Garuda Indonesia has launched new routes connecting Denpasar-Balikpapan (Kalimantan) and Balikpapan-Makassar (Sulawesi), with flights operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This initiative aligns with the airline’s mission to support the development of Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara (IKN), and to attract more domestic tourists to Bali.
Nusantara is a rapidly developing city, while Balikpapan boasts rich cultural heritage and abundant opportunities to explore the wonders of Kalimantan’s wildlife. From the bustling Inpres Kebun Sayur Market to the Graha Indah Mangrove Center, Balikpapan offers a unique travel experience.
For tourists looking to explore Indonesia’s major cities without visiting Jakarta, Balikpapan is an authentic and appealing alternative.
For nature enthusiasts, Wonderful Indonesia, the National Tourism Board, recommends a day trip to the Wehea River Protected Forest.
This sanctuary is home to endangered species like sun bears, orangutans, and proboscis monkeys. Popular beaches in the area include Kamala Beach and Manggar Segara Sari Beach. Travelers should note that provinces outside Bali are often more conservative, and modest clothing is expected even on the beaches.
The addition of new domestic routes is expected to reduce ticket prices within Indonesia in the coming months.
Starting December 6, 2024, Lion Air will operate flights from Denpasar to Medan (Sumatra) every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. This new route offers convenient connections to destinations in Nusa Tenggara and Australia, including Lombok, Bima, Sumbawa, Labuan Bajo, Kupang, Waingapu, Tambolaka, Makassar, and Australian cities like Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
As of November 20, Citilink has introduced a new route from Jakarta (Halim Airport) to Way Kanan (Lampung, Sumatra), with flights operating twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Batik Air has launched daily flights between Bengkulu (BKS) and Jakarta (CGK) as of November 2024. Additionally, the airline now offers direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to four Indonesian destinations: Lombok, Surabaya (East Java), Padang (Sumatra), and Pekanbaru (Riau).
With these new routes, domestic and international travelers have even more options to explore Indonesia’s diverse destinations.
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