Bintan is an idyllic island in Indonesia that’s highly accessible to Malaysians. In fact, it’s one of the holiday destinations that doesn’t require an expensive plane ride to reach. That’s why Bintan and its neighbouring islands are pretty popular as weekend getaways. 

The fact that you can get a 3-hour ferry ride to Bintan from Johor Bahru means that you don’t have to spend much time travelling. Furthermore, Bintan Island can be adequately explored and experienced within a short 2-3 days stay. 

If you’re planning your short getaway to Bintan, here are the top 5 activities you cannot miss on your trip:

Bintan has a rich local ecosystem, with many mangrove forests dotted along its coastlines and deeper within the island. There are many tour agencies offering you day tours that bring you by boat to experience the fresh flora and fauna inhabiting Bintan’s enthralling mangroves. 

By day, you’ll be able to see various marine and dry land wildlife, including local Macaques, mud lobsters, kingfishers, silver bird monkeys, fish and various crustaceans. 

Additionally, you can also choose to go on night tours of the Mangroves, which are known to host fireflies at selected locations. These luminescent insects light up trees along the river, making it look almost like Christmas.

On the northern end of Bintan Island is a popular Instagrammable spot known as the Bintan Sand Dunes and Blue Lake. This attraction is also known as Gurun Pasir Bintan in Busung. Tours to this location can be arranged by tour companies, which will pick you up from your place of residence at an appointed time. 

The location itself is breathtaking, like something out of a fantasy novel. Stark beige dunes rise majestically above a lake whose waters are crystal blue. These special sights are about 40 minutes from downtown Bintan and are often not crowded.

If you’re not in the mood to hire a tour agency, you can always rent a car and make the drive yourself. The magnificent views will truly be worth the trip.

Here’s a water theme park like you’ve never seen before. Chill Cove is filled with fun activities for the whole family, with their main attraction being a 6.3 hectare man-made seawater lagoon. Here, visitors can enjoy a host of activities, including kayaking, waterbiking, paddle boarding and water zorbing. 

There’s also a fun 7.5 meter slide for you to splash down into the waters below. For those who want more leisurely activities, feel free to lounge around or swim in this giant pool. Chill Cove also has several land activities like ATV and UTV rides, as well as Segway rides. 

You’ll also be able to enjoy various dining and shopping options on-site, so you don’t have to worry about being bored.

Senggarang is a small Chinese majority fishing village on the island of Bintan. Here, you’ll be able to see how the Chinese fishermen live in quaint homes located on stilts above the sea. You can walk in the lanes between homes and visit the local Chinese temple known as Tian Shang Miao.

Tian Shang Miao, also known as the Banyan Tree Temple, is an astonishing old temple fully encircled by the roots of a Banyan tree. After a tiring day of walking, you might want to fuel up with some snacks or a seafood meal around the Senggarang jetty, known as the Tanjung Pinang jetty.

The Doulos Phos is a grand cruise ship that now functions as a hotel and museum, permanently docked off Treasure Bay in Bintan. If you’ve always wanted to go on a cruise but don’t fancy being on the open seas, the Doulos Phos is definitely the answer. 

There are as many as 104 cabins available to stay in, and guests can savour meals at any of its four onboard dining options. For leisure, you can spend time at the pool deck, as well as consider taking a guided tour of the ship, where you’ll learn about its history.

In Bintan’s happening Treasure Bay sits Calypso Floating Bar, located within the grounds of the Nirwana Gardens Resort. Here, you’ll be able to sip on your favourite cocktails or drinks in a comfortable and cosy atmosphere. It’s perfect if you want to savour your drinks whilst also taking in the beauty of marine nature around you. 

The Calypso is reachable by a short jetty from land, and is a wooden structure built on stilts over the sea. No doubt, you’ll be able to enjoy the sea breeze and take stunning photos here.

Bintan offers a relaxing option if you’re looking for an easy and slow paced vacation. Although we’ve listed a whole bunch of things to see and do, you can always take your time and spend most of it enjoying the amenities of your lodgings or resort. 

Travelling to Bintan is a breeze with the Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal. Here, you can book a ferry ride to Tanjung Pinang in Bintan and do so easily online. We offer one ferry ride daily, and you can even book a return ticket, with a flexible return date any time within 3 months of your departure to Tanjung Pinang. 

Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal is located in Stulang Laut, Johor Bahru and is therefore easily reached from anywhere in Peninsula Malaysia. For those who are driving here, a secured parking area is also provided for your convenience. 

Our ferry terminal is comfortable, with nearby shopping and dining options. You’ll also be able to wait for your ferry in the comfort of an air-conditioned space. Safety and security are our top priorities, which means you don’t have to worry as you travel.