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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Natuna Islands
Kepulauan Natuna
Go only if you want a remote island with almost no tourist setup: 4–5 nights on Bunguran, cash in hand, and a booked flight from Batam.
Natuna is 272 islands in the South China Sea, about halfway between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, and the regency capital is Ranai on Bunguran (Great Natuna). There is no resort strip and no public transport: you fly in from Batam, rent a scooter or car in Ranai, and spend your days on beaches, mangrove boardwalks and boats to small islands. Four to five nights is enough for Bunguran; add nights only if you are diving or heading to Serasan or Subi. Bring rupiah, because exchange rates on the islands are poor.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Local name
- Kepulauan Natuna
- Best months
- Feb–Apr (driest)
- Avoid
- Oct–Dec (wettest, often overcast for days)
- Stay
- 4–5 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp350,000–600,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp600,000–1,200,000 excl. bed · High Rp1,200,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112 · Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or tea at a warung | Rp10,000–25,000 |
| Noodle or rice meal | Rp25,000–60,000 |
| Kernas tuna-and-sago meatballs with sambal | Rp20,000–40,000 |
| Bottle of water | Rp5,000–10,000 |
| Scooter rental, one day | Rp80,000–150,000 |
| Boat charter, half day | Rp400,000–500,000 |
| Guesthouse double room | Rp50,000–300,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NTX · Ranai Airport (Bandara Ranai), Bunguran
- Formerly Raden Sadjad Airport; daily Wings Air flights from Batam, morning departure (check schedule).
- LMU · Letung Airport, Jemaja Island
- Daily flights from Batam (check).
Typical fares
- Lampa Strait port → Sabang Mawang or Sedanau
- Rp15,000–20,000, about 30 min
- Boat charter to Setai or Genting
- Rp400,000–500,000 per boat, 20–90 min
- Ranai Airport → Ranai town
- short taxi or share car ride, a few km
Get around
There is no public transport on Bunguran. Rent a scooter or motorcycle or a car in Ranai; a share car covers about an hour's run. Small boats from Lampa Strait port reach Sabang Mawang, Kumbik and Sedanau for roughly Rp15,000–20,000 and take about 30 min. Boats to Genting or Setai run 20–90 min and are chartered from local fishermen, so agree the price before boarding.
See and do
Known for
- Remote South China Sea archipelago
- Bunguran (Great Natuna) beaches and granite rocks
- Mangrove parks at Pering and Sebuton
- Kekah monkey and reef snorkelling
- Kernas tuna-and-sago meatballs
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pering Mangrove Ecotourism | Scooter or car from Ranai, about 2.5 km from Pering pierScooter or car from Ranai, about 1.6 mi from Pering pier | Half a day |
| Sebuton Mekar Jaya Mangrove Park | Car or scooter southwest of Ranai, at least 70 km; entrance 1.2 km from the river pierCar or scooter southwest of Ranai, at least 43 mi; entrance 0.7 mi from the river pier | Full day |
| Sedanau Island | Boat or road-and-boat from Ranai, about 45 min | Half to full day |
| Genting and Setai islands | Chartered fishing boat from Lampa Strait port, 30–90 min | Full day |
| Serasan Islands | Pioneer ferry or long boat ride south | 1–2 days |
Sleep
- Ranai (Bunguran)
- Regency capital and the only real base: guesthouses from about Rp50,000, mid-range hotels Rp200,000–300,000, banks, immigration office, airport 2–3 km away.Regency capital and the only real base: guesthouses from about Rp50,000, mid-range hotels Rp200,000–300,000, banks, immigration office, airport 1.2–1.9 mi away.
- Penagi / Old Town
- Coastal strip about 4 km from the airport; food stalls and a Confucian temple next to a surau.Coastal strip about 2.5 mi from the airport; food stalls and a Confucian temple next to a surau.
- Sedanau (West Bunguran)
- About 45 min southwest of Ranai; stilt houses over the water, simple guesthouses, weak mobile data.
- Sabang Mawang and Kumbik
- Small islands reached by boat from Lampa Strait port, about 30 min; homestays from about Rp50,000, no English spoken.
- Serasan and Subi
- Southern island groups with pioneer ferries and basic guesthouses; only for travellers with time and patience.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Maafma-af |
| Thank you | Terima kasihte-ri-ma ka-sih |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?be-ra-pa har-ga-nya |
| Can I pay by card? | Bisa bayar pakai kartu?bi-sa ba-yar pa-kai kar-tu |
| Where is the toilet? | Di mana toilet?di ma-na toi-let |
| I want to rent a scooter | Saya mau sewa motorsa-ya mau se-wa mo-tor |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- Bring rupiah from Batam or Jakarta: bank exchange rates on the islands are poor, and cards are rarely accepted outside hotels.
- Mobile data is patchy: some districts have no coverage at all, so download maps and confirm bookings before you arrive.
- The PELNI ferry from Jakarta takes about 3 days with very basic comfort; flying from Batam is the practical route.
- Boats are small and weather-dependent; October to December seas and rain can cancel plans.
- Diving and snorkelling gear is rented in Ranai, not on the outer islands; check condition before you pay.
- Visa extensions for non-ASEAN passports are handled at the Ranai immigration office, weekdays only.
Low crime and a welcoming local scene; the real risks are sea conditions, patchy medical care and long distances on unlit roads. Ride in daylight, wear a helmet, and keep cash for the return boat.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Natuna Islands yet. Suggested stay: 4–5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Remote South China Sea archipelago
- Bunguran (Great Natuna) beaches and granite rocks
- Mangrove parks at Pering and Sebuton
- Kekah monkey and reef snorkelling
- Kernas tuna-and-sago meatballs
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Indonesia.travel — official tourism site: www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/home
- Wings Air (Lion Air Group): www.lionair.co.id/
- PELNI ferry schedules: www.pelni.co.id/
- Wikivoyage: Natuna Islands, revision 5339612 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5339612
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Natuna IslandsKepulauan Natuna
Ke alamat ini, ya
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Natuna. Most embassies are in Jakarta; the nearest consulates-general are in Batam and Medan (check).
Cash is king: banks in Ranai open weekdays only, so withdraw before weekends and island trips.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/natuna-islands). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.