If you decided an independent Jakarta and Bogor tour without a tour agency, you have a lot to consider. Here are the tips to be considered.
Jakarta Traffic
Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia. A lots of people work and live in this 662 KM square city causing very busy traffic on weekday. Public transportation in the city is not good yet, but is growing better recently. There is only one mass rapid train connecting Lebak Bulus in Jakarta Selatan until Thamrin in Jakarta Pusat. This condition make Jakarta as one of the most crowded city in the world. It was rank 4th the most crowded city in the world. But recently, in 2020, Jakarta got big achievement. Jakarta is now rank 31st most congestion traffic in the world according to Tom Tom report.
If you want to sightseeing or take a business trip in the city, you need to provide a list of places you want to visit to your driver, so he can make an effective itinerary based on your destinations and traffic condition. The busiest traffic is usually on every Monday morning, because it is the first working day. Offices are closed on weekend, but museums are closed every Monday.
Business day in Jakarta is Monday to Friday, while on weekend (Saturday-Sunday) many people want to get out of the city to spend their holiday causing less traffic on main streets in the city but increase traffic on the way to Bogor and Puncak.
Visiting Country Area: Bogor
Bogor is a good area in West Java with good climates. In hot season, it is not as hot as in Jakarta. In rain season, there would be rain everyday but there is no extreme climate. Bogor’s elevation is more than 200M above the sea level. While in Puncak, the elevation is more than 1,000M. So you will feel cooler in Puncak. But don’t worry, it is not as cool as in Europe in the winter and you don’t need any jacket. Just bring an umbrella or a raincoat if you want to visit Puncak. You will also get an unforgettable moment by visiting Taman Safari, the best safari zoo in Asia. Before you arrived at the safari park, there are lots of people selling carrot and banana. You can buy some carrot and banana to feed animals while in the safari.
All the year is the best time to visit Bogor and surroundings area including Puncak. The only one problem is the traffic. Traffic is usually bad on weekend and holiday season. It is recommended to visit Bogor on weekday.
How and What to Book
The majority of midrange and upmarket travelers prefer to get all the hard work down by booking through travel agents or travel companies before arriving in Indonesia. But as for independent travelers or backpackers, this means you will cost more money and you have less freedom. The best solution for you is to hire a car with an experienced driver-guide from us. We provide best driver-guide service in Jakarta and surroundings. You will get best flexibility on your tour depend on traffic condition and your interest. Visit https://bogorprivatetourguide.com to learn more about our service.
Most independent travelers also choose hotel via online hotel booking which is very easy to book and choose a hotel you really want. After you got the room, then book a local guide and/or driver with car rental. Then everything is done. Just buy tickets to Jakarta and make appointment with the booked driver to pick up you from the airport.