Indonesia is the largest island country of our earth, fascinating visitors with the tropical landscape of volcanic origin and the many different cultures of some 360 ethnic groups. The islands are spread over a length of 5000 km along the equator. There are tropical rainforests, rice terraces, white sandy beaches, active volcanoes, and friendly people awaiting the traveler. Indonesia is the place where present and past merge. Jakarta, the capital, is a modern industrial metropolis of western cut – in the jungles of Kalimantan (Borneo) and Irian Jaya(New Guinea) new primitive tribes of head hunters are being discovered even today. Nobody can say for sure how many islands belong to Indonesia exactly. In general it is assumed that they are 13677 islands in all, out of which 6000 are named and 1000 are inhabited. Bali is the best known one. One should not be put off by the masses of tourists, for Bali is one of the most beautiful islands of our earth and offers – away from the tourist centers – a very singular culture and landscape. Hotels are of international standard offering a superb price/value ratio. Guests of Bali who visit other islands afterwards often tend to be disappointed by the standard of hotels elsewhere. The island of Sulawesi, the country of Toraya, with its extraordinary rites of the dead, is another tourist attraction. The National Underwater Park of Manado mainly attracts divers and snorkelers. The main island of Java is best explored by a round trip. A visit to Irian Jaya is, however, like a trip into the stone age.

Please inquire at your local indonesian consulate or embassy for requirements of people of your nationality. Indonesia has introduced for tourists a visa, that has to be purchased upon arrival at a fee of US$ 25.00 per person. This visa is for a stay of maximum 30 days only.

The clients information (passport and diving details) are to be filled in with the link mailed.
Citizens of the following countries can obtain an entry visa upon arrival in Indonesia by paying a fee of USD $25 for a thirty day stay and USD$10 for a five day stay. Payment is made upon arrival in Indonesia in cash or by credit card. You can also obtain a visa prior to arrival from any Indonesian Embassy or Consulate.

United States / Japan / South Africa / Germany / Canada / Australia / South Korea / Argentina / Norway / Brazil / Denmark / France / UAE / Poland / Finland / Switzerland / Hungary / Taiwan / United Kingdom / Italy / New Zealand / Palau RMI (MAJ/KWA) / FSM

Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia (YAP, TKK, PNI, KSA), Palau (ROR) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (MAJ & KWA) must pay USD $50 in addition to the regular visa fee.

Citizens of all other countries must apply for a visa prior to arrival.

We are glad that we can offer our clients, which are flying from switzerland, on the following airlines dive free baggage:

- Singapore Airlines / Silk Air, 30kg
- Malaysian Airlines, 30kg
- Cathay Pacific, 30 kg
- Thai Airways, 30kg

On the Indonesien domestic flights we can't allow free baggage, but the excess baggage price is very low.

200 cigarettes, 1 litre liquor, small amount of perfume, films for the own use. Prohibited is the entry into Indonesia of weapons, drugs and any kind of pornography (The playboy belongs already to this).

As soon as you make a stop during your journey of more than 24 hours, you have to reconfirm your flight for most airlines. Singapore Airlines make an excemption to this, we still recommend to reconfirm the flight to check the exact time and/or seat reservation data. The Pindito and any dive resort is happy to assist you in reconfirming your flights.

The departure taxes have to be charged at departure. This can only be paid at the airport and in local currency. On domestic flights, the airport taxes vary and have also to be paid at the airport.

Denpasar, Bali: 150'000 Rupiah = ca. USD 17.00 / EUR 10.00
Manado: 100'000 Rupiah = ca. USD 11.00 / EUR 6.70
(Update April 2008)

No vaccines are required if arriving from the USA or central Europe. Bali itself, is free of Malaria, but it is endemic in Irian Jaya, on the small Sunda islands, and especially so in the rainforests of Kalimantan. You are advised to check with the embassy or consulate for detailed information. We recommend vaccines against hepatitis A and B. And we also recommend a special travelers health insurance.

Indonesia has tropical climate with a high level of humidity. Temperatures range from 26°C to 32°C. At night the temperatures do not decrease considerably. Seasons are governed by trade winds and divided into dry- and rainy seasons. Rains generally consist of strong downpours, followed by sunshine. The climate varies greatly according to the area, and is described in detail in the various sections.

Please contact webpages of your local weather service for more information.

The official currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).

