Transport & Getting Around
Indonesia has two main international airports: Soekarno-Hatta near Jakarta, Java and Ngurah Rai at Denpasar, Bali. These airports service flights to and from Europe, USA, Australia and other regions. At least eight other international airports service the archipelago offering convenient flights to and from most neighbouring countries. These include airports located on the islands of Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and West Timor.
With over 6000 inhabited islands, the only fast way of getting around Indonesia is by air. Indonesia’s state-owned carrier, Garuda, and its main competitor Lion Air offer comprehensive services to many population centres and places of interest. In recent years, many smaller budget airlines have emerged, competing with the major carriers on price and less travelled routes. These include Indonesian Air Asia, Batavia Air, Mandala, Merpati, AirFast and many more. Many of these airlines operate older aircraft from the 1980’s and 90’s, so visitors often choose the major airlines with newer aircraft operating to international standards. Travelling by air between the islands is inexpensive by western standards with return flights to many islands being as low as US$100.
The most popular and more traditional method of travelling between the islands is by sea. The largest ferry company is Pelni, operates a fleet of large European built vessels which meander through the majority of the inhabited islands. Pelni offer cabin accommodation ranging from a two bed cabin with TV, air conditioning and private washroom, down to a 4th class bed in a dormitory. For just a few dollars a day less, ‘ekonomi class’ offers very cramped and smoke-filled rooms where travellers can try to grab some sleep. Theft and pickpocketing can be a problem on ferries, so keep a close watch on belongings. There are also many operators offering shorter inter-island services between popular destinations including hourly services between Java and Sumatra and services every 15 minutes between Java and Bali. Additionally, ASDP offer high speed ferry services known as ‘Kapal Ferr Cepat’ or KFC, on some of the more popular routes.
Travellers are advised that timetables in Indonesia should be considered approximations, so patience and good humour will always be a good companion when travelling any distance. Ferry overcrowding, especially in the busy seasons is common, so passengers are advised to take careful note of exit locations and where to find life jackets and rafts in case of an emergency.
Travelling by train within Indonesia is limited mainly to the islands of Java and Sumatra, with Java having the best network and most frequent services connecting the major centres including Jakarta, Surabaya and Semarang on the north coast, and Yogyakarta and Solo through the southern main line. Regular services also run between Jakarta and Bandung. Infrequent passenger services are available in Sumatra in mainly the northern parts of the island around Medan, and the southern regions connecting Lampung and Palembang. There are generally three classes of train travel ranging from air conditioned, to the more cramped economy. There are no sleeping cabins available on Indonesian trains.
Some Indonesian bus companies on both Java and Sumatra offer inter-city and inter-province services in both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned vehicles. The buses are often in poor condition and a long bus trip can sometimes be a nerve wracking experience. Travellers are advised to keep an eye on their belongings as theft and pickpocketing is common, especially on long overnight journeys.
Vehicles drive on the left in Indonesia and the driving habits of the locals are generally poor. Cars, jeeps and motorcycles are readily available to hire in the major centres at reasonable rates. An added (and often recommended) benefit is the ability to hire a driver at a small additional cost, thus avoiding the inevitable stress involved in attempting to negotiate the often dangerous and difficult driving conditions. An International Driving Permit is required if you plan to drive the vehicle yourself.
Other more quirky forms of transportation include the ‘becak’, a pedal powered tricycle used for short trips in many cities. Motorised tricycles called ‘bajaj’, similar to the Thai tuk-tuk, are prevalent in Bali and Jakarta, whilst motorcycles with sidecars can be found in parts of Sumatra and Aceh. For the less faint-hearted and more adventurous, motorcycle taxis called ‘ojek’ can be found in many of the cities for short and often hair-raising trips. Whichever mode of personal transport you decide on, haggling and securing a price before the journey is always recommended.
