Riau Archipelago with Tanjung Pinang as the capital is blessed with a lot potential tourism objects, beautiful beaches and cultural attractions.
Its waters are the backyard of native seafaring nomads who fish and trade for a living. Their traditional wooden sailing craft,s called 'pinisi' still manage to pass the forested channels of these islands, along with other indigenous craft,s fishing vessels and cargo ships. Tanjung Pinang lies on the largest island of Bintan archipelago. Once known as Riau, it was the heart of an ancient Malay kingdom. Today, Bintan is the latest hot spot of development in Indonesia's surging economy.
A master plan is underway to turn it into a major tourist destination. Barely an hour away from Singapore by ferry, tourist accommodation begins to take advantage from its strategic location. It consists of Riau Archipelago, Natuna Islands and Anambas Archipelago. Originally part of Riau Province, Riau Archipelago was split off as a separate Province in July 2004 with Tanjung Pinang as its capital. Anambas Archipelago, located between mainland Malaysia and Borneo were attached to the new province. By population, the most important islands in this area are are Bintan, Batam and Karimun. Size wise, however, the sparsely populated Natuna Islands are larger.
Riau Archipelago with its thousands of island has plenty of scenic beaches and diving spots, among them Trikora on Bintan and Pasir Panjang on Rupat Island. The first is about 50 kilometers south of Tanjung Pinang on the eastern side of the island. Pasir Panjang, on the northern side of Rupat facing to Malacca Strait has natural beaches and they are also found on Terkulai and Soreh islands, about an hour's distance by boat from Tanjung Pinang. One of the most popular beaches is Nongsa on Batam Island. From here one can see the Singapore skyline.
Batam is one of the 3,000 islands, which make up the Riau Archipelago and is closest to Singapore, which is only 20 km away or twenty minutes by air-conditioned ferry. It has a rapid-growing population of around 100.000. As the island develops into a major industrial and tourist area, it attracts an ever-increasing population from other Indonesian islands who see Batam as a haven of opportunity. Once almost uninhabited, save for a few scattered fishing communities, Batam's history took a sharp turn beginning 1969, when it became support base for the State-owned 'Pertamina oil company' and its offshore oil exploration. In 1971 a presidential decree designated it as an industrial area and in 1975 the Batam Authority was formed. In 1978 Batam was established as a bonded area.
In addition to the oil support industries of Batu Ampar and a fast growing electronics industry, Batam now attracts increasing numbers of tourists. Many come from Singapore for a short holiday with friends and family, duty-free shopping and great seafood. The visitors to Singapore hope over for a day or weekend trip.
International standard hotels and numerous economy establishments cater to the expanding demand for accommodation. Business, as they say, is booming. An island two-thirds the size of Singapore, Batam progresses by leaps and bounds. Where virgin jungle once stood are now whole new towns, mosques, churches, temples and supermarkets, soon to be followed by reservoirs with enough water to supply a population of 800,000 and for industrial use, an airport-to become an international gateway ,a fine telecommunication system, well equipped industrial parks and the beginnings of a large new urban center.
The Riau Islands are a major gateway into Indonesia because of good ferry
links to nearby Singapore and Malaysia. For detailed visa information, please
see the Indonesiapage. Many of the seaports in the Riau Islands and the main
airport on Batam are visa-free and visa-on-arrival points of entry. Please see
the pages for the individual islands or cities on the visa status for a
particular port.
By plane
Batam's Hang Nadim Airport (BTH) is the main airport in the province and
fields flights from various Indonesian cities. Riau Airlines provides
connections with cities in theSumatra "mainland" such as Pekanbaru,
Palembang, Jambi and Pangkal Pinang (in Bangka-Belitung province), while other
airlines like Garuda-Indonesia, Sriwijaya air, Merpati, Kartika Airlines, and
Mandala Airlines fly to other cities like Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar
and Banjarmasin. See the Batam and individual city pages for details on
connections.
As for international connections, Riau Airlines operates flights every
Friday and Sunday between Batam and Johor Bahru in Malaysia. Check the Batam
and Johor Baru pages for more details.
Bintan has a smaller airport called Raja Ali Haji Fisabilillah Airport at
Kijang near Tanjungpinangwith flights From Jakarta By Sriwijaya airlines or
Riau-airlines From Jakarta andPekanbaru
By ferry
Ferries are the main way to get to the Riau Islands. Check the individual
island or city pages for details.
From Singapore: Frequent ferries connect Singapore with Batam and Bintan.
See pages of the two islands for details of ports served by the ferries.
Ferries also link Singapore with Tanjung Balai on Karimun Island and Tanjung
Batu on Kundur Island. Note that Tanjung Batu is not listed as a visa-free or
visa-on-arrival point of entry, although visa-free nationalities seem to not
have any problems entering via this port.
From Malaysia: Frequent ferries link Johor Bahru with Batam and Bintan.
