Overview
Indonesia is a vast equatorial archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, running from Sumatra in the west to Papua in the east. For UK travellers it packs remarkable variety into one trip: the temples and volcanoes of Java, the beaches and rice terraces of Bali, the Komodo dragons of Flores and world-class diving off Sulawesi and Raja Ampat. There are no non-stop flights from the UK, so every journey involves one connection, but the route network is strong and healthy competition keeps cheap flights to Indonesia realistic with a little planning.
Best time to fly to Indonesia
Most of the country follows a dry season from around April to October and a wetter season from November to March. The dry months, especially May, June and September, bring the most reliable sunshine for Bali, Java and the Gili Islands, plus calmer seas for island-hopping and diving. July and August are the busiest and priciest, coinciding with UK school holidays and Australian visitors. Wet-season travel is still rewarding, as showers are often short and fall in the afternoon, and fares tend to soften. Check the When to book chart above to see how prices move across the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
The two arrival points most UK travellers use are Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) on Java and Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) near Denpasar. Surabaya (SUB), Yogyakarta (YIA), Lombok (LOP) and Medan (KNO) are useful secondary gateways, usually reached on a short domestic hop with Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air or Citilink after your international connection.
Airlines and routes
Because there are no direct flights from London to Indonesia, the quickest options route through a single hub. Popular one-stop choices include Singapore Airlines via Singapore, Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur, Emirates via Dubai, Qatar Airways via Doha, Etihad via Abu Dhabi, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul and KLM via Amsterdam. KLM connects several regional UK airports and flies onward to both Jakarta and Bali, while the Gulf carriers and Turkish Airlines pair well with departures from Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Popular places to visit in Indonesia
- Bali: Indonesia's best-known island, blending surf beaches, Ubud's rice terraces, Hindu temples and a lively spa and dining scene.
- Yogyakarta: Java's cultural heart and the base for sunrise visits to the Borobudur and Prambanan temple complexes.
- Komodo & Labuan Bajo: boat trips to see Komodo dragons, pink-sand beaches and superb reef diving in eastern Nusa Tenggara.
- Gili Islands & Lombok: car-free islands with turquoise water and turtles, alongside Lombok's quieter beaches and the Mount Rinjani trek.
- Jakarta: the energetic capital, handy for onward domestic flights, with museums, street food and the old Dutch quarter of Kota Tua.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Indonesia
- Set a fare alert early and be flexible by a day or two; midweek departures and the May, June and September shoulder usually beat July and August.
- Compare the one-stop hubs, as a connection through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha or Dubai can vary widely for the same dates.
- Consider an open-jaw ticket, flying into Jakarta and home from Bali, to avoid backtracking and sometimes cut the fare.
- Book domestic add-on flights with local carriers once your international legs are confirmed, and allow a generous connection time.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders can buy a 30-day visa on arrival, or arrange an e-VoA online beforehand, for a fee of roughly IDR 500,000; it can be extended once for a further 30 days, and your passport should have at least six months' validity. Bali also charges a separate international tourist levy. The currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR); cards are widely accepted in tourist areas, but carry cash for smaller towns and markets. To time your booking, use the price charts on this page and aim to lock in peak-season dates several months ahead.
