Islands Near Batam: Which You Can Reach, and How

Of the small islands near Batam in this guide, only Nirup has a published ferry timetable and fare from Singapore. Most others have no official schedule, and we found no boat price for them. For island hopping from Singapore, book Nirup through Harbour Bay for a same-day trip, or start from Batam with a local boat you have checked yourself.

Which islands near Batam can you really reach?

This table shows only what official pages confirm. Where it says "not published", we looked and found no official figure. Years in brackets mark older government pages.

We found no official visitor route for Ngenang or Karas. In 2021, Batam's tourism head said visitor transport to Ngenang was still not enough. In 2020, the city described Pulau Karas Kecil's protected turtles as tourism potential, not as a service. We could not confirm details for Panjang, Petong, Hantu, Dedap, Tunjuk, Labun, Mencaras or Bulang Lintang.

Nirup: the island with a published timetable

Nirup has the clearest official details, with The Westin's rooms and overwater villas and Riahi's 2 to 4-bedroom villas with kitchens. See our pages on The Westin Nirup and Riahi Villas.

Horizon's published schedule:

The Singapore route costs S$76 economy or S$116 business, return, and you check in at Singapore Cruise Centre. Horizon says schedules can change, so check at its counter. The Batam to Nirup boat is listed at IDR 600,000 return.

The trap in a Nirup day trip

The direct ferry does not work as a day trip. It lands at 12:50 and the only sailing back to Singapore leaves at 13:15, so you would have 25 minutes on the island.

The same-day route goes through Batam:

1. Horizon's 08:15 from HarbourFront is 07:15 in Batam. After its 45-minute crossing, you reach Harbour Bay at about 08:00 and clear immigration.
2. Buy the Nirup ticket (IDR 600,000 return) at Horizon's counter on the 2nd floor of Bayfront Mall, and take the 09:15 boat.
3. Arrive at 09:45. Take the 17:00 boat back and reach Harbour Bay at 17:30.
4. Catch a Horizon sailing to HarbourFront. The last one leaves at 20:30.

That gives you 7 hours 15 minutes on Nirup. Immigration queues are not published, so allow for them on the first leg.

If you want a private base, the Villa Day Pass is IDR 5,000,000 for up to four people. It excludes the boat and requires a passport. Check-out is 5pm, the same time as the last boat to Harbour Bay, so ask Nirup how those fit together before you book.

Belakang Padang, Abang and Ranoh

Belakang Padang is the easiest to pair with a Batam stay. Batam's government describes the Sekupang pancung port as its main access (2022). Nirup also runs an excursion at 10:00 for IDR 400,000 per person, with a minimum of four guests. Bring rupiah, as the island has no currency exchange.

Abang is for snorkellers, and it is a long day. The Tourism Ministry's route is about 1.5 hours by road, then a motor boat for about 12km. We would stay in Batam the night before instead of trying it from Singapore. Our 3D2N itinerary and where to stay guide can help you plan that.

Ranoh is a resort island. Its own page gives a road time but no jetty, boat or fare details, so call them first on (+62) 812 6883 1110. For what it offers on the water, see our water sports guide.

Clear immigration before you go island hopping

Start any island trip after you have cleared immigration at an official point. Indonesia's immigration law says an immigration officer must check everyone who enters, at a checkpoint. Boats carrying arriving passengers must also land them at a checkpoint and nowhere else.

So do not agree to a boat from Singapore to a small jetty. For Nirup, the island says normal immigration rules apply. Our entry requirements guide covers the rest.

Before you step on a small boat

We found no official page giving a safe season for boats around Batam, and no published safety rules for local pompong trips.

• Check the sea: BMKG publishes high-wave warnings and a 3-day wave forecast. Look on the morning of your trip.
• Check the boat: the UK advises checking for life jackets and lifeboats before you travel, as standards vary. If there are none for your children, do not board.
• Agree the return: settle the price and pick-up time before you leave the jetty, and take the boatman's number.
• Save the number: Basarnas rescue is 115. See our emergency page and is Batam safe?.

Which island should you pick?

• Same-day trip from Singapore: Nirup, through Harbour Bay.
• Overnight with family: Nirup, or compare the resorts in Batam.
• Snorkelling: Abang, with a night in Batam first.
• No boat at all: a Barelang day trip, where Galang is reached by road.
• A resort stay on another island: Bintan has its own ferries. See Batam vs Bintan.
• More choice: browse lesser-known Batam places and Batam beaches.