Guide to Karimun Island, Indonesia
By now most Singaporeans would have made a weekend getaway or two to Bintan and Batam. But most of us would not have heard of another Indonesian island that’s easily accessible by ferry and is just 2 hours away – Karimun Island.
Also known as Nuwi Island or locally as Karimun Besar, Karimun island is often confused with Karimunjawa Island, which lies farther away in Central Java.
The current exchange rate is S$1 = ~Rp11954.53 as of 5th November 2024.
Table of Contents
- Guide to Karimun Island, Indonesia
- How to get to Karimun Island from Singapore
- – Where to stay on Karimun Island –
- ASTON Karimun City Hotel
- Hotel Maximilian
- 21 Karimun Hotel
- – What to do at Karimun Island –
- 1. Pelawan Beach,Pongkar Beach or Ketam Beach
- 2. Pongkar Waterfall
- 3. Tamara Swimming Pool
- 4. Mount Jantan
- 5. Coastal Area Karimun
- 6. Karimun Jetty
- 7. Masjid Agung Karimun
- 8. Go snorkelling
- – What to eat on Karimun Island –
- 9. Restaurant 188
- 10. Fourty Day’s Coffee
- 11. PotoCoffee Milkshake
How to get to Karimun Island from Singapore
Image credit: @bthspotter via Instagram
Getting to Karimun Island is as easy as taking a 2-hour ferry ride from Harbourfront Centre to Tanjung Balai ferry terminal. The ferry departs on even dates from Harbourfront at 11.40am while the return ferry departs from Tanjung Balai at 2pm local time.
Book a round-trip ferry ticket to Tanjung Balai terminal (S$98).
Contact: Sindo Ferry website
– Where to stay on Karimun Island –
Since the island isn’t as developed as its better-known counterparts – Bintan and Batam – you’ll be hard-pressed to find international hotel chains here. Nonetheless, there are a few decent options for accommodation.
ASTON Karimun City Hotel
10 mins from Tanjung Balai Port
Image credit: ASTON Karimun City Hotel via Trip.com
You won’t have to travel far from the port when you land on the island if you stay at ASTON Karimun City Hotel – just a 10-minute drive away. They’ve got rooms from the basic Deluxe Room to the spacious Karimun Suite as well as the usual facilities including an outdoor pool and gym.
Also, you practically have a butler at your service 24/7 with their AI chatbot that you can access at any time to help you with hotel services such as booking a massage at their in-house spa.
There’s an adult pool and a smaller kid’s pool.
Image credit: hnp 1000 via Google Maps
Rates of rooms here start from S$44/night.
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Hotel Maximilian
Indoor swimming pool & karaoke lounge
Image credit: Hotel Maximilian via Trip.com
Located just 6 minutes from Tanjung Balai Karimun Ferry Terminal, Hotel Maximilian offers a number of recreational facilities such as an indoor swimming pool and family karaoke rooms.
Perched on the 7th floor, the hotel lounge and bar, Maxi Skyview, has a sheltered outdoor area where you can sip on cocktails while soaking in views of the Tanjung Balai waterfront. The indoor section features pool tables and a small stage where there are live performances on certain days.
Image credit: Hotel Maximilian via Trip.com
Rates of rooms here start from S$34/night.
21 Karimun Hotel
Free breakfast
Image credit: 21 Karimun Hotel
21 Karimun Hotel is a cosy hotel just 5 minutes from Tanjung Balai Karimun Ferry Terminal.
The hotel is well-equipped with leisure facilities perfect for a fun and relaxing getaway and rooms for a 2-person stay here start at just S$38/night.
Image credit: Joko Ng via Google Maps
Facilities to look forward to include an outdoor pool, a perfect spot to unwind along with their lounge and private karaoke rooms to sing your heart out at.
Food wise, they provide free breakfast buffets. They also have 21 Restaurant where you’ll get to enjoy local Indonesian and international cuisine for meals throughout the day.
– What to do at Karimun Island –
Karimun Island is known for its white sand beaches, aesthetic cafes, and lots of fresh seafood at super affordable prices. Without further ado, here are some of the best things to do at Karimun Island:
1. Pelawan Beach,Pongkar Beach or Ketam Beach
Scenenic beaches to R&R
Palawan Beach is known locally as Pantai Pelawan Karimun.
