The nearest airport is on Palau Batam, so you'll need to head back there for domestic flights.For International flights heading to Singapore or Kukup Pontian, Malaysiawould be the best option. International seaport tax is 60,000 IDR.
Connections by sea are limited to one Pelni boat per week and various fast boat services to different Sumatran ports.
From The Other Riau Islands
Numerous companies offer ferry services to/from Bintan, Batam and the other Riau Islands.
From Batam:
Regular ferries link Tanjung Balai with Sekupang domestic ferry terminal on Batam. Many of these ferries originate from or are heading to the Sumatra mainland or Kundur Island. Tickets cost Rp. 70.000 one-way excluding Rp. 1.000 port tax & Rp. 1.000 insuranceFrom Bintan:
Ferry company Arena operate regular ferries between Tanjung Balai and Tanjung Pinang, the main town on Bintan. The ferries also stop at Sekupang on Batam enroute.From Kundur Island:
The Miko Natalia 3 links Tanjung Balai with Tanjung Batu, the main town on Kundur Island several times daily. Tickets cost Rp. 46,000 one-way before port taxes. Journey time is over one hour, longer if stops are made at islands along the way. The ferry continues its journey to Sekupang on Batam.
From Malaysia
Several companies operate frequent ferries between Tanjung Balai and Kukup, pontian in the southwestern part of Johor.
MV Ocean Indoma
ferries leave Kukup at 1145 and 1700. From Tanjung Balai, ferries leave at 0930 and 1430.New ferry service operated by Esnergy Enterprise Sdn. Bhd. Tel: +60-7-4288181 in Batu Pahat, +62-777-324355 in Tanjung Balai links Tanjung Balai and Batu Pahat, the 2nd largest city in Johor State. From Batu Pahat, ferries depart at 0900, 1200 and 1500. Tickets cost RM70/95 one-way/return excluding RM10 port tax/boarding fee. From Tanjung Balai, ferries leave at 0800, 1100 and 1400 and cost Rp 170.000/240.000 one-way/return excluding Rp 10.000 port tax/boarding fee.
MAPS Needed
From Other Parts Of Indonesia
A Pelni boat KM Kelud leaves Tanjung Balai every Wednesday at 8am for Jakarta, taking 31 hours Ekonomi/Class III Wisata Rp 255.000/Rp 375.000. The same boat leaves Tanjung Balai every Saturday at 7pm for Belawan, the port for Medan, taking 17 hours Ekonomi/Class III Wisata Rp 180.000/Rp 260.000. For more information on Pelni departure schedules and fare, contact PT. Biro Perjalanan Karimun at Jalan Nusantara No. 1, Tanjung Balai, Pulau Karimun. â +62-777-324132 fax: +62-777-327176.
From The Sumatra Mainland
Warning:This info may be confused with Tanjung Balai Asahan
Regular ferries link Sumatra port cities like Dumai, Pekanbaru, Selat Panjang all in Riau province, and Kuaka Tungkal in Jambi with Tanjung Balai. Most of these ferries continue to Tanjung Pinang, the main town in Bintan, stopping at Sekupang on Batam enroute.
From Singapore
Penguin Tel: +62-777-324300 in Tanjung Balai; +65-62714866 in HarbourFront and Indofalcon Tel: +65-62783167 in Harbourfront ferry companies operate ferries between Tanjung Balai and Singapore's HarbourFront Centre. Between them, they run 4 trips.From Singapore:0800,1140,1500,1820 in Singapore time.From Tg. Balai:0730,1100,1400,1700 in Tg. Balai time. From Singapore, tickets cost S$63 return before Indonesian port taxes or Rp 110.000 one-way before port taxes Rp 65.000 from Tanjung Balai. Journey time is about one and a half hours.
Please note that the two companies' code-sharing agreement allows you to board any ferry at Tanjung Balai for the return leg to Singapore only if you hold a return ticket that was purchased in Singapore. If you buy your ticket in Tanjung Balai, you can only board the ferry of the company from which you buy the ticket.