terminals. There are 3 terminals:
The Main Terminal and the Satellite Terminal are linked by 'airotrain' and switching terminals for connecting flights is relatively fast and convenient.
Please note that there is a special LCCT Terminal for all low cost carriers like Air Asia. The LCCT Terminal is about 20km away from the main airport buildings on open roads. Please allow for a minimum of 4 hour connection time between regular and low cost airlines.
Passengers booked on the following international airlines can take advantage of city check in at a special airport check in counter located at KL Sentral: Malaysian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Royal Brunei Airlines. More airlines are expected of offer city check in soon.
Singapore Changi Airport
In our opinion, Singapore Changi has some of the best passenger facilities in South East Asia. Transit passengers may pass their connecting time checking into the Ambassador Transit Hotel where comfortable rooms may be booked overnight or by the hour. Please note that you cannot collect your luggge prior to checking in, since you will leave the transit area to pass customs only after your stay on your way to the next gate; your checked luggage will remain in special holding area during your stay. Other transit area facilities include cinemas and an open air swimming pool next door to the Ambassador Transit hotel entrance.
Visa & passport requirements
Passports must be valid for 6 months from the estimated date of departure from Indonesia and should have a few blank pages left for visa stamps as you are travelling around the archipelago. For West Papua, please carry additonal photocopies of main passport pages as well as 4 passport photos for additional entry procedures.
Citizens from the following countries will be granted a non-extendable 30-day Visa-Free Short Visit Permit upon arrival at an Indonesian international gateway without charge:
Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
14-Days Visa-Free visits are extended to citizens of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria.
7-Days Visa-Free visits are extended to citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Republic of Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Romania, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Tourist entry visas valid for 30 days (there are stiff fines for overstaying!) can be obtained on arrival at the first Indonesian airport for USD 25 in cash. These entry visas cannot be extended on arrival. For stays longer than 30 days please apply at the nearest Indonesian embassy.
Citizens of the following countries are eligible:
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, People´s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Swit-zerland, Sweden, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America),
Tourists from other countries should apply for a visa at the Indonesian Embassy before leaving.
IMPORTANT: As regulations may change from time to time, it is advisable to check with the nearest Indonesian Embassy before your departure.
Health
Anti malarial precautions are highly recommended for anyone planning to visit low lying rainforest areas. Bali is malaria-free, and the risk of infection in many coastal regions/island resorts in North Sulawesi is considered low.
Links to further information
The following information is supplied by the foreign affairs section of the relevant country or the tourism authority of the destination. Please check the links for up to date information on visa and safety requirements, embassy and consular contacts, general information:
