Natuna Islands



The Natuna Islands (Kepulauan Natuna) are an archipelago of 272 islands, forming the Natuna Regency (Kabupaten Natuna) of Indonesia's Riau Islands province. The islands are in the South China Sea, about halfway between Peninsular Malaysia's East Coast and the island of Borneo.

Regions

 * Great Natuna (Natuna Besar) &mdash; Often referred to simply as Natuna, this is by far the largest island in the archipelago, and the main centre for trade and transportation.
 * Serasan &mdash; An island district (kecamatan) that comprises several small islands in which are closer to Sarawak and West Kalimantan.
 * Subi Island &mdash; First destination from Lampa Strait Port before hopping to Serasan and Pontianak. Comprises remote beach and island such as Karang Aji Island

Other destinations

 * . Northernmost island district/kecamatan in Regency with long pier on its Port. If there's no transportation activities, local often use the pier for fishing.

History
The first recorded mention of the Natuna Islands dates back to a visit by Chinese monk-explorer I-Tsing in 671 AD. In 1597, Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah III of Johor claimed the islands, which were already settled by this time. In 1824, the Dutch and British signed a treaty which carved the Johor Sultanate into three parts: Johor proper (now Malaysia), Singapore as the Straits Settlements, and Riau-Lingga Sultanate as a sphere of Dutch influence. During Riau-Lingga Kingdom, each of the islands were ruled by one Datok Kaya, except Great Natuna, which was ruled by two.

After the King of Riau-Lingga was forced to exile to Singapore in 1911, Natuna Islands became part of the Dutch division of Pulau Tudjuh ("Seven Islands") together with the other island groups between Riau and Sumatra, namely the Anambas, Tambelan and Badas Islands. This split carried over into independent Indonesia, but in 1999 Tambelas and Badas were moved into Bintan and in 2008 Anambas became its own regency.

In 2007, a Marine Protected Area (MPA) was declared around the Natuna Islands. Alas, enforcement has been minimal and rampant overfishing continues, further complicated by a territorial squabble with China over fishing rights at the northernmost tip of the area.

People
The 2000 census stated that, at least, almost 86% or 85,27% people in Natuna Regency registered as people with Malay ethnicity. 6,34% of the whole Natuna Regency population comes from Java and 2,52% of them are people with Chinese background. From people with Malay background, several can be broken down into some regions such as Terengganu, Pattani, Batam, Bintan, and plenty other Malay from mainland Sumatra.

Climate
Located only a few degrees north of the equator, the Natuna Islands are tropical, hot and humid throughout the year. October to December is the rainy season, when it's frequently overcast for days, while February to April is the driest period.

Talk
Indonesian is the main language of the islands. Plenty of Terengganu and Pattani people came over here for decades so knowledge of Malay is helpful for travelling around the regency. Few locals understand English.

Get in
The Natuna Islands are a long way from anywhere, so the vast majority of visitors arrive by plane.

By plane

 * Flights from Sriwijaya or Nam Air operate with 12:30 departure and 13:45 arrival on Thursday and 11:50 departure and 13:05 arrival on Saturday. No flights operated on Sunday.