Ferries also run between Kukup in the south western part of Johor state, and
Tanjung Balai onKarimun Island. As of mid 2007, a ferry service has been
planned for Batu Pahat in Johor and Tanjung Balai on Karimun but has not taken
off yet.
From other parts of Indonesia: Numerous ferries link Sumatra mainland
cities such as Pekanbaru, Dumai, Palembang, Kuala Tungkal in Jambi and other
smaller ports withBatam, Bintan, Karimun and other islands. Ships belonging to
Indonesia's passenger shipping company Pelni call at Bintan's Kijang port,
Batam's Sekupang domestic ferry terminal and the Natuna Islands, linking them
with Jakarta, Medan, Pontianak and other major ports.
GET AROUND
By boat
Boats are the only practical means of traveling through the archipelago.
There are very frequent ferries between Batam and Bintan. Frequent ferry links
the two islands with other islands in the province like Karimun, Singkep and
Lingga. The remote Natuna and Anambas islands are linked by infrequent ferries
and Pelni boats from Bintan. For more details, please see the pages for the
individual islands.
By air
There are airports on Batam, Bintan and the remote Natuna Islands, where
there are airstrips on Natuna and Matak. The main airline linking the various
Riau islands is Riau Airlines. It also offers flights south to Singkep Island
(Dabo) from Batam and that is a viable option rather than spending 3-6 hours on
a ferry.
Local transport
In terms of land transport, local transport in the form of taxis, buses,
vans (angkut, bemo), and motorcycle taxis (ojek) are available on most islands.
It cost a dollar or two, it depends how long the trip is. However, to enjoy the
island even more try to rent your own motor bike ("rental moto") It
starts at 50'000 Rupias (3.2 €uro)/day when there are space to bargain, but on
smaller islands they know they can charge more, up to 100'000 Rupias/day.
Tourism Office
Jl. D. I Panjaitan km. 8 No. 12, Tj. Pinang - Kep. Riau
Located in the Riau province, the Tesso Nilo National Park
is arguably the largest lowland rainforest on the island of Sumatra. Today the
Park covers an area of 83,068 hectares, having grown twice as large from the
former 38,576 hectares in 2004 when it was designated as a National Park. Tesso Nilo stretches along 4 districts, namely
the districts of Palalawan, Indragiri Hulu, Kuantan Sengingi and Kampar. Tesso
Nilo is planned to be expanded to cover 100,000 hectares to serve not only as
the lungs for the Indonesia archipelago but also for the world.
Riau used to have large tracts of jungle, however, because
of large scale wild fires, and the building of palm oil plantations, almost two
third of primary forests here has been destroyed. For this reason, to stem
further degradation, the government has mapped out the area as a National Park,
while plantations already in the park are being reverted to the jungles.
Even so, biologists assert that the Tesso Nilo Park still
contains abundant tropical vascular plant species, surpassing those found in
the Amazon region. The park is habitat to Sumatra’s endangered elephants,
tigers, and tapirs. There are boars, deer, sun bear and other wildlife.
WWF Team Tesso Nilo National Park
In 2012 Tesso Nilo counted some 150 elephants, while WWF
found tracks of 50 Sumatran tigers.
Nonetheless, the close proximity of the Park to human settlements still
cause wild elephants to wander into villages and are, therefore, considered as
pests by the local inhabitants. Illegal
logging and wildfires also continue to threaten the Park.
WWF Indonesia
GET IN
By plane
If you are coming from
outside of Sumatra, you may fly into Pekanbaru. From there, go to the
WWF headquarters. Along with tours, they may be able to arrange passage for you
to the park.
By bus
No regular bus service
to either the park or the cities and villages near it exists.
By motorbike
The park headquarters
are in Kerinci Pelalawan in Riau, about 5 hours by motorbike from Pekanbaru.
Their telephone number is (061) 0761 494 728. To get to the park
from the headquarters requires 2 1/2 to 3 hours of travel down a dirt logging
road that now passes through large tracts of oil palm plantations and tree
farms, as well as cleared jungle awaiting conversion.
FEES AND PERMITS
You will need a permit
signed by the head of Tesso Nilo National Park, and you will have to be
accompanied by a ranger. The permit will cost
about 50,000 rupiah. You will pass through
two military check-points on the way in, requiring the letter and the ranger.
SEE
The observation tower
- Located near Camp Flying Squad in the north central part of the park,
climbing the tower can give you a great for getting a good overview of the park
and provide a magnificent vantage point for seeing sunsets and sunrises.
Animal tracks, signs
and homes - Fresh tracks from wild tigers are frequently seen near Camp Flying
Squad. In other parts of the park, rangers will probably be able to locate
tracks made by Malayan tapir, wild pigs and deer. You might also see trees that
have been clawed by hungry Malayan sun bears seeking food. Large mud mounds
constructed as homes by ants, as well as hive-like mud structures about six
feet high smaller trees, may be readily seen within the park.
