Country Guides
Indonesia
Getting Around
Getting Around
Indonesia
Getting Around by Air
Indonesia has a good internal air system linking most of the larger towns to Jakarta. Domestic operators include Garuda Indonesia (GA) (www.garuda-indonesia.com), AirAsia (QZ) (www.airasia.com), and Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MZ) (www.merpati.co.id).
Departure Tax
Rp12,000-20,000 depending on airport of departure.
Getting Around by Water
Main ports: Padang Bai and Benoa (Bali), Tanjung Priok (Jakarta), Belawan (Medan) and Sekupang (Batam).
PELNI (tel: (21) 633 4342; www.pelni.com), the state-owned shipping company, has good standard passenger liners serving all the main ports across the archipelago. ASDP (Kapal Ferry Cepat) operate fast boats on a small number of routes. Foreign cruise liners also operate on an irregular basis. Luxury cruise ships offer trips to various destinations, including the eastern islands (leaving from Bali).
Getting Around by Rail
The train operator in Indonesia is PT Kereta Api (tel: 424 1370; www.infoka.kereta-api.com). There are three classes of travel, Eksecutif (Executive), Bisnis (Business) and Ekonomi (Economy), but first-class exists only on principal expresses. There is some air-conditioned accommodation. Children under three travel free in economy and business without taking a seat, and pay 10% of adult fare in executive class; children aged three to ten pay half fare in economy and business and full rate in executive.
In Sumatra, trains connect Belawan, Medan and Tanjong Balai/Rantu Prapet (two or three trains daily) in the north, and Palembang and Panjang (three trains daily) in the south, but are unreliable. An extensive rail network runs throughout Java. The modern, air-conditioned Argo Bromo Anggrek service, which is Eksecutif class only, with refreshments included, links Jakarta and Surabaya; it departs daily and nightly. There are also other express services. Between Jakarta and Bandung there is a train every one to two hours, Eksecutif class (journey time - about 3 hours) and then twice-daily trains on to Surabaya.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. Nearly half of the road network is paved. There are good road communications within Java and, to a lesser extent, on Bali and Sumatra. The other islands have poor road systems. Chauffeur-driven cars are widely available and advisable as the standard of driving is poor.
Bus: Indonesia is the land of jam karet (literally ‘rubber time'), and complicated journeys involving more than a single change should not be attempted in a day. Bus fares are relatively low; most are fixed, with a higher price for the air-conditioned buses which have more room than on the cramped regular buses. There are night buses on a number of long-distance routes; pre-booking is essential. Visitors should note that buses can be extremely crowded, and that drivers are reckless. Lorena Transport (tel: 634 1166; www.lorena-karina.com) operate an extensive network of routes on Java and Sumatra.
Taxi: Widely available in cities and towns. Ojek, motorbike taxis are available in cities and towns and they congregate at road junctions. The driver should provide a helmet and you must agree on the fare before starting the journey.
Car hire: Available from a number of international and local companies.
Regulations: Speed limits are usually 30-40kph (19-25mph) on inner city streets, 60-70kph (37-43mph)on inter-city roads and 80-100 kph (50-62mph) on highways depending on the territory.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
Alternative transport: Rickshaws include the motorised bajaj, which seats two passengers, with the driver in front; and the becak, which is pedal-powered by a rider sitting behind two passengers. However, the latter are banned from Jakarta city. Fares should be negotiated in advance. Motorcycles and bicycles can be hired; for motorcycles, an International Driving Permit is recommended and a helmet should be worn. Bemos and opelets are communal minibuses; fares should be negotiated in advance.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Jakarta is the only city with an established conventional bus service of any size, and it has a comprehensive network. Elsewhere bemos are the main way to travel around.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Jakarta to other major cities and towns in Indonesia.
Air
Road
Rail
Denpasar
2.45
25.00
-
Yogyakarta
1.05
12.00
8.00
Medan
2.25
30.00
-
Getting Around by Air
Indonesia has a good internal air system linking most of the larger towns to Jakarta. Domestic operators include Garuda Indonesia (GA) (www.garuda-indonesia.com), AirAsia (QZ) (www.airasia.com), and Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MZ) (www.merpati.co.id).
Departure Tax
Rp12,000-20,000 depending on airport of departure.
Getting Around by Water
Main ports: Padang Bai and Benoa (Bali), Tanjung Priok (Jakarta), Belawan (Medan) and Sekupang (Batam).
PELNI (tel: (21) 633 4342; www.pelni.com), the state-owned shipping company, has good standard passenger liners serving all the main ports across the archipelago. ASDP (Kapal Ferry Cepat) operate fast boats on a small number of routes. Foreign cruise liners also operate on an irregular basis. Luxury cruise ships offer trips to various destinations, including the eastern islands (leaving from Bali).
PELNI (tel: (21) 633 4342; www.pelni.com), the state-owned shipping company, has good standard passenger liners serving all the main ports across the archipelago. ASDP (Kapal Ferry Cepat) operate fast boats on a small number of routes. Foreign cruise liners also operate on an irregular basis. Luxury cruise ships offer trips to various destinations, including the eastern islands (leaving from Bali).
