Entering Indonesia via your own Boat

For those planning on coming to Indonesia it is crucial you understand the Visa’s for both you and your boat. 

Most sailors enter on a B211A single entry Visa for maximum stay of 60 days which can be extended twice for a maximum of 60 days a time, until a maximum stay of 180 days is reached. Purpose for applying for this visa is Tourism. On or before your 180 expires you must leave the country and then return on another B211A. B211A is a single entry visa, so if you need to leave Indonesia at any time during that 180 days you need to apply for a new B211A visa. There are other visas available if you wish to stay longer, but this is the most commonly used and cheapest option.

Most cruisers only take advantage of the one B211A single entry visa, only staying a maximum of 180 days or less before checking out and sailing onto Malaysia. For those like us who wish to stay longer in Indonesia you need to plan well. Why? 

You will need to find safe harbour for leaving your boat for the time you are out of the country doing as cruisers call a “visa run”. You will also need to budget for flights, accomodation, visa costs and agent fees. There are not a lot of areas you can leave your boat unattended, like marinas. This needs to be taken into consideration with your cruising plans, you don’t want to find yourself in a remote area where you can’t leave the boat and there are no airports.

Regarding Your Boat's Stay in Indonesia

Contrary to common belief, your boat doesn't have to leave the country after 180 days. Upon arrival, it receives a cruising permit valid for three years. However, exceeding this period incurs a fine or requires importation with duty and tax payments, like in other countries.

We found many cruisers arriving in Indonesia weren't aware of the visa implications, leading to avoidable stress during their journey. Visas are essential wherever you sail; understanding the right visa for your voyage is key.

We've created an Interactive EBook Guide containing all the necessary links for filling out online forms and downloading templates for crew lists, cruising routes, and other required documents. If you're planning a voyage to Indonesia, consider downloading it to assist with the official procedures you'll encounter. Indonesia is a captivating country with 17,000 islands that offer a rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and people to explore. As the world's largest archipelagic state and the 14th-largest country by area, spanning 1,904,569 square kilometers (735,358 square miles), Indonesia offers endless opportunities for discovery and adventure.

Thank you for reading to the end of this blog. Through our Social Media, YouTube, Blog and Books, our goal is to provide valuable insights to help future sailors prepare effectively for their journey. If you are heading into Indonesia you maybe interested in 2 of our other interactive Ebooks we have written. 

Follow in Our Wake - Indonesia Part 1 an interactive guide for anchorages, tracks, destinations and more.

Indonesia Awaits which is a guide to help with the officialdom of entering Indonesia

Ready to Set Sail which is a guide to help with the officialdom of leaving Australia

These books along with others can be found on Our Book Shelf

Please check out our Social Media on Instagram Facebook and of course our fortnightly episodes on YouTube Cheers R&K

Thank you to all who support us through watching our videos, reading our blogs or who step up and support us though Patreon and Ko-Fi. You inspire us everyday to be creative 🙌

You can help us out and support our creative work for FREE. 

By watching, 👍, 🔔, Subscribing, Commenting and best of all Sharing this video or blog with your friends 

If you would like to make a donation towards our creative work, or become a regular subscriber to Our Virtual Crew you can by heading over to Ko-Fi they take no fees so the support goes directly into helping us buy and upgrade equipment. You get behind the scenes updates, 

Patreon only photos and posts, you can watch our 

episodes ad free and before they go public … you get it first!

Do you want more? 

Patreon gives you that … you get behind the scenes updates, 

Patreon only photos and posts, you can watch our 

episodes ad free and before they go public … you get it first!

Artisanal Salts made the traditional way in Amed Bali

Who knew some of the best flavoured salt existed in Bali

During our time in Amed, we enjoyed the typical tourist activities like relaxing by resort pools, visiting bars, and dining in restaurants. However, each morning aboard Our Dreamtime, as we sipped our first coffee of the day and watched the sunrise, we noticed men carrying two large buckets back and forth from the sea into the village. This peculiar sight piqued our curiosity. We wondered if they were using it for concrete production or perhaps had an aquaculture farm. Intrigued, we decided to follow one of the men with the buckets to uncover the mystery. What we discovered was truly captivating.

This is back breaking work

With a growing emphasis on food preparation, cooks in both household kitchens and the culinary industry are giving significant consideration to a crucial seasoning element. Whether it's table salt, sea salt, or the elaborate Himalayan salt, this essential ingredient, which can either elevate or spoil a dish, is receiving increased attention and recognition.

Indonesia's extensive coastline may seem ironic as it mostly imports salt. However, in recent years, with a growing emphasis on local sourcing and production, salt harvested from the shores of Amed has gained popularity in both home and restaurant kitchens. While I have a variety of salts in Our Galley, I was surprised to discover that the process of making artisian salt is more complex and time-consuming than I had imagined. It takes between 8-10 days to transform seawater into salt and the process is labor-intensive. This newfound knowledge will make me appreciate each sprinkle of salt on my food in the future.

