To visit the islands, you can take a boat which doesn't take much time because the location is adjacent. There is also a boat that has glass at the bottom. This is a perfect choice if you don’t want to dive but still curious to see coral reefs and fish. Karimunjawa National Park consists of 27 groups of small islands and 5 islands among them are populated, i.e. Parang Island, Nyamuk Island, Karimunjawa Island, Kemujan Island and Genting Island. Those islands have white sand and look so clear and natural.
Actually, there are many favorite islands that become the main attraction for tourists here, i.e. Menjangan Besar Island, Tajung Gelam Island, Cemara Kecil Island, Cemara Besar Island and Menjangan Kecil Island. And now, let's visit those islands one by one.
Menjangan Besar Island
On this island, you can find shark breeding. You can challenge yourself to stand or swim together with the sharks. Don’t be afraid because they are tame and friendly to human being.
Menjangan Kecil Island
On this island, you can find colorful fish and they look so beautiful. Besides that, the seabed is clear. Thus, if you like snorkeling, Menjangan Kecil Island is the right place for you.
Cemara Kecil Island and Cemara Besar Island
Both islands have pine trees, and perhaps the name of the islands comes from the tree. In Bahasa Indonesia, Cemara means pine. The other uniqueness in these islands is the coastline has white sand and jutting into the sea.
Tanjung Gelam Island
This is a beautiful island with a stretch of white sand and clear water with turquoise color. Everyone will love to come and relax here.
Location
Karimunjawa Island lies at Jave Sea, north of Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia. To reach the island, there are many options, i.e.
By speedboat from Semarang City.
From Semarang, you can go to Karimunjawa Islands through Tanjung Emas Port by speed boat. It takes around 4 – 6 hours depend on the weather.
By Speedboat from Jepara
From Jepara, you can go to Karimunjawa through Kartini Port. You can choose speedboat or a ferry that is slower and cheaper that takes around 2.5 – 3 hours.
By plane
If you have enough budget, traveling by a plane is the easiest choice. By small plane from Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang, you can go to Dewa Daru Airport in Kemujan Island. This is one of the islands in Karimunjawa. From the height, you can see the beauty of Karimunjawa Island before you landing. It will take around 30 minutes.
Accommodations
Beside enjoying the beauty of the sea and beaches, you also can visit traditional market or visiting fishermen that fish in the sea to get fish. If you want to spend the night in Karimunjawa Islands, there are many lodges, luxurious resorts and affordable hotels in the small islands. Even, local residents provide Homestays for tourists who want to enjoy the natural atmosphere with cheaper rates.
But, if you like to enjoy something different, you can stay in Wisma Apung. This is a floating lodge and the distance is not too far from the coastline. The rate to stay in in the Homestay is around IDR65,000 – IDR125,000 or US$6.5 – US$12.5 per night. In the hotel, the rate is around IDR200,000 – IDR2,500,000 or US$20 – US$250 per night.
Activities
Strolling in the island is the first activity you can do to explore Karimunjawa. You only need to pay around IDR350, 000 – IDR450,000 or US$35 – US$45 by hiring a boat from fishermen to go to many snorkeling spots. If you don’t bring snorkeling equipment, you can rent from them by paying IDR35,000 – IDR50,000 or US$3.5 – US$5. By snorkeling, you can see wonderful underwater life, such as coral reefs, colorful fish, and crystal water.
After snorkeling, you can visit Gosongan Seloka. The island can be visited only when the tide is low. Local resident calls the island as Gosongan because the island is fulfilled by sand and there is no vegetation. Gosongan is located at Tanjung Seloka. That is why the island is known as Gosongan Seloka. The best time to visit the island is from 13.00 pm or 15.00 pm. To reach Gosongan Seloka, you have to walk or swim. Don’t forget to wear your shoes to avoid you from the poison of stone fish.
After enjoying Gosongan Seloka, you can go to Cilik Island. But,if you want to enjoy complete adventure, you have to bring an underwater camera. The beauty of underwater life is so stunning. By walking for about 15 minutes from Cilik Island, you can visit one of the favorite snorkeling spot, i.e. Tengah Island. The island has sea anemones and hard coral. You also can see cute fish and other marine life.
