Karimunjawa

Most facilities for travelers are found on the largest island, also called Karimunjawa. The main settlement is at the southern end of that island. It is where ferries dock and most services are to be found. Accommodation is scattered across the island.

Travel out to the furthest islands in the archipelago will take two or more hours depending on the type of boat used.

Tropical. It is very hot here in the dry season (approximately April to October) and wet and humid in the rainy season (December till March).

According to a local legend, Karimun means not clear or obvious, because in clear weather the islands can be seen from the coast of mainland Java, but not clearly.

Karimunjawa was first settled by Sunan Nyamplungan, the son of Sunan Muria, one of the Muslim Saints (Sunan) who introduced Islam to Java.

Karimunjawa is more famous than Bali (who was only a base for pirates for long) since centuries. The island has been known by navigators worldwide as a haven on the trade roads trough java sea to Borneo or Spices Islands and can be found under different names (Tortuga, Chirimao, Carimon jawa...) on all antique portulans and maps of the area.

Historical sources relate the discovery of the Archipelago by Chinese Army sent by emperor Kubhilai Khan in 1293 (they named it CHI-LI-MEN), followed by Ottoman Turkish navigators in 1403, Portuguese, Dutch, French (Bouguinville), and English. Archeological researches have found porcelains from the Ming dynasty.

Many Yachtmen stop now in Karimunjawa on their way from Australia to Thailand or the China sea or back.

Mostly low-lying islands with sandy beaches. There is some fringing mangrove around Kemujan. The highest point as Bukit Gajah at 506 meters (1,660 ft).

One can find various kinds of sea animals, like turtles, sharks, and fishes, in the watery territory of Karimunjawa. On land, there are birds, deer, monkeys and snakes. Entrance to the natural forest requires a National Park guide.

There are regular ferries from Jepara, Semarang and Kendal, except during the monsoon season from December to February when the waves may be too high for a day or two. There was a severe case on December 31, 2014 when about 500 tourists could not go back to Java due to 3.5-m-high waves and the ATMs ran out of money after 3 days, because some of the coal cargos also landed to avoid high waves and its crew also used the ATMs. Cash for at least 5 days should be prepared, because vendors still have their merchandise.

See also Weather wave forecast from Indonesia (only available in Indonesian – search “Prakiraan Tinggi Gelombang” (aka “Wave Height Forecast”).

• KMP Siginjai (slow boat, regular ferry, by ASDP). Monday 07:00, Wednesday 06:30, Friday 06:30, Saturday 07:00. Return Tuesday 07:00, Thursday 12:30, Friday 12:30, Sunday 07:00. 5 hours duration. Be at the Kartini port at least one hour before, as the ferry sometimes departs earlier than scheduled. It can be booked online with Indonesian bank account only (ask local friend or hotel). Book early if want economy class as it can get full. Economy ticket Rp 105,000, Vip ticket Rp 150,000 (better and numbered seat, AC, separate western toilets). If paying cash at counter, administrative fee Rp 9,000. (updated Apr 2024)
• Express Bahari (speed boat). M F 09:00-11:00, Sa 10:00-12:00. Return M 12:00, W 11:00, Sa 07:00, Su 11:00. In high season it may need to be booked in advance. Go to the office along the street to Jepara port or ask your hotel to do it for you. Rp 200,000-230,000. (updated Apr 2024)

All boats are only operational if the waves are none to medium.

Double-check latest schedule before travel.

The state-owned, PELNI provides two ships to go to Karimunjawa, KM. Lawit and KM. Kelimutu. The cheapest fare is Rp 90,000. You may check the schedule in the PELNI office Semarang Branch or by PELNI app.

There is also a fast boat, KMC. Kartini from Tanjung Emas Port.

Be aware that PELNI boats are using north island pier.

