How to get to Natuna

Indonesia consists of thousands of islands which spread from Sabang to Merauke. Each island has a unique characteristics. Indonesia has a lot of cultures, arts, and beautiful nature that each island has to offered.

Natuna is one of them. Located in the north frontier which I often wrote in several articles on my blog. Natuna has beautiful scenery, good art, culture, etc. I have posted almost all parts in my blog. But I was thinking there’s something’s missing. I felt there was something that I have yet posted in my blog.
Ah yes, here it is : “how to go there?”

It is useless when I have posted all about Natuna but I haven’t shared on how to go there, isn’t it? And I will do it right now. Being isolated makes the access to go there difficult. If you want to go there, there are 2 ways to reach Natuna, by plane or by sea. 

Read : Indonesia version

Air Transportation : 

We can go to Natuna by plane. Up until now, only one airport which serve flights to Natuna. It is Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam, so wherever you are, you have to go to Batam first, and then you can take the next flight to Natuna.

Plane Route

Or you can go there from Jakarta, but you have to get the first flight (in the early morning) to Batam, and take the 9 o’clock connecting flight to Natuna. So if you’re from other parts of Indonesia (e.g : Borneo or Java), you must go to Batam and stay overnight, then in the morning you can continue your journey to Natuna. So you have to find someplace to rest for the night. It only takes 1 hour flight from Batam to Natuna. The ticket price is varied, it depends on the time or season. The cost is around IDR 800k - 1.300k.

 Note : don’t go to Batam on Saturday, unless if you want to stay in Batam for 2 more nights. Because there is no available flight to Natuna on Sunday.

Sea Transportation : 

Because of Natuna is an islands. Sea transportation is the prime mode transportation for the local people. If you are in Java and you want to go to Natuna, there are 2 ways to get there. 

Ship Route

First, from Tanjung Priok Port (Jakarta) by PT Pelni ship. The routes are from Tanjung Priok (Jakarta) - Belinyu (Bangka Belitung) - Kijang (Bintan) - Jemaja (Anambas) - Siantan (Anambas) - Natuna. It will take about 4 days and 3 nights. Departure is scheduled on Thursdays from Tanjung Priok Port. 

The second route is from Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya East Java, the routes you will pass are Tanjung Perak (Surabaya, East Java) – Pontianak (West Borneo) - Serasan (Natuna) - Midai (Natuna) - Natuna. It will take 4 days and 3 nights as well. The departure from Tanjung Perak is scheduled on Sundays. 

The ticket price for one trip with KM Bukit Raya (PT Pelni) are different, based on departure origin. If you are from Tanjung Priok or Tanjung Perak, the fares are less than IDR 500k for economy class. Another way (and the cheap one) to go there is using government ship, we usually call it kapal perintis, from Tanjung Pinang Port or Pontianak Port, it will take about 2 days 2 nights. And that is how to get to Natuna, you can choose which mode of transportation you want to use. Sea or airlines. Or you can combine both of them.

Kapal-kapal Perintis (Government Ships)

But you have to notice one thing.
These routes which I explained only take you to Bunguran Island, specially to Ranai, the capital city of Natuna, the biggest Island in Natuna. If you wanna go to the other islands or the subdistrics in Natuna such as Pulau Laut, Pulau Tiga, Sedanau, Midai, Serasan, & Subi, you have to use other sea transport to reach them.

Coral in Senua Island

Example :
1. Sedanau (capital city of West Bunguran subdistrict). You can use speedboat from Binjai Port, or you can use pompong/mutur (traditional ship) from Selat Lampa, Binjai, Kelarik, or Batubi Port. 

Mutur/pompong, (traditional ship)

2. Islands in Pulau Tiga and West Pulau Tiga Subdistric. You can use pompong/mutur from Selat Lampa Port. It takes about 1.5 hours from Ranai City to Selat Lampa Port by vehicle.

3. Islands in West Bunguran, North Bunguran and Pulau Laut. You can use mutur (traditional ship) from Kelarik Port. It takes about 2 - 3 hours from Ranai City to Kelarik village.

4. Pulau Laut Subdistrict, you can use government ship from Selat Lampa or Penagi Port. You can use mutur from Kelarik Port as well.


5. Midai and Suak Midai Subdistrict, you can use government ship from Selat Lampa Port and Penagi Port. It will take about 4 – 7 hours. Or you can board KM Bukit Raya to Tanjung Perak, and you can stop in Midai. 

6. Serasan and East Serasan Subdistrict. To go there, you can use the same transportation in Midai, KM Bukti Raya to Tanjung Perak Surabaya, and you stop in Serasan, or with government ship you can reach the island as well. 

7. Subi Subdistrict. Going to Subi Island can be reached by government ship the same as to Serasan.


The ticket price is varied. It depends on destination and the types of transportation you use. Its about IDR 15k to 200k.

Sindu Stone, Bunguran Island

After reaching the Natuna Islands, any fatigued will be paid of by the fantastic sceneries that awaits you. The granite boulders, the beaches, mountain, and beautiful corals will welcome you to revel in.

So, enjoy amazing Natuna.

Thank you. :)