Removing the excess minerals

Despite a decrease in the number of traditional sea salt home industries in Bali's Amed area, some farmers have stepped up their production to deliver high-quality salt to their dedicated customers. Nyoman Madiyasa is one of the few remaining Balinese salt farmers, still active in his 70s. He cultivates his salt farm in the northeastern part of the island, using the ancient solar evaporation method. This technique, the oldest in the trade, requires more than just exposing seawater to sunlight. Salt producers must also eliminate metal impurities and retain the salt's natural minerals to ensure quality.

Amed Salt, is renowned for its superior quality and pure natural flavour and has been a staple in the Amed community for centuries. Dating back to 1578 BC, Amed Salt has been the official salt supplier to the Kings of the Karangasem Kingdom. Today, the traditional handcrafted methods of salt production in Amed are valued, safeguarded, and acknowledged as Geographical Indications in Indonesia and Europe. Amed sea salt is on par with the esteemed French Guérande salt, both holding the international Geographical Indication certification, which signifies the excellence, origins and natural processing methods of the product.

At $84 AUS it must be good right?

Mardiyasa and fellow salt farmers typically begin their day early to prepare filtered seawater for drying later in the afternoon. Each farmer walks about 7.5km daily, with half of that distance covered while carrying two buckets filled with seawater for salt harvesting.

The sandy soil found in the beaches, known as tanah sari, is where Amed Salt is created. This soil contains clay that naturally absorbs salt minerals from the seawater, eliminating the need for salt makers to construct salting ponds. Instead, the drying and crystallization processes only require drying trays crafted from coconut tree trunks. This method is well-suited for salt production in Amed, an area with limited coastal space but abundant coconut and palm trees. The exceptional quality of Amed Salt is deeply connected to the traditional technique passed down through generations.

In the past, Amed's beaches and other villages were filled with these salt production structures, which have now been replaced by modest boutique resorts. Many local families have moved away from the arduous and low-paying salt-making profession. Today, only a few small communities, particularly in Amed village and Jemeluk, continue to produce salt. On these beaches, you can witness vast open spaces with rows of wooden trays filled with evaporating seawater transforming into salt, alongside peculiar large conical structures, all set against the majestic backdrop of Mt. Agung, Bali's revered mountain.

Established formally in 2015, the Bali Amed Salt producers association, comprises of no more than 20 local salt artisan families who are active members. Within the 20 members, only two farmers have their own fields for cultivation. Mardiyasa mentioned that a decade ago, salt farms in his village extended over 3 kilometers along the coast, but now only 1 km remains. He expressed his hope for the survival of their salt-making tradition and urged against converting the salt farms into hotels. Despite the declining number of families continuing the tradition. A walk along the beach reveals these salt farm outsiders find the sight of rows of wooden trays along the beach quite intriguing. This traditional process is certainly tourism worthy with so much history to tell.

Bali Amed Salt crystals crumbles easily in the mouth and provides a salty taste that is easily lost without excessive bitterness. Some reviews suggested it tastes “umami” and it does not have the bitter after-taste as the more common salt. The Association is working on developing new product ranges with experts and investors and as well as increasing its annual production volume. Currently Bali Amed Salt is available in two types: regular sea salt crumbs and salt flower.

The farmers sell the salt to distributors at Rp 8,000 to 10,000 (0.80 - $1 AUS) per kilogram. Where a 400grm jar of Amed salt will set you back $8.50 AUS in a retail outlet.

Children sell the salt to tourists as they walk on by

The salt farms are along the beach front to the east

It is a contuous job of moving the troughs to ensure the sea water is evaporating evenly

It's hot work

Much cheaper than the French counterpart, but I feel the
farmers aren't getting a fair slice of the profit. 
Let us know you thoughts below in comments.
You can purchase your jar of Amed, Bali Salt from East Java & Co

Thank you for reading to the end of this blog. Through our Social Media, YouTube, Blog and Books, our goal is to provide valuable insights to help future sailors prepare effectively for their journey. If you are heading into Indonesia you maybe interested in 3 of our other interactive Ebooks we have written. 

Follow in Our Wake - Indonesia Part 1 an interactive guide for anchorages, tracks, destinations and more.

Indonesia Awaits which is a guide to help with the officialdom of entering Indonesia

Ready to Set Sail which is a guide to help with the officialdom of leaving Australia

These books along with others can be found on Our Book Shelf

Please check out our Social Media on Instagram Facebook and of course our fortnightly episodes on YouTube Cheers R&K

Thank you to all who support us through watching our videos, reading our blogs or who step up and support us though Patreon and Ko-Fi. You inspire us everyday to be creative 🙌

You can help us out and support our creative work for FREE. 

