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Getting to Nias

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Both Wings air (Lion air) and Citilink (Garuda) fly from medan (Kualanamu International Airport) to Nias/Gunung Sitoli (Binaka airport)

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Lion air (wings air) is a bit cheaper and have about 5 flights per day but charge Rp200,000 per board.

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Citilink are generally a bit more expensive with less flights per day, but are more reliable and only charge Rp200,000 per board bag 

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Where possible id recommend going with Citilink as are just more reliable and more likely to be on time.

 

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Garuda in the past have also done 2 or 3 flights a week direct from Jakarta to Gunung Sitoli (Nias) currently  Oct 2022 these flights are not running but hopefully will return with craziness of Covid fading away.

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Please note unfortunately for some reason Lion Air don't do credit card transactions anymore, however this site is a good site to search and book and pay for fights in Indonesia https://www.traveloka.com/en/

 

We have used Traveloka with no problems have even cancelled flights and got refunded, you can also book hotels and even recharge Indonesian phone credit on the site.

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#PLEASE NOTE: Both airlines may refuse to take boards over a certain length, they dont stick to lengths between Medan-Nias listed on heir websites, but issues seem to arise once you get into the 7ft plus range, before Covid it was pretty much guaranteed, guns, malibu's, SUPS would be rejected, but it seems post Covid a lot of guys are having no issues even with board bags in he 8 ft range. (i still think it comes with a risk though)

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When you arrive at Nias/getting to Sorake or Teluk dalam

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Normally there will be guys with cars or vans wanting to take you to Sorake the price to charter a car is Rp400,000 to Rp600,000 (depending on your bargaining skills)

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Or if you let Mick know he can get Andreas to organise a car & driver to pick you up from the airport we use Armin Travel (Price normally Rp600,000) he has so far been very reliable.

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The trip from the airport to Sorake generally takes about 3 hours or about 2.5 hours to Teluk Dalam where the ferry departs. (a little faster if road conditions good, longer if wet or an accident)

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Ferries to the Telos:

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Ferries go from Teluk dalam about 20 minutes from the point at Nias (Sorake/Langundri)

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We generally use the fast ferry service that takes 2 hrs instead of 6 hrs plus on slow ferry.

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Fast ferry:Goes from small harbour in town at Teluk dalam, you need to get there early at least an hour early as it can sell out, buy tickets on the day from shed at harbour.

 

Price is about Rp175,000 per person, cost of boards depend on size and weight

But generally about Rp200,00 to 300,000 depending on amount and size of board bag

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Slow ferry: Only recommend as a back up service, but its more reliable than fast ferry.

 

Cost is about Rp100,000 for ticket and boards extra.

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You can often pay extra and get a captains cabin with 4 bunks and A/C.

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Slow ferry goes from the south end of the bay at Teluk Dalam, just outside of town at what locals call the new harbour.

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All times are fast ferry unless noted otherwise and please note at times they may go off schedule and depart early generally or later.

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Slow ferry schedule is not listed as has been changing every few weeks, it generally goes on same days departing at 9:00am

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Monday: 11:00am Teluk Dalam to Tello 

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Tuesday: 8:00am Tello to Teluk Dalam 

                

Wednesday: 11:00am Teluk Dalam to Tello 

                       
Thursday: 8:00am Tello to Teluk Dalam 

                 

Friday: 3:00pm Teluk dalam to Tello 

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Saturday: Fast ferry goes to South Telos and back

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Sunday: 3:00pm Tello to Teluk Dalam

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

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In 2022 a new fast ferry company got the contract for Nias-Tello-Nias service and sadly has not been anywhere as reliable as the previous operator (and boat half the size)

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As of mid 2022 the fast ferry has sometimes not been running to schedule or just not going, hence what i recommend you do at Nias end is go to fast ferry early say 9:00 and see if they are selling tickets and running, if they are great, but if not best to take slow ferry from other harbour instead that goes a 10:00

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At Tello end its a bit easier as if fast ferry doesn't go at 8:00 the slow ferry goes at 10:00, Andreas can also ring captain of either boat to get updates on latest information.  

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Please Also note: if staying at The Point Nias/Sorake take the information you get from locals about ferries especially losmen owners with a grain of salt, many either don't know the schedule or lie about the ferry info because basically they don't want you to go elsewhere as they lose business.

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Chartering speed boat: We now also have the option of chartering a large speed boat from Tello, it can take 8 or more people plus gear and be chartered either way, however it isn't cheap at Rp9,000,000 (9 million rupiahs) but a good back up option.

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Other related info:

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There is currently no fast ferry to or from Padang anymore, and no ferry that runs to a schedule that goes to Padang.

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Flights to Telos:

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The Telos does have a small airport and Susi Air do run flights about twice a week however they DO NOT allow surfboards due to baggage restrictions (cargo hold not big enough), most of the upper market resorts charter private flights to get their guest in, which cost them thousands of dollars (hence part of the reason why the Telo resorts/surf camps are so expensive).

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Even without a surfboard flights are often hard to get as can't be bought online.