Attention adventure holiday types, did you know visits to Singapore aren’t always about food and fashion? This little island that packs a punch is brimming with natural wonders and loads of waterways for you to get out and enjoy.
Combining exercise with sightseeing, kayaking is an excellent way to explore newfound parts of the world, and you’ll be too busy focussing on staying upright to notice you’re breaking a sweat. Grab your oars and slather on that sunscreen, here are seven of the best places to go kayaking in Singapore.
MacRitchie Reservoir
MacRitchie Reservoir is the oldest reservoir in Singapore and has seen a lot of kayakers pass through its calm waters over the years. Surrounded by 12 hectares of lush greenery, you can rent kayaks and canoes on site, and if your kayaking skills are a little rusty you can even take an orientation course from the Paddle Lodge. Once you’ve pulled your boat into shore you can set out on the beautiful TreeTop walk, to the free-standing suspension bridge, to experience life as the birds do.
Pulau Ubin
If you can only visit one kayaking spot in Singapore, you’ll want to make it Pulau Ubin, an island that’s a 15-minute boat trip off the coast. Adventures By Asian Detours offers up five awesome tours that make choosing a little tricky. From open sea kayaking to manoeuvring through mangroves, and even a cycling and kayaking tour, you can’t really go wrong. While you’re on the island, check out the views from Pekan Quarry and Puaka Hill. You can even sleep out under the stars if you wish… but with so many amazing hotels on the mainland, you probably won’t want to.
The Playground
Adventure tour group Fever offers two to four-kilometre kayak fishing tours through The Playground’s gentle currents. Though it might sound like a coordination commotion, the experience is easy and suitable for beginners. As for the potential catch, you’ll find parrotfish, groupers, snappers and flathead swimming in these parts. If nothing bites, you can always head to JUMBO at Clarke Quay afterwards to fill up on tasty seafood.
Siloso Beach
Head to Ola Beach Club at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach for some killer kayaking action. They rent out single and double kayaks from as little as $25 per hour and run guided tours through southern Singapore’s beach paradise. If you’re planning a day of water fun you can also hire jetpacks, stand up paddleboards and banana boats.
Marina Bay
If you’re desperate to kayak in Marina Bay, which you should be, the crew from PAssion WaVe @ Marina Bay will sort you out with all the gear and training required. The meeting point is next to the Bay East Garden and once you’re in the water you can spot some of Singapore’s most iconic structures, including the beautiful Gardens by the Bay.
Kallang Basin
With Singapore Sports Hub as your base, you can kayak through the Kallang Basin. Kayak hire is handled by the Sports Hub and once you’re out on the water you can challenge your buddies on the 500-metre long regatta course. To up your skill factor, take a three-hour orientation course which includes a tour of the Marina Reservoir. Rentals start at $15.50 for two hours of fun on the water.
Bedok Reservoir
Beautiful Bedok Reservoir welcomes all kinds of outdoor activity goers, from cyclists and inline skaters to bird watchers and, you guessed it, kayakers. You can hire your gear from the PAssion WaVe outpost on shore before setting out to discover the many wonders of this sanctuary. Keep your eye out for dragon boats and wakeboarders as you get your paddle on.
Ready to see Singapore’s great, green outdoors a little differently? Singapore is full of stunning, natural wonder and is where passions and possibilities meet. Head to Singapore Tourism for more info.
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