Elephant Sumatra
Primates - A species
of larger primates live along a small waterway in a remnant forest near the
main ranger station where visitors stay, and one may spot them in the morning
and in the evening. One may also walk through that section of the park. As you
drive through the park with the rangers, there is also a good chance of
spotting primates on the road and in the trees that were planted for tree farms
before the creation of the park.
Silang (wild honey
trees) - Sialang trees, from which locals sustainably harvest wild honey, grown
in and around the park. Depending on what part of the month one visits,
watching a sialang ceremony conducted by local people prior to climbing sialang
and gathering honey may be possible. See below for more.
Silang
Wild Honey Trees
DO
Riding on an elephant
- as a part of a patrol by the Flying Squad is possible for 150,000 rupiah.
Boat Trip - Charter a
boat for 300,000 rupiah to go up the Nilo River to just past where it joins
with the Tesso River. The rangers and guide indicate that part of the jungle is
the most intact in the park.
Honey Gathering
Ceremony - You may be able to arrange to see a ceremony that local people do
before sustainably harvesting honey from sialang (wild honey trees). The
ceremony includes casting of shadows of the hands and head of prospective
climbers. If the shadow of one's hand shows only four digits or if one's head
is not connected to the rest of one's body, one is not allowed to climb the
tree and harvest the honey.
Riau is a province of Indonesia. It is located in the central eastern coast of Sumatra along the Strait of Malacca. Until 2004 the province included the offshore Riau Islands, a large group of small islands (of which the principal islands are Batam and Bintan) located east of Sumatra Island and south of Singapore, before these islands were split off as Riau Islands Province in July 2004. The provincial capital of Riau Province and its largest city is Pekanbaru. Other major cities include Dumai, Selat Panjang, Bagansiapiapi, Bengkalis, Bangkinang, Rengat and Siak Sri Indrapura.
Riau is currently one of the richest provinces in Indonesia and is rich with natural resources, particularly petroleum, natural gas, rubber, palm oil and fibre plantations. Extensive logging and plantation development in has led to a massive decline in forest cover Riau, and associated fires have contributed to haze across the larger region.
Riau, which includes a large part of East Sumatra, is homeland to Malays and the source of Indonesians Malay-based national language. The first book of Malay grammar, called Bustanul Katibin, was written and published here in 1857.
Pekanbaru became the provincial capital in 1959, taking over from the former capital of Tanjung Pinang on the Island of Bintan. About 160 kms upstream on the Siak River you can find a number of buildings in the traditional style. Among them are Balai Dang Merdu, Balai Adat and Taman Budaya Riau, or Riau Cultural Park.
Simpang Tiga Airport is a busy visa free entry point.
Pelangi flies to Kuala Lumpur and Silk Air flies to Singapore. Domestic
airlines direct flights are available from Jakarta as well as from Medan and
Batam. There are frequent departures from the bus station. Agencies all around
town sell tickets for the boats to Batam.
Home
to a diverse array of cultures and a fascinating kaleidescope of Indonesian
life, the region of North Sumatra has many wonders to explore. North Sumatra’s
specacular natural beauty spreads from the magnificent Lake Toba, the biggest
lake in Southeast Asia, to the jungle of Bukit Lawang which organgutans make
their home. The natural and cultural wonders here make this is a region to come
and have a true adventure.
The
landscape here has been shaped by thousands of years of volcanic activity. From
the incredible Lake Toba which was formed around 75,000 years ago in one of the
most fierce volcanic eruptions ever known to the still smouldering Mt Sibayak,
volcanoes dominate the landscape everywhere.
North
Sumatra is home to rare and exotic wildlife. Discover exceptional and unique
species like the orangutans, the white-handed gibbon, and 17 types of bird. For
nature lovers, the extraordinary ecosystems which exist here are well worth a
visit.
The
largest city in this region, Medan, is a thriving metropolis, and one of the
biggest cities in Indonesia. The population of the city is diverse,
representing virtually every ethnicity in Indonesia. As one of the most
important economic hubs in the country, Medan is also a place to do business
with a number of oil and plantation export companies operating here and in the
surrounding region.
Whether
you’re after a jungle adventure, a relaxing holiday in pristine natural
surrounds or an authentic experience of native Batak culture, this is a region
which has it all.
The main airport in this region is Polonia Airport, Medan.
There are daily flights between Medan and most major cities in Indonesia. Medan
Polonia International Airport has direct connections to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
and Penang for its regional flight and Jakarta, Batam, Pekanbaru, Padang, Banda
Aceh and Lhokseumawe for its Domestic flight. The terminal building provides
basic facilities including ATMs, money exchange, and a range of transport
services,
Airlines that fly to Medan are:
Garuda Indonesia
Lion Air
Air Asia
Batavia Air
Sriwijaya Air
Riau Airlines
Mandala Airlines
Merpati
Kartika Airlines
International flights also go directly to Medan.
