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FAST FERRY

SLOW FERRY

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To get to the Telos you must come via Nias.

 

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) have about 5 flights per day but charge Rp1,000,000 per board(not board bag) the ridiculous price increase was upped as of 12th May 2024

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Citilink currently only have one flight per day, but are more reliable and only charge Rp200,000 per board bag (weight dependent)

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If travelling with boards over 7,0 id go with Wings as Citilink can reject longer boards.

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In regard to boards to ensure things go as smoothly as possible I recommend.

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  1. Checking in as early as possible as soon as the check in counter opens.

  2. Keep boards to a minimum, you have much more chance of getting two boards in with a slim type board bag than four boards in a coffin type board bag.

  3. Keep board weight as low as possible, dont add in other things they hate heavy bulky boards.

  4. Be friendly with check in staff, if an issue dont get angry with them just try to negotiate with a smile.

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The planes on this route are smaller than main routes so they have limited space in the cargo hold and staff hate dealing with big bulky board bags.

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IMPORTANT:

You will need to get into Nias at least the day before the ferry departs as even if get the first flight you wont make the ferry on the same day

 

It's also best not to get the last flight of the day to Nias if possible as sometimes if there is lot's of boards on a flight, your board's might be sent on the next flight instead of the flight you flew on which means if you get the last flight your boards dont arrive until the next morning.  

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If you want to spend time in Nias best to do so after the Telos, so you have flexibility when returning from Telo to Nias.

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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 generally 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 been very reliable for us.

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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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IMPORTANT: If you want to cancel your car and driver booking you must provide 24hrs notice so we can cancel it, any cancellations on the day must be paid for in full, because if you dont the car/driver will ask Andreas to pay, we also need to keep a good business relationship with drivers we use so we dont like to screw them around.

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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 the slow ferry, however sometimes there might be no option but to take the slow ferry as the fast ferry is far

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Fast ferry: Goes from the small harbour near centre of town at Teluk dalam, you need to get there at least an hour early as it can sell out, you buy tickets on the day from shed at the 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 if fast ferry doesn't go, but is 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 a different harbour at the very south end of the bay at Teluk Dalam, just outside of town at what locals call the new harbour.

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Slow ferry currently doesnt have a set schedule but generally goes every second day but rarely Sundays.

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Below is the fast ferry schedule but occasionally it can go off schedule but this is what its suppose to run too.

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Monday: 9:00am Teluk Dalam to Tello 

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Tuesday: 9:00am Tello to Teluk Dalam 

                

Wednesday: 9:00am Teluk Dalam to Tello 

                       
Thursday: 9:00am Tello to Teluk Dalam 

                 

Friday: 9:00am Teluk dalam to Tello 

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Saturday: No ferry

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Sunday: 3:00pm Tello to Teluk Dalam

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

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Unfortunately at times during 2022 & 2024 the fast ferry hasn't been going, sometimes just for days other times for weeks or longer (long story but political/corruption as subsidised by government)

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So while we take bookings hoping to use the fast ferry, at times we have no choice but to use the slow ferry.

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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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Andreas can ring the captain of either ferry to get up to date info and often keeps me (Mick) updated.

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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 it takes about 2hrs

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Other related info:

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There is no fast ferry to or from Padang anymore, and there is no ferry that runs to a schedule that goes to Padang only the odd cargo/ferry that goes every few weeks and even then it stops in the south so takes two days, so not really an option..

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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 are so expensive).

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Important Info:

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When you are on the ferry about to depart, send Andreas an SMS/Text message, this confirms that you are on your way and the ferry is going, he will then met you in Tello town at the harbour to take you to the island where he lives about 15 minutes away by boat, the cost for pick up or drop off from the ferry varies on boat used and numbers about Rp400,000-Rp600,000 per boat load. 

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Andreas number is 081 363 644 963

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He might not reply straight away, but 99% of the time he will get your message before you arrive. (about 15 minutes after the ferry departs you will lose phone signal)

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If for some reason you can't get through, please contact Mick through Facebook messenger or Instagram or email.