Image credit: @nurulhmidh via Instagram
What’s an island getaway without pics of you posing with clear blue waters much to the envy of your IG followers? There are 3 main beaches on Karimun Island with Pelawan Beach being the most popular of the lot. Apart from the long stretch of sand for walks and picnics, the beach is surrounded by big rocks and mangrove forests.
While mostly quiet on weekday afternoons, it’s teeming with locals and tourists over the weekends and in the evenings. Because it lies on the west side of the island, it’s the perfect spot to catch the sunset too. Just be sure to time yourself as it takes 35 minutes to drive here from Tanjung Balai city centre.
Admission: Free
Pantai Pongkar is 25 minutes away from the city centre by car.
Image adapted from: @mejiiaprillian via Instagram, Arum Sekarlathi via Google Maps
On the east side of the island, Pongkar Beach is where you wanna be to watch the sunrise. With one side facing the Straits of Johor and the hills on the other, it’s a sight to behold. Park yourself on one of the swings scattered along the beach to admire the view.
Compared to Pelawan Beach, this one is more secluded and has a lot more trees providing shade. So, if you want some alone time to introspect, here’s where it’s at.
Admission: Free
Image credit: Arshad Md Ariffin via Google Maps
If you keep walking further down from Pongkar Beach, you’ll soon reach Ketam Beach where you can continue to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. Although much smaller than the other 2 beaches, it has more swings, huts, and beach shacks for visitors to relax here.
Pantai Ketam is connected by foot to Pantai Pongkar.
Image credit: @indriani_wulandr via Instagram
When you’re in need of some sustenance, look to the eateries selling local food and fresh coconuts. During low tide, you might even spot a few hermit crabs.
Admission: Free
2. Pongkar Waterfall
Swim in the midst of a lush jungle
Pongkar Waterfall is also known as Air Terjun Desa Pongkar.
Image credit: S Andik via Google Maps
Those who are up for a mini adventure can take a 20-minute trek from Pongkar Beach to Pongkar Waterfall. Albeit a small one, the natural waterfall has fresh water streaming down from Mount Jantan and culminating in a man-made pool for visitors to swim in safely.
Image credit: @sherrysptni_ via Instagram
You will be in the middle of a jungle so monkey sightings are pretty common – be weary of your belongings, especially food items.
Admission: Rp2,000/adult | Rp1,000/child
3. Tamara Swimming Pool
IG-worthy rainbow stairs
Image credit: Ka Yo via Google Maps
Less than a 10-minute walk from Ketam Beach lies Tamara Swimming Pool which is filled with water from the nearby mountains and thus has no chlorine. Split into 2 pools, there’s a shallower one suitable for young kids too.
Image adapted from: Agus Sarkama via Google Maps
The highlight of this attraction is a flight of rainbow stairs and a wooden bridge that make a colourful backdrop for IG pics. The stairs are also wide and deep enough to sit and chill by the pool.
Admission: Rp5,000/pax
4. Mount Jantan
Panoramic views from the peak
Mount Jantan is also known locally as Gunung Jantan Karimun.
Image credit: @afrzl_l via Instagram
At an elevation of 439m, Mount Jantan offers sweeping views of Karimun and its surrounding islands. It takes roughly 90 minutes to reach the peak and the climb is relatively easy with minimal steep slopes along the way.
In very clear weather, you may even be able to spot the tip of the Malaysian Peninsula as well as Singapore from right at the top of the mountain.
5. Coastal Area Karimun
Kid-friendly activities like rollerblading
Image credit: @desi_indarwati93 via Instagram
Families with young kids making their way to the island, make sure to set out time to visit Coastal Area Karimun. The little ones will have a field day with the many toy vehicles and games available at the play area. We’re talking mini scooters and cars they can drive around in, a giant bouncy castle, and a trampoline.
Image credit: @rivaldybayuhidayat via Instagram
Although most of the activities are for children, adults can join in the fun by renting rollerblades and bicycles too.
6. Karimun Jetty
Seaside lookout point
Karimun Jetty is named Tugu Karimun Bumi BerAzam in Bahasa Indonesia.
Image adapted from: Jovin via Google Maps, @kalgaryskarimun.kepri via Instagram
A 10-minute walk from Coastal Area Karimun will lead you to Karimun Jetty where you can grab a photo with the gigantic landmark sign that states exactly where you are.
Image credit: Gunawan Azhar via Google Maps
Keep walking along the coast and you’ll spot lighthouse-like towers and a couple of seafood restaurants.
