Indonesia: Before you go - Life of a Passion

Before exploring Indonesia, you should know a few things! The best time to travel, transportation, etc. I’ve listed them all down for you!

When to go?

There are 2 seasons in Indonesia, the rain season (November – April) & the dry season (May – October). We are visiting Indonesia in the dry season which means we would normally have sun and a warm climate with no extremes.

Sad Fact: Possibility of earthquakes and active volcanoes.

How long?

It depends on how many Indonesian highlights you want to see. We are doing a 2-week trip to see the highlights in Bali, Gili Meno, Lombok & Nusa Lembongan. This route is very common among travelers. I would have expanded it to 3 weeks, to have more days in Bali and the islands.

Fun Fact: Indonesia is the world’s largest island country!

Visa

You must have a visa to enter Indonesia. You must do this yourself by clicking on the following website: https://kemlu.go.id/brussels/en/pages/online_application_form/1614/etc-menu .The visa will cost you 45€ and you can stay 60 days in Indonesia with it.

Important: Passport must be valid for another 6 months.

UNESCO Jatiluwih rice fields in Bali, Indonesia

Currency & Voltage

€1= 15598,02 Indonesian Rupiah. You’ll feel like a millionaire there!

Only plugs from the EU (2 round pins) will work in Indonesia, it’s type C an F according to this website.

Time Fact: So there is a time difference: GMT/UTC +7hrs.

Food

Food will not be a problem in Indonesia. You’ll get to eat seafood, noodles, drink tea, drink Luwak coffee, and eat a lot of rice dishes! But don’t worry, you’ll also find some western food!

Don’t drink water from the tab, only drink bottled water!

Packing list Indonesia

You can find my packing list here.

Transportation

If you want to do a road trip like us, it’s recommended to hire a car with a driver or to rent motorbikes. We rented a car with a driver on Bali and Lombok.

Medical

It’s recommended to be vaccinated when you’re visiting Indonesia. It’s a must to have the following vaccinations: Yellow fever, and Polio. The following vaccinations are recommended: Tetanus (lockjaw), Diphtheria, Polio, and Hepatitis A & B.

Indonesia has some countries where there is still a risk of malaria. Bali is malaria-free. Lombok, Gili Meno, and Nusa islands, however, are not. Make sure to have mosquito sprays with DEET, wear pants and shirts with long sleeves in the evening and sleep with mosquito nets.