Lingga Islands

The Lingga Islands form the southernmost part of the Riau Islands. The main islands are Lingga and Singkep.

Understand
The district of the Lingga Islands consists of a large number of islands where Singkep and Lingga dominate both in size and population. Other relatively large islands include Sebangka and Bakung.

The more populated Singkep Island had a lot of tin mines but they were shut down by the government. The district government of the Lingga Islands resides on Lingga instead of the much more populated Singkep.

Singkep

 * Jago - North port of the Island where the ferries from Tanjung Pinang dock.
 * Dabo - Main city

Lingga

 * Daik - Main town and the seat of the local governor.
 * Resun - Small village in the middle of the island close to the Resun Waterfall.

Talk
It is very necessary to talk some basic Bahasa Indonesia since most people don't know one single word in English.

Get in
The ferry from Tanjung Pinang (Bintan) leaves at 11AM everyday. There are 3 different ferries making the tour and the trip takes between 3-6 hours depending which one since they make different numbers of stops. To get to Tanjung Pinang you may take a ferry from Batam or Singapore with many departures everyday.

Leaving Tanjung Pinang is easy. The national ticket booths are next to the entry to the pier and a ticket to Pulau Lingga is Rp 113,000 (Nov 2009). Add an extra Rp 3,000 for the sea port tax and then board the ferry. Some of the ferries have numbered seats but otherwise just pick a seat; outdoor or indoor. You may even make your way up to sit next to the captain, an area frequently used when the ship is full (i.e. double the number of people than there are seats).

The ferry steers it way south stopping a couple of times on small islands on the way. Then arriving to Jago on Singkep before its last stop on Lingga. The port on Lingga is called Tanjung Buton (Tanjung, Tg. means Cape). In the port you will find motor bike taxis ("ojek") and the ride to Daik is about 10 minutes.

Get around
Cars are not very common and the local transportation consist of motor bike taxis known as "ojek".

Try to rent your own motor bike to easily get around. Ask for "rental moto" and pay between Rp 50,000-100,000 per day. On the smaller islands the prices are much higher and expect to pay Rp 10,000 for one bottle of petrol (price on mainland Rp 4,500). The bottles of petrol are bought next to the roads from local people and there are often many places even in the most remote villages.

To get between Singkep and Lingga there are two alternatives; one power boat that frequents the 20-30 minutes ride a few times a day. However; the schedule is confusing so the second alternative is to ask a local fisherman to get a ride in his boat. A good price for that ride would be around Rp 60,000.

See

 * Small fishing villages of Kelume and Kedo,
 * Small fishing villages of Kelume and Kedo,
 * Small fishing villages of Kelume and Kedo,
 * Small fishing villages of Kelume and Kedo,

Itineraries

 * Sunrise a 6.00 o'clock and the time you must get up to get the most of you visit to these remote islands. The local population uses the daylight and all the locals will be on the street when you step out at 6.15 looking for something to eat.

Do
Rent a motor bike and get around. Many of the roads are very new and wonderful to drive upon. Others are old and full of potholes. But the bikes can get anywhere (even the beach) and use one for two people to be able to talk while driving.

Eat
The local food is rice and fish. Of course you should also drink the coffee; Kopi susu for coffee with condensed milk. And in the city (close to pasar), lots of small eateries (within walk distances) with nice food and some sell bread (freshly baked) and kaya (sweet coconut jam), its delicious as the bread is homemade but limited (most open in the morning). At night, "Caparinyo" is well known for its "satay", but also serve other food like fried rice. Just ask locals for direction.

Only restaurants are in Daik. They serve rice and fish, maybe if you're lucky chicken and noodles.

Go next
Ferry leaves Lingga at 7.00 o'clock but be there at least 30 minutes before to be sure to get a ticket back (at least on Sundays which is the main traveling day). 07.00 the ferry docks in Jago (Singkep) and continues afterwards up through the archipelago stopping trice or more on the small islands with the tiny fishing villages.