7. Masjid Agung Karimun
Iconic heritage building
Pretty in the day, pretty at night.
Image adapted from: @bagusrengga via Instagram, Bayu Gio Alif via Google Maps
Can’t leave Karimun Island without a stop at Masjid Agung Karimun if only a quick one to admire the Islamic architecture and interior design. The iconic building actually looks quite different in the day and at night due to the light projections after dark.
8. Go snorkelling
Meet the underwaterlife of Karimun
Image credit: Tempesta M. via TripAdvisor
Dive into the clear waters and explore the undisturbed marine life they have to offer. The waters near by have 176 different species of corals, 11 species of sea grass, 9 species of sea weed, and 444 species of fish for you to befriend.
You can book a 9-hours all inclusive snorkelling trip to head out to to waters with Dunia Bintang Tour & Travel.
Image credit: Dunia Bintang Tour & Travel via TripAdvisor
The certified guides will not only bring you to the best spots to see fishes and corals but even help you snap the perfect picture to capture the moment. For mid swim snacks, travellers online have raved about the fresh fruits and fish offered by the guides.
Admission: from Rp250,000/pax
– What to eat on Karimun Island –
After spending time exploring Karimun Island’s natural landscapes, you can recharge and refuel at one of these eateries:
9. Restaurant 188
Fresh seafood by the seaside
Image credit: Ronnie Lee via Google Maps
While you’re on Karimun Island, you’ve got to indulge in some fresh seafood and Restaurant 188 is one of the top-rated options. Not only do you get to choose from a wide variety of seafood, you’ll be dining right next to the sea.
Highlights include live fish, crabs, and prawns from which you can select to be prepared in a Chinese cooking style. There are also pippies, scallops, and squid. The most popular dish here – likely to be seen on most tables – is the Salted Egg Sotong (Rp22,000).
Views of the sea from Restaurant 188.
Image credit: Shi Hao Tin Tin via Google Maps
10. Fourty Day’s Coffee
Food & drinks under Rp25,000
Image credit: @dheny_k via Instagram
Coffee lovers can get their fix at Fourty Day’s Coffee where they brew everything from espressos to frappes (Rp15,000-Rp25,000). The Red Velvet Lattee (Rp18,000) is a must-try.
If you prefer something without caffeine, they also have sinful milkshakes and mocktails on the menu.
Image adapted from: @fourtydayscoffee, @rokki_lee via Instagram
Apart from drinks, the cafe also serves local dishes such as Ayam Tempe Bumbu Penyet (Rp23,000) which is essentially fried chicken with rice and lots of sambal chilli. They also have a version with fried eggs called Telur Tempe Bumbu Penyet (Rp18,000).
On a sweeter note, you can try desserts such as Pisang Roll (Rp25,000) and Ubi Goreng (Rp13,000).
Address: Jalan Lubuk Semut No.17, Tlk. Air, Kec. Karimun, Kabupaten Karimun, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia
Opening hours: Wed-Thur 1pm-11pm | Fri-Sat 11am-11pm | Mon-Tue 11am-11pm (closed on Sundays)
Contact: Fourty Day’s Coffee Instagram
11. PotoCoffee Milkshake
Aesthetic cafe with al-fresco dining
Image adapted from: @potocoffeemilkshake via Instagram
On a day when you’re exploring the city, add PotoCoffee Milkshake to your itinerary and you won’t regret it. With an aesthetic vibe, a large space for al-fresco dining, and inexpensive offerings, there’s a lot to love.
The menu features coffee, tea, milkshakes, and mocktails (Rp15,000-Rp25,000) as well as mains such as nasi goreng and mie goreng (from Rp12,000).
Image credit: @potocoffeemilkshake via Instagram
Since it starts service only in the late afternoon and is open till late, you can decide to have a tea-time break or supper here once you’ve completed your full day of exploring the island.
Things to do on Karimun Island, Indonesia
So, the next time your friends or family suggest going to Bintan or Batam for a retreat, you’ll have an alternative up your sleeve.
More travel guides to Indonesia:
A portion of this content may contain referral links to products. However, all opinions are ours.
Cover image adapted from: Ka Yo via Google Maps, @fryanfahlevi, @afrzl_l via Instagram
Originally published on 13th February 2023. Last updated by Shannon Lee and Ariel Soh on 5th November 2024.