Derawan Island is a hidden gem that captures the hearts of travelers, making it a must-visit destination after Bali. If you’re vacationing in Bali and considering exploring another equally stunning island, Derawan is a great choice.
Getting from Bali to Derawan is an adventure involving land, sea, and air travel. If you’re unsure about how to reach Derawan Island from Bali, this article has covered it for you. We’ve put together a guide to help you make your way to Derawan Island.
Where is Derawan
The Derawan Islands are located in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. These islands, which include Maratua, Derawan, Sangalaki, and Kakaban, are beautiful and largely unknown to outsiders.
Derawan’s underwater world is a paradise for divers, often compared to the beauty of Raja Ampat. In Kakaban, you can swim in a lake inhabited by four types of stingless. Sangalaki is an unhabituated island, that hosts a turtle conservation area. With its untouched beauty, Derawan is definitely a place to consider after Bali.
How to Get to Derawan From Bali
Because Derawan is quite remote, you can reach it by plane and boat. Keep in mind that there are no direct flights from Bali to Derawan. Instead, you must fly to the nearest airport and then continue your journey by speedboat, as the island is only accessible by boat.
There are 2 airports located in two different cities that serve as gateways to the island. The following explains the route you can choose to reach Derawan from Bali.
From Bali to Derawan via Tarakan
Tarakan is a city in the province of North Kalimantan, Indonesia. You can reach Derawan island via Tarakan by plane then connect with the boat. Here’s how to get to the island via Tarakan.
Plane Trip to Derawan
Tarakan has an airport that serves as a gateway to Derawan. You can reach Derawan via Tarakan by flying from Ngurah Rai Airport [DPS] to Juwata Tarakan Airport [TRK]. So far, there are no direct flights from Bali to Tarakan; however, some flights provide connecting flights that transit to several major cities. Here are some flight options that you can consider
A. Ngurah Rai Airport [DPS] to Juwata Tarakan Airport [TRK] with Lion Air
- Details of the flight: The flight departs from Ngurah Rai Airport at 15:15 and arrives at Juwata Tarakan Airport at 19:45. It takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, including one stopover at Juanda Airport [SUB]
- Estimated cost: This flight is operated by Lion Air, and it will cost you start from USD 170
B. Ngurah Rai Airport [DPS] to Juwata Tarakan Airport [TRK] with Super Air Jet
- Details of the flight: The flight departs from Ngurah Rai Airport at 08:40 and arrives at Juwata Tarakan Airport at 19:45. It takes approximately 11 hours and 5 minutes, including one stopover at Juanda Airport [SUB]
- Estimated cost: This flight is operated by SuperAir Jet, and it will cost you start from USD 152
Boat Trip to Derawan
Arriving at Juwata Tarakan Airport, you must continue your journey to Tengkayu Harbor in Tarakan City to catch a boat to Derawan. The harbor is about 5 kilometers from the airport. You can rent a speedboat at the harbor to reach and explore Derawan Island, which takes around 2 to 3 hours to get to the island.
From Bali to Derawan via Berau
Berau Regency is one of the regencies in East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. The following steps allow you to access Derawan via Berau.
Plane Trip to Derawan
You can access Derawan Island via Berau by flying from Ngurah Rai Airport [DPS] to Kalimarau Berau Airport [BEJ]. Although there are no direct flights to Berau, several airlines provide connecting flights with transit to several cities with the following options:
A. Ngurah Rai Airport [DPS] to Kalimarau Berau Airport [BEJ] via Surabaya
- Details of the flight: The flight departs from Ngurah Rai Airport at 08:25 and arrives at Kalimarau Berau Airport [BEJ] at 13:40. It takes approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes, including one stopover at Juanda Airport [SUB]
- Estimated cost: This flight is operated by AirAsia Indonesia + BatikAir, and it will cost you start from USD 166
B. Ngurah Rai Airport [DPS] to Kalimarau Berau Airport [BEJ] via Balikpapan
- Details of the flight: The flight departs from Ngurah Rai Airport at 10:45 and arrives at Kalimarau Berau Airport [BEJ] at 15:15. It takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, including one stopover at Sepinggan Airport [BPN]
- Estimated cost: This flight is operated by Citilink, and it will cost you start from USD 185
Boat Trip to Derawan
From Kalimarau Airport, you must continue your journey to Tanjung Batu Harbor, about 100 kilometers away. You can rent a car from the airport to the harbor, which takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Once you arrive at the harbor, you can rent a speedboat to start your exploration of Derawan Island.
Please note! Booking your car and speedboat well in advance is highly recommended due to limited availability and high demand.
Plan your trip to Derawan
Derawan is full of beautiful spots waiting for you to explore. With its various beauties, Derawan is a must-visit destination after Bali. The best way to enjoy the natural beauty of this island is to take an overnight trip with a trusted tour operator like IndonesiaJuara Trip. If you join this trip, you won’t have to worry about finding a car or speedboat, as our dedicated crew will pick you up from the airport and take you to several of Derawan’s best destinations.
Don’t miss the opportunity to swim with jellyfish in Kakaban Lake and see and swim with whale sharks in Talisayan. Make your trip to Derawan Island hassle-free with IndonesiaJuara Trip.