Getting Around by Rail
The train operator in Indonesia is PT Kereta Api (tel: 424 1370; www.infoka.kereta-api.com). There are three classes of travel, Eksecutif (Executive), Bisnis (Business) and Ekonomi (Economy), but first-class exists only on principal expresses. There is some air-conditioned accommodation. Children under three travel free in economy and business without taking a seat, and pay 10% of adult fare in executive class; children aged three to ten pay half fare in economy and business and full rate in executive.
In Sumatra, trains connect Belawan, Medan and Tanjong Balai/Rantu Prapet (two or three trains daily) in the north, and Palembang and Panjang (three trains daily) in the south, but are unreliable. An extensive rail network runs throughout Java. The modern, air-conditioned Argo Bromo Anggrek service, which is Eksecutif class only, with refreshments included, links Jakarta and Surabaya; it departs daily and nightly. There are also other express services. Between Jakarta and Bandung there is a train every one to two hours, Eksecutif class (journey time - about 3 hours) and then twice-daily trains on to Surabaya.
In Sumatra, trains connect Belawan, Medan and Tanjong Balai/Rantu Prapet (two or three trains daily) in the north, and Palembang and Panjang (three trains daily) in the south, but are unreliable. An extensive rail network runs throughout Java. The modern, air-conditioned Argo Bromo Anggrek service, which is Eksecutif class only, with refreshments included, links Jakarta and Surabaya; it departs daily and nightly. There are also other express services. Between Jakarta and Bandung there is a train every one to two hours, Eksecutif class (journey time - about 3 hours) and then twice-daily trains on to Surabaya.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. Nearly half of the road network is paved. There are good road communications within Java and, to a lesser extent, on Bali and Sumatra. The other islands have poor road systems. Chauffeur-driven cars are widely available and advisable as the standard of driving is poor.
Bus: Indonesia is the land of jam karet (literally ‘rubber time'), and complicated journeys involving more than a single change should not be attempted in a day. Bus fares are relatively low; most are fixed, with a higher price for the air-conditioned buses which have more room than on the cramped regular buses. There are night buses on a number of long-distance routes; pre-booking is essential. Visitors should note that buses can be extremely crowded, and that drivers are reckless. Lorena Transport (tel: 634 1166; www.lorena-karina.com) operate an extensive network of routes on Java and Sumatra.
Taxi: Widely available in cities and towns. Ojek, motorbike taxis are available in cities and towns and they congregate at road junctions. The driver should provide a helmet and you must agree on the fare before starting the journey.
Car hire: Available from a number of international and local companies.
Regulations: Speed limits are usually 30-40kph (19-25mph) on inner city streets, 60-70kph (37-43mph)on inter-city roads and 80-100 kph (50-62mph) on highways depending on the territory.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
Alternative transport: Rickshaws include the motorised bajaj, which seats two passengers, with the driver in front; and the becak, which is pedal-powered by a rider sitting behind two passengers. However, the latter are banned from Jakarta city. Fares should be negotiated in advance. Motorcycles and bicycles can be hired; for motorcycles, an International Driving Permit is recommended and a helmet should be worn. Bemos and opelets are communal minibuses; fares should be negotiated in advance.
Bus: Indonesia is the land of jam karet (literally ‘rubber time'), and complicated journeys involving more than a single change should not be attempted in a day. Bus fares are relatively low; most are fixed, with a higher price for the air-conditioned buses which have more room than on the cramped regular buses. There are night buses on a number of long-distance routes; pre-booking is essential. Visitors should note that buses can be extremely crowded, and that drivers are reckless. Lorena Transport (tel: 634 1166; www.lorena-karina.com) operate an extensive network of routes on Java and Sumatra.
Taxi: Widely available in cities and towns. Ojek, motorbike taxis are available in cities and towns and they congregate at road junctions. The driver should provide a helmet and you must agree on the fare before starting the journey.
Car hire: Available from a number of international and local companies.
Regulations: Speed limits are usually 30-40kph (19-25mph) on inner city streets, 60-70kph (37-43mph)on inter-city roads and 80-100 kph (50-62mph) on highways depending on the territory.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
Alternative transport: Rickshaws include the motorised bajaj, which seats two passengers, with the driver in front; and the becak, which is pedal-powered by a rider sitting behind two passengers. However, the latter are banned from Jakarta city. Fares should be negotiated in advance. Motorcycles and bicycles can be hired; for motorcycles, an International Driving Permit is recommended and a helmet should be worn. Bemos and opelets are communal minibuses; fares should be negotiated in advance.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Jakarta is the only city with an established conventional bus service of any size, and it has a comprehensive network. Elsewhere bemos are the main way to travel around.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Jakarta to other major cities and towns in Indonesia.
| Air | Road | Rail | |
| Denpasar | 2.45 | 25.00 | - |
| Yogyakarta | 1.05 | 12.00 | 8.00 |
| Medan | 2.25 | 30.00 | - |
Travel Partners
Travel Centre
©Copyright: Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved 2009
Columbus Travel Media Ltd. Registered in England & Wales . Company no. 2970942 . Vat no. 853914212 . Regd Office: 17 Dunsfold Park, Stovolds Hill, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8TB
