Indonesia, an archipelago that extends over 17,000 islands, is a destination that enchants with its natural and cultural diversity. From Bali with its heavenly beaches, to Sumatra with its lush rainforests, to the majestic temples of Java, this country offers an infinite number of fascinating experiences. Organizing a trip to Indonesia, however, requires some preparation to fully enjoy its wonders. For anyone planning a visit, there are some practical tips to keep in mind to better organize the trip, avoiding inconveniences. Prepare to discover everything there is to know about the climate, transportation, culture and much more.
Necessary documents
Passport
To visit Indonesia, your passport is the essential document. Make sure it is valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the country. It is also advisable to have a photocopy of your passport and keep it separate from the original, in case of loss or theft.
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To enter Indonesia you need a tourist visa, the Visa on Arrival (VOA), which is valid for 30 days and can be renewed for another 30, exclusively at the place of entry. It currently costs 500,000 rupiah (about €30.00).
You can request it online before departure. By clicking here you will access the official website, just fill out the form with the required data and pay the amount by credit card. The visa will be sent to you by email and once at the airport you will have to show it at passport control.
Alternatively, you can do it at the airport once you land. In this case, you have to go to the appropriate counters where an employee will verify your identity and ask you for the date of your return flight (keep your reservation handy). You can pay in cash or by credit card and, once the payment has been made, a nice holographic stamp will be applied to your passport.
Please check with the Indonesian embassy in your country or visit the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for up-to-date information.
Bali Entrance Fee
From 14 February 2024, all foreign travellers travelling to Bali will have to pay an entrance fee of 150,000 IDR (approximately €9.00). This fee contributes to the environmental and cultural conservation of the island. Payment can be made at the airport upon arrival or online before departure, to avoid queues.
International Driving Permit
If you plan to drive in Indonesia, you need to have an International Driving Permit, in addition to your home country driving license. This document is recognized and will allow you to rent vehicles and drive legally in the country.
The cheapest way to get an international driving license is to go to the Civil Motorization Office. On the website of MIT find all the documents to present. The cost is currently €42.20 but the real problem is the biblical times of Italian bureaucracy. To speed up the process you can go to any ACI and within about ten days you will have your license in your pocket. The cost is approximately €85.00.
Travel Insurance
A comprehensive travel insurance is essential when visiting Indonesia. In Indonesia, in fact, our health coverage is not valid and the health system is absolutely not at the level of that of Western countries. The advice is to always take out a classic medical-baggage insurance that can cover you during the trip. We always use Hello world, which offers travel insurance at very competitive prices with the possibility of eliminating the excess and adding cancellation coverage, as well as providing an App to communicate with the company in a simple and immediate way.
Read our article on travel insurance.
Health: Before and During Your Trip to Indonesia
Vaccinations
There are no mandatory vaccinations to travel to Indonesia and from June 2023 the anti-Covid 19 health requirements (double vaccination or swab) are no longer required. Before leaving, however, consult your doctor or a travel medicine center at the relevant ASL to obtain updated information on recommended vaccinations.
Recommended vaccinations are against hepatitis A and B, typhoid and paratyphoid, tetanus and yellow fever (if arriving from a country with risk of transmission), and rabies. In addition, it is often recommended to start taking lactic ferments 1-2 weeks before departure.
Medicines to pack
It is always a good idea to carry basic medications with you just in case. Prepare a small travel pharmacy with medications such as painkillers, antidiarrheals, broad-spectrum antibiotics (prescription), plasters and hand sanitizer. We also pack a first aid kit in our checked luggage.
Precautions
While traveling, take preventive measures to avoid health problems.
- Drink only water from sealed bottles and use it to brush your teeth too;
- Avoid ice in drinks and unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables;
- Use insect repellents to prevent mosquito bites, which can transmit diseases such as dengue and malaria. We bought Jungle 4 very strong formula with a DEET 50% which is indicated for malaria-prone areas. It should be applied after putting on sunscreen and should be used every 8-9 hours;
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.
Honest? We followed these rules poorly and poorly, in fact we were purged! 😀
Payments in Indonesia
In Indonesia, the official currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). The maximum denomination is 100,000 rupiah. This means that you will need to carry a “large” amount of cash with you.
Credit cards are accepted in major cities and tourist resorts, but it is always useful to have cash for temple entrance fees, parking, scooter rentals, fuel, restaurants outside tourist centers, and souvenirs. Withdraw money from ATMs in major cities and be aware of bank fees.
Inform your bank of your trip to avoid transactions being blocked due to suspected fraud. It is also advisable to carry more than one credit or debit card for added security.
Connecting on the go
If you want to always be connected, there are two solutions:
- buy a local SIM: the signal is present in almost the entire country, but there are differences between operators. TelComCell, the state company, seems to be the best. This solution, although cheaper, is not very practical as it requires physically inserting the SIM into the phone, forcing you to remove your own (temporarily giving up your number) or carry a second smartphone.
- use an eSIM: this alternative, perhaps a little less economical, eliminates the need to insert a physical SIM, being essentially a digital version of the classic SIM card, but with identical functionality. Thanks to this technology, it is possible to activate a local data plan and connect to a mobile network simply via software, without having to physically replace any card.
Read our article to learn more about connection on the go.
When to Go to Indonesia
Indonesia, located on the equator, has a constant climate all year round, with 12 hours of daylight and temperatures ranging between 25 and 32°C. There are two seasons:
- Dry season (April to October): rainfall is sporadic, temperatures are cooler and humidity is relatively low.
