Indonesia tours & travel

Passport holders for most nationalities are now permitted to enter Visa Free for up to 30 days for tourism purposes. In March 2016 Australia and Ireland have been added to the list of countries now exempt from visas for visits for tourism purposes under 30 days. Please check with your relevant consulate or embassy.

Entry requirements: presentation of onward or return tickets, passport which is valid for at least 6 months. Visitors on Visa-Free Short Visits must enter AND exit from certain airports and seaports in Indonesia including: Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta Airport), Bali (Ngurah Rai Airport), Yogyakarta (Adisucipto Airport) and Surabaya (Juanda Airport). This currently excludes entry and exist from Lombok (Bandar Udara International Airport). Visa-Free Short Visits cannot be extended and cannot be transferred to another type of visa.

Some nationalities are required to obtain a visa on arrival, or in advance. Citizens of countries who aren't on the visa on arrival or visa free lists are required to apply for a visa overseas before travelling to Indonesia.

Nationals of all countries planning to stay for more than 30 days in Indonesia have to apply for the appropriate visa at an overseas Indonesian consulate or embassy before their departure.

Local laws require that you must be able show your valid passport at any time when required to do so by an immigration office. We recommend taking a clear photocopy of your passport photo page, and visa (after arriving), to carry with you.

Tipping isn't mandatory or customary in Indonesia, but a tip of spare change or another small amount would be appreciated by restaurants, drivers and other service workers, especially if the service has been particularly good.

Internet access is widely available in tourist areas like Bali, which has many internet cafes. Internet access is less common in rural and remote areas.

You'll be able to use your mobile phone in most urban areas of Indonesia, although some of the islands or more remote areas may not have network coverage. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your mobile carrier before you leave home if you wish to use your mobile while in Indonesia.

You'll have to adjust to different standards of hygiene and sanitation while in Indonesia. The standard toilet is of the squat variety and this may take some getting used to. However, western-style toilets can be found in large hotels and some tourist areas.

Indonesia is one of the world's favourite budget travel destinations. Here's what you can roughly expect to pay for a:

Street food snack = 2,000 IDR
Fresh juice = 5,000 IDR
Bottle of beer in a bar = 20,000 IDR
Souvenir sarong = 25,000 IDR
Dinner in a restaurant = 40,000 IDR

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Indonesia. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found, some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Major credit cards are widely accepted by large shops, hotels and restaurants in Indonesia. However, they may not be accepted by smaller vendors such as small family restaurants, market stalls or in remote towns and rural areas. Make sure you carry enough cash for purchases, since credit cards aren't always an option everywhere in Indonesia.

ATMs are found widely throughout Indonesia, so withdrawing cash shouldn't be problematic in most areas. Some smaller villages and rural areas may not have ATM access, so be prepared for this before venturing too far from a city or major town.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

• 1 Jan New Years Day
• 28 Jan Chinese New Year
• 28 Mar Bali Hindu New Year
• 14 Apr Good Friday
• 24 Apr Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad 
• 1 May International Labor Day / May Day
• 11 May Waisak Day
• 25 May Ascension Day of Jesus Christ
• 1 Jun Pancasila Day
• 23 Jun Shared Public Holiday (Lebaran)
• 25 Jun Hari Raya Idul Fitri
• 26 Jun Hari Raya Idul Fitri
• 27 Jun Shared Public Holiday (Lebaran)
• 28 Jun Shared Public Holiday (Lebaran)
• 17 Aug Indonesian Independence Day
• 1 Sep Idul Adha
• 21 Sep Islamic New Year
• 1 Dec Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad
• 25 Dec Christmas Day
• 26 Dec Shared Public Holiday (Christmas)

Please note these dates are for 2017. For a current list of public holidays in Indonesia go to: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/indonesia/public-holidays