By boat

 * Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there are uncertainties in MV's departure schedule. However, MV Bukit Raya's February 2021 schedule and June 2021 schedule was as follows: Priok Cape/Tanjung Priok North Jakarta, departed on Thursday (11/2) at 23.00 ≫ Belinyu Bangka Island, arrived on Friday (12/2) at 03.00, departed at 04.00 ≫ Batam, arrived on Saturday (13/2) at 22.00, departed at 24.00 ≫ Letung Jemaja, arrived on Sunday (14/2) at 14.00, departed at 15.00 ≫ Tarempa Anambas, arrived at 19.00, departed at 20.00 ≫ Natuna, arrived on Monday (15/2) at 07.00, departed at 09.00 ≫ Midai, arrived at 13.00, departed at 14.00 ≫ Serasan, arrived at 21.00, departed at 22.00 ≫ Pontianak, arrived on Tuesday (16/2) at 12.00  Pontianak, departed on Sunday (13/6) at 20.00 ≫ Serasan, arrived on Monday (14/6) at 10.00, departed at 11.00 ≫ Natuna, arrived on Tuesday (15/6) at 00.00, departed at 01.00 ≫ Tarempa Anambas, arrived at 11.00, departed at 12.00 ≫ Letung Jemaja, arrived at 16.00, departed at 17.00 ≫ Batam, arrived on Wednesday (16/6) at 06.00.  Any attempt to book the ticket should be made to official website of PELNI and contact them through WhatsApp line on +62-811-1621-162
 * Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there are uncertainties in MV's departure schedule. However, MV Bukit Raya's February 2021 schedule and June 2021 schedule was as follows: Priok Cape/Tanjung Priok North Jakarta, departed on Thursday (11/2) at 23.00 ≫ Belinyu Bangka Island, arrived on Friday (12/2) at 03.00, departed at 04.00 ≫ Batam, arrived on Saturday (13/2) at 22.00, departed at 24.00 ≫ Letung Jemaja, arrived on Sunday (14/2) at 14.00, departed at 15.00 ≫ Tarempa Anambas, arrived at 19.00, departed at 20.00 ≫ Natuna, arrived on Monday (15/2) at 07.00, departed at 09.00 ≫ Midai, arrived at 13.00, departed at 14.00 ≫ Serasan, arrived at 21.00, departed at 22.00 ≫ Pontianak, arrived on Tuesday (16/2) at 12.00  Pontianak, departed on Sunday (13/6) at 20.00 ≫ Serasan, arrived on Monday (14/6) at 10.00, departed at 11.00 ≫ Natuna, arrived on Tuesday (15/6) at 00.00, departed at 01.00 ≫ Tarempa Anambas, arrived at 11.00, departed at 12.00 ≫ Letung Jemaja, arrived at 16.00, departed at 17.00 ≫ Batam, arrived on Wednesday (16/6) at 06.00.  Any attempt to book the ticket should be made to official website of PELNI and contact them through WhatsApp line on +62-811-1621-162
 * Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there are uncertainties in MV's departure schedule. However, MV Bukit Raya's February 2021 schedule and June 2021 schedule was as follows: Priok Cape/Tanjung Priok North Jakarta, departed on Thursday (11/2) at 23.00 ≫ Belinyu Bangka Island, arrived on Friday (12/2) at 03.00, departed at 04.00 ≫ Batam, arrived on Saturday (13/2) at 22.00, departed at 24.00 ≫ Letung Jemaja, arrived on Sunday (14/2) at 14.00, departed at 15.00 ≫ Tarempa Anambas, arrived at 19.00, departed at 20.00 ≫ Natuna, arrived on Monday (15/2) at 07.00, departed at 09.00 ≫ Midai, arrived at 13.00, departed at 14.00 ≫ Serasan, arrived at 21.00, departed at 22.00 ≫ Pontianak, arrived on Tuesday (16/2) at 12.00  Pontianak, departed on Sunday (13/6) at 20.00 ≫ Serasan, arrived on Monday (14/6) at 10.00, departed at 11.00 ≫ Natuna, arrived on Tuesday (15/6) at 00.00, departed at 01.00 ≫ Tarempa Anambas, arrived at 11.00, departed at 12.00 ≫ Letung Jemaja, arrived at 16.00, departed at 17.00 ≫ Batam, arrived on Wednesday (16/6) at 06.00.  Any attempt to book the ticket should be made to official website of PELNI and contact them through WhatsApp line on +62-811-1621-162
 * Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there are uncertainties in MV's departure schedule. However, MV Bukit Raya's February 2021 schedule and June 2021 schedule was as follows: Priok Cape/Tanjung Priok North Jakarta, departed on Thursday (11/2) at 23.00 ≫ Belinyu Bangka Island, arrived on Friday (12/2) at 03.00, departed at 04.00 ≫ Batam, arrived on Saturday (13/2) at 22.00, departed at 24.00 ≫ Letung Jemaja, arrived on Sunday (14/2) at 14.00, departed at 15.00 ≫ Tarempa Anambas, arrived at 19.00, departed at 20.00 ≫ Natuna, arrived on Monday (15/2) at 07.00, departed at 09.00 ≫ Midai, arrived at 13.00, departed at 14.00 ≫ Serasan, arrived at 21.00, departed at 22.00 ≫ Pontianak, arrived on Tuesday (16/2) at 12.00  Pontianak, departed on Sunday (13/6) at 20.00 ≫ Serasan, arrived on Monday (14/6) at 10.00, departed at 11.00 ≫ Natuna, arrived on Tuesday (15/6) at 00.00, departed at 01.00 ≫ Tarempa Anambas, arrived at 11.00, departed at 12.00 ≫ Letung Jemaja, arrived at 16.00, departed at 17.00 ≫ Batam, arrived on Wednesday (16/6) at 06.00.  Any attempt to book the ticket should be made to official website of PELNI and contact them through WhatsApp line on +62-811-1621-162