Air Asia has flights from Thailand and Malaysia to Medan.
Lion Air has flights from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam to
Medan.
Garuda has flights from Thailand to Medan.
Regular buses which run to destinations throughout North
Sumatra are available via Trans Sumatra. Bus station Jl. Sisingamangaraja
Medan.
Belawan seaport is the sea link to Penang, Malaysia.
By boat
Domestic cruise
PELNI the Local Passenger cruise company operate weekly
voyages from the Port of Belawan in Medan to Batam and Jakarta.
From Malaysia
The ferry from Penang does not operate anymore.
By Bus
Medan can be reach by land and many buses serve Medan from
Many cities in Sumatera and Java Island such as Pekanbaru, Padang, Banda Aceh,
Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya.
GET AROUND
Local Transport
The usual Indonesian forms of transport – bemo or opelet
(small minibus), becak (bicycle-rickshaw) and bendi (two-person horse-drawn
cart) – are available in Sumatran towns and cities. Establish a price for a
becak ride before climbing aboard. For anopelet, you pay after you disembark.
Minibus
For midrange and shorter journeys, many locals and
travellers prefer to use minibus services, which can be more convenient than
hustling out to the bus terminal. Some minibuses are in superb shape and
provide door-to-door service, while others are a little rickety and shovel in
more people than a clown car.
Tourism Office
Jl. Jend. A. Yani No.107, Medan. 20111
Phone. (061) 4538101, 4520559, 4524908 Fax. (061) 4528436 www.northsumatratourism
Further information about Sumatra tourism is available from theSumatra Tourism Board.
Papua is a land of contrasts, with some of the most impenetrable jungles in the world and snowcapped mountain peaks towering over glacial lakes. Papua is Indonesia’s largest and eastern most province and covers the western half of the world’s second largest island.
It is a land of exceptional natural grandeur; with beautiful scenic beaches, immense stretches of marshlands, cool grassy meadows and powerful rivers carving gorges through dense forests. The most heavily populated and cultivated parts of the island are the Paniai Lakes district and the Baliem Valley to the east.
The provincial capital of Jayapura is situated on hills which overlook the sea, and is accessible by boat and plane. It was here that General MacArthur assembled his fleet for the invasion of the Philippines during the Second World War.
Birdlife Internationalhas called Lorentz Park “probably the single most important reserve in New Guinea”. It contains five ofWorld Wildlife Fund's "Global 200" ecoregions: Southern New Guinea Lowland Forests; New Guinea Montane Forests; New Guinea Central Range Subalpine Grasslands;New Guinea Mangroves; and New Guinea Rivers and Streams.
Travel permits (surat jalan) are required for all travel in Papua beyond the main coastal towns. The list changes randomly, but Jayapura and Biak are generally permit-free, and Sentani, Manokwari and Sorong are usually fine. Permits are mostly easily acquired in Jayapura and Biak, where they're usually obtainable in one day, although they are usually available at the other non-permit towns as well. Two passport photos and a token administration fee (Rp. 5000 or so) are required.
The permit must list all the places you're planning to visit, no changes allowed, unless you get a new one in a main town. Whenever you arrive in a new town in Papua, you have to get your permit stamped at the police station. Make lots of copies, you'll need them for hotels and such.
Despite the claims of some embassies to the contrary, no permits are required for travel to Papua. It's best not to mention Papua at all when applying for a visa.
By plane
Nearly all travellers arrive by plane. The main gateways are Biak, Manokwari and Jayapura, although there are also limited flights to Fakfak, Sorong and Timika. Garuda and Lion have direct flights from Jakarta to capital Jayapura; all other carriers, including Merpati and Batavia Air fly circuitous routes with stops at intermediate cities like Denpasar (Bali) Makassar (Ujung Panjang).
By boat
Pelni boats also stop at Jayapura and Farfak , amoungst other destinations. This is a relaxing and interesting way to arrive if you have the time. every regency capital situated at the coastal area owns a port, which can be visited by cruises: Ms. Dorolonda, sails from Surabaya, Makassar, Kupang, Ambon Fak Fak, Sorong, Monokwari, Nabire, Serui, Biak and Jayapura. Ms. Labobar sails from Batam, Jakarta Semarang, Surabaya, Makassar, Sorong, Manokwari, Biak, Serui and Jayapura.
By land
The only land border crossing between Papua and Papua New Guinea open to foreigners is on the north coast between Jayapura and Vanimo. There is no public transport across, so car or motorbike hire for some of the distance is required. Advance visas are required.
Private cars and motorcycles which are available to hire on charter to the particular destination. From Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Denpasar and Manado.
