Kepa Island is a small island in the Alor Archipelago of eastern Indonesia, and a wonderful base for exploring the area’s underwater world.
To get there from Kalabahi, the main town on Alor Island, you first need to travel west to the village of Alor Kecil. From there, a very short boat ride takes you across to Kepa Island.
We arrived in Kalabahi by ferry in the middle of the night, so we stayed at Hotel Melati, close to the port. The following day, we continued our journey by local angkot and boat.
Here is how we made the journey, including the transport options, fares and how we arranged our boat transfer.
🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む：カラバヒからケパ島への行き方｜アンコットとボートで行くアクセスガイド
1. Take a Blue Angkot from Kalabahi to Alor Kecil
The first part of the journey is getting from Kalabahi to Alor Kecil, on the western side of Alor Island.
We were able to catch a blue angkot, a shared minibus, directly outside Hotel Melati. Angkots heading towards Alor Kecil were frequent, so we did not need to arrange a private vehicle in advance.
The fare was IDR 10,000 per person.
However, be prepared for a crowded ride. Angkots are everyday public transport for local residents, and passengers and their luggage are packed into the vehicle together. There may be very little room to move, especially if you are travelling with large backpacks.
If you are carrying substantial luggage, keep this in mind when planning your journey.
2. Take a Boat from Alor Kecil to Kepa Island
Once you arrive in Alor Kecil, the next step is to cross the water to Kepa Island.
The boat journey takes approximately five to ten minutes. It is a short crossing, but you will need to arrange a boat if you are staying on the island.
How to Arrange a Boat Transfer
The easiest option is to contact your guesthouse or homestay on Kepa Island before travelling and ask the owner to arrange a boat for you.
We stayed at Bela Mori Homestay, and the owner organised our transfer. When we arrived in Alor Kecil, our boatman was already waiting for us, so we were able to continue to the island without any difficulty.
Having the boat arranged in advance saved us from having to find a boat ourselves after arriving at the waterfront.
How Much Does the Boat Cost?
The boat transfer between Alor Kecil and Kepa Island was IDR 20,000 per traveller.
3. Kalabahi to Kepa Island: Transport and Costs at a Glance
You can reach Kepa Island by combining a shared minibus journey with a short boat transfer.
- Starting point: Kalabahi, Alor Island
- Land transport: Blue angkot (shared minibus)
- Angkot fare: IDR 10,000 per person
- Boat departure point: Alor Kecil
- Boat journey: Approximately 5–10 minutes
- Boat fare: IDR 20,000 per traveller
- Recommended arrangement: Ask your guesthouse or homestay on Kepa Island to organise the boat or you can organise in situ
The angkot is an inexpensive way to reach Alor Kecil, although the ride can be crowded. Arranging your boat transfer in advance is particularly helpful if this is your first visit to the area.
4. Arriving on Kepa Island: The Start of 12 Days of Snorkelling
After our angkot ride and short boat crossing, we finally arrived on Kepa Island.
This was the beginning of twelve days of snorkelling, with lots of time in the water every day. We had come to Alor to explore its underwater world, and Kepa became our base for this part of the journey.
The journey from Kalabahi was straightforward once we knew where to go. Taking an angkot to Alor Kecil and arranging the boat through our homestay made the transfer relatively easy, even though we were travelling somewhere new to us.
If you are planning a similar trip, I recommend contacting your accommodation before leaving Kalabahi so that your boatman can be ready when you arrive.
You can also read about our stay at Bela Mori Homestay and our snorkelling experiences around Kepa Island in our related travel articles.
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