Things to do in Bintan, Indonesia
When it comes to quick getaways that are nonetheless effective R&R, Singapore is fortunate to be situated close to destinations which don’t even require a flight to get to. We’re talking about nearby islands like Batam which are accessible via ferry. And if you’re looking to sail just a tad further, Bintan.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up a mix of activities that will suit everyone from adrenaline junkies to the more nua type of vacationers. There are also family-friendly things to do as well as itinerary ideas for couples looking for a slice of paradise, so bookmark this list for future trips and trip companions.
Table of Contents
- Things to do in Bintan, Indonesia
- 1. Zip down 7.5m slides & go water biking in a massive pool
- 2. Visit scenic sand dunes & an IG-worthy blue lake
- 3. Go on a rugged ATV joyride through the jungle
- 4. Relax at a poolside bistro, open from 6.30am daily
- 5. Spot mud lobsters, macaques & fireflies at Bintan Mangrove
- 6. Stay on a permanently docked cruise-turned-hotel
- 7. Venture to a charming floating kampung via boat ride
- 8. Score bargains & visit the arcade at Tanjung Pinang City Center
- 9. Sip on cocktails as the sun sets over a floating bar
1. Zip down 7.5m slides & go water biking in a massive pool
Image credit: Treasure Bay Bintan via Facebook
Those old enough to remember the Big Splash along East Coast Park will find a hint of nostalgia at Chill Cove at Treasure Bay Bintan. It’s a massive 6.3-hectare man-made pool that’s home to every kind of water sport you can think of, from paddle boarding to jet skiing.
Most notably, you’ll find Bintan’s version of “Big Splash”: a 7.5m-high slide that’ll launch you like a cannon into the mega-sized pool. Other activities you can get up to with a single activity package include kayaking, water biking, and challenging yourself to a Wipeout-style slip and slide obstacle course.
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2. Visit scenic sand dunes & an IG-worthy blue lake
Mention Bintan and most people would envision idyllic resorts and beach clubs, not deserts and sand dunes. Bintan Desert, AKA Busung Desert, is well worth a visit to explore a lesser-known side of the island.
Image credit: Klook
Day tour packages are available, where you can be fetched from your accommodation. See picturesque sand dunes located a 40-min drive away from central Bintan. Make sure to bring along a scarf and some shades to channel your inner desert goddess as the breeze blows. Meanwhile, lads can strike a king-of-the-hill style pose.
Image adapted from: Klook
The pristine blue lake also makes for some stellar IG shots, evoking major “secret hideout in nature” vibes that’ll have your followers flooding the comment section. Slot this day trip into your itinerary for some special sights in the great outdoors, and to traverse sand dunes without travelling to the Middle East.
Book a sand dunes and blue lake tour.
Bintan Desert on Google Maps
3. Go on a rugged ATV joyride through the jungle
Image credit: Treasure Bay Bintan
If an immersive out-of-city adventure is what you’re looking for, look no further than this off-road ATV trail offered by Treasure Bay Bintan. Pre
pare to go into the thick of it with a guided tour through the jungle. While a licence isn’t required, participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before their booked time slot so they can familiarise themselves with the vehicle under the instructor’s tutelage.
Go for the 25-minute package (Rp 900,000, ~S$79.87) if you want just a beginner-friendly lap around the jungle trail. And if you think that’s barely enough to whet your appetite for thrill, go all out with the 1-hour package (Rp 1,800,000, ~S$159.74) to get into a bit of friendly racing and revving it up in the mud.
Book an off-road ATV trail package.
Address: Treasure Bay Bintan, Jalan Raja Haji KM 01 Kawasan Pariwisata, Teluk Sebong Lagoi, Bintan, Kepulauan Riau, 29152 Indonesia
Opening hours: Time slots subject to booking
Contact: +62 770 69 1682 | enquiries@treasurebaybintan.com | Treasure Bay Bintan website
4. Relax at a poolside bistro, open from 6.30am daily
Image credit: Sebastian Lum via Google Maps
On a hot day, escape the sun at The Patio Restaurant & Bar, a sheltered chillout spot situated within the glamping grounds of Natra Bintan, one of the many swanky resorts in Bintan.
Image credit: @jennzhuang via Instagram
Unwind with international nosh that range from char kway teow to burgers. They’ve also got Bintang beer (Rp 60,000, ~S$5.33) and cocktails (from Rp 125,000, ~S$11.10). Because they open at 6.30am, you can pop by for a nice breakfast with a view before you conquer your itinerary for the day.
Address: Jalan Raya Haji Km 1, Treasure Bay, Bintan Lagoi Teluk Sebong Lagoi Bintan Island, 29152 Indonesia
Opening hours: 6.30am-11pm, Daily
Contact: +62 811 778 2301 | The Patio Restaurant & Bar website
5. Spot mud lobsters, macaques & fireflies at Bintan Mangrove
Whether it’s day or night, the Bintan Mangrove has something to offer. Take a trip out of your resort to explore the island’s lush mangrove forests while cruising along a relaxing boat ride. This is a great way to see the island’s diverse ecosystem up close, and appreciate Bintan’s offerings beyond the sunny beaches and fun water sports activities.
Image credit: Mangrove Discovery Tour
During the daytime, you’ll be able to spot mud lobsters, macaques, kingfishers, and silver leaf monkeys. Come evenings, some local tour companies also offer mangrove tours on a powerboat during which you can spot fireflies if you’re lucky.
