Penang to Medan (Indonesia) by ferry

Dear fellow travellers,

Going to Western Malaisia in the next coming weeks I was planning to check Sumatra in the same trip. My plan was to take a ferry from Penang to Medan, and coming back to Malaisia crossing Malacca Strait... However I sort of heard that there were no more ferries operating from Penang to Medan due to heavy sky low cost companies competition.

Could someone confirm ? I am never fond of flying during my stays and would highly prefer the ferry.

Thank you all.

Gaël

Hi Gael,

The ferry from Penang to Medan was cancelled years ago. Very occasional boat services from Penang to Sumatra have been set up since then, but they are rare, and I haven't heard of anything recently. There's a boat service from Port Klang to some obscure port in Sumatra south of Medan (you'll need to get a visa in advance if you take this boat); and there's a regular boat from Malacca to Dumai. But there are limited ferry services between Malaysia and Sumatra.

If you want to head to Northern Sumatra, then your best option is probably just to fly.

Hi Giora,

Sounds like you right... :-). I gonna check flights one-way from Penang to Banda Aceh. No connection and about 70€. That looks like the simplest way. I am from Europe so I can get the visa at the airport (around 25€ last time I landed in Jakarta if I remember well).

I may consider Dumai - Malacca by boat when coming back.... Much more simple !

Thank you for advice. Always good to get recent insight !

I hate flying as well, but ended up catching a flight from Malaysia to Banda Aceh when I visited Sumatra because it was miles away the most straight-forward thing to do. If you're going to spend some time in Sumatra, I'd advise a visa-in-advance: it's easy to get 60-day Indonesian visas in Penang, and that way you're not in a rush to get from Banda Aceh to Dumai (30 days would be rushed to do that trip).

Hi Odesse,

Indonesia introduced a new free visa scheme earlier this year, but entry and exit under this scheme is limited to just five entry points (Medan, Jakarta, Bali and a couple of other I can't remember offhand). There seems to be some confusion over the enforcement of the new rules and people have reported being unable to leave the country from places other than the five stipulated entry/exit points. Banda Aceh is not one of the five, so you need to do some thorough research before booking.

trjp, only visa-free entry is restricted to five airports (and 4-5 sea ports).
Tourists holding visas and those ready to pay for a visa on arrival can still enter at many more, including Banda Aceh.

Hi both

You are perfectly right, as European people we have a visa exemption program... But only from the 5 you quoted :-/. We are to get a visa on arrival (35 bucks) when landing in BTJ (this airport is elligible as international entry point.[Quote] 10.Iskandar Muda à Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (Banda Aceh) [/Quote]) Duration 30 days but can be renewed once. Or we may consider taking a 60 days visa straight in Penang.

Thanks for advices. Efficient and fast !

Tourists holding visas and those ready to pay for a visa on arrival can still enter at many more, including Banda Aceh.

I've heard reports of confused border guards enforcing the new rules incorrectly. To the great inconvenience of tourists with unconventional plans.

I bet you refer to the single report of a single definitely confused tourist - and even he was only talking of exit, not entry. There is no need to add more confusion!
Lots of tourists with very conventional plans still use airports other than the 5 visa free ones. Yogya, Solo, Lombok and indeed Banda Aceh are nothing unconvential as far as destinations go and they all offer visa on arrival. I saw the visa on arrival counter at Yogya airport still open for business with my own eyes when departing from there well after the new rules for visa-free entry came into effect.

That's good to know. Thanks for clearing that up.

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