Abang Island in Batam City, Riau Islands Province

Riau Islands Province is one of the most interesting regions in Indonesia and it has become an amazing vacation destination, especially for those who love water sports and island hopping. As people may expect, they would find lots of beautiful islands in that region. One of them is called Abang Island! In terms of region, it belongs to Galang Sub-District of Batam City, actually. The island offers stunning sea scenery and great spots for snorkeling! This inhabited island is indeed popular for its underwater beauty, as well. No wonder, many foreigners often come there, too!

The Nuance
According to the locals, there are about 1500 people living in Abang Island. That means tourists can expect some facilities and accommodations there. Thus, everyone can rent snorkeling gear and other equipment easily. Not to mention they can enjoy great foods at local eateries. As for the nuance, the island has breezy wind and warm atmosphere. The best spots are indeed the shores where crystal clear water and stunning shorelines reside. The clarity is excellent, so tourists can see corals and fishes clearly down there.

Exploring Abang Island
The first thing to enjoy when visiting Abang Island is definitely the trip. It is because tourists need to undergo a long and adventurous trip in order to reach the island. It starts from Batam Island and the first destination is the “6” bridge. From this spot, tourists can ride a boat and head directly to the island. The fee depends on the time of the visit, actually. That means it may cost more during holidays and weekends. Thus, tourists should carry enough cash when visiting the island later (especially during holidays).

Once arriving at Abang Island, tourists can start enjoying various activities like beach walking and water sports. The most popular one is snorkeling, actually. Once again, they must ride a boat and head to the snorkeling spots. This may take about 45 minutes! Tourists also need to wear a safety jacket when riding the boat. Next, once arriving at the snorkeling spots, they can get in the sea right away. This can be done either alone or with an instructor! The service costs more money, though.

While snorkeling, tourists may see various exotic fishes and corals, including the famous clownfish or Nemo! One thing, no one is allowed to step on the corals! Here is the tip. Tourists must carry a waterproof camera, so they can take photos under the sea comfortably! Lots of beautiful objects can be found down there, after all.

Nearby Attractions

• Galang Island
• Mesanak Island

How to Get There
For those coming from Jakarta City, they can take an airplane at Soekarno – Hatta International Airport and head to Batam City directly. This flight may take around 1 hour and 35 minutes at least. Next, after arriving at Hang Nadim Airport, they should head to Jembatan 6 in order to get a boat service. Their destination would be Abang Island!

As an alternative, tourists can take a boat at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta City and head to Sri Bintan Pura Port in Tanjung Pinang. This may take much time, though, which is about 45 hours. Next, from Sri Bintan Pura, they can directly head to Galang Island first and head to Abang Island afterward. This may take about 2 hours.

Where to Stay

• Kepri Coral Inn