Staying in Nias

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In Teluk Dalam just around the corner from the fast ferry harbour we recommend a new (as of 2022) hotel called Hotel Ono Niha, well priced rooms Rp200-400K per night, clean with A/C

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Hotel Ono Niha

Jl. Jenderal Ahmad Yani No.78, Ps. Tlk. Dalam

Ph 0813 7020 6809

 

Or not far from the new harbour we recommend one of two places they are about 15 minutes walk from ferry or few minutes in car.

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Sem Hotel

Jalan imam bonjol

Ph: 0811 756 5000

(They are on facebook)

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New hotel (built 2017) of decent quality, rooms are Rp400,000 to Rp500,000 with A/C and TV, private bathroom

Also has pool and pool table (Water views of bay from some rooms)

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Sumarend Hotel

Jalan Demarga Baru 15

Ph: 0822 735 446 66

Email: summarend@yahoo.com

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Rooms are of decent quality, with A/C, TV, private bathroom

price range from Rp250,000 to Rp450,000 per room

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Owners speaks english and they place is fairly good quality for Indonesia.

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In regard to places to stay in Sorake, we don't have any real recommendations, they are all very similar most ranging from Rp100,000 to Rp 500,000 per night and you generally get what you pay for. (more expensive ones include meals)

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Returning to Nias:

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If you want to go direct to the airport once you arrive back in Nias Andreas can also organise a car and driver to met you.

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If you need to stay in Gunung Sitoli there is quite a few hotels to stay at not to far from the airport 10 to 20 minutes range from Rp100,000 to Rp500,000 per night the closest are Hotel Malaga, Hotel Mega or more towards town Miga beach resort or Wisma Soliga Resort Hotel

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All typical crappy Indo hotels/losmens so don't get too excited by the fact they put resort in their names.

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More important travel info:

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Arriving: You need to arrive in Nias the day before catching the fast ferry as even if you catch the first morning flight into Nias, if the fast ferry goes on time, you want make it

 

Departing: Generally speaking you need to spend one night in Nias returning as by the time the fast ferry gets into Nias and you get a car to the airport you will be pushing it to make the last flight, its possible especially if flights delayed but risky so not recommend 

 

And ideally much better you allow a buffer (stay in Nias of a day or two) between the date you want to arrive back to Nias and any flights out of Nias just incase ferrys dont go, big storms etc

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Basically it's better to spend a day or two in Nias than miss your fights especially if international flights and Nias isn't a bad place to kill a day or two, yeah it gets crowded but it's still one of the best rights in the world, if the waves are no good, make sure you get up to the traditional Nias village out the back up in the hills with the stone jumping and traditional Nias houses, well worth the visit.

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Other related cost:

Apart from cost of speed boat pick up to take you to the Surf house from harbour, on your arrival Andreas must register your arrival with the kepal desa (head of the village) and Police the fee to do this is Rp100,000 (USD $8) per person, guest are to cover this cost. (the kepala desa/village chief gets Rp50,000 the police Rp50,000)

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Andrea's may also need to get your passport copied to register your stay with authority's as we are an official registered business/accommodation with all the licences to operate so must now do everything by the book so to speak.

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Please note:

 

Although there is now a bank with an ATM in the telos, THE ATM DOES NOT TAKE NON INDONESIAN CARDS, so you need to plan ahead and bring any cash you need. (Please see FAQ of website for estimates on budget needed)

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If you really get stuck the post office in Tello town does have western union though.

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Please note we DO NOT accept USA dollars as the only place Andreas can exchange is through rich chinese who give possibly the lowest exchange rate in Indonesia.

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Payment can also be made to Andreas bank account in advance to save brining so much cash, most guys do this these days (just contact us if you want his bank details) we recommend using "Wise" (previously transfer wise) for quick, secure, payment with good exchange rate.

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Please note we only accept deposits via PayPal, we can not accept balance of payment via Pay Pal.

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