Bandar Lampung Hotels

The fact that Sumatra is three and half times the size of Java but has almost 90 million people less is significant. Sumatra is relatively wild and unfettered in comparison to the island of Jakarta and Borobudur and, needless to say, a world apart resort mecca Bali. The capital of the province of Lampung is a convenient gateway to this island of splendour and mystery.

Much closer to Jakarta than, say, Banda Aceh, Bandar Lampung is the fourth most populous city in Sumatra. The provincial capital resides just over the Sunda Strait from Java and the vast national capital of Indonesia. Though the city is not much more than a mere stopover and, truthfully, quite devoid of any viable attractions of interest, a few beaches do dot the coast. Ultimately, however, Bandar Lampung is a springboard to Sumatra’s constellation of star landmarks, such as Lake Toba, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Siberut National Park.

WHEN TO GO

While Bandar Lampung has a similar climate to Jakarta, the city is far from the Special Capital Territory in the realm of urban sprawl and human crush. As a result, expect slightly cooler weather in the Lampung capital.

The tropical monsoon seasons of south Sumatra bring heavy rain from November to May, particularly in January and February, and relatively dry conditions from June to October. Temperatures hold steady, often cruelly so, between 76°F (24°C) and 92°F (34°C) for the year.

GETTING AROUND

Tiny Radin Inten II Airport serves as a mini-hub of sorts for Bandar Lampung, with regular flights to and from Jakarta, Batam, Bandung and Palembang.

A bus ride from Jakarta to Bandar Lampung takes approximately seven hours. Scores of ferry and boat operators navigate the waters of the Sunda Strait between Sumatra and Java.