By watching, 👍, 🔔, Subscribing, Commenting and best of all Sharing this video or blog with your friends 

If you would like to make a donation towards our creative work, or become a regular subscriber to Our Virtual Crew you can by heading over to Ko-Fi they take no fees so the support goes directly into helping us buy and upgrade equipment. You get behind the scenes updates, 

Patreon only photos and posts, you can watch our 

episodes ad free and before they go public … you get it first!

Do you want more? 

Patreon gives you that … you get behind the scenes updates, 

Patreon only photos and posts, you can watch our 

episodes ad free and before they go public … you get it first!

Our approach to planning our sailing routes differs from the norm.

During our journey through Indonesia, we aimed to explore lesser-known sailing routes, venturing into culturally diverse areas rarely visited by tourists. Our goal was to delve deeper into Indonesia's essence beyond the typical sailing path. Our last journey through Indonesia was in 2011 where we did 3578.5 nautical miles in 120 days. This time around we are well over the 5000 nautical miles in 12 months. Yes it means we have moved slower immersing, ourselves in the destinations we have visited.

Our approach to planning sailing routes differs from the norm. Instead of relying solely on a Pilot Guide, we base our plans on what fascinates us and what we desire to discover and encounter. We draw inspiration from various adventure travel experiences, not just sailing adventures, as we consider ourselves travelers who traverse vast oceans.

After using the Indonesian map, we began marking out intriguing locations that captured our interest, whether due to geography, culture, or sheer beauty. Connecting these areas, we considered weather patterns, currents, and distances. This process revealed a plan for navigating different regions of Indonesia's vast archipelago comprising 17,000 islands.

Following extensive research, we realized we would be venturing alone with limited cruising information for the areas we wished to explore. While this didn't deter us, we understood the need to acquire new skills. One crucial skill we focused on was interpreting satellite images to locate safe anchorages for our floating home.

For those considering sailing in Indonesia, we can attest that this destination ranks among the finest cruising grounds globally. Here, you'll find a diverse array of landscapes, from reef systems and lagoons to tropical islands with white, pink, and black sand, volcanoes, lush jungles, rich history dating back centuries, and unique flora and fauna. The experience is truly remarkable.

If you are considering heading in this direction, our initial recommendation is to research the specific locations and attractions you wish to explore. With over 17,000 islands spread across a sea area of more than 5.8 million square kilometers, understanding the weather patterns is crucial for planning your sailing voyage. The equatorial region presents its own set of challenges, with strong currents flowing swiftly around islands, creating unique effects and navigation complexities. It becomes evident that meticulous planning is key.

In our latest EBook Guide Part 1 - "Follow in Our Wake Indonesia," we have taken on the responsibility of easing your journey. Drawing from our passion for travel and exploration, we have curated a guide to help you discover incredible destinations while navigating the Indonesian waters.

Part 1 of the guide leads you through the Maluku Islands, an archipelago located in the eastern region of Indonesia. These remote islands, often overlooked, boast tranquil white sandy beaches, charming villages, and rich history. The mountainous islands are cloaked in lush evergreen forests that meet the pristine sandy shores and turquoise waters. Some of these picturesque destinations might even remind you of the beauty of Tahiti.

We then travel south to Indonesia's Coral Triangle, known for its vast coral reefs that are the most extensive in Southeast Asia. Indonesia, being the largest archipelagic state globally, is situated right in the heart of the Coral Triangle, which boasts the highest diversity of fish and coral worldwide.

After exploring the stunning underwater beauty, it's time to encounter the world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon, in the breathtaking landscapes of Komodo National Park in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. This destination offers a myriad of activities, from marveling at magnificent coral reefs to encountering manta rays, turtles, and hunting for the picturesque pink beaches.

Continuing our journey westward, we arrive at Sumbawa, known for hosting the largest volcanic eruption recorded in history. Often overlooked as travelers head to Lombok, Sumbawa awaits exploration, offering unique experiences like swimming in a volcano and encountering Whale Sharks.

Our next stop is the enchanting island of Lombok, which has often lived in Bali's shadow. In reality, Lombok provides similar if not more attractions than Bali but with fewer tourists. While it may seem like we are on the common sailing route, we unveil hidden gems in this well-traveled region that many have yet to discover.

From here, our journey takes us to Bali before returning to Lombok after indulging in a festival and experiencing the finest snorkeling in Indonesia. Back in Lombok, we cherish the most serene moments while exploring the Gili Islands. When you think of 'The Gilis,' the immediate images that come to mind are the well-known trio - Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air. These islands have gained popularity as snorkeling havens, party destinations, and relaxation spots, providing a tranquil escape from the bustling Bali. However, there are more Gilis than meets the eye, with a total of 26 islands near Lombok for us to explore while waiting for the weather to shift to the NW Monsoon.

