Indonesia

1. The Best Overall Time: May to September

This is the Dry Season for the majority of the archipelago (Bali, Java, Komodo, Lombok).

• Why for Photography: Clear blue skies, excellent visibility for volcanoes, and predictable light for “Golden Hour” shots.

• Peak Month: August is the driest month but also the busiest (and most expensive).

2. The “Sweet Spot” (Shoulder Season): May, June, and September

As a travel professional, this is what I recommend for your groups:

• Condition: The weather is dry, but the crowds are thinner than in July/August.

• Landscape: In May and June, the islands are still lush and green from the recent rains, but the sky is clear—perfect for rice terrace photos.

3. Best for Specific Regions (The Exceptions)

Indonesia is so large that some areas have different “best” times:

• Raja Ampat & Papua: October to April. This is the inverse of Bali. If your clients want world-class underwater photography or tribal festivals in Papua, go during the European winter.

• Sumatra: June and July. Sumatra is a rainforest and can rain anytime, but these months offer the best chance for dry trekking to see Orangutans.

🇮🇩 Visa Policy for Foreign Tourists Traveling to Indonesia (2025–2026 update)

Indonesia has a relatively flexible and tourist-friendly visa policy, especially for Asian travelers.

1. Visa-Free Entry

• Applicable to some ASEAN countries and selected nationalities
• Maximum stay: 30 days
• ❌ Not extendable
• Purpose: short-term tourism or family visits

2. Visa on Arrival (VoA / e-VoA) – Most Common Option

• Available for over 90 countries (including Vietnam in most tourism cases)
• Can be obtained at airports or applied online in advance (e-VoA)

Conditions:

• Stay duration: 30 days
• Can be extended once for another 30 days → maximum 60 days total
• Purpose: tourism, short business trips, or visiting relatives

Requirements:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Return or onward flight ticket

3. e-Visa (Online Application)

• Applied for online before departure
• Similar to VoA (e-VoA category)
• Visa is sent via email and shown upon arrival
• Processing time: usually a few days

4. Important Notes (2026)

• Travelers must complete the electronic Arrival Card (All Indonesia app) before arrival, usually within 72 hours
• Bali may charge a tourism levy (~150,000 IDR)
• Final entry approval is always decided by immigration officers upon arrival

Summary

• 🇻🇳 Vietnam passport holders: usually visa-free for 30 days
• 🌍 Most other tourists: Visa on Arrival or e-VoA (30–60 days)
• 💡 Short trips: VoA is the most popular option

You’ll then receive by email from Viet Expert travel for a VOA approval letter signed by Vietnamese immigration that you print out and show at the custom on arrival, where you pay for your visa stamping fees in cash and US$. The single-entry stamping fee is US$25/person, a multiple-entry stamping fee is US$50/person.

Note: A valid passport for at least six (6) months from the expiry date, 01 recent passport-sized photo required as well as stamping fees in USD cash (the immigration don’t accept any others currency as well as credit card)