• Express Bahari, ☏ +62 822 4180-0700 (Kendal), +62 297 312333 (Karimunjawa). Departing Kendal for Karimunjawa at 08:30 on Tuesdays and Fridays. Departing Karimunjawa for Kendal at 12:00 on Wednesdays and Sundays. Kendal is the town immediately to the west of Semarang, reachable by bus and train. The crossing is scheduled to take two and a half hours; traveler feedback indicates three to four hours is more realistic. Schedules are not reliable and services may be cancelled at the last minute if there are not enough ticket sales. VIP tickets Rp 260,000. (updated Oct 2017)

• Day Trans, Jl. Letjen Suprapto No.55, Rw. I, Bulu, Kec. Jepara, Kabupaten Jepara, ☏ +62 851-0132-6868. Daytrans ticket can be bought on tiket.com too. Stop at Semarang, Jepara bus shop and Jepara Kartini Ferry Terminal. From Yogyakarta Rp 165,000-190,000. (updated Apr 2024)

• 🌍 Dewandaru Airport (KWB  ^IATA) (on Kemujan). There are flights with Airfast from Surabaya. Travel from the airport to town takes about 45 minutes. 
  • Airfast, ☏ +62 812 3777-9610 (Surabaya), +62 812 3777-9614 (Karimunjawa). Departing Surabaya for Karimunjawa at 11:31 on Tuesdays and 11:40 on Thursdays, arriving 1 hr 20 min later; departing Karimunjawa for Surabaya at 08:00 on Wednesdays and 13:45 on Thursdays. Tickets may be ordered over the phone but must be paid for and collected in person at the airport of departure. The system seems to be the one who pays first gets the ticket, so even if you order a ticket over the phone, it is not yours until you pay for it. Cost for a taxi from the airport to the Karimunjawa town is around Rp350,000. Rp 379,900 single for flights from Surabaya to Karimunjawa; Rp 309,900 single for flights from Karimunjawa to Surabaya. (updated Oct 2017)
  • There are direct flights from Jakarta to Karimunjawa and flights via Semarang. The second option is considered to be cheaper.

• 🌍 Alano Beach (Pantai Alano). (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Batu Putih Beach (Pantai Batu Putih) (near the airport). (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Batu Topeng Beach (Pantai Batu Topeng). (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Bobby Beach (Pantai Bobby). (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Cemara Besar Island (Pulau Cemara Besar). (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Menjangan Kecil Island (Pulau Menjangan Kecil). (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Seruni Island (Pulau Seruni). (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Sintok Island (Pulau Sintok). (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Ujung Gantungan Beach (Pantai Ujung Gantungan) (In Menjangan Besar Island). (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Ujung Gelam Beach (Pantai Ujung Gelam). (updated Aug 2022)

• 🌍 Konservasi Penyu Taman Nasional Karimunjawa. Sea turtle conservation. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Penangkaran Hiu Karimunjawa. Blacktip and whitetip reef sharks conservation. (updated Aug 2022)

• Snorkelling day tour, Pelabuhan Wisata (Pier near Alun Alun). Typical tour includes one snorkel (near Pulau Menjangan Kecil, 1 hr), one island stop for lunch and leasure (Pulau Cemara Besar, Rp 5,000), another snorkel (sea but nearest Pulau Cemara Kecil, 1 hr) and another island stop (Pulau Cemara Kecil) from 09:00 to 17:00. Staff usually has a waterproof camera and will share photos after, usually through hotel. Group up to 12 persons. May try to get your own boat/group if want specific highlight or avoid more crowded hours. Snorkelling day tour Rp 200,000-250,000 including equipment and lunch but excluding one island entrance Rp 5,000. (updated Apr 2024)

• Kemujan divers (PT. Kemujan Indah Resort), Karimunjawa Dive Resort, Kemojan RT. 3  RW. 2, Kec. (North part of the island), ☏ +62 821 2130 3005, kemujan-divers@kj-dr.com. Snorkelling excursion with divers Rp 400,000, PADI fun scuba diving Rp 1,600,000, PADI discover scuba diving Rp 1,800,000 (each includes 2 spots or dives). (updated Apr 2024)

Diving and snorkelling. There are many interesting spots for diving like Taka Panyawangan and Gosong Cemara. There are some shipwrecks that attract fish and divers alike.

• 🌍 Cilik Island (Pulau Cilik). Find a nemo. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Gelean Island (Pulau Gelean). Find a nemo. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Kemujan Island (Pulau Kemujan) (20 min by boat to wreck dive site from Kemujan Island). Shipwreck diving. The cooperation coal ship between Indonesia and Norway sank in the water of Kemujan in 1960. (updated Aug 2022)

You can also go hiking around the island to find many places where there is a beautiful panorama.

• 🌍 Love Hill (Bukit Love). (updated Aug 2022)

It's unclear if still possible. Some report main site has closed.

