Indonesia FAQs

Visas

A visa is required for almost all nationalities when visiting Indonesia. A 30 day tourist visa will usually be the most appropriate and can be obtained on arrival at a cost of USD 35 per person. We recommend having the correct amount in cash – using clean, new bills that are not torn.

Passports

All passports must have six months validity after your date of arrival and two consecutive blank pages for the relevant immigration stamps.

We will confirm certain elements of your trip such as domestic flights, permits or train tickets using your current passport details. If a member of your party changes their name in their passport after booking (for example, through marriage or adoption) this could mean having to reissue important parts of the trip at an extra cost and subject to availability. 

Please note that requirements can change and we recommend that our guests contact the local embassy in the country where you live for the most recent and up to date information.

Medical

Depending on the situation, it can also be an entry requirement to show a prescription letter from your doctor if you enter Indonesia with prescription medication – this medication should also be carried in its original packaging.

We will confirm certain elements of your trip such as domestic flights, permits or train tickets using your current passport details. If a member of your party changes their name in their passport after booking (for example, through marriage or adoption) this could mean having to reissue important parts of the trip at an extra cost and subject to availability. 

While you’re in Indonesia, during the day and if you’re out in the evening, always carry your passport and valid visa information. It’s recommended to make sure you have colour photocopies of your passport to carry with you, leaving your original documents locked in the safe at your hotel.

When travelling with prescription medication it’s important to carry them in the original packaging with your doctor’s prescription letter.

Yes, once your trip is confirmed it is essential that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in case anything unexpected happens. 

We always recommend that our guests get the maximum level of coverage that you feel comfortable investing in. Read more about travel insurance for US travellers here and for travellers from other countries here.

Yes, you should visit a travel doctor before your trip as they may recommend certain vaccinations or medications before or during travel. Some vaccines commonly recommended for travellers to Indonesia include: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Meningitis. Most of Indonesia will carry a low to high risk of Malaria (depending on locations) so your doctor should also recommend the best anti-malarial medication for your itinerary.

Although this can change, at present Indonesia is a Zika virus risk area. Depending on your own personal situation, this is also something to discuss with your doctor.

Regional flights in Asia are similar to those in North America. They will use similar aircraft, sometimes smaller, and your baggage allowance will typically be 23kgs/50lbs. This can change depending on your itinerary/route/travel class, so please double check with your travel designer or concierge.

Travel pack

Before you head off on your adventure you will be sent a travel pack. The travel pack is full of great information and is also a beautiful keepsake. It is not necessary to travel with vouchers or confirmations on your trip but we do recommend having a printed copy of your travel itinerary to hand when you arrive into Indonesia.

Bon Voyage email

Around 2 weeks before you depart we will email you an electronic version of your travel pack including your domestic flight tickets. Once you’ve received this email your Travel Designer will reach out to arrange a time for you to talk on the phone to go over any last minute questions and talk you through the information we’ve sent over.

Yes, you will need to use the local currency in Indonesia. USD, CAD and GBP are not accepted as legal tender. The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). If you’re able to obtain IDR at home before travel it’s advisable to bring a small amount with you. However, the currency can be hard to find overseas and is easy to withdraw or exchange once you’ve arrived in airports, hotels or at local money changers. ATM’s are only available in the major cities and hubs. Even if an area does have an ATM, but it’s on a remote island or in a rural area, it’s still best to carry cash, in case the ATM is broken or out of cash.

If you are carrying cash to Indonesia to exchange, make sure that you bring clean and crisp banknotes. Generally, exchange desks prefer larger bills (with some even offering better rates for higher denominations).Most hotels and fine dining restaurants will accept debit and credit cards, however any smaller shops, cafes and restaurants will require cash payments.

Traveller’s Cheques aren’t readily accepted in Indonesia

Tipping is not mandatory in Indonesia, but you can still tip in order to acknowledge excellent service, any amount you offer will be gratefully received. In some restaurants a service charge will be added to your bill already, if it’s not included you can add a 10% tip, giving the cash directly to your server.

• Full day guide could be tipped USD 10 per guest
• Full day driver could be tipped USD 5 per guest

Porters, housekeeping and room service can be tipped a few dollars for good service.

In terms of etiquette, it’s very important to respect and observe local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times to ensure you’re not offending local people. Indonesia is a muslim country, during the holy month of Ramadan it’s especially important to be aware of your actions, particularly if visiting religious areas.

Both men and women must wear appropriate clothing while visiting religious areas or sites, even in some cities or rural areas, it’s best to keep shoulders and covered.

Indonesia has a tropical climate and as a result, is mostly warm and humid. 

The dry season runs from April to October, with the monsoon season from November to March. During both seasons we would recommend long shorts and skirts, light trousers with tank tops and t-shirts (ensuring you have something to cover your shoulders and legs if you visit temples or other religious sites). 

During monsoon season a similar wardrobe is recommended, but with the addition of a poncho or raincoat for the downpours. Depending on your activities, you might want to take a selection of footwear, ranging from sandals to hiking shoes.

We highly recommend that you make restaurant reservations in advance of your trip. Once your trip is confirmed you will be introduced to your concierge who will be able to assist you in not only making the reservations but also  making  recommendations based on your preferences.

Your transfers and the transportation on your day trips will almost always be in a private air conditioned vehicle. Some of your activities might include local transportation like a tuk-tuk, vespa or rickshaw always with trusted drivers and pre-arranged with you during your trip planning.

Most power plugs and sockets in Indonesia are type C and F, using a plug with two round prongs. The electricity current is 220 volts so travellers from America who use 110-120V electronics will need a plug adapter and a step-down transformer. Large, international hotels are usually able to lend these to guests, but if travelling to smaller, more remote lodges it is best to bring one with you.

Larger tourist hotels will have wifi but it’s not common to find wifi in cafes and restaurants. Some small hotels or boats may not have an internet connection. If this type of connectivity is important to you then please discuss this with your travel designer or concierge before travel.