Samarinda Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

From Samarinda you can head northwest to Tenggarong or south to Balikpapan. The long-distance bus terminal is adjacent to the river-boat terminal at Sungai Kunjang, on the north side of the river a couple of kilometres upstream from the Mahakam bridge. Take a green A taxi from the centre of town (2500Rp). There are daily buses to Balikpapan (19,500Rp, two hours) and frequent buses to Kota Bangun (20,000Rp, three hours).

There are also Kijangs to Sebulu (8000Rp, 45 minutes) from Citra Niaga or Tenggarong (8000Rp, one hour) from Harapan Baru, the terminus for the orange G taxi, which leaves from Citra Niaga.

Buses to Bontang (20,000Rp, three hours, daily) and Berau (135,000Rp, 16 hours, daily) leave from the Lempake terminal north of the city, at the end of the B taxi route (5000Rp), which you can hail on Jl Bhayangkara.

^ Back to top

Boat

Pelni (741402; Jl Yos Sudarso 76) boats travelling between Balikpapan and Nunukan, and Balik­papan and Surabaya often take passengers in Samarinda. Fares vary depending on the boat; your best option is to check at the office for updated information.

The Teratai is a private boat that leaves every second day for Berau (150,000Rp, 27 hours). Ticket sellers hang around on Jl Yos Sudarso outside the harbour passenger terminal.

For information on which boat leaves when, check at the harbour master’s office (Kantor Administrator Pelabuhan; Jl Yos Sudarso 2), about 200m east of Jl Nakhoda.

For daily passenger boats heading up Sungai Mahakam, take a green A route taxi to get to Sungai Kunjang ferry terminal, southwest of the town centre. Get to the pier by 6am, as boats leave at 7am. The journey to Melak (upper deck 120,000Rp) takes 19 hours and to Long Iram one day and a night (upper deck 150,000Rp). If conditions permit it’s another 12 hours to Long Bagun (upper deck 200,000Rp). Most boats have a sleeping deck upstairs, as well as a sleeping deck and simple canteen on the lower level.

^ Back to top

Air

DAS (735250; Jl Gatot Subroto 92) flies to Melak, Long Ampung Data Dawai and Tanjung Selore several times a week. A month’s advance booking is generally necessary to secure a seat. DAS and Kal-Star (742110; Jl Gatot Subroto 80) also fly to Tarakan, Berau and Nunukan.

^ Back to top