Sadly, some of us do not have the privilege to take time-off as and when we like (*ahem* students). But, if you ever need a little weekend getaway, good news! We’ve narrowed down 11 beautiful islands near Singapore that won’t require you to get on a plane to experience them. And, if 2 days ain’t enough for you, check out our article about how you can turn 4 long weekends into 9 using this cheat sheet for 2018 and enjoy these island experience to the fullest! 😉
Indonesia
We’re pretty sure the same usual Batam and Bintan will come to your mind the moment you read the word “Indonesia”, but here are a few other less well-known, but perfectly picturesque places that you definitely need to visit this lifetime. [caption id="attachment_16191" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
(pangkil.com)[/caption]
Ever had the dream where you and your friends had an entire island and its facilities all to yourself? Well, we had that dream. And the team at Pulau Pangkil is just making that dream a reality! Over at Pulau Pangkil, you (and up to 9 other friends) can have an ENTIRE island all to yourself. You read that right! You and your friends will be the only paying visitors in the whole island and you will have all the staff dedicated to you. Other than that, you will get to enjoy all the facilities (i.e. the kayaks, indoor movie screen, bar, volleyball nets, pool table, swimming pool, snorkelling equipment and more) for absolutely zero dollars! Even though this private island might seem to be heftily priced at $4,542.50/ night, it actually amounts to only $454.25/ person if you manage to gather 9 other friends. That doesn’t seem too bad, does it?
Ppst, if you’re not willing to spend a bomb here, we’ve got something sweet for you! Simply form a squad (minimum of 3 people, maximum 8 people), fill this form up with your Shopee Usernames, purchase the most number of items from now till 5 July, and you can stand a chance to win a 3D2N stay at Pulau Pangkil!
Price: $4,542.50 per night
Getting There: Take a ferry from Singapore to Bandar Bintan Telani in Northern Bintan (~1 hour). Thereafter, you transit to a land transfer to Pulau Pangkil Jetty (Pama Jett) (~1 hour 30 minutes) and from Pama Jetty, it will be another 15-30 minute jetty ride to Pulau Pangkil.
Address: Kelong, Air Gelubi, Bintan Pesisir, Kelong, Bintan Pesisir, Kabupaten Bintan, Kepulauan Riau 29151, Indonesia
Travel Time: 3 hours
[caption id="attachment_16195" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
(Pinterest)[/caption]
Nikoi has always been recognised as one of the more stunning islands along this coasts and for good reason too. The island is ringed with unending white sandy beaches and beautiful coral reefs that will make you feel like you’re on your own Hollywood set. Like Pulau Pangkil, it is also an exclusive private island that can be rented as a whole. Otherwise, you can also share the island with a few other occupants by renting a beach house. You won’t have to worry about being bored on the island because of the horde of activities available from relaxing massages, to activities like windsurfing and stand-up paddle boarding. If this has not enticed you, Niko Island is also one of the few islands with Sea Turtles! Yes, you read that right, if you’re lucky enough, you’ll be able to see these precious ones up close! Just a little note though, these activities do not come cheap and will be charged separately.
Price: $500 per night (one bedroom beach house) – $1,150 per night (three bedroom beach house)
Getting There: Take a ferry from Singapore to Bintan (~1 hour) and then a taxi to the jetty (~1 hour). From the jetty, you will have to take a jetty ride to Nikoi, which will take approximately 20 minutes.
Address: Teluk Bakau, Gunung Kijang, Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, Indonesia
Travel Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
[caption id="attachment_16197" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
(Private Islands)[/caption]
Dubbed as the sister and more “grown-up” island of Pulau Pangkil, Pulau Joyo is a private island that can be either rented as a whole (it can accommodate up to 45 people) or as individual beach houses, which are aptly called “beach palaces”. Each palace is essentially a house built on stilts and is intricately designed to make it remain true to Indonesian architecture. During the day, you can choose from an array of activities, from stand-up paddle boarding to simply relaxing and floating on giant floats in the island’s swimming pool. At night, you and your crew can relax and chill by the island’s Cinema Paradiso, under the starry night. If Pulau Pangkil is booked, we say this is your next best alternative fo’ sure!
