Your Indonesia Booking Pack
Starting in Jakarta
The Dragon Trip is the all-encompassing, flexible trip for adventurers seeking to discover the real Indonesia, showing you the very best parts – including cultural, historical and adrenaline-inducing attractions, jaw dropping scenery, and mind-blowing cusine! Over the next few weeks, it’s our goal to show you a side of Indonesia you’ll remember forever.
Joining your tour in Jakarta
Meeting Point
Please meet your adventure leader in the morning, at 4:30pm in the lobby of Bobobox Pods Tanah Abang Hotel to begin the tour. We will spend the late afternoon exploring the sights of downtown Jakarta, pausing for dinner and a trip briefing.
Hotel Address:
Jl. Tanah Abang II No. 74,
Kel. Petojo,
Kec. Gambir,
Jakarta Pusat
If you are unable to meet at this time, please inform us at trips@thedragontrip.com.
How to get to your hostel
By taxi: If you choose a taxi from the airport, make sure you find one of the better companies, and one of the the newer-looking taxis. Ignore the touts outside arrivals, and walk to the real taxis in front. Good companies are Blue Bird, Express, Gamia, TaxiKu. For around $30 you can take a ‘Silver Bird’ taxi – the safest drivers in black Mercedes cars. Just find the black ‘Silver Bird’ stand on the road. You can also use the Grab App (which works similar to Uber) which is very reasonably priced.
If you have any queries or issues with your trip, email our Ops team on mytrip@thedragontrip.com.
We can collect you from the airport
We can arrange an airport transfer to pick you up from Jakarta airport and drop you off at your hostel for an additional cost. If you are planning on spending additional time in Jakarta before your trip starts, we are also able to book pre-trip accommodation for you. To find out more, email info@thedragontrip.com.
Insurance
Please don’t forget your insurance! Although Covid-specific insurance is no longer a requirement to enter Indonesia, we do require all people coming on our tours to have travel insurance. Please bring details of your travel insurance along with you to the pre-departure briefing. In the event of an accident, we may need to contact your insurance company on your behalf, so we will need the insurance company’s name and phone number, as well as your policy number.
Please fill out our online emergency contact and insurance form: https://forms.office.com/r/yDdHkmDEpU
Don’t forget your passport!
Have you sent us your passport details?
The Dragon Trip needs your passport copy to book accommodation and transport tickets in advance of your trip.
Please ensure that you passport is valid for six months of onward travel with a spare page for every country you plan on visiting (all those stamps). If you need a new passport, make sure you send us your new passport details as soon as possible, or you may experience some difficulties whilst on tour.
Do I need a visa?
You will need to pay IDR 500,000 (about US$35) for your visa, upon arrival.
– Most countries including UK, USA, France, Holland & Germany and many more qualify for visa on arrival.
– Your passport needs at least 6 months validity.
– You need a return ticket to another country.
– They will give you entry for 30 days, and you may be able to extend this once you are in Indonesia.
Visa information is subject to change without notice. For the most current information, please visit your nearest embassy.
Keep in touch!
We want to hear all about your amazing travels across Indonesia.
Whether you’re on the tour or reliving your amazing experiences, be sure to use the hashtag #thedragontrip to join in with our amazing community of fellow Dragons.
In addition, if you tag our profile in your photo with the handle @thedragontrip, we might just feature it! We love to see all the fun you get up to on your adventures.
Lastly: if you don’t want to have your photos appear on our social platforms, please do email us to let us know.
Meet Your Fellow Dragons
As many of our Dragons travel solo, we want to take to make the process of meeting your fellow travellers as easy as possible. We create WhatsApp groups for every departure date in advance, meaning that you can get to know everyone on your tour before you hit the ground.
You can also like us on Facebook and join ‘The Dragon Trip: Adventure Advice‘ Facebook group – here, you’ll be in a community of past, present, and future Dragons who can all share tips and advice.
Our Ultimate Packing Check List
On all of our trips you will be required to carry your own bags, so pack light. Indonesia has tonnes of local markets in case you forget something, and you can always borrow from others in your group – that’s what friends are for!
Documents:
- Passport (with a copy of the photo page)
- Insurance Details
Money:
- Your credit/debit card (we suggest using ATMs at each country)
- Money Belt
- Local Currency
The Essentials:
- First Aid Kit (with mild painkillers, personal medications etc.)
- Camera and charger
- Shirts/T-shirts
- Long pants (for hiking)
- Long trousers, sleeved shirts, shawl or scarf (when visiting mosques/temples and some of the local villages)
- Swimming costume
- Flip-flops
- Sensible walking shoes/hiking boots
- Towel
- Washbag
- Mosquito repellent
- Sunscreen
- Hat & sunglasses
- Lightweight waterproof
- Earplugs (for a better sleep in the dorms/night train)
- Locks for bags
- Waterproof backpack cover
- Antibacterial gel/wipes
FAQ’s
Do I need to bring power adaptors?
Yes! Indonesia electrical outlets use the same sockets as central Europe, so if you use any type of plugs, you will need to bring an adaptor. Indonesia uses 230 volts and the plug sockets are Type C, featuring two round pins.
How do I get money in Indonesia?
Prepaid travel cards cannot be topped up with Indonesian rupiah, so you will want to exchange cash or bring a debit/credit card with you. Currently, exchange desks in airports in Indonesia are the most reliable and very easy to use. You will also be able to withdraw money at ATMs in each city.
Can I use my mobile phone?
