A guide to the Soekarno–Hatta Line – the Jakarta airport train. Travel information, tickets, and which stations are best for visitors. The Soekarno–Hatta Airport Commuter Line (formerly the Soekarno–Hatta Airport Rail Link) is the airport railway connecting Soekarno–Hatta International Airport to Central Jakarta. The Soekarno–Hatta Line was built with the combination of a new railway […]
Southeast Asia train travel guide
A guide to train travel Southeast Asia, featuring resources for buying tickets and reviews of rail travel in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia railways index Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Southeast Asia train travel resources Southeast Asia train travel FAQs Future Southeast Asia railways Cambodia Railway Operator: Royal Railway. Buy Cambodia train […]
Notes on Siantar: things to do while waiting for the train in North Sumatra
Pematangsiantar (also known as Siantar) is city in North Sumatra Province of Indonesia, and it’s the second-largest city in North Sumatra after Medan. Siantar not a city on the tourist trail, but I ended up here on the way back from Lake Toba to Medan. There is a train from Siantar to Medan, and I […]
Makassar–Parepare railway: the first section of the Trans-Sulawesi railway
The Makassar–Parepare railway is a railway line in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. This railway will eventually form part of the Trans-Sulawesi Railway from Makassar to Manado, and other lines are planned around the island. This guide is for the Makassar–Parepare railway, including maps, tickets, timetables, and what to expect onboard. Makassar–Parepare railway The first stage of […]
Yogyakarta International Airport Rail Link
Yogyakarta International Airport Rail Link is the airport rail service connecting Yogyakarta to Yogyakarta International Airport. Yogyakarta International Airport (IYIA) opened in 2019, replacing Adisutjipto Airport as the main airport of Yogyakarta. The new airport is about 45 km from Yogyakarta, but it’s near the main railway that runs near the southern coastline of Central […]
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. […]
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 […]
