1

I agree with merantau about getting a 60 day visa for the reasons he has given. However, flights into Sumatra from MY rarely ask got return tickets especially Air Asia. Reports on TT indicate that the KL consulate may or may not give a visa without a return ticket but that the one in Penang will (I am heading to Penang now for that purpose).

North and West Sumatra are the most touristed parts of Sumatra and since this will be your first time start there. (A TT search will tell you the best places if you do not have a guide book already.)

Paul

2

True, Bali still holds a lot to those who want to come back and explore the island. They usually have other tourist experience to offer especially some tour in their Lake Batur or the volcanoes near the island.

3

jssmckinley - sorry but the second sentence in your post does not make any sense to me especially within the context of this post. You use English words but they do not seem to make sense. OP has been to Bali and does not seem to want to go again this time.
Paul

4

Get a flight to Labuan Bajo and island-hop on the route Flores - Adonara - Alor - Pantar - West Timor with the occasional flight strewn in. It's a great trip. Check out Beang for lots of info. Get a sixty-day visa from the embassy before you leave - it will save time.

5

Firstly, thank you all for your replies.

merantau and Paul - It does seem that the 60 day visa is best to get, would it be best to get it here in the UK before leaving or to get in somewhere like KL when I arrive there?

We have been open as to where to fly into so far, we may fly into Bali and head east right away, but the outward flight will be booked at the same time as the inward so we will be ok for the visas.

One problem is that my friend is not very comfortable with flying a lot, so is there any alternative to this? Are the small flights from island to island safe?

Of course I am open to spending time on Bali again, as my friend has never been there, last time I visited we rented a car and drove around the whole island in two weeks stopping off wherever so we got a pretty good view of it, but it was incredible and I would gladly do it again.

It's leaning towards Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi at the moment, does anyone have any idea about how long would be recommended to travel each part for and if we have any other areas?

klemencja - for the route you have suggested, what will be the limitations of only speaking English? Will we need to pick up some Bahasa for interaction?

Thanks again!

Andy

6

I recommend that you obtain your 60 day Turis Visa from the Indonesian Embassy in London.

In February/March this year, I caught the Perama Shuttle Bus from Kuta to Ubud. After a few days in Ubud, I caught the Perama Shuttle Bus to Padang Bai.

I then travelled overland to Flores where I visited Ruteng where I visited the Hobbit Cave. From Labuan Bajo, I took the Perama boat to Lombok via Rinca Island where I saw the Komodo Dragons. See: www.peramatour.com.

In Lombok, I stayed at Senggigi and Gili Trawangan.

On a previous trip, I visited Tanah Toraja in Sulawesi. It is possible to fly from Bali to Makasar. After seeing Tanah Toraja, you could return to Jakarta from Makasar.

7

@ #6: Some basic Bahasa, yes, but you'll manage that, and as you are in Indo for 60 days, it will be fun to learn some of the language.

Get the visa in the UK - it's easier. You can download the application form from the embassy's website and send the application + your passports by (registered) mail.

Jakarta is usually cheaper as a hub for international/domestic flights than Bali, even if the distance is greater. I think domestic flights are safe (who will know 100%?) I have just booked a flight from Jkt. to Kupang with Batavia for 73 euros - online, and I'm going to take a Transnusa flight from Kupang to Alor again - for the third time. And there are boats between the islands, not just PELNI.

8

As re travel times by boat between islands: Bali (Padangbai) to lombok (Lembar) - 3.30 - 5.00 hrs. The 'Putri Gianyar" is the fastest ferry. Ferries leave hourly. Pelabuhan Kayangan (Lombok) - Poto Tano (Sumbawa) 1.30 - 2.30 hrs depending on depending on if you have to queue at PT for a berth. Sape (Sumbawa) to Labuhanbajo (Flores) 9-10 hrs. Ferries are going bavk and forth all day between Lombok and Sumbawa. Between Sumbawa and Flores the ferries are at least daily so you seldom have to wait long. From Larantuka on Flores east to Lewoleba on Lembata via Waiwerang on Adonara the journey is 4 hours on the "Sinar Mutiara" (the Pearl Light). There are many small boats leaving Larantuka for ports on nearby Solor island too. Onwards from Lewoleba you can reach Aor via Pantar. As a rule of thumb the further east you go the less frequnt the connections but they are still pretty regular. PELNI ships (very large ferries) do regular runs all over Indonesia so wherever you are check at the port to see if one is due. I once was woken in Labuhanbajo by the sound of Tilongkabila's horn. Ten minutes later I was onboard and bound for Bima. As for airline safety be like my mate who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. When asked what he was going to do about he shrugged his shoulders and said: "Stuff it, I'll just forget about it." In other words don't worry about the things that are outside of your control. If your friend's fate is to die in a plane accident he will. He's far more likely to live to a ripe old age and become a problem for the taxpayers. More people die in bus accidents in Indonesia than plane crashes BTW

9

In Indonesia, ferries do not operate like clockwork or follow the LP Guidebook, particularly in the wet season. Patience is a virtue.

A case in point was my trip in February/March this year.

Ferries

Padang Bai to Lembar - a five hour trip after the ferry left an hour after the scheduled departure time.

Labuan Lombok to Poto Tano - a two hour trip.

Sape to Labuan Bajo - a six hour trip as there is now a new faster boat, there are two services a day not one as listed in the LP Guidebook. Sometimes, there are no services and you end up hiring a fishing boat.

Lembar to Padang Bai - no ferries for seven days due to rough weather, the trip took eight hours as there was a queue of ferries trying to berth at Padang Bai due to the backlog created by the rough weather.

10

It does not really matter where you get your visa but you may not have to show onward travel in KL and Penang (where I am heading for now). You should not need to show onward travel to get to KL either. (I am travelling on one way tickets so far.)

Ferries are plentiful but some flying may be necessary (eg to get to Makassar) unless you want to take a long PELNI trip that you might have to wait a week for. Also there are few and inconvenient ferries to Sumatra these days since the Penang to Medan one ceased to operate.

Paul

Edited by: LungPaul

11

i suggest u some :
in java island n near java :

bali

borobudur

prambanan

komodo

labuan bajo

karimun jawa
http://travellinginindonesia.com/karimunjawa-island.html

kangean in madura
http://www.visittoindonesia.com/2011/01/03/kangean-island-paradise-for-undersea-scenery/

from sumatera :

the toba lake (no.2 largest lake in the world) and two color waterfall in medan north sumatera

sabang / weh island in aceh

banyak islands in west sumatera

lovina beach in lampung

from borneo / kalimantan :

derawan islands

from sulawesi :

bunaken in manado

toraja in makasar

wakatobi

from borneo :

raja ampat

just tell me if u come to medan-north sumatera, coz i live in there, so maybe i can help u if u need some help ^_

Edited by: jeng_ajeng

12

best if you apply the 60 days visa before entering ;)