How to travel from Lake Toba to Balikpapan, Indonesia
The distance between Lake Toba and Balikpapan is around 2,627km (1,632 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take a ferry, then drive and then fly which takes around 6h 55m.
4 routes found
We've found 4 different ways to get from Lake Toba to Balikpapan by ferry, car, plane, bus and train. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Balikpapan → Lake Toba if you're planning a return trip.
Ferry, Car and Plane
Take a ferry to Ajibata then drive to Silangit (DTB) then fly from Silangit (DTB) to Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (BPN).
- Duration6h 55m
- Flight time4h 25m
- Typical costIDR 4,148,895($275)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Ferry and Bus
Take a ferry to Ajibata then take the bus to Amplas Station, Bandar Lampung then Jakarta and then to Surabaya Kota then take a ferry to Balikpapan.
- Duration3 days 19h
- Departsonce a week
- Typical costIDR 1,992,070($135)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Lake Toba and Balikpapan
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Lake Toba to Balikpapan by ferry, car, plane, bus and train. The cheapest option is to take a ferry, then drive, then take the train and then take the bus which costs around IDR 1,827,310 ($120) and will take around 3 days 16h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take a ferry, then drive and then fly and arrive in approximately 6h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately IDR 4,148,895 ($275).
The distance between Lake Toba and Balikpapan is around 2,627km (1,632 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 2,042km (1,269 miles)
It takes around 6h 55m to get from Lake Toba and Balikpapan by ferry, car and plane.
The quickest way to get from Lake Toba to Balikpapan is to take a ferry, then drive and then fly which takes around 6h 55m and will set you back approx IDR 4,148,895 ($275).
The cheapest way to travel between Lake Toba and Balikpapan is to take a ferry, then drive, then take the train and then take the bus which will typically cost around IDR 1,827,310 ($120) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Lake Toba and Balikpapan. We recommend that you take a ferry to Ajibata then drive to Silangit (DTB) then fly from Silangit (DTB) to Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (BPN). instead which will take 6h 55m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Lake Toba and Balikpapan. We recommend that you take a ferry to Ajibata then drive to Silangit (DTB) then fly from Silangit (DTB) to Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (BPN). instead which will take 6h 55m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Lake Toba to Balikpapan. We recommend that you take a ferry to Ajibata then drive to Silangit (DTB) then fly from Silangit (DTB) to Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (BPN). instead which will take 6h 55m.
The closest major airport to Balikpapan is Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport (BPN) (BPN) which is approximately 5km (3 miles) from Balikpapan. Samarinda International Airport (AAP) (AAP) and Gusti Syamsir Alam Airport (KBU) (KBU) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Lake Toba to Balikpapan. We recommend that you take a ferry to Ajibata then drive to Silangit (DTB) then fly from Silangit (DTB) to Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (BPN). instead which will take 6h 55m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Lake Toba to Balikpapan is to take a ferry, then drive and then fly which takes, on average, 6h 55m and will usually cost around IDR 4,148,895 ($275).
Compare travel optionsbetween Lake Toba and Balikpapan
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ferry, Car and Plane + 1 similar | 6h 55m | IDR 4,148,895($275) | 4 times a day | 2,627km (1,632 miles) |
| Ferry, Car, Plane and Bus | 10h 10m | IDR 4,343,605($290) | once daily | 2,841km (1,765 miles) |
Ferry and Bus + 1 similar | 3 days 19h | IDR 1,992,070($135) | once a week | 4,042km (2,512 miles) |
| Ferry, Car, Train and Bus | 3 days 16h | IDR 1,827,310($120) | once a week | 3,990km (2,479 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Lake Toba and Balikpapan
Ferry operators
ASDP Indonesia Ferry
Damri
Pelni
Bus companies
Jahe Raya
Putra Pelangi
Local Bus Indonesia
Airlines
Batik Air
Citilink Indonesia
Super Air Jet
Train operators
Kereta API
Airports near Balikpapan
The following major airports near Balikpapan offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Indonesia and internationally.
Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport (BPN)
- Distance
- 5km (3 miles) from Balikpapan
Samarinda International Airport (AAP)
- Distance
- 106km (66 miles) from Balikpapan
Gusti Syamsir Alam Airport (KBU)
- Distance
- 241km (150 miles) from Balikpapan