Price: $4,600 per night (for the whole island)
Getting There: Take a ferry from Singapore to Bintan (~1 hour) and then a bus ride to the jetty (~1 hour 30 minutes). From the jetty, you will have to take a speedboat to Pulau Joyo, which will take approximately 20 minutes.
Address: Pulau Suka, Pulau Bintan, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia
Travel Time: 4 hours
[caption id="attachment_16198" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
(Expat Choice Asia)[/caption]
Unlike many of the other islands mentioned in this article, Pulau Sugi is not a private island, though it has only one main hotel – the Telunas Beach Resort. Prices range from an affordable $155 per night for a family deluxe room, to a heftier $213 per night for an entire luxurious beach chalet that even has a private beach balcony. With all the activities that you can do on the island, from a thrilling dock and tower jumping to a relaxing traditional fishing and shrimping, we guarantee you will never get bored.
Ppst, if you’re feeling a little richer, you can even opt to book a room at the Telunas Private Island at $300/ night for the cheapest room and enjoy super shiok amenities like a freshwater infinity pool and personalised massages at the in-house spa.
Price: $155 per night (one deluxe family room) – $213 per night (one beach chalet)
Getting There: Take a ferry from Singapore to Batam (~1 hour). A resort staff will pick you up and accompany on your trip to Pulau Sugi’s Telunas Beach Resort (~ 1 hour 40 minutes).
Address: Pulau Sugi, Mentangun, Moro, Kabupaten Karimun, Kepulauan Riau 29462, Indonesia
Travel Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
[caption id="attachment_16199" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
(PiknikAsia)[/caption]
It might come off as a little weird, but if your idea of a perfect getaway is to island-hop, then Pulau Karimun might be just the right place for you! Perfectly situated near the Riau Islands, there are plenty of nearby islands near Pulau Karimun such as the beautiful Terkulai and Soreh. Unfortunately, the island does not have a resort yet, but since it is near to Telunas Beach Resort, we’ll actually recommend heading over to Pulau Sugi for the night!
Besides island hopping, Pulau Karimun also offers long stretches of white sandy beaches, snorkelling opportunities, and succulent seafood dishes, guaranteed to please the anyone, especially the foodie that resides in all of us *drools*.
Price: $155 per night (one deluxe family room) – $213 per night (one beach chalet)
Getting There: Take a ferry from Singapore to Batam (~1 hour). A resort staff will pick you up and accompany on your trip to Pulau Sugi’s Telunas Beach Resort (~ 1 hour 40 minutes).
Address: Pulau Sugi, Mentangun, Moro, Kabupaten Karimun, Kepulauan Riau 29462, Indonesia
Travel Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
[caption id="attachment_16204" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
(cempedak)[/caption]
If you’re looking for a private island getaway for you and your little ones, you might want to skip this island right now because it is absolutely kid-free (FYI, no children under the 16 are allowed to book a stay on this island). But, if you’re already a fan of Nikoi Islands, you will be delighted to know that this island is managed by the same group of owners, so you’ll definitely be greeted with the same standard of service. On the island, you can choose to stay in either a Sea Villa or a Beach Villa, depending on your view preference. Both are similarly priced, with the same amenities, which includes a master bedroom on the second floor, a guest room on the first floor, a private plunge pool and even direct access to the beach! If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, away from your kids, this is definitely for you!
Price: $550 per night
Getting There: Take a ferry from Singapore to Bintan (~1 hour) and then a taxi to the jetty (~1 hour). Thereafter, you will have to take a jetty ride to Cempedak Island (~ 30 minutes)
Address: Air Gelubi, Bintan Pesisir, Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, Indonesia
Travel Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Malaysia
Other than good ol’ Johor Bahru, our friendly neighbour across the causeway has much to offer too!-
Pulau Lang Tengah
(TripAdvisor)[/caption]
Besides an (almost) untouched tropical jungle, the island also boasts excellent marine life. If you’re into diving or snorkeling, do try to schedule your trip anytime from April to October, when it is the nesting season for sea turtles too!
