VISA/PASSPORT

Visitors to Indonesia must possess a valid international passport or other internationally-recognized travel document endorsed for travel to Indonesia. No VISA is required for entry into Indonesia. Please consult your local embassy for further information. All travel documents must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of departure.

CURRENCY

The unit of currency is rupiah (Rp). Bills are all of the same size, but of different colors.

RELIGION

Religion plays a major role in the life of Indonesians. About 90% of Indonesian’s population is Muslim. Shoes must be removed when entering mosques. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism are also practiced. Scarves must be worn around the waist when visiting Balinese temples.

CLIMATE

Indonesia is situated near the equator and has only two sessions – wet and hot. The climate is typically equatorial, with rainfalls during the months of November to March and hot session from May to October. Winter monsoons bring short but drenching outbursts. Summer monsoons from the south bring hot winds and light rains. Islands situated closer to Australia are generally dry and the dry season’s lasts up to seven months.

CLOTHING

Light cotton clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended for year-round. Bring a light jacket or sweater if you plan to visit the hill stations.

LANGUAGE

The inhabitants of Indonesia’s many islands speak a diverse language with many dialects. However, it is recognized that Bahasa Indonesia is the official language taught in schools and used in business and broadcasting.

ELECTRICITY

220 volts ac, 50 cycles throughout the country. If you are planning to bring your own electrical equipment, please pack a converter. Some hotels also provide converters upon request.

TRANSPORTATON

Besides taxis and busses, which are the most common form of transportation, there are other modes of short-distance transportation called the bemo, helicak or becak which are fairly inexpensive. Motorcycles are fast and cheap ways to travel around, as Indonesia’s road are usually heavily congested. They can be rented in Bali, Lombok, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Lake Toba. Please check with your tour guide or hotel concierge for more details.