Formerly one of Singapore’s best-kept secrets, the white powder beach on Lazarus Island is now a novelty attraction, thanks to publicity on social media. 

Still want the beach to yourself? Your best bet is to visit on a weekday. To get there in style, you can book a yacht tour package that includes kayaks, snorkel kits, and fishing rods—bring your own bait if you wish to try your hand at angling. 

Rent a yacht to Lazarus Island

Pulau Ubin means “Granite Island,” but this sleepy island’s biggest draw is its nature and wildlife, as well as its remarkable immunity to the trappings of modern life. 

Take a half-day tour with a nature lover to explore Pulau Ubin’s mangrove forest—home to almost all the mangrove plant species in Singapore—and coastal boardwalk, where you can spot strange and wonderful aquatic creatures such as moon snails and sea stars. 

Book a half-day Pulau Ubin tour

In the early 1970s, there were as many as 220 kampongs (traditional Malay-styled villages) scattered across the Singapore mainland. But today, only one such village remains—Kampong Buangkok. 

You can certainly visit the village on your own, as it is easily accessible by bus or hired car. But for a deeper experience, book a tour to hear stories about “kampong living,” and step into a village home for a cosy chat with its residents. If you are lucky, you could get to meet Sng Mui Hong, the village’s landlady, who inherited the kampong from her father, with a promise to protect the land from the clutches of urbanisation.

Book a “Kampong Experience” private tour

During the bird migratory season from September to March, birds from as far off as Siberia fly towards warmer climes, which is why they can be spotted in Singapore! 

This is the ideal time to visit the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve with a guide in tow, to see birds that don’t typically live or breed in Singapore, such as the blue-winged pitta. A guide will also help you to look out for resident birds, like herons and kingfishers. (Birds aside, monitor lizards and water snakes are a common sight here.)

After your bird-watching adventure, book a ride to Bollywood Veggies (a six-minute drive away), where you can tuck into a farm-to-table meal. If you prefer, you can also book an experience to explore the 10-acre fruit and vegetable farm with a guide, assist with harvesting the greens, and participate in a cooking session to prepare a delicious meal.

Book a Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve tour

Book a Bollywood Veggies tour and cooking class

It may seem odd to describe a cemetery as an “open-air museum,” but to locals, that is exactly what the Bukit Brown cemetery represents. 

Let a guide show you around to reveal the rich stories hidden within the cemetery’s tombstones—among others, you will hear about a war hero who helped to mobilise the local civil defence force during World War II with the rallying cry, “20,000 men, one heart!”

To arrange a private tour at Bukit Brown cemetery, contact the All Things Bukit Brown interest group for assistance. You can also check their events page to see if there is a public tour that you can join. 

Haven’t heard of a “dragon kiln?” It is a long, slightly inclined brick tunnel that allows large numbers of pottery pieces to be fired at the same time. Firewood is fed into the “dragon head” or firebox, while the pottery pieces sit in the body of the “dragon,” and smoke escapes through a chimney, also known as the dragon’s “tail.” 

This traditional mode of pottery making was brought to Singapore by its Chinese migrants—the pottery industry in Singapore had a good run from the 1940s to the 1970s, as local rubber plantations needed plenty of pottery cups for collecting latex. 

Today, only Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle still fires up its kiln several times a year, although public viewings are currently subject to Covid-19 regulations. That said, you can still sign up for a dragon kiln tour at any time, or a workshop to have a go at the potter’s wheel.

Book a dragon kiln tour at Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle

Book a pottery workshop at Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle

Want to see all the highlights of Singapore’s city centre—its ethnic enclaves, its colonial district, and more? Hop on a half-day cycling tour to visit Singapore’s top city attractions, and uncover hidden gems and historical trivia that even the locals may not be aware of! 

Prefer to venture off the beaten track? Book a nostalgic bike tour to visit Katong and Joo Chiat, two neighbourhoods in the East of Singapore that offer unique insights into the country’s rich Peranakan heritage.

Book Lion City Bike Tour

Book Nostalgic Bike & Bite Tour

Curious about the practice of using leaves to wrap traditional foods in Singapore? Join a tour to find out more about local foods that are served in leaf wrappings, such as otak otak (grilled fish cake) and rice dumplings. You will get to inspect various leaf wraps, learn about their flavours and fragrances, and try your hand at folding a wrapped morsel too!

Book the “It’s a Wrap” Tour

Visit the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery (more popularly known as the Bright Hill Temple) and be captivated by its elaborate dragon motifs, red-hued roofs that glisten in the sun, and maze-like network of stupas and prayer halls linked by staircases.

Due to Covid-19 safety measures, bookings are currently required for visits, with group sizes subject to prevailing restrictions. Even without a tour guide, however, you can easily spend hours here, be it to marvel at the architectural details or retreat into a state of self-contemplation. 

The temple is now easily accessible via the Bright Hill MRT station, and following your visit, you can dine at Two Chefs Eating Place, a popular zi char (Chinese cook and fry) eatery, or at the burger bistro Grub—both of which are a short walk away. Alternatively, hop on the train to the Upper Thomson MRT station for more food options.

Environmentally conscious guests will love our eco-themed green hotels:

• PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore

• PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore

Culture buffs will appreciate our properties located in vibrant ethnic enclaves:

• PARKROYAL on Beach Road, Singapore

• Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road, Singapore

• PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Singapore

For those who thrive on the city buzz, our city-centre properties provide easy access to top dining and shopping spots:

• Pan Pacific Singapore

• Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard, Singapore

To discover the best deals for your Singapore holiday, browse our accommodation packages or get in touch with us today!