Traveling to Indonesia

[ChrisM]

Scoot flies direct SIN-UPG M-W-Th, and Lion and Barik fly direct UPG-SOQ daily.
I think it requires separate tickets.
You can also fly through Manado from SIN; again, SCOOT (M--F-Sa) plus Lion.

Thanks, makes sense.

And an incredible airport as well including the attached Jewel. Going to venture out to see some of the sites while we overnight at Changi next year!

We did that last year. Stayed in the airport hotel and went into the city a couple times. Mix of train and uber. Great fun to walk around that city. Even hit the Teka food court - that was an experience in itself.

 

[Luko]

You can also fly through Manado from SIN; again, SCOOT (M--F-Sa) plus Lion.

SIN Manado is 4 times a week now MWFSa.
Good option for those like me who don't like the CGK-Sorong redeye flights, however the LionAir Manado-Sorong is in the morning hence that needs overnighting in MDC for a 7AM flight the day after (Novotel airport is fine).

 

[David McGlamery]

My spouse and I just booked a Liveaboard in Raja Ampat for the end of 2025. Does anyone have experience getting there from the US? Specifically from the East coast? All I know is we need to ultimately get to Sorong to catch the boat.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Myanna

When I go to Indonesia I fly into Jakarta and stay at FM 7 hotel a couple nights before heading out to Sorong. I have always flown one of the Lion air group airlines and have always had trouble. I'm going to fly Garuda Indonesia next time in September. Most live a boards will require you be out of the water 24 hours before you fly at the end of the trip. You can also fly into Bali. I don't know of anyway you can book the flights all the way to Sorong in one booking. So if you fly on one of the Lion air groups airline keep checking the airlines website for changes in your flights. They will not e-mail you about any changes. Also pre pay for your luggage. You may get 20kg included and to get another 20kg will cost you over $110 each way. Is Raja Ampat worth it? YES. I just returned three weeks ago and have already booked another trip.

 

[danzn16]

How has your experience with Garuda?

When I go to Indonesia I fly into Jakarta and stay at FM 7 hotel a couple nights before heading out to Sorong. I have always flown one of the Lion air group airlines and have always had trouble. I'm going to fly Garuda Indonesia next time in September. Most live a boards will require you be out of the water 24 hours before you fly at the end of the trip. You can also fly into Bali. I don't know of anyway you can book the flights all the way to Sorong in one booking. So if you fly on one of the Lion air groups airline keep checking the airlines website for changes in your flights. They will not e-mail you about any changes. Also pre pay for your luggage. You may get 20kg included and to get another 20kg will cost you over $110 each way. Is Raja Ampat worth it? YES. I just returned three weeks ago and have already booked another trip

 

[Bookworm11]

I've read lots of bad reviews about the budget airlines flying into Spring with them changing or canceling flights, so I booked Garuda. I am flying on Qatar from Boston thru Doha, overnighting there and staying at the Hyatt Regency on points in a club room, on to Jakarta on Garuda, 5 hour layover and then to Sorong on Garuda. The worst airport I've been to is Kuala Lumpur, and it was dreadful!!!

 

[davinajmyers]

We originally planned to go to Makassar, spend a night, then Sorong and spend a night, to avoid the middle of the night flights. Once we were on our way to Asia the Lion Air flight from Makassar to Sorong was rescheduled by like 13 hours so it was going to be in the middle of the night anyways, so it made going there moot. We ended up reshuffling everything to just go Jakarta>Sarong on Garuda that left at 12:10 am. Grabbed a room at the airport hotel in Jakarta to get a shower and a nap before boarding.

 

[Dan]

We originally planned to go to Makassar, spend a night, then Sorong and spend a night, to avoid the middle of the night flights. Once we were on our way to Asia the Lion Air flight from Makassar to Sorong was rescheduled by like 13 hours so it was going to be in the middle of the night anyways, so it made going there moot. We ended up reshuffling everything to just go Jakarta>Sarong on Garuda that left at 12:10 am. Grabbed a room at the airport hotel in Jakarta to get a shower and a nap before boarding.

Wise move!

I’ve done this Jakarta to Sorong nonstop with Garuda probably about 7 times. It’s the best way to fly to Raja Ampat.

 

[davinajmyers]

One other tip re: Indonesia, we were carrying all our own gear but the general baggage restrictions are pretty tight on Garuda. If you tell them that it is scuba diving gear there is a special exception so you aren't charged extra.

FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

1. Special regulation for passenger who brings sport equipment, such condition will have additional allowance with condition as follow :

• Each passenger can get additional free 1 pc sport equipment for one of the items mentioned in the table below. (which includes Diving Equipment)

 

[4togrfr]

One other tip re: Indonesia, we were carrying all our own gear but the general baggage restrictions are pretty tight on Garuda. If you tell them that it is scuba diving gear there is a special exception so you aren't charged extra.

FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

1. Special regulation for passenger who brings sport equipment, such condition will have additional allowance with condition as follow :

• Each passenger can get additional free 1 pc sport equipment for one of the items mentioned in the table below. (which includes Diving Equipment)

Great to know. We have half of our flights booked for our summer 2025 trip to Sumbawa. As we have status and points with American and want to take advantage of that, we found our best option is flying DC-LAX-SYD-DPS-BMU. The last two legs are not AA flights and those we are trying to sort out. We are stuck with Wings on the last leg as far as I can tell. I was looking into Garuda for SYD-DPS legs to save a few $$ versus Qantas.

 

[Wobbegong_th]

I'm looking for some advice re what to do during waiting at Jakarta airport.

We're planning for a trip to Lembeh in Aug 2025. Origin from Bangkok, Thailand.
Currently, the best choice for flight seems to be with Garuda Indonesia from BKK-Jakarta-Manado.
Flight schedule seems like a long wait at the Jakarta airport.
Outbound flight from BKK, we'd have about 6-7hrs to wait (Arrive around 18:00, depart around 02:00 of next day)
Inbound flight from Manado, we'd have about 16hrs to wait (Arrive around 17:00, depart around 09:00 of next day)

- What facilities are there at Jakarta airport to do during those long waiting time?
- Is there a 'Left Luggage' facility that we can put some of the luggage away if we want to go outside of the airport?
- For our waiting time during the outbound flight (about 5-6hrs) - is it worth to go outside of the airport, may be into the City?
- For the Inbound flight, which we have about 16hrs to wait, we're looking to get a room at nearby hotel. Any recommendation? (preferably hotel with free shuttle transfer)
- As our target destination is Lembeh, how long is the overland travel from Manado Airport?

Any other advice would be much appreciated