Nikoi Island
When we think of beach holidays, our minds probably wander to the beach resorts in Bali or Thailand. But we’re here to tell you that you don’t need to get on a plane to indulge in some R&R time. Not too far from Singapore, 2.5 hours away to be exact, is Nikoi Island.
With atas pool villas, beach bars, and a whole slew of water activities, heading to Nikoi Island for your next short getaway sounds tempting af.
Fancy villas to lounge in
Image credit: @lauremarty
For starters, Nikoi is located 8km off the coast of Bintan. You won’t find the usual hotel rooms here, but 18 2-storey rustic villas with balconies that look out to the ocean. You’ve also got your own daybeds so you can lounge around on the open-air decks on the 1st floor of the villas. We’ll take that, thank you very much.
Image credit: @living_your_life_away
And if you can’t tell already, privacy is key here. You’re on a private island, with your emails set to out-of-office, and only 17 other villas around, what more could you possibly ask for?
Image credit: Nikoi Island
Well, your inner hermit may be jumping for joy – you can take your me-time up a notch by booking one of the 3 new pool villas. Great for families, each beachfront villa has 2 bedrooms – which comprises a master bedroom upstairs and a twin room downstairs.
We’d chope the twin room if we were you, so you can plunge straight into the private pool in the morning. We truly woke up like this.
Wine & dine with views of the ocean
“But private island, eat where??” you may be thinking. Well, we’re glad you asked. There are 2 dining spaces on Nikoi Island – one for families and another for couples. So you and bae can have a romantic candlelight dinner without kids running around right beside you.
Image credit: Nikoi Island
The private island has also introduced a new restaurant, Biru, which means “blue” in Bahasa Indonesia. It points to the fact that you get to enjoy panoramic views of the ocean while having lunch. It’s a Mediterranean sharing-style concept here – think platters of lamb skewers, chargrilled broccoli with tahini, and zucchini fritters with spiced yoghurt.
Image credit: @thirdkulturekids
After dinner, head for a tipple at one of the 3 bars, watch a movie under the stars at the open-air cinema, or sit by a bonfire on the beach.
Activities on Nikoi Island
Image credit: @dananosreef
The best part about being on a private island is that nature is right at your doorstep – and the surrounding province is known to have some of the most beautiful reefs in the region. The island provides snorkelling or scuba diving equipment, so you can see a whole new world beneath the turquoise waters. Otherwise, get your paddles and go on a sunset kayak around the islands.
Image credit: Nikoi Island
There are also 2 natural grass tennis courts for those who want to play tennis or croquet, and a Kids Club for the young‘uns.
Getting to Nikoi Island
Image credit: @berhiannon
There’s a misconception that private islands are only reserved for billionaires the likes of Elon Musk. But rates at Nikoi Island start from S$390/night for a 1-bedroom beach house. To put it into perspective, some 5-star hotels in Singapore start from $400/night.
It’s not hard to get to Nikoi, either. It’s a 1-hour ferry ride from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Bintan. You’ll then be whisked on a 1-hour car journey across Bintan, followed by a 20-minute speed boat ride to Nikoi Island.
Expect to pay ~S$95/adult and ~S$48/child for a round trip, which includes the car journey and speed boat. You even get to use the VIP lounge at Bintan Ferry Terminal. Business class, who?
But if you’re heading to other destinations before checking into Nikoi Island, you can book your ferry to Bintan from S$95/pax for a round trip via an external vendor.
Book a stay at Nikoi Island
Address: Kawal, Bintan, Riau Islands, Indonesia 29153
Contact: +62 811-7008-040 (Whatsapp) | Nikoi Island website
More weekend getaway ideas:
Cover image adapted from: @thirdkulturekids, @lauremarty, Nikoi Island.