Nowadays, it has never been easier than to come to Indonesia. Numerous international airlines have direct flights from all over the world to Indonesia or via a big hub such as Singapore, Bangkok or Hong Kong in Asia. The recent emergence of low cost budget airlines within Southeast Asia and especially in Indonesia gives even a greater choice of flights and more affordable prices for all budgets.
Indonesia has more than 100 airports spread all over the country, the largest being Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar (Bali), Medan, Makassar and Yogyakarta. The following airports have international connections:
Balikpapan, Bandung, Batam, Denpasar, Jakarta, Kupang, Makassar, Manado, Mataram (Lombok), Medan, Padang, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Pontianak, Semarang, Solo, Surabaya, Yogyakarta.
| • | Garuda Indonesia International is Indonesia’s national carrier and offers a large number of flights to/ from the capital Jakarta or Denpasar, Bali to the rest of Asia, Australia and the Middle East. The carrier offers also non stop flights from Medan, Semarang, Surabaya and Yogyakarta to regional destinations in Southeast Asia. The airline has a code share agreement with Malaysia Airlines for flights to Europe via Kuala Lumpur. |
| • | Merpati is Indonesia’s largest domestic carrier with a few regional flights to Malaysia and Singapore. |
| • | Air Paradise International is a carrier based in Bali which offers non stop flights to Australia. |
| • | Lion Air is Indonesia’s largest low fare airline with regional flights to Malaysia and Singapore. |
| • | Major international airlines such as Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Royal Brunei, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines or Japan Airlines have regularly scheduled flights to Jakarta and/or Denpasar. |
It is possible to arrive by boat to Indonesia, with most visitors crossing by fast ferry (30 minutes) from Singapore to Batam in Riau Province. They are 17 International entry seaports in the country. As an example, they are 5 international seaports just on Batam island, across from Singapore. The rest of Sumatra has 8 international seaports, Sulawesi 3 ports, Java and Bali 2 ports, Flores 1, West Timor 1 and Papua 1.
Domestically, they are today over 30 airlines offering flights to all regions of the country. Among the newest carriers in the country are Adam Air, Awair, Batavia Airlines, Jatayu, Srivijaya Air and Star Air among others. The competition is intense which guarantees very low prices for consumers! As an example, a flight from Jakarta to Bali can cost as little as 21 US$ one-way and from Jakarta to Medan as little as 25 US$ one-way. To find the best deals, consult a travel agency, airline offices or airline websites.
For travellers with more time, Indonesia has also an extensive train network linking cities on Java Island and a small rail network in Sumatra. Buses assure road services between all cities throughout the country as well as boats and ferries for inter-island services. When in Indonesia, ask a travel agent or your hotel for more details regarding types of train and bus services available, schedules, and costs. It is a great way to see the country first-hand!
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