GET AROUND
Papua's main cities are not connected by road, and flying is the only practical option for covering longer distances. Boat charter for river travel is surprisingly expensive, the price going from US$60/day for a simple canoe to a whopping US$500/day (incl. gas) for a motorized outboard.
Tourism Office
Jl. Raya Abepura, Dinas Otonom Kotaraja, Jayapura - Papua
Aceh is a special territory (daerah istimewa) of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Naggroe Aceh Darussalam. It is thought to have been in Aceh where Islam was first established in Southeast Asia.
In the early sevententh century the Sultanate of Aceh was the most wealthy, powerful and cultivated state in the Malacca Straits region. Aceh has a history of political independence and fierce resistance to control by outsiders, including the former Dutch colonists and the Indonesian goverment.
Aceh has substantial natural resources, including oil and gas - some estimates put Aceh gas reserves as being the largest in the world. Relatively, to most Indonesia, it is a religiously conservative area.
The province of Aceh is located in the Northwest of Sumatra Island with the area of approximately 57,365.57 km square or 12.26 % of size of Sumatra Island. It consists of 119 islands, 73 major rivers and 2 lakes. Aceh is surrounded by Malacca Strait in the north, North Sumatra Province in the east, Indian Ocean in the south and the west. The capital of Aceh isBanda Aceh.
Aceh was long known for its desire for political independence from Indonesia. When the 26 December 2004 Tsunami hit the coastline of Aceh, the Acehnese welcomed and accepted the help offered from outside donors and communities in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the province.
The tremendous loss of life also influenced the thinking of political figures of the province, and the Aceh Government became more open to peace talks. The 29 year long struggle for special control (autonomy or independence) subsequently ended with the Helsinki Peace Agreement which was signed on 15 August 2005, and the decision to remain a province of Indonesia. Since then, the peace process has been quite smooth, without major incidents.The "AAM" (Aceh Monitoring Mission) funded by the EU oversaw the process.
There are a number of major towns, among them:Banda Aceh(capital), Lokhseumawe, Meulaboh, Sigli, and Calang. Also the island of Sabang (an hour ferry ride fromBanda Aceh), considered a diver's and snorkeler's paradise, belongs to the province.
Banda Aceh is now a visa-on-arrival entry point. There are two direct international flights to Banda Aceh. Air Asia offers flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while Firefly connects four times a week from Penang. Prices of tickets range from 15 to 70 USD. Indonesian consulates and embassies abroad also issue 60 day tourist visas.
Domestically, there are daily flights between Jakarta and Banda Aceh by Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air via Medan and Sri Wijaya. Sri Wijaya is the cheapest but Lion Air and Garuda fly generally newer aircraft.
By bus
The road from Medan to Banda Aceh are now reasonable. Especially the express night buses from Medan 10 hours,200 000 IDR are a good deal. Non express day and night buses are cheaper (150 000 IDR) and take longer 12-14 hours.
By boat
The Ferry from Penang to Langsa with a capacity of 138 passengers commences operation from the 21st of February and costs RM 180 return .
GET AROUND
There is no need for travel permits anymore in Aceh. Taxis, rental cars and motor taxis are available in Banda Aceh.
Tourism Office
Jl. Tengku Cik Kuota Karang No. 3, Banda
Aceh. Phone. (62-651) 23691, 26206, 21108 Fax.33723
Yogyakarta is a bustling town of some 500,000 people and the most popular tourist destination on Java, largely thanks to its proximity to the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. The city is a centre of art and education, offers some good shopping and has a wide range of tourist facilities. The New York Times listed Yogyakarta in "50 Places to go in 2014” as number 20.
Strictly speaking, the city (kota) of Yogyakarta is only one of five districts (kabupaten) within the semi-autonomous province of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY), literally the "Yogyakarta Special Region". The other districts are:
Sleman on the slopes of fiery Mount Merapi to the north
Bantul all the way to the sea to the south
The hills of Gunungkidul to the east
The low lands of Kulon Progo to the West
This special status is thanks to the Sultanate of Hamengkubuwono, which has ruled the area since 1749 and steered the state through difficult times of occupation and revolution. During the Indonesian war of independence, Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX offered the fledgling Indonesian government his enclave as capital city, Yogyakarta became the revolutionary capital city of the republic from 1946 to 1949 when Jakarta was still occupied by the Dutch. As a result, the central government recognized the Sultan of Yogyakarta as the appointed governor of the province of DIY — the only one in Indonesia that is not elected directly by the people. The Indonesian central government has tried to weaken the sultan's power by calling for direct election for the governor. The present sultan, Hamengkubuwono X, was chosen by an overwhelming majority.
Yogyakarta lies in one of the most seismically active parts of Java and has thus repeatedly been struck by earthquakes and volcano eruptions. The worst in recent times was theearthquake of 27 May 2006, which killed over 6,000 people and flattened over 300,000 houses. However, the epicentre was 25 km south of the city, which avoided the worst of the quake, and a surprisingly effective disaster recovery effort saw most of the physical damage repaired quickly.
