How to Travel to Banana Island: Transport, Routes, and Tips

If you're wondering where to begin your trip to Pisang/Banana Island, I started mine from Bandar Lampung, the capital of Lampung Province. I rented a car and drove with a friend all the way to Krui, a small coastal town where the boats to Banana Island depart. The drive took us around 6 to 7 hours, depending on traffic and stops along the way. The road itself is fairly smooth, but be prepared for winding curves through the hills — if you're prone to motion sickness, it’s a good idea to pack paracetamol or motion sickness pills.

Before hitting the road, I made sure to fill up the gas tank in the city. A friend warned me that gas stations are few and far between on the way to Krui, so better safe than sorry. For you to know, there is only Pertamina (local brand gas station) here.

After about three hours drive, we stopped at Immadudin Mosque to rest, stretch our legs, and pray. The mosque is a well-known rest stop for travelers — they even offer free tea and coffee, and the water, which comes straight from the nearby mountains, is icy cold and refreshing. Clean toilets are available too, which is always a plus on long road trips.

As we continued, the road led us through the South Bukit Barisan National Park, a lush rainforest that’s home to Rafflesia flowers, Sumatran rhinos, and elephant conservation centers run by the local government. You may contact the National Park for Rafflesia flowers, rhinos or elephant tours. As I continue driving, I realize the towering trees are so dense that at times, sunlight barely breaks through the canopy. It really feels like you’re driving through a real jungle and it's getting scary in the night, since there's no street light in this area, better avoid driving at night in National Park.

We kept an eye out for wildlife — monkeys, birds, and while I didn’t see one myself, some travelers have spotted the elusive Sumatran tiger. Just a word of caution: stay inside your car, especially in areas where monkeys gather. They’re wild and often bold enough to approach or even chase you looking for food.

Winding Roads and Jungle Views: What It’s Like to Drive to Krui from Bandar Lampung

Driving Route from Bandar Lampung to Krui – Gateway to Banana Island

Banana Island is located in small city called Krui. From that city we can cross to the Island through a small harbor. Here is my route guide driving to Krui, Pesisir Barat from Lampung by car :

1. I Start to drive from Lampung City for 3 - 4 hours

2. Imaduddin Mosque (as rest area), you can continue if you don't want to stop

3. Rhino Camp at National Park. (If you already booked and contact them you may stop here, but I recommend spend more time to see the wilderness here). Check out their instagram for more info.

4. Palma Beach Hotel (This is the hotel where I was staying). You can only booked the hotel through phone calls or instagram. But if you want to compare with other hotels I write spearate blog about it, please go to "Where to Sleep in Krui, Lampung – Best Hotels Near the Beach & Surf Spots"

5. I heading to Tebakak Harbor early in the morning to cross the Island. The distance from the Hotel is around 30 minutes drive without any traffic jam. I parked my car beside the house which is next to the harbor. They asked me IDR 25k per person for the car parking plus IDR 25k for the boat ticket. If they ask more than that, it is too expensive.

See the map to imagine how the route is

On my other blog "A Story of Pisang Island: The Beauty of Hidden Island in west of Indonesia" there is other options from Lampung City to reach Krui. Those are through plane or Buses. I share some tips below for each transportation :

• Direct Flight

  There's a direct flight from Lampung City to Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas (Krui Airport). The trip will be using propeller plane and will takes around 30 minutes to landing. The price is around IDR IDR 400k and you can booked through www.traveloka.com. Since the airport doesn't have any regular flight, so the airport is looked deserted. The schedule for this flight is limited to only 1 - 2 times a week. There's no public transportation from the airport to Krui City, you must arrange your own transportation to pick you up at the airport. Or first you ask whether the hotel able to pick you up at the airport.

• Public Transportation (Small Bus)

  To be honestly I don't go to Krui by Bus, but I know that people go to Rajabasa terminal that will drive you to Krui. The price for the bus is around IDR 100 - 200k per person. Be always careful with your belonging when buying ticket at the terminal. Avoid third party individual who offers you tickets. Just go directly to the official counter tickets. The trip itself will took 6 - 7 hours.

How to Get to Krui, Lampung: All Transport Options