Karimun Jawa is located 3 hours of boat ride from Semarang (capital city of Central Java) or 6 hours of public ferry ride from Jepara town (1,5 hour from Semarang). It lies the calm and friendly northern sea of Java . the Islands gets its Marine Park status since 2001, and home of thousands of coral reefs, mangrove and tropical forests, hundreds of sea creature species and also rare eagle, and turtles.
Getting Here & Around
The closest city that serves ferry transfers to and from Karimun Jawa is Semarang (capital of Central Java) and Jepara town
From Jakarta
Bus to Semarang / Jepara
Jakartans (mostly youngsters) can take bus on Friday (departs at 7 PM) and arrives in Semarang the next morning then proceed to Tanjung Mas Pier to take Kartini I Passenger Ferry (leaves at 8.30 AM) and Arrives at Karimun Jawa 3 hours later. Jepara is likely the 2nd choice if the Kartini ferry is not operating since ferry ride from Jepara pier will take 6-frustrating hours to Karimun Jawa. You can check the bus rate Terminal Kampung Rambutan or Terminal Rawamangun. Many backpacking tour operators offers trip to Karimun Jawa, just google it. I joined this trip arranged by Mr Reno, check here
Train
Air-conditioned trains are available from Jakarta to Semarang. The best is Argo Muria. but please take a look at the schedule, as the boat to Karimun Jawa leaves Semarang at 8.30 PM. If you wish to stay overnight in Semarang, take the morning train, so you will have time in the afternoon to enjoy Semarang. Took approx. 6 hours from Jakarta’s Gambir Train Station. Check the schedule here
Airplane
Some national airlines serve Jakarta-Semarang route daily, you can check Lion Air http://www2.lionair.co.id/Default.aspx
Batavia Air http://www.batavia-air.com/etiket/ Sriwijaya Air http://www.sriwijayaair-online.com/
Mandala http://book.mandalaair.com/Search.aspx
Accommodation
You can’t say this is an off-beaten path as accommodations are available for every budget and style. Kura-Kura Resort occupied one the most beautiful island with rate starting from USD 300 and Nirvana Lodge is a gorgeous beachfront resort
For a memorable experience, do stay in Wisma Apung Jaya, a humble retreat located above the sea. It has baby shark captive underneath our rooms. Take a full adrenaline-rush experience and swim with the sharks!. From the hotel, take a walk through the shallow sea and you’ll find a spot to enjoy beautiful sunset. Curious about the bathroom? Just go there and see for yourself :)
Contact : Wisma Apung Jaya (Ms. Nurul : +62813 25110999)
Sights & Activities
Cilik Island
On the way to this small island, we encountered a few wild dolphins. I’ve never seen such happy and playful creatures that keep on jumping besides our long-tail boat, it was quite a surprise, as the boat driver said this is the first time he bought tourists and encounter wild dolphins. Cilik island is a private-owned island. There’s no body in the wooden-bungalows, as we thought this would be such great place to stay, but the guide told us it’s not for rent. We spent two hours jumping from the dock jumping to the clear-refreshing water, snorkel around and get surprised of how beautiful the marine life Karimun Jawa has. We gather on one of the bungalow’s terrace and had an early-prepared lunch in the box.
Tengah Island
Boat leaves Cilik Island to Tengah Island where more variety of cute colorful fishes and healthy corals found, I feed the fish and snorkel around and around the same spot more than five times and don’t even interested to go to the island. The fish, the corals, the reefs, the algae, they looked magical!
Cemara Besar Island
Remember those pictures of white sandy beach, clear bluish water?. I never really 100% believe if those pictures are real or had been photoshop-ed. But here’s the thing : the dream beach of Cemara Besar island had such panoramic view that you don’t even have to photoshop anything!. It has a unique shape, it has a rounded-shape beach as big as a basketball court, it’s not as grand as Maya Bay in Thailand, but with the softest-white sand, a mountain at the background, and the crystal clear water (it’s so clear and shallow that the water color is not blue anymore, but… clear!, Now I have seen the real crystal-clear water!), I guess it’s not an over-statement if I say Dream Beach is a slice of Heaven.
You may also want to check out Bird Island (Pulau burung ) and Gelean Island as well as Pygmy Sea-horses captive.
Events
17 Agustus
Well there aren’t many festivals as in other areas of Java, I was lucky to see the celebration of Independence Day in Karimun Jawa, people gathered in the field, dance to dangdut music and enjoy the fireworks.
Ferry Schedule & Price
Fast Passenger Boat Kartini I
Semarang – Karimun Jawa
Travel time : 3 – 3,5 hours
Reservation :
Budi Utomo : 081 328 266 781
Schedule
Monday [Every 1st and 3rd week of the month]
Semarang – Karimun Jawa, 07:00 AM
Saturday : Semarang – Karimun Jawa, 08.30 AM
Sunday: Karimun Jawa – Semarang, 14.00 AM
Tuesday [Every 1st and 3rd week of the month]
Karimun Jawa – Semarang, 11:00 AM
Ticket Price :
VIP Class
Semarang – Karimun Jawa : Rp. 131.000
Karimun Jawa – Semarang : Rp. 128.000
Business Class
Semarang – Karimun Jawa : Rp. 111.000
Karimun Jawa – Semarang : Rp. 108.000
Ferry “Muria”
travel time : 5 – 6 hours
Reservation
ASDP (Indonesian Ferry Company) Jepara : +62291 591048
Retno : +62812 2895510
Schedule
1. Wednesday: Jepara – Karimun Jawa, 08:30 AM
2. Thursday: Karimun Jawa – Jepara, 08:30 AM
3. Saturday: Jepara – Karimun Jawa, 08:30 AM
4. Sunday: Karimun Jawa – Jepara, 08:30 AM
Ticket Price:
VIP: Rp. 49.000
Business: Rp. 24.100
Car: Rp. 215.000
Motorcycle: Rp. 22.000
1 komentar:
hahay! jadi ini tho hasilnya pas lu tanya2 kemarin?
hehehe.
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