Major city · Indonesia
Bontang
Spend a half‑day in Bontang to see the Tanjung Limau fishing village and Kutai National Park; otherwise skip.
Bontang is a small industrial city on East Kalimantan’s coast, best visited for its fishing village and nearby rainforest park. One morning is enough unless you plan a longer nature trek.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IDR
- Best months
- May–Oct
- avoid Nov–Apr (wet season)
- Airport
- BPN
- Nights
- 0–1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Indonesia ↗Buy the visa on arrival or e-visa only on the official Immigration portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Indonesia ↗Complete the All Indonesia digital arrival and customs form before landing; it is free.
- Indonesia ↗Foreign visitors to Bali pay a one-off tourist levy; keep the payment proof on your phone.
- Indonesia ↗Riding a motorbike needs a valid licence that covers motorbikes (an international permit alongside your own) and a helmet; check your insurance covers it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Bontang110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bontang, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.Indonesia-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckTelkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.Indonesia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.Indonesia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.Indonesia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Indonesia-wide
- SafetyBontang is a working industrial and port city, not a tourist town: expect heavy truck traffic on the coastal road…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.Indonesia-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 118 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysBali shuts completely for Nyepi; government offices close Friday midday for prayer; Lebaran slows the country for two weeks.Indonesia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckBPN Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport, Balikpapan (About 2–3 h by road to Bontang; no scheduled flights to Bontang itself — check.).
- Getting aroundNo useful local public transport: use a rented car with driver or ojek (motorbike taxi) for the Tanjung Limau fish market and the road toward Kutai…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealNoodle or rice meal at a warungRp15,000–35,000
- Museum or sight ticketKutai National Park entrycheckRp10,000–15,000
- Budget bedLocal losmen or guesthouse room, a night, per roomRp200,000
- Mid-range bedLocal losmen or guesthouse room, a night, per roomRp350,000
- High-end bedLocal losmen or guesthouse room, a night, per roomRp600,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget Rp150,000 · Mid Rp250,000 · High Rp400,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BPN Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport, Balikpapan (About 2–3 h by road to Bontang; no scheduled flights to Bontang itself — check.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Mar
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Apr
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jun
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Mar (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C) low), wettest Dec (19 rain days), driest Jul (11). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bontang: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
18 rd
Feb
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
Mar
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
May
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
15 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
19 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No useful local public transport: use a rented car with driver or ojek (motorbike taxi) for the Tanjung Limau fish market and the road toward Kutai National Park. Buses run between Samarinda and Bontang; a car from Balikpapan takes about 2–3 h on the coastal road.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 2–3 h
Bus or rented car on the coastal road
Provincial capital with markets and river life; pairs with Bontang in one loop.
Kutai National Park
cautionDoor to door: About 1–2 h from Bontang
Rented car toward Sangkulirang, then local guide
Lowland rainforest; access and guides need arranging in advance — check locally.
Door to door: Most of a day
Road or flight to Berau, then boat
Not a day trip: sleep on the islands.
Door to door: About 2–3 h
Bus or rented car on the coastal road
Airport city; useful as the arrival and departure point.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Bontang town centre
Small local hotels and guesthouses near the port and market; book ahead, English is limited.
Balikpapan
The nearest city with a full range of hotels and the closest airport; workable as a base for a Bontang day trip.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Rp150,000–250,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- Rp250,000–400,000 excl. bed
- High
- Rp400,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Local losmen or guesthouse room1 × 1 night × Rp200,000 | Rp200,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × Rp150,000 | Rp300,000 |
| Bus Samarinda ↔ Bontang, both ways2 × Rp60,000 · About Rp30,000 each way; check the schedule. | Rp120,000 |
| Car with driver, one day1 × Rp700,000 · check | Rp700,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × Rp150,000 | Rp300,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | Rp162,000 |
| Trip total≈ Rp891,000 per person per day, bed included | Rp1,782,000≈ US$110 |
2026 estimate in rupiah; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Fresh fish at Tanjung Limau market | Rp15,000–30,000 per kilo |
| Noodle or rice meal at a warung | Rp15,000–35,000 |
| Bottled water, 600 ml | Rp4,000–8,000 |
| Ojek ride across towncheck | Rp15,000–30,000 |
| Kutai National Park entrycheck | Rp10,000–15,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Roads can be busy with industrial traffic; drive cautiously.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 118
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BontangBontang
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
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Ke alamat ini, tolongTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Ambulance118
- General emergency112
Embassy
No embassies in Bontang; the US has a consulate in Surabaya and most countries keep embassies in Jakarta — check before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Samarinda → Bontang bus: about Rp30,000 per person, 2–3 h (check)
- Car with driver, one day: about Rp700,000 (check)
- Ojek across town: Rp15,000–30,000 (check)
Say or show
- Maaf — Excuse me / Sorry (ma-ahf)
- Terima kasih — Thank you (tuh-ree-mah kah-see)
- Berapa harganya? — How much is it? (buh-rah-pah har-gah-nyah)
- Di mana pasar ikan? — Where is the fish market? (dee mah-nah pah-sar ee-kan)
- Saya perlu mobil dengan sopir — I need a car with a driver (sah-yah pur-loo mo-bil duh-ngan so-peer)
- Apakah jauh? — Is it far? (ah-pah-kah jow)
Cash is king outside hotels; carry small notes.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bontang. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct · avoid Nov–Apr (wet season) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 1 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Bus from Samarinda → Bontang (check schedule)
- Car rental from Balikpapan → Bontang (check road conditions)
- Stay in Balikpapan, visit Bontang morning, return same day
Sources
Ask about Bontang
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