Winding roads and motion sickness on long transfers
Your parents love the mountains, but the bends make the whole car queasy.
IndonesiaQuest Editorial · Updated 20 October 2026
Long bendy roads can make some travellers unwell, and children and older parents feel it strongly. You can plan around it with a front seat, shorter driving blocks and a calm start. Tell your driver on the first morning who in the car is sensitive, and the day changes.
The aim is a journey that everyone arrives from in good spirits, not the fastest one on the map. A gentler pace costs only a little extra time.
Why do winding roads affect some people more?
Motion sickness comes from the eyes and inner ear sending mixed messages when the car sways. Long runs of bends, sudden braking and stop-start climbing all make that mix worse.
Highland and lakeside transfers in Indonesia combine bends with hills, so sensitive passengers feel it more. Our Medan to Toba guide is a good example of a route where the road shapes the day.
What helps on the road?
The UK National Health Service (NHS) suggests sitting in the front, taking breaks for fresh air, avoiding heavy or spicy meals and looking at a fixed point such as the horizon [1]. These ideas fit Indonesian transfers well, because a private car lets you stop when someone needs it.
Add a few practical touches:
- Ask for the front seat or a window seat, and keep the window slightly open.
- Eat a light breakfast before you leave, not a heavy one.
- Avoid reading or screens while the road bends.
- Keep water, tissues and a spare bag within reach.
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor about medicine before you travel.
Want a second pair of eyes on your plan?
If someone in your group struggles with bends, tell us who and which route. We can look at the legs again and pass your brief to a licensed agency to quote a gentler plan.
You get a reply from a person who reads your plan, plus a quote from a licensed Malaysian agency if you want one.Who is the transfer suited to, and what are the alternatives?
| Traveller | Winding road effort | Gentler option |
|---|---|---|
| Child under school age | Higher: small stomachs, fewer coping habits | Shorter driving blocks, a front-facing seat, snack-free mornings |
| School-age child | Moderate: settles with fresh air for some | Games that keep eyes up, a stop each hour |
| Older parent or grandparent | Moderate to higher, with stiffness after long sits | A comfortable seat, wider stops, an early night |
| Adult who gets carsick | Varies by person | Front seat, a calm driver and a light meal |
| Group with no sensitivities | Low | A standard plan with normal stops |
If someone in your party is very sensitive, a route with fewer bends or a split journey with an overnight stop may suit better. A flight plus a short drive can also replace a single long road leg.
How should I brief the driver?
Spend two minutes at the start of the day on a short script:
- Who in the car gets carsick and who needs the front seat.
- The pace you would like on bends, and a signal for an immediate stop.
- Whether the group prefers the air conditioning on or a window open.
- Where the sensible rest and meal stops are on this route.
Our guide on what a private driver will and will not do explains what you can reasonably ask of a driver. The road times guide shows how to build the extra stops into your timing.
What should I ask the agency before booking?
- Which legs of this route are winding, and how long do they last?
- Can the driver agree extra stops without extra cost, or is there a fee?
- Which vehicle gives the smoothest ride for our group size?
- Is there an overnight option that splits the longest leg?
- What is the plan if someone feels unwell on the road?
Write the answers in your trip notes and share them with the driver. For wider planning, see the domestic access routes hub.
Keep planning
- Getting around Indonesia: routes and transfersThe flight to Indonesia is sorted, and now you wonder how roads, boats and domestic legs fit together.
- Reading road times in Indonesia: km is not timeThe map says a short distance, yet your group still arrives long after dinner.
- What a private driver will and will not doYou picture a helpful driver, but nobody has said where the job starts and ends.
- Medan to Toba: public bus vs private carYou are weighing a cheaper seat on a bus against the comfort of your own car.
- Where to stay: area guidesYou know the island, but the choice of base still decides how tired everyone feels.
- Adisutjipto or YIA: which airport do flights use?Your booking names an airport you half remember, and you want to be sure where you land.
Questions Malaysians ask
Which roads in Indonesia make people carsick?
Mountain and coastal roads with long runs of bends affect sensitive passengers, especially on the way up to highland towns and lakes. Ask your agency or driver which legs of your route are winding, so you can plan seats, stops and timing before you set out.
Where should a carsick passenger sit?
The front seat gives the clearest view ahead, and the health service notes this reduces the motion you feel. If you are in a larger vehicle, ask for a seat near the front and a window that opens. Swap seats at the first stop if the passenger still feels unwell.
Can I ask the driver to go slower?
Yes, and a good driver will welcome the request. Say it politely at the start, mention who in the car is sensitive, and agree a signal for a stop. A smoother pace feels better than a fast start that ends with a pull-over.
Should we take medicine before a long transfer?
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor before the trip, especially for children and older travellers, since the right option depends on age and other medicines. Take what they advise at the time they recommend, and pack a small bag with water, tissues and a plastic bag.
Sources
- NHS, Motion sickness, accessed 20 October 2026
Entry rules, ferry times and prices change. Check the official source or your licensed agency before you book.
Ready to shape your Indonesia trip?
If someone in your group struggles with bends, tell us who and which route. We can look at the legs again and pass your brief to a licensed agency to quote a gentler plan.
You get a reply from a person who reads your plan, plus a quote from a licensed Malaysian agency if you want one.