When the NW Monsoon season arrives, we seize the opportunity to venture east and then north, making stops at idyllic tropical islands along the way, immersing ourselves in their unique communities and seclusion. Our ultimate destination as we head north is Sulawesi.

As one of the four Greater Sunda Islands and the 11th largest island globally, Sulawesi lies to the east of Borneo and to the west of the Maluku Islands. Sulawesi offers a realm of marvels, from Togian to Tana Toraja, leaving visitors in awe. Our purpose here is to embrace every adventure Sulawesi has to offer. While not part of the typical tourist route or even the usual cruising paths, Sulawesi is gradually being discovered by bold travelers. Here, we delve into cultures with unique death rituals, witness breathtaking natural wonders, interact with the Bajau people, swim among tens of thousands of jellyfish in a lake discovered only in 2023, marvel at prehistoric art in remarkably preserved conditions, and bask in the pristine beauty of its rainforests.

From Sulawesi, we believed that nothing could surpass what we had seen, but Borneo proves to be another gem in Indonesia’s collection that deserves recognition. For those seeking an unconventional travel experience or remote jungle paths, Kalimantan is the perfect destination – a larger, more untamed, and less touristy part of Indonesia. Borneo Island is home to the Dayak tribes and dense rainforests housing some of the world's most diverse flora and fauna. The Indonesian section of Borneo is known as “Kalimantan” and encompasses about two-thirds of the island. While navigating the extensive river systems by boat can be challenging (yet achievable), you'll encounter regions like the Orangutan in the Jungle of Tanjung Puting National Park. We only traverse the southern coast in Part 1. But it gives us a taste of what we will be discovering on our return for the rest of the voyage around Borneo.

Having spent over twelve months sailing in Indonesia, we realize our time here is drawing to a close (Part 1), but we must sail to Malaysia due to specific reasons. The stops we make along this final stretch are equally rewarding, filled with many new experiences and discoveries.

If you are looking to venture this way our EBook Guide is another resource that can assist you in navigating your way around Indonesia especially areas not listed in the traditional Pilot Guides. 

A recent reviews of the EBook said this ⬇️

“Just had a fabulous 3 days in wanci wanci.  Thanks for all your information.  Departed this morning for Taka Bonerate.”

“Having spent the last 5 weeks in Indonesia, I totally agree with what you have written. Having purchased a copy of your guide it is nothing short of exceptional in its detail, information and a vital source to any boat cruising through Indonesia!”

It’s not just for the sailor to navigate with interactive tracks, GPX Downloadable File, anchor coordinates and navigation hazards noted. It’s also written with the traveller in mind, what there is to see and do, what tours we did, who was the best guide, where to find the markets, supermarkets and petrol station, where we had a great meal, how much things cost. 

The EBook Guide works best with the links provided to detailed Blogs and YouTube episodes on the areas we visited. This total package gives you firsthand knowledge of what we were experiencing in the region with weather conditions, current runs, anchorage options, aerial photos and Google earth imagery of our tracks into anchorages. 

So head on over to Our Book Shelf and take a look at Part 1 - Follow in Our Wake Indonesia and start planing your exciting route through Indonesia. We promise you will love Indonesia.

Thank you for reading to the end of this blog. Through our social media, YouTube, Blog and Books, our goal is to provide valuable insights to help future sailors prepare effectively for their journey. If you are heading into Indonesia you maybe further interested in 2 of our other interactive Ebooks we have written. 

Indonesia Awaits which is a guide to help with the officialdom of entering Indonesia

Ready to Set Sail which is a guide to help with the officialdom of leaving Australia

These books along with others can be found on Our Book Shelf

Please check out our Social Media on Instagram Facebook and of course our fortnightly episodes on YouTube Cheers R&K

Thank you to all who support us through watching our videos, reading our blogs or who step up and support us though Patreon and Ko-Fi. You inspire us everyday to be creative 🙌

You can help us out and support our creative work for FREE. 

By watching, 👍, 🔔, Subscribing, Commenting and best of all Sharing this video or blog with your friends 

If you would like to make a donation towards our creative work, or become a regular subscriber to Our Virtual Crew you can by heading over to Ko-Fi they take no fees so the support goes directly into helping us buy and upgrade equipment. You get behind the scenes updates, 

Patreon only photos and posts, you can watch our 

episodes ad free and before they go public … you get it first!

Do you want more? 

Patreon gives you that … you get behind the scenes updates, 

Patreon only photos and posts, you can watch our 

episodes ad free and before they go public … you get it first!