- Wet season (November to March): rains are frequent, but concentrated in a few hours of the day with short daily showers, the highest temperatures and the highest humidity.
The best time to visit Indonesia is during our summer, from June to September, with July and August being the least rainy months and, therefore, ideal for tourism.
Tips for Trips: Although the weather is ideal in July/August, it is also definitely the busiest period. The advice is to go in June: the days open up and the rains give way to clear skies.
What to Pack
Considering the hot and humid climate during the day, bring light and breathable clothing, a hat to protect you from the sun, high-protection sunscreen and insect repellent. If you visit temples or places of worship, bring clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. In the evening, especially in the inland areas, temperatures drop so it is advisable to bring something long-sleeved in cotton or a sweatshirt. You may also certainly need warmer clothing during night excursions to volcanoes, such as Bromo or Ijen, with temperatures ranging between 5 and 10 ° C. In these cases, bring a long-sleeved thermal shirt, a windproof jacket, heavy socks, gloves, a hat and a headlamp.
International Flight
There are no direct flights from Italy to Indonesia, so you need to make at least one stopover, usually in Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, etc. The airlines that offer the best routes include Emirates, Ethiad, Qatar, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines and others.
To find cheap flights, search well in advance using search engines like Skyscanner, Google Flights or Kayak. Consider longer layovers or flights with multiple airlines to reduce costs.
Moving from one island to another
Internal Flights
Indonesia is a large archipelago and domestic flights are the fastest way to travel between the main islands. Airlines such as Garuda (the national airline), Citilink (low cost) and Air Asia offer frequent connections. Book in advance to get the best fares and make sure you leave enough time for any connections. Some very cheap airlines, such as Lion Air, Batik or Wings Air, are not accessible through the direct website of the airline so it is necessary to use services such as eDreams to facilitate the booking.
Trip for Trips: Lion Air is the airline with the largest number of flights in the country and the lowest price. If you book with them, be patient because the schedules are constantly changing and flights are often cancelled, even a few hours before the flight. You could be moved to other flights, usually with more inconvenient times, so I recommend that you always check the flight status. You can easily change your choice from the website. Surprisingly, after 5-6 changes, you could end up finding yourself on the exact flight you initially chose. On 4 of the 4 flights booked with them, we did this “tarantella”.
Ferry and Fast Boat
For shorter distances, ferries and fast boats are popular and scenic options.
- Ferries are operated by the state-owned company Pelni, which offers regular connections between the main islands;
- Fast boats are faster but generally more expensive and mainly connect tourist islands such as Bali, Nusa Penida, Lombok and the Gili Islands. Check the timetable and sea conditions, they can affect the safety and punctuality of the services.
Travel within the islands
Bus
In Indonesia, there is a dense network of buses and minivans that cover most locations. There are few highways, so be aware that bus travel takes a long time but is definitely cheaper. For timetables and tickets, you can use the website https://12go.asia/it. Please note that timetables are not always reliable, especially on smaller routes, where buses leave when full and often do not have air conditioning.
Rent a Scooter
Renting a scooter is a cheap and popular option, especially in Bali and Lombok. Make sure you have a valid international driving license and always wear a helmet. Drive carefully, traffic in Indonesian cities can be very chaotic and the road conditions are very poor.
Rent a car with driver
A more convenient option is to book a driver. This service is available everywhere and offers the advantage of having an experienced local driver who knows the roads and points of interest well. It is more expensive than renting a scooter, but offers advantages such as avoiding traffic and having a companion who knows the area, often acting as a guide. We recommend using local drivers or small agencies that will save you money and together you can build a tailor-made itinerary.
In Lombok for example we turned to Gus Lombok Driver who accompanied us for 4 days. He is not a simple driver but an attentive guide and a meticulous organizer. In the days spent together he told us about his land and its customs allowing us to know it thoroughly.
Taxi or Transfer
In urban centers and tourist locations, taxis are readily available and relatively cheap. We have used apps like Grab or Gojek to hail taxis safely. These apps are convenient and really easy to use. You just register and enter the location you want to go to. Your location is detected by GPS. The app shows you possible solutions with drivers (both cars and motorbikes) near the detected location and you just select the preferred solution. The driver arrives quickly, takes you to your destination and payment can be made via the app or in cash.
Alternatively, book a private transfer from the airport or for day trips. Hotels often offer this service as an extra. It is convenient to have a driver waiting for you upon arrival without having to worry about looking for a taxi.
Itinerary and Excursions
Indonesia offers a wide range of excursions, thanks to its natural and cultural richness. You can explore active volcanoes such as Mount Bromo and Mount Rinjani, dive in the crystal-clear waters of the many islands, visit the ancient temples of Borobudur and Prambanan, or venture into the jungles of Sumatra to see orangutans in their natural habitat. Plan your excursions in advance and consider hiring local guides for a better understanding of the place and to help with logistics.
Consider possible destinations based on your type of vacation:
- Temples and History: Java and Bali.
- Beaches and Sea: Gili, Lombok, Raja Ampat, Maluku.
- Culture and Traditions: Sulawesi and Borneo.
- Volcanoes and Nature: Java, Flores, Komodo, Sumatra.
- Diving: Raja Ampat, Komodo, Gili Maluku and Sumatra.
- Surf: Bali, Sumatra and Lombok.
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Organizing a trip to Indonesia takes time and planning, but the experiences and beauty that await you make the effort more than worthwhile. With this guide, you will have much of the information you need to live an unforgettable adventure in this extraordinary country. Happy travels!
Last Updated on 15 September 2024