1 U$ Dollar = ~9234 Indonesian Rupiah
10'000 Indonesian Ruphia = ~1.09 U$ Dollar

(Mai 2008)

Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops as well as onboard with Pindito. Visa and MasterCard are the best credit cards to bring. Most shops will insist on charging a 3% fee for using a credit card. Hotels and restaurants will apply an additional 10% tax and often a service charge of between 5% and 11%. Banks will give cash advances for a fee of 1% to 2% of the amount drawn in Rupiah.

Indonesia has three time zones. In the West (Sumatra, Java, East- und Central of Kalimantan) MEZ +6 hours. In central Indonesia (Bali, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Soth- and Eastkalimantan) MEZ +7 hours and in the East of Indonesia (Molukken und Irian Jaya) MEZ +8 hours. During the European summer time it is also in Indonesia one hour fewer.

The quickest and easiest way to negotiate long distances in Indonesia is by aircraft. In Bali you can rent cars for low prices everywhere. But please attend that in Indonesia is left-hand driving and you need an international driver's license. Without an international drivers license you are automatically guilty by each accident. Outside from Bali and Java is the car rental very expensive and almost impossible.

For travellers which want to do some home phones, we are recommending to buy on the arrival day an Indonesian SIM-Card for his Mobil phone. Particularly the calls from Indonesia to Europe and backwards, are much convenient as with a European SIM-Card. The Indonesian SIM-Card you can buy on the supermarket or in locale mobile shops.

For calls from Indonesia to your country, please do following:

Indonesia – home country
Your country code / your area code without 0 / telephone number

Home country – Indonesia
+62 (country code from Indonesia) and the telephone number without the 0.

Dealing is in Indonesia on markets and in smaller shops an absolute must. In modern shops and supermarkets are the prices constant. Favoured Souvenirs are, depending on the area, Ikats, batik workings, spices and soaps. Ikats are complex woven draperies in diverse colours. In Indonesia each flavour finds something for brining home as souvenir.

The Indonesian electricity supply is 220 Volts, 50 Hz and reasonably reliable but is subject to voltage fluctuation and surges. The power points are of the two pin (round) variety so bring an adapter for use in hotel rooms, etc. Laptop computers usually have their own current regulators but other equipment may need protecting.

The Pindito liveaboard is fully equipped with all required adapters for charging equipment at either 220 or 110 Volts AC via stabalizers.

In Indonesia you can buy negative films almost everywhere. Filmstrips you get only in bigger cities, and please look for an air-conditioned photo shop. Particularly filmstrips are to long bedded or to bad bedded in the tropes. The prices are the same as in Europe, Your negative films you can also process in Indonesia very fast and for low money and the quality also not bad. We are advising to buy your film material and process your negative films in your hometown. Therefore is the guarantee for good photos a little bit better.

Films with a sensibility of 100 ASA is normally enough. For photos in the jungle you have to use a 400 ASA. The solar radiation in the tropes is very strong and on the pictures is the nice blue sky suddenly too bright. For these pictures you need a UV or Skylight filter.

If you want to photography Indonesian people, please ask before you make your photo. Mostly are the people very nice and accord you to make your photo. Often the people ask you by themselves to make pictures from them.

Lightly summer dress is enough. For inner land excursions we are negotiate long trousers, long shirts and good shoes. Who is planning a land tour, ascend a volcano or do a trip trough the jungle should be allow this by their clothes.

In restaurants it’s necessary, more tourists, bigger choice of food! Everywhere in Indonesia you will find good restaurants which you can eat to very less prices. Very comfortable is that you can order in each restaurant Nasi Goreng and in almost village you will find a Chinese restaurant. Each Island has his favoured food. Anybody who can abstain of burgers, stakes and fries will be happy with the Indonesian food.

The national language is Bahasa Indonesia, English is widely spoken in touristic areas.

We recommend the following insurance: against cancellation of travel, against loss or damage of luggage, a travelers health insurance, including emergency medical return flight.

In bigger hotels or in restaurants is the service included so the tipping is only for very good service or for a special service as carrier your suitcase. The normal tipping in Indonesia is 500 – 1000 Ruphia. In a big, comfortable hotel it can be more. Outside the normal tourist locations nobody await tipping but the invoice price can be rounded up. Little souvenirs as cigarettes are sometimes more favoured as money.

Dive guides and boat crew in Indonesia are very cooperative and very nice also without tipping, but everybody is glad about extra money. Deciding for tipping is anyway your satisfaction with the quality of service.