When you visit Karimunjawa, you have to get up early to enjoy sunrise in Palem Beach. Bring your camera to capture the exotic scenery in the morning. When the day starts to hot, you can continue visiting the Menjangan Besar Island. By paying IDR5,000 or US$0.5, you swim together with baby sharks. The shark breeding lies around 15 minutes by walking from Karimunjawa Pier. This is kind of floating house in the middle of the sea. If you come inside, you will see if this building is made from wood. Around the building, there are two big ponds that are full of sharks. You can swim together with the sharks and other fish freely.
The next destination is the Menjangan Kecil Island. It takes around 20 minutes from the Menjangan Besar Island. The panorama in this island is so amazing. You can snorkeling, kayaking and playing banana boat to challenge your adrenaline. When you visit this island, don’t forget to bring the white bread because you can feed the fish here.
The best time to visit Karimunjawa Island is from March to October because the weather more friendly to you and you can explore many islands there.
Location
Karimunjawa Island lies at Jave Sea, north of Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia. To reach the island, there are many options, i.e.
By speedboat from Semarang City.
From Semarang, you can go to Karimunjawa Islands through Tanjung Emas Port by speed boat. It takes around 4 – 6 hours depend on the weather.
By Speedboat from Jepara
From Jepara, you can go to Karimunjawa through Kartini Port. You can choose speedboat or a ferry that is slower and cheaper that takes around 2.5 – 3 hours.
By plane
If you have enough budget, traveling by a plane is the easiest choice. By small plane from Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang, you can go to Dewa Daru Airport in Kemujan Island. This is one of the islands in Karimunjawa. From the height, you can see the beauty of Karimunjawa Island before you landing. It will take around 30 minutes.
Accommodations
Beside enjoying the beauty of the sea and beaches, you also can visit traditional market or visiting fishermen that fish in the sea to get fish. If you want to spend the night in Karimunjawa Islands, there are many lodges, luxurious resorts and affordable hotels in the small islands. Even, local residents provide Homestays for tourists who want to enjoy the natural atmosphere with cheaper rates.
But, if you like to enjoy something different, you can stay in Wisma Apung. This is a floating lodge and the distance is not too far from the coastline. The rate to stay in in the Homestay is around IDR65,000 – IDR125,000 or US$6.5 – US$12.5 per night. In the hotel, the rate is around IDR200,000 – IDR2,500,000 or US$20 – US$250 per night.
Activities
Strolling in the island is the first activity you can do to explore Karimunjawa. You only need to pay around IDR350, 000 – IDR450,000 or US$35 – US$45 by hiring a boat from fishermen to go to many snorkeling spots. If you don’t bring snorkeling equipment, you can rent from them by paying IDR35,000 – IDR50,000 or US$3.5 – US$5. By snorkeling, you can see wonderful underwater life, such as coral reefs, colorful fish, and crystal water.
After snorkeling, you can visit Gosongan Seloka. The island can be visited only when the tide is low. Local resident calls the island as Gosongan because the island is fulfilled by sand and there is no vegetation. Gosongan is located at Tanjung Seloka. That is why the island is known as Gosongan Seloka. The best time to visit the island is from 13.00 pm or 15.00 pm. To reach Gosongan Seloka, you have to walk or swim. Don’t forget to wear your shoes to avoid you from the poison of stone fish.
After enjoying Gosongan Seloka, you can go to Cilik Island. But,if you want to enjoy complete adventure, you have to bring an underwater camera. The beauty of underwater life is so stunning. By walking for about 15 minutes from Cilik Island, you can visit one of the favorite snorkeling spot, i.e. Tengah Island. The island has sea anemones and hard coral. You also can see cute fish and other marine life.
When you visit Karimunjawa, you have to get up early to enjoy sunrise in Palem Beach. Bring your camera to capture the exotic scenery in the morning. When the day starts to hot, you can continue visiting the Menjangan Besar Island. By paying IDR5,000 or US$0.5, you swim together with baby sharks. The shark breeding lies around 15 minutes by walking from Karimunjawa Pier. This is kind of floating house in the middle of the sea. If you come inside, you will see if this building is made from wood. Around the building, there are two big ponds that are full of sharks. You can swim together with the sharks and other fish freely.
The next destination is the Menjangan Kecil Island. It takes around 20 minutes from the Menjangan Besar Island. The panorama in this island is so amazing. You can snorkeling, kayaking and playing banana boat to challenge your adrenaline. When you visit this island, don’t forget to bring the white bread because you can feed the fish here.
The best time to visit Karimunjawa Island is from March to October because the weather more friendly to you and you can explore many islands there.