Book a Bintan Mangrove & Fireflies Tour.
Address: Sebung Lagoi, Bintan, Indonesia
6. Stay on a permanently docked cruise-turned-hotel
Image credit: Klook
While Singapore has a garden pod hotel at Gardens By The Bay, Bintan has a cool ship hotel called Doulos Phos where you can spend the night on a permanently docked cruise ship. Once an actual operating vessel, the retired dry-berth ship now houses 104 cabins for your accommodation.
Image credit: @jon.sinaga.9 via Instagram
There are amenities aplenty, too. Look forward to 4 different eateries onboard, as well as in-cabin dining if you’d prefer room service. There’s also a lovely pool you can wade around in or get your tan on, and a Heritage Ship Tour if you’d like to delve into some maritime history. After all that food for your brain, you’ll get to tuck into a dinner spread while watching the sunset.
Book a Doulos Phos Heritage Tour with Sunset Dinner.
7. Venture to a charming floating kampung via boat ride
Image credit: Klook
Book a guided tour and travel to Senggarang Island by boat, where you’ll find a quaint village perched on stilts. See how the locals live their lives with their homes floating on water, and the sea literally at their doorstep.
The fascinating entrance to Banyan Tree Temple, seemingly enveloped by roots.
Image credit: Bintan Resorts
The tour also includes visits to 2 temples: Vihara Dharma Sasana and Banyan Tree Temple, which are among the oldest temples in Bintan. Thereafter, you’ll get to fuel up with some traditional snacks from the Tanjung Pinang local market, packaged and sold the old-school way. It’s giving roadside kacang puteh nostalgia vibes.
Book a Senggarang Water Village tour.
8. Score bargains & visit the arcade at Tanjung Pinang City Center
Image credit: Cepe Satu via Google Maps
We all need a bit of retail therapy on our getaways. For Bintan, Tanjung Pinang City Center is the main mall in town, and you can hunt for bargain finds at their sprawling department store as well as lots of standalone boutiques. They’ve also got plenty of eateries for when you feel peckish, including cafes and bubble tea shops to quench your thirst.
Image adapted from: Iman Prabawa & Randi Septino via Google Maps
Keep the little ones – and the young at heart – entertained at the Amazone arcade. Besides kiddy rides and a carousel, it’s got your standard game machines like shooters, street racing, and Dance Dance Revolution. The mall also has a bright and colourful play area where parents can grab a seat beside to get off their feet, while their restless toddlers tire themselves out.
Address: Jalan Raya Dompak, Batu 8 Atas, Sei Jang, Kecamatan Bukit Bestari, Kota Tanjung Pinang, Kepulauan Riau 29115, Indonesia
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: +62 771 4443522
9. Sip on cocktails as the sun sets over a floating bar
Image credit: @thetangledminds via Instagram
Within the Nirwana Gardens resort is where you’ll find Calypso Floating Bar. Trust us when we say that this is IG heaven, where you can snap up loads of enviable pics all along the boardwalk, and with the ocean as your backdrop. The best time to swing by is early evening, so you can be in time to catch the sunset.
Image credit: @sh.er33 via Instagram
The bar serves up an assortment of liquor, mocktails, and cocktails. This includes original concoctions like the Bintan Beach Break (Rp 135,000, ~S$12) featuring dark rum, melon liqueur, and a medley of orange, pineapple, and cranberry juice. What better way to toast to a memorable holiday, than with a destination exclusive?
Address: 58G6+56, Sebong Lagoi, Kabupaten Bintan, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 4.30pm-10.30pm | Fri-Sun 11.30am-10.30pm
Contact: Calypso Floating Bar website
Journey to Bintan from Singapore by ferry
For a chill vacay that’s perfectly suited to your kind of itinerary, head to Bintan. The best part is, you can easily hop on a ferry and zoom straight to Lagoi, Bintan whenever your heart desires.
From Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, there are daily ferries operating from morning till late afternoon that’ll get you to northern Bintan’s Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The ferries are said to be spacious and comfy with plush seats, and you can even top up to premium economy class for a complimentary beverage and lounge access.
Is it worth going to Bintan island?
Bintan is most famed for its beaches. But as this guide shows, there are plenty of activities for travellers of all kinds.
How many days are enough for Bintan?
Since it’s accessible by a quick ferry ride less than 2 hours each way, Bintan is great for short getaways. In order to maximise your itinerary, a long weekend trip would be ideal, and 3-4 days is just right to fit all the activities in.
How long is the ferry ride from Singapore to Bintan?
Depending on the ferry operator, the journey from Singapore to Bintan ranges between 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes, one way.
What currency does Bintan use?
Bintan, an island within Indonesia, uses the Indonesian rupiah. Make sure to prepare cash before your trip by visiting a money changer in Singapore.
What month is best to visit Bintan?
For dry and sunny weather that isn’t too scorching hot, April to October would be best. You get to escape the monsoon season which takes place November to March, and the average temperature stays at a nice balmy 26°C.
Book a ferry from Singapore to Bintan
Check out our other Indonesia travel guides:
- Things to do in Bali
- Things to do in Lombok
- Things to do in Komodo Island & Labuan Bajo
- Resorts in Batam
Cover image adapted from: Klook, Treasure Bay Bintan via Facebook
A portion of this content may contain referral links to products. Our opinions remain our own.
Article originally published on 28th February 2022 by Kezia Tan. Last updated by Renae Cheng on 25th September 2023.