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To get to the Telos you must come via Nias.

 

Getting to Nias

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Currently of March 2025 the only airline flying is Wings air (run by Lion air) fly from medan (Kualanamu International Airport) to Nias/Gunung Sitoli (Binaka airport)

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Wings air have about 5 flights per day but charge Rp1,000,000 per board(not board bag) the ridiculous price increase was upped in May 2024​​.

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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 so your boards get on first.

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

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

4. Be friendly with check in staff, if there is 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, so the upped board prices are a way to try to deter guys bringing so many boards.

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IMPORTANT:

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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 if it departs at 9:00 as it should.

 

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 wont 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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There is suppose to be a fast ferry service, however due to corruption and politics it barely went in 2024 and its not looking good so far in 2025, so unfortunately we generally have to now use the slow ferry.(see pic) or if a few guys charter a speed boat recommended fir larger group bookings (see below)

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Slow ferry: Doesn't run to a set schedule but generally goes one day from Nias to Tello, the next Tello to Nias (rarely goes on Sundays)

 

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 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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Below is the fast ferry schedule if it goes, in the past this is what we based bookings on but as of March 2025, we have pretty much given up hope on it running, but who knows its Indo, next week it could start running again.

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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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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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