Only four years later, in October 2010, the nearby volcano of Mount Merapi erupted, spewing lava over nearby villages and killing 353 people. After rumbling on and off for two months amid fears of another Krakatoa devastating the entire island, the volcano quieted down by December 2010. Following on from past averages, it'll be another 2–3 years until the next small eruption and 10–15 years until the next large eruption.
Mount Merapi
Yogyakarta is full of domestic tourists during school holiday seasons with most buses on Malioboro street and around North Central Park trapped in heavy traffic jams, sometimes for up to one hour. Vehicles, parking, pedestrians and vendors contribute to the traffic jams.
Yogyakarta (or Jogjakarta) has been known as The Neverending Asia. Many say that a single visit to Jogja is never enough.
The list of things you can experience in Jogja may seem overwhelming, ranging from natural splendors, art and tradition and heritages to culinary adventure. This is why Jogja is the second most visited destination in Indonesia, next to Bali.
In addition, there are about 70,000 handicraft industries and other facilities like various accommodations and transportations,numerous food services, travel agents, and proper tourism support, and also tour security team support called as Policemen of Tour, locally known as Bhayangkara Wisata.
Jogjakarta's geographical condition also supports the variety of existing tourism objects. Friendly climate ensures that you can plan your trips more intensely. The beautiful landscape along the way makes your travel to each destination worthwhile. Among the 31 cultural tourism attractions and 19 natural tourism beauties, try to make sure that you visit Borobudur, Prambanan Temple and silver handicraft in Kotagede. You can also try Selarong Cave, Pandansimo beach, Gajah Mountain, or Vredeburg Fort. To understand the history of the sultanate, try visiting the Kraton of Yogyakarta andTamansari. A visit to Jogja is never complete without experiencingMalioboro street. Rows of shops and outlets sell many kinds of souvenirs you can bring back home. If you want to test your negotiation skills you can try The Haggling Game with the street vendors. All's fair in love and shopping.
Yogyakarta'sAdisucipto International Airport(IATA:JOG), 8km east of town, is a small but busy mostly-domestic hub. There are frequent (every two hour) connections on Garuda, the national airline, toJakarta(50 minutes) and 2-3 times a day (60min) toDenpasar, while other domestic airlines service both Jakarta and Denpasar, as well as major cities inJava,Sumatra,KalimantanandSulawesi. For international services,AirAsiaconnects Yogyakarta to bothKuala LumpurandSingaporewhileMalaysia Airlinesflies between Yogyakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Silkair and Tigerair also flies from Singapore.
There is a tourist information desk, ATM and taxi stand in the arrival hall. Official airport taxis are available for around IDR50,000 depending on your destination, pay at the taxi desk in arrival terminal and then head for the official taxi rank. Give the receipt to your driver, there is no need for any additional payment. It is about half the price to use a taxi dropping passengers off at the departure terminal - insist on using the meter, do expect to pay the IDR2,000 airport entrance fee, even though this has already been paid by the previous passenger on the way in. A departure tax of IDR35,000 (as of Jan 2011) is charged for domestic flights and IDR100,000 for international flights (Feb 2014), at least for international AirAsia flight there is no departure tax anymore (is included in the ticket price, Jun 2015).
There is a travel agent at the arrival hall in the airport called Arga Tour or other tour services in Yogyakarta like the competitive one Java Bali Trips. A 10-hours car hire inclusive of driver to Prambanan, Ratu Boko, lunch followed by a 2-hour drive to Borobudur cost around IDR500,000-IDR600,000. Good service and English speaking driver. Be sure to haggle, though the price will not drop much, any savings could go toward a more luxurious meal.
Yogyakarta airport is one of the two rail-connected airport in Indonesia, beside Kuala Namu in Medan, North Sumatera. Those arriving from (and departing into) the airport can take aPrambanan Ekspresregional train to/from Kutoarjo (west of Yogyakarta), Palur (just east of Surakarta) and several stations in between, including Tugu (just off Malioboro Street in Yogyakarta) and Solobalapan station at Solo. The station at the airport is just a few minutes walk from the terminal, with an air-conditioned underpass leading all the way to the platform for trains into Yogyakarta.
By bus
The main bus station isGiwangan, 4km to the southeast of the centre. There are regular services throughout the island, includingJakarta(12 hours),Bandung(10 hours), andSurabaya(8 hours).
There is also a bus station inside the airport which is part of the Trans Jogja Busway System. From there you can get to any one of the many bus stations in their system. It costs IDR3,000 for a ticket.
If you are going north, to Borobudur temple or Semarang for example, head to Jombor terminal located just above the northern Ringroad. Expect to be ripped off on any bus to Borobudur, the going rate for westerners is IDR15,000-25,000 (local IDR7,000).
