How to travel from Samarinda to Palopo, Indonesia
The distance between Samarinda and Palopo is around 994km (618 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 7h 15m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from Samarinda to Palopo by bus, ferry, plane, car and taxi. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Palopo → Samarinda if you're planning a return trip.
Bus to Balikpapan Airport, Fly
Take the bus to Balikpapan Airport then fly from Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (BPN) to Palopo Lagaligo (LLO).
- Duration7h 15m
- Flight time4hrs
- Typical costIDR 5,766,515($385)
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Balikpapan then take a ferry to Makassar then take the bus to Palopo.
- Duration1 day 16h
- Departsonce a week
- Typical costIDR 554,185($37)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Samarinda and Palopo
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Samarinda to Palopo by bus, ferry, plane, car and taxi. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around IDR 554,185 ($37) and will take around 1 day 16h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus and then fly and arrive in approximately 7h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately IDR 5,766,515 ($385).
The distance between Samarinda and Palopo is around 994km (618 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 438km (272 miles)
It takes around 1 day 16h to get from Samarinda and Palopo by bus and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Samarinda to Palopo is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 7h 15m and will set you back approx IDR 5,766,515 ($385).
The cheapest way to travel between Samarinda and Palopo is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around IDR 554,185 ($37) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Samarinda and Palopo. We recommend that you take the bus to Balikpapan Airport then fly from Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (BPN) to Palopo Lagaligo (LLO). instead which will take 7h 15m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Samarinda and Palopo. We recommend that you take the bus to Balikpapan Airport then fly from Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (BPN) to Palopo Lagaligo (LLO). instead which will take 7h 15m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Samarinda to Palopo. We recommend that you take the bus to Balikpapan Airport then fly from Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (BPN) to Sultan Hasanuddin (UPG) then take the bus to Palopo. instead which will take 12h 55m.
The closest major airport to Palopo is Tampa Padang Airport (MJU) (MJU) which is approximately 137km (85 miles) from Palopo. Mutiara Airport (PLW) (PLW) and Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) (UPG) 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 Samarinda to Palopo. We recommend that you take the bus to Balikpapan then take a ferry to Makassar then take the bus to Palopo. instead which will take 1 day 16h.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Samarinda to Palopo is to take the bus and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 1 day 16h and will usually cost around IDR 554,185 ($37).
Compare travel optionsbetween Samarinda and Palopo
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bus to Balikpapan Airport, Fly + 3 similar | 7h 15m | IDR 5,766,515($385) | twice daily | 1,973km (1,226 miles) |
| Bus and Plane | 12h 55m | IDR 2,366,515($160) | once daily | 994km (618 miles) |
| Bus, Plane and Taxi | 9h 45m | IDR 4,448,455($295) | twice daily | 1,200km (746 miles) |
| Bus, Plane, Car and Ferry | 20h 15m | IDR 3,654,620($245) | twice daily | 1,495km (929 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 1 day 16h | IDR 554,185($37) | once a week | 1,064km (661 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Samarinda and Palopo
Airlines
Wings Air
Citilink Indonesia
PT. Sriwijaya Air
Lion Mentari Airlines
Batik Air
Bus companies
Jahe Raya
Primadona bus
Cendana Mitra Perkasa
Ferry operators
Pelni
ASDP Indonesia Ferry
Airports near Palopo
The following major airports near Palopo offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Indonesia and internationally.
Tampa Padang Airport (MJU)
- Distance
- 137km (85 miles) from Palopo
Mutiara Airport (PLW)
- Distance
- 234km (145 miles) from Palopo
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG)
- Distance
- 242km (150 miles) from Palopo