Crime

In most of the visited areas crime can be said to be lower than in most parts of Europe. Only at market places and airports you should take extra care of your luggage and other belongings (thieves).

Tipping

Tips are a personal matter. But in general, tour guides, drivers and all the helpers in the background are happy when they receive a little reward when doing a good job.

Beverages

Non-alcoholic drinks Including beers are available in Baliem Valley or Papua and in all restaurants. Further alcoholic drinks (whiskey etc) are strictly limited in Papua.  Therefore, if you like to enjoy the time with alcoholic drinks  we recommend you to buy from Bali or Jakarta before entering Papua.

Clothing

Light clothing is recommended, made for hot or tropical conditions. In Baliem Valley it can be quite cold in the evening. Here we recommend to also bring some warm clothes and a jacket.

Time Difference

Time difference from Europe is  +5 to Jakarta,  +6 to Bali,  and +7 Papua hours.

Luggage

Maximum weight on domestic flights is 20 kg. On the flights Jayapura – Wamena weight limit is 10 kg! Overweight needs to be paid. If you have too much, think of leaving unneeded things in your hotel in Jayapura and we are happy to save them in our office in Jayapura. All important belongings should always be carried in your hand luggage. Furthermore, it is recommended that you hand luggage contains a basic equipment in case your main luggage arrives with delay.

Currency, Cards, Cash

The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Most hotels and restaurants in Bali or Jakarta accept credit cards, but it’s always helpful to have some local currency to hand. On Bali or Jakarta there are plenty of ATM cash machines that service most foreign bank cards, most common are those servicing cards with the Cirrus and Maestro logos. but in Papua during you stay here we recommend you to always  hold Rupiah currency due to some hotels, restaurants does not accept foreign money or something like credit card.

You will need Indonesian Rupiah should you wish to purchase local handicrafts when visiting villages or markets during the trip in Papua.

Domestic Flights

It is not uncommon in Indonesia for domestic flights to be delayed, rescheduled or cancelled altogether! For this reason, we always recommend that you overnight in Bali, Jakarta, Medan or wherever you enter or leave from Indonesia, before taking your onward flight & do not try to catch an international flight the same day to Papua.

Domestic airlines typically impose a strict weight restriction of 20kg per person for checked luggage & 7kg max for carry-on luggage. Excess luggage is charged per kilo and is payable in Rupiah cash at the airport. Please note that excess luggage is not guaranteed to arrive at the same time as the passenger!

Insurance

It is recommended to arrange a Cancellation Insurance from home for your flights and to have good medical insurance, a baggage loss or damage insurance or combined travel insurance. Please check before your journey if your insurance is also valid in Asian countries. We strongly recommend having a travel insurance.

Vaccinations

Please get advice from your local medical center from home. For some parts of Indonesia malaria prophylactics are recommended as well as booster injections for intestinal diseases and hepatitis A and B. While in Indonesia or Papua we  ensure you will run no risk of “traveler’s diseases” as the food is prepared with a high degree of hygiene and all the drinking water comes from bottles or from trusted sources. Please ensure your medical insurance covers your vacation if needed.

For the highlands of Papua there is currently no compulsory vaccination. However, protection against hepatitis, polio and tetanus etc. is recommended. In the highlands there is no malaria danger. In the bigger cities of Jayapura and Timika there is a certain malaria risk. Here, it is recommended to protect oneself against mosquito bites with special sprays (Autan) and long sleeved clothes. For journeys to the lowland regions of Asmat and Koroway a malaria prophylaxis is absolutely essential. A recommendable anti-malaria tablet is Malarone, due to its low adverse effects. Please contact your doctor or check on the internet. If need be, also ask for your doctor’s advice on thrombosis and other health threats. During your journey you should not drink tab water. Also ice, unpeeled fruits and salads should only be eaten in better touristic locations. In general you should consume a lot of liquids. Sunglasses, hats and sunscreen protect against the sun and are strongly recommended.

Medication

Please bring all the medication you need or want to have with you from home in sufficient quantity. In Papua there exist some pharmacies but their stock is limited and special medication will probably not be available.

Physical requirements

The physical requirements are depending or where you want to go. Day tours in the Baliem Valley are done by car or easy walking. Because of the higher altitude some people might become tired quicker but there is never a need to rush and our experienced local guides will adjust the walking speed to your individual abilities. Expedition tours have a different level of difficulty. Please see the tour descriptions for details.