If you are planning to come to Yogyakarta from Bandung then you need to go to Cicaheum Terminal in Bandung to get bus. If direct bus is not available then take bus to Purwokerto (6-7h, IDR45,000). From Purwokerto there are regular buses available for Yogyakarta (4-5h, IDR30,000). Direct bus Bandung - Yogyakarta is available 24/7, both regular (every hour) or night bus that depart at 15:00 from Bandung.
Since Yogyakarta is in close proximity to Semarang and Solo, there's also a shuttle bus that operates between these cities, called Joglosemar (Jogja-Solo-Semarang), IDR45,000 to Semarang, and IDR25,000 to Solo.
By train
Trains to Jakarta take between 7-12h from the main Yogyakarta station, commonly called Tugu Station. The Argo-class trains (Argo Lawu and Argo Dwipangga) are the best of the lot being the most comfortable and fastest (c. 8 hours, IDR255,000-360,000 (Sep 2012) including mineral water and snacks). Taksaka is almost as good at Rp 235,000-265,000. These express services connect Yogyakarta and Jakarta in 7-8 hours, either at daytime or overnight. Price and schedules are availableonline. The line between Kroya and Prupuk, where the railway crosses the main backbone mountains of Java, is scenic.
Passengers to/from Bandung should take the Argo Wilis or Lodaya expresses which traverse a scenic part of Java during daylight hours, with rice fields and mountains (although there is an overnight Lodaya and the Turangga from Surabaya also travels overnight. The fare is IDR155,000 including mineral water and food (or more like snacks).
Passengers to Surabaya are served by the twice-daily Sancaka service departing in the morning and afternoon.
Yogyakarta and Solo are connected by several Prambanan Ekspres trains. Despite the name, the train does not stop at Prambanan station, and even if it does make an unscheduled stop, the station is rather far from the temple complex of Prambanan. The Prambanan Ekspres does stop at Maguwo station (for the airport) making it easy for travellers to change modes.
Stasiun Tugu (Tugu Central Railway Station),. The main central station, serves big city destinations such as Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Solo. To buy tickets, enter on Jl. Pasar Kembang and get a queue number from the stand facing the ticket windows. Then go to the opposite side of the room and fill out a ticket request slip, consulting the timetables on the wall to your left. You will be called to the appropriate ticket window, the announcement will be called (in Indonesian only) and displayed on the electronic sign on the wall. You can also buy tickets for up to 90 days prior to departure from many offline channels, and two online channels.
Stasiun Lempuyangan (Lempuyangan Railway Station), Jl. Lempuyangan. Serves economy class trains with several destinations, including Jakarta Gambir Station (IDR85,000-120,000 (USD7-9.7) c. 8 hours night train) and Surabaya Gubeng Station (IDR50,000-60,000 (USD4-4.9) ~6 hours journey.
By car
Yogyakarta is immediately accessible by car.Jalur Selatan(i.eSouth Line), which stretches through the southern part of Java (practically fromBandungtoSurabaya) passes through Yogyakarta. The city lies approximately 380 kms east of Bandung and 300 kms southwest of Surabaya.
FromJakartahowever, through journey via South Line is possible and common, visitors usually prefer traveling throughJalur Pantura(Jalur Pantai Utara, i.eNorth Coast Line). FromSemarang, 110 km away, go south, and you will enter Yogyakata from the north. Traveling through the north cuts the distance by a few tens of kilometers, the roads are wider, and there are more facilities (eateries, accommodations, gas stations) along the way compared to the South Line. However, Jalur Pantura is more crowded since there are plenty of trucks and long distance buses along the way, and particularly in the peak seasons (long holiday), it is usually heavily congested.
GET AROUND
Yogyakarta is a relatively small city, so travelling around town should not be too expensive. If you are travelling on foot, note that a street sign facing you at a corner indicates the name of the street you are entering, not the cross street. The Tourism Authority has maps in English that can be obtained from its offices next to Hotel Mutiara on Jl. Malioboro, at the airport and the train station. Beware that these maps are not to scale.
By taxi
Yogyakarta's taxis are metered and nowadays most taxi drivers are trustworthy. Flagfall is IDR6,000 and most trips around the centre of town should not cost more than IDR15,000. After dark the minimum fare for a taxi is IDR20,000 even if the meter reads less that IDR20,000. If by chance you find a taxi driver that you feel comfortable with and trustworthy, ask for his cellular phone number so that next time you need to travel you can call directly to his cell phone and arrange your travel needs. Most taxi drivers will be more than happy to do this. Virtually everyone has a cell phone which is called a "hp" (hand phone) throughout Indonesia, and everyone including all adults use text messaging (sms) extensively. It is best to use text messaging to communicate with drivers e.g. "sudah siap" when you are "ready" to be picked up. "Tolong jemput saya di Hotel XXXX jam XXXXX" = Please pick me up at hotel XXXX at XXX o'clock. Note: "jam = time" in Indonesian. Taxi in Yogyakarta could be reserved directly in the airport or every tourism center. Besides, you may also book the taxi from on-line organized bybluetaksibefore you arrive. The booking can be done via [bluetaksi@gmail.com]
By trishaw
Traditional three-wheeled and pedal-powered cart, known asbecak(pronounced beh-chak), which can be found in most part of Yogyakarta.Hagglefuriously before getting into the becak. Be sure to determine whether the price is for a one-way or return (pulang) trip and if you want the driver to wait whilst you conduct your shopping or business. A ride from within the city to the Malioboro shopping precinct should not cost more than IDR10,000.
