If you want to travel over the March holidays but don’t wish to splurge, why not plan a trip to the nearby island of Pulau Ubin instead? There are many things to do at Pulau Ubin.
Pulau Ubin, meaning “Granite Island” in Malay, is a rustic island off the northeastern coast of Singapore. It is known for its natural beauty, abandoned granite quarries and kampongs.
To reach Pulau Ubin, take a 10-minute bumboat ride from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal. It runs from 6am – 7pm (S$4/person each way). Pay an extra S$2 if you bring a bicycle.
Check out our list of 11 things to do at Pulau Ubin for a weekend on the homely island.
1. Chek Jawa Wetlands Tour
At 100 hectares, Chek Jawa is a unique area of Pulau Ubin, where 6 major ecosystems – sandy beach, rocky beach, seagrass lagoon, corals, mangroves and coastal forest – meet.
The intertidal flats at Chek Jawa Wetlands are most suitable for visiting during low tides of 0.5 metres and below when you will be able to see most of the marine life. If you wish to tour Chek Jawa, nature guides will be on hand to bring you on a 1-hour tour to experience Chek Jawa’s natural beauty.
2. Kampong Tour
Take a walk with us to experience Pulau Ubin’s natural and cultural heritage. This 2.2km trail is about 2 hours long. The Kampong Tour starts at the Ubin Volunteer Hub. It will take you through the spice trees around the campsite, Sensory Trail Ponds, Kampong House, the old Bin Kiang School, Toa Pek Kong Temple and finally, the Wayang Stage.
Each tour costs S$60/pax (maximum 15 people per group). Only online payment will be accepted. Should the tour be cancelled because of rainy weather, you will get a refund.
The tour is available every 3rd Saturday of the month, from 9.30am until 11.30am.
3. Rustic Reflections Tour
The Rustic Reflection Tour lasts 2 hours. It starts at the Assembly Area before heading over to the former Bin Kiang School site. Then, visit the Sensory Trail pond to learn about habitat restoration before stopping at the former headman’s house and Kampung Melayu.
Participants will also visit a rubber plantation that once supplied Singapore with latex and learn about the plants that helped shape this country’s culinary delights at the Ubin Fruit Orchard. The tour will end at Teck Seng’s Place, a restored Chinese kampong house.
Each tour costs S$60/pax (maximum 15 people per group). Only online payment will be accepted. Should the tour be cancelled because of rainy weather, you will get a refund.
The tour is available every 3rd Saturday of the month, from 9.30am until 11.30am.
4. Pulau Ubin Tree Trail
The Pulau Ubin Tree Trail, which starts in front of the Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub, takes you to old plantations, the house of the late village head of Pulau Ubin and heritage trees such as the Common Pulai. This trail concludes at the viewing jetty outside House No. 1 (the Chek Jawa Visitor Centre), an endearing Tudor-style cottage that has been restored.
From the jetty, admire Singapore’s only 2 Perepat mangrove trees listed in the Heritage Tree Register of Singapore. Turn around to get a picturesque view of House No. 1. Finally, linger at the jetty for a glimpse of Pulau Sekudu (Frog Island) and take in views of the sea.
5. Eat traditional food
Pulau Ubin is home to 4 restaurants. Just next to the Ubin Jetty, Encik Hassan has been operating for over 3 decades. It closed for a while and started opening on the weekends recently. Eat homemade Malay dishes such as Mee Rebus, Mee Siam and Nasi Lemak.
Cheong Lian Yuen is another food establishment located near the Ubin Jetty. It serves seafood and there is a small alfresco dining area in front of the restaurant. Opposite the Wayang stage, there is a restaurant, Sin Nam Huat. It serves traditional coffee and tea.
Along the road towards the Ubin Volunteer Hub is Season Live Seafood Restaurant. Its alfresco dining area which faces the Ubin Jetty and mainland Singapore, has a sea view.
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6. Camping
Gather your friends and families and spend a fun day or two on the island. Get up close to nature, immerse yourself in the rustic atmosphere, and catch the beautiful sunset at dusk.
You can set up your tent at one of several campsites: Jelutong, Mamam or Endut Senin Campsites. Please apply for a permit at least 2 weeks before the camping date and comply with the terms and conditions for camping. For more information, refer here.
7. Cycling at Ketam Mountain Bike Park
The Ketam Mountain Bike Park is the first in Singapore to meet international standards for mountain biking competitions. This 45-hectare park at Pulau Ubin features 10km of mountain bike trails to cater to both leisure cycling as well as international competitions.
It has 3 tracks with various International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) ratings:
- Blue Square: for beginners; steep slopes and narrow tracks with poor traction.
- Black Diamond: for intermediate cyclists; long steep climbs, drop-offs and impediments.
- Double Black Diamond: for the pros; extra steep climbs, sharp corners, tricky obstacles.
8. Fishing
Escape to Pulau Ubin and explore winding mangroves on a 6-hour fishing trip, listening to the sounds of nature while you reel in species including Mangrove Jacks and Barramundi. Nothing beats the feeling of casting under a low-hanging branch and catching a trophy fish.
Along the way, you’ll pass Singapore’s last remaining floating villages and fish farms, or kelongs, where you can also fish around sunken structures for a variety of bottom fish.
If luck is on your side, local kelong residents might even invite you to join them for tea. You don’t have to bring anything as they will provide you with equipment such as reels.
Adult ticket from S$119.90 & child ticket from S$99.90 at Adventures
9. Kayaking
If you are a fan of kayaking and enjoy working out your arms, grab a group of friends and join Adventures by Asian Detours on a kayaking expedition. Specially designed for adventure seekers, this 4-hour adventure is your perfect introduction to the Pulau Ubin mangroves! Suitable for beginners, this adventure lets you come empty-handed as all equipment is provided.
At least 2 adults are required for their kayak to operate. Children must be minimally 7 years old to participate and be accompanied by an adult. For the safety of all participants, a mandatory floatation test will be conducted before the voyage. Do wear covered shoes.
Ticket from S$98 at Adventures
10. Butterfly Hill
Butterfly Hill, a knoll that is about as large as a football field, was created specially to conserve and showcase butterflies. It attracts approximately 140 species of butterflies.
Butterfly species that you can spot at Butterfly Hill include the Blue Glassy Tiger, Black Veined Tiger, Common Bluebottle and Cycad Blue. Rarities include the Common Jay and Dwarf Crow. The latter species was previously presumed to be extinct from the country. This species was only rediscovered in 2002 from Pulau Ubin and is so far known only from the locality.
Species previously not recorded there such as the Common Birdwing and the Common Rose have also been attracted to Butterfly Hill and are now a common sight.
11. Fo Shan Ting Da Bo Gong Temple
Located near Pekan Quarry, the Fo Shan Ting Da Bo Gong Temple was built as a community space for residents. All villagers would gather here for celebrations according to the lunar calendar. These include the Chinese New Year in the first month, the Hungry Ghost Festival in the seventh month, and the Mid-Autumn Festival in the eighth month.
During such festivities, hawkers would set up street stalls and performers would perform traditional wayang or opera onstage. These were opportunities for villagers to catch up and meet with one another. The temple and wayang stage continue to host celebrations today.
One of the biggest festivities on the island is the celebration of the deity Tua Peh Kong’s birthday, a 5-day event of Chinese opera performances, culminating in a modern “Getai” performance on the last night. Many old villagers return with their grandchildren in tow for this unique event.
Pulau Ubin
61 Pulau Ubin, Singapore 508310
Pulau Ubin
61 Pulau Ubin, Singapore 508310