• 🌍 Mangrove Area Tourism (Kawasan Wisata Mangrove). (updated Aug 2022)

• DeepSky villa astro night, Ds. Legon Goprak, Dk. Alang-Alang, RT.02/RW.04, ☏ +62 81392859191, deepskyvilla@gmail.com. Rp 100,000. (updated Apr 2024)

• Bakso ikan ekor kuning, a fish ball soup.
• Lontong krubyuk, a rice cake with chicken, cabbage, tofu, and bean sprout in a brown soup.
• Tongseng cumi, squid in a sweet and spicy gravy.

Surrounded by sea, Karimunjawa offers lots of seafood. Fresh fish and prawns are staples in the island diet. Restaurants are located within hotels. Other eateries, or warungs, provide decent cheap food like fried rice, fish, or an assortment of veggies. Be flexible and you'll do fine.

• 🌍 Alun-alun Karimunjawa. In the alun-alun (town public park), there are a lot of seafood stalls. They serve grilled fish and the local dish tongseng cumi. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Bakso Ikan Ekor Kuning Bu Daton, Karimunjawa. Serves bakso ikan ekor kuning. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Eat & Meet, Jl H Dr Soetomo RT01 RW02 (near the ATM), ☏ +62 297 319-1103. Wood-fired pizza, pasta, beer, ice cream. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Warung Makan Sami Roso, Jl. Dr. Sutomo. 05:00-11:00. Serves lontong krubyuk. (updated Apr 2024)
• 🌍 Warung Makan Ester Simple Fresh (Warung Ibu Esther), Kabupaten Jepara (On Alun Alun). 06:00-22:00. Do your own plate, usually Rp 20,000-30,000. (updated Apr 2024)

• 🌍 The Happinezz Hills, Jl. I. J. Kasimo (on a hill near viewpoint Bukit Love), ☏ +62 877-3779-3332, Info@thehappinezzhills.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Offers 12 double rooms, 4 twin rooms, and 1 family bungalow. Every room has been decorated in one of these four themes: beach, ocean, nature or sunset, based on the beautiful surroundings. The swimming pool includes a pool bar. A daily Western and Asian breakfast is served in the onsite restaurant. Scooters for rent. 

• 🌍 Mulya Indah Homestay, Jl. Pemuda, ☏ +62 812 260 06329. From Rp80,000. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Arriani Homestay, Jl. Pangeran Diponegoro (near the main mosque), ☏ +62 818 086 56588. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. room fan Rp 115,000-135,000, ac Rp 225,000-250,000. (updated Apr 2024)
• 🌍 The Bodhi Tree Hostel & Chill, Karimunjawa, Kabupaten Jepara, Jawa Tengah, ☏ +62 812-3922-2203. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 10:00. shared/private bathroom+toilet (dorm attached cold water only, other one with hot water, toilet paper, toilet gun), towel, soap, wifi, rooftop. dorm Rp 80,000, double room Rp 400,000, snorkelling day tour Rp 250,000, breakfast Rp 35,000, main course Rp 35,000-60,000, drink Rp 25,000. (updated Apr 2024)
• 🌍 L'isola che... Hostel - rooms & dormitory, Jl. Perintis, Karimunjawa, Kabupaten Jepara, Jawa Tengah, ☏ +62 812-3962-4782. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. shared/private bathroom, wifi. dorm Rp 170,000, double room Rp 300,000-415,000 including breakfast, snorkelling day tour Rp 250,000. (updated Apr 2024)

• 🌍 Roemah Emak Villa. A relaxing home for family, next to the beach. (updated Jan 2018)

• 🌍 Blue Laguna Inn. (updated Aug 2022)

• 🌍 Dewadaru Resort. (updated Aug 2022)

• 🌍 Wisma Apung Karimunjawa. A hotel in the middle of the sea. (updated Aug 2022)

• 🌍 Escape Beach hotel. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Halo Sustainable Resort, Jl. Kemojan, ☏ +62 812 222 33979. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. From Rp668,801. (updated Dec 2022)

• 🌍 Kura-kura Resort, ☏ +62 24 7663-2510, info@kurakuraresort.com. On Menyawakan Island. Shaded by coconut trees and surrounded by white sand beaches and pristine coral reefs. A high class hotel with scuba facilities. (updated Jan 2018)
• 🌍 Breve Azurine Lagoon Resort (Jiwaquest), ☏ +62 297 319-1059, breveazurine@gmail.com. Five minutes to the east of Karimunjawa town, on Lele lagoon. Twelve rooms, 2 restaurants and bars. (updated Jan 2018)