By horse cart
Traditional horse-pulled carts, known asandong, ordokar, wait for tourists outside hotspots like the train station, the Kraton and Mal Malioboro.Hagglefuriously. The traditional route is from Jl. Malioboro to Keraton, and this is where you'll find most andong. Usually, andong opt to take you to shop for fake Dagadu t-shirt in Ngasem area with hefty prices. Then, andong will take you back to your initial journey. The cost for one round trip for andong is IDR20,000. Usually they ask for IDR30,000 but they may settle for less. Andong can accommodate up to 5 adult passengers.
By bus
Medium and small size buses are the main public transport in Yogyakarta.
There are two kind of bus: regular and patas. Patas buses, known as TransJogja operate from 6AM to 10PM and stop only at designated shelters. Unlike regular buses, TransJogja is air-conditioned and generally safer. Tickets can be purchased directly at the shelters and cost for single trip is Rp 3,000. Passengers may purchase regular trip cards which cuts per tip cost to Rp 2,700, and allows transit to other shelter. There are six routes, and route maps can be downloaded. Be aware that the bus stops are quite far apart, (1-2kms) and not very numerous, and often the bus stops for opposite directions are not opposite each other. If you are planning on travelling this way, expect to still do a fair amount of walking to and from the stops to your destination.
Regular buses normally operates from 6AM to 5PM, and some long routes extend their operation until 9PM. Please never bring anything valuable on public buses, pickpockets in buses are now more common than ever before. Cost for single trip is Rp 2,500 regardless of distance (within the city). Usually on a bus there will be one driver and one helper who will hang from the side of the bus and handle money and try to get passengers. The helper will usually tap you on the shoulder to indicate you should pay him. If there is no helper you can pay the driver directly. When you are ready to get off a bus, tell the driver or helper "Kiri," which means left. Animated bus route maps are available at Transportation Agency of Yogyakarta website.
By car or motorbike
There are several car and motorbike rental agencies just outside Tugu Station near Jalan Pasar Kembang on the street that runs east-west just south of the station.
A near new semi-automatic (clutchless) motorbike can be rented for Rp 50,000 per 24 hr; older bikes may come for less, and fully automatic bikes such as a HondaVarioor YamahaMiomay sometimes cost Rp 5,000-10,000 more.
Cars can be had rented for around Rp 350,000 for 24 hr, or Rp 225,000 for 12 hr. A driver can be hired along with the car for another Rp 50,000-Rp 200,000/day. Prices may vary due to fuel inclusion for a set distance or itinerary. Prices are always subject to negotiation and may increase or decrease due to local demand, type and age of vehicle and your individual requirements at the time. Cars are usually rented with drivers and it is strongly advised for foreigners as the roads are extremely busy with all the hundreds of thousands of higher ed students driving motorcycles recklessly around the city. I think you can get a better price than quoted here. In my experience, driving yourself in Bali is fine but not recommended for cities in Java like Yogya or Jakarta. Price of rental doesn't include petrol (gas), parking, entrance fees etc. It is customary to give your driver 15,000 rps during any mealtime stops but he won't expect to eat with you.
If renting please ensure you are familiar with both the applicable licensing requirements and vehicle use in the prevailing conditions.
Car with driver
To get around in Yogyakarta can be done by a car with driver. Commonly the driver has driving license or STNK in Indonesia language. Some drivers can speak basic English and some cannot. The trained-English speaking drivers could be found along the tourism centre, like in Malioboro, Prawirotaman, Kota Gode etc. This way to travel Yogyakarta for the first time is very helpful and higly recommended. Commonly the driver will transfer and pick up you in the airport or other places in Yogyakarta. Since 2014 Yogyakarta has a trained-English speaking driver community with proficient hospitality and tourism knowledge. This community will help visitors' tour arrangement, transport, accommodations etc. It is organized byYogyakarta Kota IstimewaorYOKI.
Tourism Office
Tourism Board
Jl. Malioboro No. 56, Yogyakarta 55213,
Phone. (62-274) 582628, 587486
Fax. (62-274) 565437 Provincial Culture and Tourism Office