Get around
From Strait of Lampa, in the main harbour, you can get a small boat to Sabang Mawang Island, Kumbik Island or Sedanau Island for Rp15,000-20,000, where you can stay on a simple guest house. The trip takes a half hour.

In Bunguran Island, there is a share car, 1 hr. There is an immigration office in Ranai where you can extend your visa.

There is no public transportation on the island, but you can either rent a bicycle, motorcycle (sepeda motor or just motor in Indonesian or motosikal in Malay), or a car in Ranai. Most islands in Natuna Islands are accessible by motorcycle or petrol powered scooter.

Buy
Exchange some Indonesian rupiah before coming to Natuna, since while there are some banks in the islands, exchange rates will be very poor.



Eat
The locals will introduce you to try kernas meatball, a meatball made from mixture of sago grains and tuna fish. The sambal will be provided in different dish/plate.

Budget

 * Pulau Sabang Mawang: From Strait of Lampa you can ask to drop at Sabang Mawang Balai, where there is a Abdul Ghafur Home Stay, (Rp50,000, 2017), a warm family, with no english speaker.
 * In Sabang Mawang Barat, there is a guest house for Rp50,000.
 * Pulau Kumbik has two guest house, Rainbow guest house (Rp50,000, 2017), on the harbour, another a few meters from there.
 * In Sabang Mawang Barat, there is a guest house for Rp50,000.
 * Pulau Kumbik has two guest house, Rainbow guest house (Rp50,000, 2017), on the harbour, another a few meters from there.

Stay healthy
Don't expect to find good hospital here since Natuna is far from any metropolitan city in Indonesia. But, if you are Indonesian and you bring BPJS, you can come to all of Puskesmas/Government Clinics in every village/desa or Island District/kecamatan free without charge around M-F at 06.00 to 10.30. Make sure that you bring your own BPJS card and your BPJS status is active.

Not every government clinics have their own "24 hours service". But, if they do, make sure you come after 14:00 and bring Rp20,000 to Rp30,000 for registration

Respect
Riding motorcycle outside Great Natuna/Bunguran Island, especially in small islands, with 30 km/h speed can be considered as rude gesture. Make sure you ride your motorcycle for at least 20 km/h. 20-30 km/h speed can still be tolerated.

Mobile phone and Internet
The main networks in Indonesia are Telkomsel, Indosat, XL, 3, and smartfren. Not all of these have good coverage for the Regency. For example, Indosat have 2G coverage only on Harapan Jaya Village in Central Bunguran district and have no coverage in West Bunguran district at all. In West Bunguran district, don't expect to have internet coverage there.

For travelling in Ranai Town and South Bunguran district, you may purchase Indonesian SIM card and ask about internet data at their official store in

Go next

 * Johor
 * Singapore
 * Karimun
 * Batam
 * Bintan
 * Anambas
 * Pontianak
 * Sarawak