It’s relatively easy to buy a local SIM card in Indonesia, which contains enough data for basic internet usage. Look to pay around 150,000 IDR for around 7GB of data and you’re on the right track!
Do I need a sleeping bag?
All bedding – including bedding at Cikananga Wildlife Center – is provided.
Suitcase or backpack?
A suitcase is OK, but a backpack/hold-all is much more convenient. Please be aware that there is a checked luggage weight limit of 20kg – plus hand luggage – on the internal flights of our Indonesia trips.
Your Welfare on Tour
Our adventure tours are a safe space where everyone is welcome. We kindly request that you show respect to your fellow adventurers, our Adventure Leader, as well as the local people and places we encounter throughout our journey. Any form of discrimination, bullying and violence is strictly prohibited, and we expect all travellers to adhere to the laws, customs, and regulations of each destination we visit. Behaviours that contradict these expectations or impede our staff’s ability to fulfil their duty of care or follow the planned itinerary, may result in the removal of the individuals involved from the trip. If you encounter any concerns during your travels, please promptly communicate with your Adventure Leader or local guide. Alternatively, you can discreetly contact the Adventure Leader via WhatsApp. They will be able to address the issue directly and help find the best solution.
Top Tips from The Dragon Trip
Try saying that tongue twister really fast.
We can confirm there is no need for Covid tests prior to arrival in Indonesia and no need for quarantine upon arrival.
Entry requirements
- Show proof of vaccination – bring along your vaccination certificate as proof to show upon arrival. You do not need to submit this in advance.
- You will need to pay IDR 500,000 (about US$35) for your visa on arrival.
Visas:
- Most countries including UK, USA, France, Holland, Germany and many more qualify for a visa upon arrival.
- Your passport needs at least 6 months validity.
- You need a return ticket to another country.
- The visa you are issued will allow you entry for 30 days. You may be able to extend this if needed once in Indonesia.
Note: Travel insurance is a requirement for all passengers coming on our trips.
On the weather:
- While Indonesia is a tropical climate, June to September is dry season and the temperatures can get very high. Always remember to keep yourself hydrated, by carrying drinking water – it may be a good idea to travel with re-hydration sachets.
On how to travel sustainably:
- We cover the cost of up to 15kg in weight on our flights. This keeps fuel usage down, and reduces the impact of the flight on the environment.
- Please pack as light as possible (10-15kg suggested) as you’re expected to carry your own luggage.
- Pack a reusable water bottle. Many of our hostels provide filtered water, which reduces your need for single use plastics on tour
- We have a 4D3N liveaboard tour on our Indonesia itinerary. This is a shared boat with very limited facilities. You will have a mattress, pillow and blanket per person and sleep on a shared deck. Please don’t forget to bring your own eco-friendly soap and shampoo, as the water you use for showering goes directly to the sea.
Stay Connected:
- Your Adventure Leader will invite you to a WhatsApp group chat on Day 1 to keep in touch with you and the rest of your group.
- Maps.me: This is a great app for not getting lost! You can download it to your phone for free, and then save maps from cities in Indonesia prior to your trip starting – that way, you’ll be able to use these later without the need for internet connection.
- Download the taxi app GRAB or GO-JEK, Uber-like apps that you can use to book taxis online and pay in cash. They’re useful and safe, and can be used in most cities in Indonesia.
Food & Drink:
- There will be lots of great nights out on The Dragon Trip, but please remember to always drink within your limits. Never journey home by yourself at night and never leave another person in the group alone. It’s best not to don’t drink too much if you have an early morning journey/activity the next day. Always follow the legal drinking age limit, which is 21 in Indonesia.
- Drugs are illegal in Indonesia. If our guides see you committing any crime while traveling with us, they are obliged to report to Head Office and to the police, so please don’t put them in that position!
- The food is delicious throughout Indonesia and you won’t be able to get enough of it. Try anything and everything possible. Your Adventure Leader will be able to recommend all of the best spots.
Pack patience:
- You may meet many people from lots of different backgrounds and cultures on this trip. You may have different opinions or ways of doing things. Treat everyone how you wish to be treated and remember to work together as a group.
- Always try to arrive a couple of minutes early to check-outs or departure times. Being late may mean missing transport connections, and you don’t want to delay the whole group.
- Please bear in mind that Indonesia is still a developing country and it can be very different to your home country. Some systems or ways of doing things which you may take for granted back home aren’t necessarily the same here, so please be patient with The Dragon Trip and Indonesia as a whole, as sometimes things don’t run like they may back home, despite our best efforts.
Navigating a new culture:
- Be respectful of local culture, dress appropriately at temples and religious sites, be polite and kind.
- Agree on a price before getting in taxis or tuk-tuks.
- Please respect local dress and customs in Indonesia and bring modest clothing. It is suggested to dress more conservatively than you do at home, particularly on the first half of the tour.
In case of Emergencies
No matter where you are or what you do, safety always comes first. We conduct our own health and safety checks, but sometimes things happen that our out of our control.
Indonesian emergency services numbers are listed below:
- Police: 110
- Fire: 113
- Ambulance: 118
To contact our staff:
Email: mytrip@thedragontrip.com
24/7 emergency contact number: +65 3158 0233
Contact Us
Any questions or feedback?
Contact our London Team: info@thedragontrip.com
(Please note that this email is only monitored from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 17:30 (Friday 17:00) UK time. If you have any urgent issues, such as flight delays or last minute cancellations, please contact our Indonesia Ops Team.)
Contact our Indonesia team: mytrip@thedragontrip.com
To read our full terms & conditions, click here.