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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Pulau Ai
Spend a half‑day snorkeling or visiting Fort Revengie, stay one night in a homestay – 1 day is enough.
Pulau Ai is a tiny island in the Banda group with one village, nutmeg plantations and excellent snorkeling. Boat service to Banda Neira runs once daily, so a single overnight stay covers the main activities.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (rainy)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp120,000–180,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp180,000–250,000 excl. bed · High Rp250,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal (included in homestay) | Rp30,000–40,000 |
| Snorkel gear rental | Rp20,000–30,000 per set |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BXD · Banda Airport (Banda Neira)
- ≈ 30 min boat from Pulau Ai
Typical fares
- Boat Ai → Banda Neira (round‑trip)
- ≈ Rp50,000–80,000 per person (check)
- Motorbike hire (half‑day)
- ≈ Rp30,000–50,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk around the village or hire a motorbike from locals; rides are informal and cheap.
See and do
Known for
- Fort Revengie (VOC fort)
- Snorkelling and scuba diving
- Nutmeg and kenari almond plantations
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pulau Run | Charter boat from Ai, schedule varies | ≈2 h round‑trip |
| Banda Neira | Daily public boat, early morning departure | ≈30 min each way |
Sleep
- Green Peace Homestay
- Rp150,000/night, includes 3 meals, private bathroom, sea‑front, snorkel gear rental
- Green Coconut Guest House
- Rp200,000/night, basic rooms, sea‑front
- Ardy Guesthouse
- Village location, basic rooms, price not listed
- CDS Bungalow
- Higher‑end option, price not listed
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Selamat pagisuh-lah-maht pah-gee |
| How much? | Berapa harganya?buh-rah-pah har-gah-nyah |
| Where is the boat? | Di mana perahu?dee mah-nah peh-rah-hoo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- Only one early‑morning boat to Banda Neira and a return around 11:00‑12:00; plan tightly.
- No reliable internet or mobile data as of 2016 (check for 2025 updates).
- No alcohol sales on the island.
Generally safe for tourists; watch for strong currents when snorkeling and keep valuables secure on the boat.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pulau Ai yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fort Revengie (VOC fort)
- Snorkelling and scuba diving
- Nutmeg and kenari almond plantations
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Local tourism office, Banda Islands: banda-islands.go.id/en/
- Wikivoyage: Pulau Ai, revision 5195783 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5195783
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/pulau-ai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.