Getting to Indonesia
Before traveling to Indonesia, it is essential to research the available transportation options for air, sea, and land travel. Flying is the most convenient way to enter the country, with several international airports serving as primary entry points. The top five busiest airports in Indonesia include:
Soekarno Hatta International Airport (Tangerang, Banten)
Juanda International Airport (Sidoarjo, East Java)
I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport (Denpasar, Bali)
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (Makassar, South Sulawesi) Kualanamu International Airport (Deli Serdang, North Sumatra) Additionally, travelers should carefully prepare their travel documentation. It is crucial to thoroughly understand the immigration policies and visa requirements for Indonesia from your home country to prevent potential complications during your trip.
1. By Air
International Air Travel to Indonesia
Entry Gateways:
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Jakarta's outskirts)
Ngurah Rai International Airport (Bali)
Both airports have been extensively modernized with state-of-the-art facilities. Additional international airports include:
Juanda Airport in Surabaya
Hasanudin Airport in Makassar
Kuala Namu Airport in Medan
West Java International Airport in Majalengka (recently established, 68 km from Bandung)
Flight Duration and Connectivity:
Americas to Indonesia: Approximately 20 hours, typically requiring transit in East Asia, Europe, or the Middle East
European Routes: Less than 20 hours
Direct Flights Available:
Amsterdam
London
Istanbul
Australia: Closest, with flights ranging 4-7 hours
Short Regional Connections:
Pontianak to Kuching
Tarakan to Tawau
Pekanbaru to Malacca
National Carrier and Airlines: Garuda Indonesia serves flights to:
Southeast Asian cities
East Asian destinations
Australian routes
Saudi Arabia
European cities (Amsterdam and London)
The airline has extensive code-sharing agreements through Sky Team, enhancing flight frequencies.
Other International Airlines Serving Indonesia:
AirAsia
Cathay Pacific Airways
China Airlines
Emirates
Eva Air
Firefly
Japan Airlines
KLM
Korean Air
Lion Air
Lufthansa
Malaysia Airlines
Qantas
Jetstar Airways
2. By Sea or Ferries
Maritime Transportation Connections in Indonesia
Sea Ferries and Connectivity Indonesia maintains extensive maritime connections with neighboring countries through ferry services. The primary ferry routes link Sumatra and Riau Islands Province with Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. Batam and Bintan Islands serve as crucial entry points due to their proximity to Singapore and Malaysia.
Key Ferry Routes:
Singapore Connections:
Frequent ferries connect Singapore to multiple ports in Batam
Daily services to Tanjung Pinang, Bandar Bintan Telani Lagoi, and Tanjung Balai in Karimun Island
Malaysia Connections:
Daily ferries departing from Johor Bahru and Port Klang near Kuala Lumpur
Destinations include Batam, Bintan, Tanjung Balai, Dumai, Pekanbaru, and Tanjung Balai Asahan
Regional Connections:
Ferry services between Malaysia's Sabah state and East Kalimantan
Roll On Roll Off (RoRo) ships connecting General Santos and Davao in the Philippines with Bitung, North Sulawesi
Onward boat connections available to Jakarta and other Indonesian islands
Cruise Ship Infrastructure Indonesia supports cruise tourism through five primary ports:
Tanjung Priok (North Jakarta)
Tanjung Perak (Surabaya)
Belawan (near Medan)
Makassar
Tanjung Benoa (Bali)
Cruise Operations:
24 scheduled regular cruise ships from Singapore visit Java and Bali
Irregular cruise schedules explore Bali and Nusa Tenggara
Government Initiatives To facilitate maritime tourism, the Indonesian government has implemented several policies:
Waived cabotage restrictions for cruise ships
Simplified CIQP (customs, immigration, quarantine, and port authorities) procedures
Reduced sailing permit application time from one month to one day
Immigration and Travel Notes:
Immigration procedures can often be handled directly on cruise ships
For disembarking at specific locations, passengers may need to visit a local Immigration office
3. By Land
Land Border Crossings in Indonesia
Indonesia shares land borders with three neighboring countries, each offering unique border crossing points:
Timor Leste Border Crossings:
Located on Timor Island
Main border crossing is in Atambua town
Border posts include:
Mota'ain (primary post)
Matamauk
Napan
Malaysian Border Crossings:
Located on Borneo Island
Connecting West Kalimantan Province with Malaysian states
Border posts include:
Entikong: Regular buses between Kuching (Sarawak) and Pontianak (West Kalimantan)
Aruk: Connects West Kalimantan to Sarawak
Nanga Badau Sanggau: Links West Kalimantan and Sarawak
Papua New Guinea Border Crossing:
Located in Papua Province
Skouw Border Post in Muaratami District
Approximately 60 km from Jayapura (Papua Province capital)