3D2N Couple's Budget Trip to Tanjung Balai Karimun, Indonesia

Tanjung Balai Karimun, nestled on Karimun Island in Indonesia, is a small city island for those seeking relaxation and natural beauty. The town's diverse cultural influences offer a taste of Malay, Javanese, and Chinese traditions, while local markets and culinary delights reflect its rich heritage. Here is a 3-day Muslim-friendly itinerary to Tanjung Balai, contributed by HHWT Explorer Nur Aini Zulkifli, who took a short trip to rest and relax, together with her husband!

Day 1: Arrival at Tanjung Balai Terminal

• Take a ferry from Harbourfront to Tanjung Balai through Sindo Ferry
• The duration of the journey is about an approximate of 1.5 hours!
• For a return trip, the fee is about $95

Accommodation: Aston Karimun City Hotel

• The journey to Aston Karimun City Hotel is 10-15 mins from the ferry terminal by car!

Address: Jl. Pertambangan, Tj. Balai Karimun, Kec. Karimun, Kabupaten Karimun, Kepulauan Riau, 29161, Indonesia
Website

Afternoon

Lunch: RM. Minang Jaya

• Nasi Padang is a famous dish in Indonesia, so start off your trip with that!
• Go to Minang Jaya for authentic Nasi Padang
• Only a 5-minute drive away from the accommodation!

Address: Jl. Pramuka, Tj. Balai Karimun, Balai, Kabupaten Karimun, Kepulauan Riau 29661, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 7.30am - 3.30am daily

Evening

Dinner: Night Market

• Head over to Seaside Coastal Area Tanjung Balai Karimun, near the edge of the island!
• There is a night market is made up of a whole stretch of food stalls along the beach!
• Walk around the night market to try the spread of different traditional food offered!
• Must-try items: Mie Ayam, Martabak Manis, Ayam Gerek!
  

Address: XCRR+9V6, Jl. Lkr., Tlk. Air, Kec. Karimun, Kabupaten Karimun, Kepulauan Riau 29661, Indonesia

Day 2: Shopping

Afternoon

Brunch: RM. Minang Jaya

• Head back to Minang Jaya for brunch!
• Note: Ain mentioned that the island is quite small, so finding halal food places was tough, which is why she visited the same place again!

Dessert: Omah Es

• Omah Es is a great dessert place for durian lovers, as many go there to try their Durian Ice dish!
• If you are not a fan of durian, you can try some of their other ice dishes here!

Address: Jl. MT. Haryono, Tlk. Uma, Kec. Tebing, Kabupaten Karimun, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 11am - 7pm daily

Evening

Activity: Shopping!

1. Padi Mas Department Store

• This is the place to go to shop for household items!
• Take note, it is connected to Padi Mas hotel, so look out for the hotel if you are having trouble finding it!

Address: Jl. Pertambangan No.73, Tj. Balai Karimun, Kec. Karimun, Tanjung Balai Karimun, Kepulauan Riau 29663, Indonesia

2. Central hijab

• Good place to shop for hijabs or even clothes!
• This shop offers various types of hijabs, such as Sharia hijab, Pashmina, Plisket, Modern, Instant hijab, Rectangular hijab, Khimar, Maryam and others.

Address: XCQP+X76, Tanjung Balai Karimun, Karimun, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands 29661, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 8am - 9pm daily

Dinner: RM. Minang Jaya Baran

• Go to a different Minang Jaya outlet for seafood at night.
• Usually, different Minang Jaya outlets will have a different variety of dishes.
• After dinner, head back to the accommodation to get an early night before the ferry back in the morning.

Address: Rm. Minang Jaya, Jl. Jenderal Ahmad Yani No.1, Baran, Kec. Meral, Kabupaten Karimun, Kepulauan Riau 29664, Indonesia

Opening Hours: Open 24 Hours daily

Day 3: Leaving The Island

Morning

• Head back to the ferry terminal
• The ferry from Tanjung Balai to Singapore only operates at two timings, at 7.30 am and 2 pm!
• Do note the timings might change depending on the day of booking!
• Tip: If you want more flexible timings, you can transit to Batam instead, then go to Tanjung Balai from there!

Tips For Travellers Going To Tanjung Balai

Transportation:

• Tanjung Balai is a small island, so it is recommended that you rent a car or a driver for your whole trip, so that they can drive you around to places easily.
• Take note! There is no Grab around the island, only its local public transportation, so the best option for travellers is to rent a car.

Local Etiquette:

• Since Tanjung Balai is a small island, do take note that most of them are village people!
• Always be down to earth, to be able to adapt to the people around you.
• The majority of the locals are soft-spoken and polite people, so feel free to ask for help if you need any while still being aware of your surroundings!
• Enjoy your time and have fun.

This article is written by HHWT Explorer Nur Aini Zulkifli. If you're interested in sharing your travel story with us, send us an email at editorial@havehalalwilltravel.com