Unfortunately, Pulau Lang Tengah is not an exclusive private island, but you will get to choose your favourite accommodation from four resorts on the island. Each resort has their own private beach! This means that you will never have to face overcrowded beaches. You can choose from the wallet-friendly Summer Bay Resort or the slightly more atas D’Coconut Lagoon.
Price: $100 per night (for a standard room) to $250 per night (for a family room)
Getting There: Travel from Singapore to Merang Jetty and then take a boat to the island
Address: Pulau Lang Tengah, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
Travel Time: 7 hours
[caption id="attachment_16220" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
(rawaislandresort)[/caption]
Albeit tiny, Rawa Island is packed with everything you need for a weekend getaway. It has two kinds of accommodation available on the island – small beach houses or the hotel rooms at Rawa Island Resort. Whichever you opt for, you’ll be guaranteed a night of unwinding from the stress and strain of the Singapore life. On the island, you’ll be able to engage yourself in a range of activities from snorkelling along the natural coral reef or just relaxing by the beach. Whichever it is, there is surely something for everyone!
Price: $600 per night (for a hillside deluxe room) – $2083 per night (for a waterfront three bedroom). Full rates here.
Getting There: Take a bus from Singapore to Mersing (~4 hours) and then a quick boat ride to Rawa Island itself.
Address: Jalan Abu Bakar, Mersing, Johor
Travel Time: 4 hours
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Pulau Aur
(Tourism Johor)[/caption]
Albeit a little far as compared to most islands, Pulau Aur is a rustic little island that promises to give you the best tropical experience you could ever hope for. Apparently, there are also no roads on the small island, making it true to the traditional Malay roots that the island holds dear to. The island is also part of the Johor Marine Park, making it the perfect spot for diving enthusiasts. Do try to avoid the island during the monsoon season (November to March) because the waters might be too choppy for boats to operate.
Price: $200 for a 3D2N diving trip at Atlantis Bay Resort
Getting There: Take a bus from Singapore to Mersing (~4 hours) and then a 3-hour boat ride to Pulau Aur itself.
Address: Pulau Aur, Johor, Malaysia
Travel Time: 7 hours
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Pulau Sibu
(Youvivu)[/caption]
Did you know? The area around Pulau Sibu was actually appointed as a Marine Park back in 1993. You can just imagine the treat you’ll get when you snorkel amongst these beautiful corals. Besides this, there are other beach and water activities that can be arranged with whichever resort you’re staying with. If you’re more into water sports, you can try out the adrenaline-pumping banana boating or jet-skiing, or if these activities are too much, you can also opt for the slower-paced island-hopping and diving.
Unfortunately, Pulau Sibu is not a private island either. However, there are other resort alternatives available and you can opt for the more budget options like Sibu Coconut Village Homestay and Rimba Resort, or the more luxurious options like Sari Pacifica Hotel Resort & Spa.
Price: $84 per night (for a room at Sari Pacifica Hotel Resort & Spa) – $330 per night (for a room at Sari Pacifica Hotel Resort & Spa)
Getting There: Drive or take a bus to Tanjung Leman (~3 hours) and then a quick boat ride to Pulau Sibu itself.
Address: Pulau Sibu, Mersing, Johor, Malaysia
Travel Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
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Gemia Island
(Kiffah)[/caption]
Okay, this island might require you to take a plane to KL (or, you could still drive to KL and then drive further up north to Merang Jetty), but we assure you, it will be worth it! One of the few private islands in Malaysia, the island promises crystal clear waters with beautiful corals and marine life, perfect for snorkelling or diving enthusiasts! Each villa is also fully furnished with air-conditioning and fans, giving us, spoilt Singaporeans, truly a home away from home. There are various packages available, ranging from a normal recreational package, which includes scuba diving trips, to specially-catered honeymoon packages for the newlyweds.
Price: $600 for a 3D2N recreation package
Getting There: Travel to Merang Jetty from KL (~5 hours) and then take a 15-minute boat ride to Pulau Kapas
Address: Lot 2804, Pulia Gemia, Mukim Risula, Dearah Marang, 21600 Gemia Island, Terengganu, Malaysia
Travel Time: 6 hours
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