The island of Java has one of the most comprehensive railway networks in Southeast Asia. Trains cross the entire length of the island, so getting the train is the best way to see the highlights of Java. This Java railways guide features Java rail maps and articles about Java train travel. Links and tickets Railways […]
Java to Bali by train, ferry, and bus
A guide for how to travel overland from Java to Bali by train, ferry, and bus. Java and Bali are separated by the Bali Strait, and the islands are 2.4 km apart at the closest points. Ferries run continually between the two islands, so this is one of the easiest crossings when overlanding across Indonesia. […]
KA Probowangi: Train from Surabaya to Ketapang (for the Bali ferry)
KA Probowangi is a train service in East Java from Surabaya to Ketapang. The train connects the largest city in East Java to the ferry port for Bali. KA Probowangi departs Surabaya at 05:35 and arrives at Ketapang at 12:45, for a total travel time of 7h 10m. This is the best train service if […]
Bandung to Yogyakarta by train – one of the most scenic rail journeys in Southeast Asia
The train from Bandung to Yogyakarta is one of the most scenic rail journeys in Southeast Asia. I’ve been on most of the rail lines in Southeast Asia, so I feel confident making such a claim. In fact, I would say that this rail journey through West and Central Java should be more globally famous. […]
Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (Whoosh): A guide to the fastest train in Southeast Asia
A complete guide to Whoosh, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway. Station guides, buying tickets, what to expect onboard, and how to get to the stations. The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is the first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia, with a top travel speed of 350 km/h. After years of construction delays and cost blowouts, the railway officially […]
Singapore to Indonesia by ferry: A list of every port and ferry operator
A guide to every ferry service between Singapore and Indonesia, including how to connect to other ferry services in Indonesia. Singapore and Indonesia are close maritime neighbours separated by the Singapore Strait. The two countries are just over 5 km apart at their closest point, and the fastest ferry services take a little under an […]
Notes on Lake Toba: The paradise lake of North Sumatra
Lake Toba is a volcanic lake in North Sumatra, Indonesia. It’s the largest lake in Indonesia and the largest volcanic lake in the world. It should be more famous, yet somehow it gets few visitors. I first visited Lake Toba in 2009, and I ended up going back to spend a month there. The centre […]
Palembang to Lubuk Linggau by train in South Sumatra
Kertapati (Palembang) to Lubuk Linggau is one of the main passenger rail routes of South Sumatra. This is a review of train service KA Bukit Serelo from Palembang to Lubuk Linggau. I have previously been to Palembang to take the train from Palembang to Bandar Lampung. Like the Bandar Lampung service, the service to Lubuk […]
Where to stay in Vung Tau: Best Front Beach and Back Beach hotels
This guide on where to stay in Vung Tau lists the best hotels in the Front Beach and Back Beach areas of Vung Tau. Vung Tau is a coastal city in Southeast Vietnam. It’s the closest beach city to Ho Chi Minh City, so it sees many visitors on the weekend. While it’s not the […]
Gemas to JB Sentral: The last diesel Intercity service on Malaysia’s West Coast
Train ES 45 from Gemas to JB Sentral is the last remnant of the diesel railway service of the West Coast railway line of Malaysia. Malaysia has been gradually modernising the line from Padang Besar to Johor Bahru. Most of the line has been electrified and double tracked, and the new line is now used […]
