Bintan Island in Indonesia: all about the rest

With its picturesque beaches, luxurious resorts, rich history and cultural diversity, Bintan Island is one of Indonesia's most popular tourist destinations. In this article, we have collected basic information about this distinctive place, which will help make your stay on the island comfortable and fun.

General information

• Location: Riau Archipelago, Indonesia
• Size: land area 1173 square kilometers
• Population: 387,181 as of 2020
• Language: Bahasa Indonesian is the official language, but English is widely used in the resorts. There is Chinese speaking staff.

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Bintan Island

There are two ways to get to the island: by ferry and by plane.

Ferry service

The closest major city to Bintan Island is Singapore. Between Tanah ferry terminals Merah in Singapore and Sri Bintan Pura in Tanjung Pinang and also Bandar Bentan Telani to Bintan Resorts have daily ferries.

For example, using the high-speed catamaran Bintan Resorts Ferries (BRF), you can get from Singapore to Bintan Resorts in just 60 minutes. Tickets can be booked online or at the ferry terminal. The approximate cost of an adult one-way economy class ticket is 35-38 euros.

If you prefer to travel in more comfort, choose Emerald tickets class. By choosing this option, you will receive benefits such as separate check-in, seat allocation, priority baggage handling and the use of Emerald lounge. The cost of the trip will be a little over 50 euros.

When planning your trip, keep in mind that the time difference between Singapore and Bintan Island is 1 hour.

Air traffic

Raja airport Haji Fisabilillah is located in the capital of the Riau Islands - the city of Tanjung Pinang and is the second largest airport in the archipelago. Flights from Jakarta and other cities arrive here. The airlines serving the airport include Garuda Indonesia, Citilink and Lion Air.

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Where to stay on Bintan Island

The island boasts luxurious 5-star resorts such as Banyan Tree and The Sanchaya, the cost of living in which can be several hundred euros per day for a double room.

But at the same time, Bintan offers a sufficient number of accommodation options for travelers on a more modest budget, for example:

• Madu Tiga Beach & Resort (Tanjung Pinang) - small bungalows near the beach. Friendly service, swimming pool, restaurant, entertainment - about 70 euros with breakfast.
• Trikora Beach Club & Resort (about 20 minutes drive from Tanjung Pinang) is a quiet 3-star hotel with a private beach area. There is a spa center, an outdoor infinity pool, a children's pool, a beach restaurant where you can dine throughout the day. Activities are offered such as snorkeling, kayaking, trekking and island tours, as well as SUP lessons - from 115 euros with breakfast.
• The ANMON Resort Bintan (Lagoi) is a glamping resort in the desert. Unusual rooms, made in the style of tents, have a swimming pool and gastronomic establishments - from 150 euros with breakfast.
• Natra Bintan (Lagoi) is another great glamping resort, but unlike the previous location, it is surrounded not by desert landscapes, but by green gardens. Accommodation in tents in safari style, there is a restaurant, pool and spa - from 200 euros with breakfast.

Natra Bintan

Food on the island

The island provides a wide range of opportunities to experience local cuisine: atmospheric hotel restaurants, romantic dinners on the beach or surrounded by picturesque cliffs, traditional local gastronomic establishments, noisy and crowded open-air eateries.

Please note that a 10% service charge and 11% government tax may be added to your hotel and restaurant bills. Therefore, tips on the island are not required, but are welcome if you are satisfied with the service provided.

Visit the trusted brand Sederhana Masakan Padang in Tanjung Pinang to taste one of Indonesia's must-try dishes - Nasi Padang. The variety of dishes and the authentic "khidang" style of serving, when many plates of fragrant food appear in front of the guest, but the client pays only for those dishes that he tries, ensures that no one leaves the establishment hungry.

Lamak Basamo is another popular local brand known for its khidang -style presentation. This restaurant is conveniently located between the Plaza Lagoi and Lagoi Beach, certified as halal and provides guests with the opportunity to taste a variety of local Indonesian cuisine.

Yeah! The Lounge is a photogenic location in Lagoi Bay, where you can enjoy a wide range of alcoholic drinks, fusion light snacks, live music and some of the best sunset views in Bintan.

Akau Potong Lembu - during the day this area serves as a parking lot, and at night it turns into a lively open-air shopping center. Thanks to cheap and tasty dishes, the location is popular among local street food lovers. Mostly traditional and Chinese cuisine.

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Transport on the island

Getting around the island is possible by taxi or buses, which usually run between major resorts and the Bandar ferry terminal Bentan Telani.

You can also rent a car or scooter.

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Attractions and entertainment

The island offers travelers scenic views, romantic evenings with colorful tropical sunsets, a variety of wildlife, mangrove journeys, visits to mysterious temples, and many fascinating cultures and stories.

Here are some of the recommended things to do while on holiday in Bintan Island:

1. Visit Buddhist temple 500 Lohan, where the tourist will see more than 500 life-size stone statues, each of which has a unique physique and facial expression, as well as the Banyan Tree Temple (Banyan tree Temple), shrouded in a beautiful legend and, according to popular beliefs, fulfilling the desires of those who visit it.
2. Go on an excursion to the city of Tanjung Pinang, along the way visiting the nearby village of Senggarang, where the majority of the inhabitants are ethnic Chinese, who still observe ancient customs and rituals. In addition to ancient Chinese temples, unique wooden houses on the water are of interest to the traveler.
3. Visit Sei Bridge near the capital Carang in colorful night lights.
4. Explore the island's wildlife on a mangrove boat tour along the Sebung River.
5. Experience the best golf course in Indonesia by the beautiful South China Sea at Laguna Resort Golf Bintan.
6. Organize a trip to the sand dunes and blue lakes with lunch.
7. Climb Mount Bintan and admire the picturesque views of the surroundings.
8. Visit the small Santa Maria grotto near Trikora beach.
9. Look at the famous wet market in Tanjung Pinang and buy tropical vegetables, fruits, and get acquainted with the popular local delicacy of sea snails (Gonggong), after which you can continue shopping at the traditional market in Tanjung Pinang, which offers a wide range of goods from dried seafood to clothing and handmade souvenirs.
10. Get a glimpse of the world of elephants with a 40-minute show at Jumbo elephant Park, home to 7 friendly and intelligent giants.
11. Make funny photos for your social networks in Rumah Imaji 3D Imaging house.
12. Have fun with kids at Bintan bounce Park by Yolo.

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Beaches

As the largest of the 3,200 islands in the Indonesian Riau Archipelago, Bintan is bordered by a coastline of 105 km. Therefore, it is not surprising that a beach holiday here is one of the main tourist attractions.

Among the best beaches in Bintan:

• Lagoi is a gorgeous beach in North Bintan with clean white sand and lush green vegetation to escape the hot tropical sun. There are a number of upscale resorts here. There are essential amenities as well as opportunities for water activities such as kayaking, water skiing, snorkeling and diving .
• Trikora is a picturesque beach in the eastern part of Bintan Island. The beach consists of 4 parts and strewn with white sand. The natural beauty of the location is complemented by coconut palms and large boulders located along the coast. There are opportunities for diving and water sports, as well as gastronomic establishments.

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Weather

In order to fully enjoy all the opportunities that this beautiful island provides the traveler, it is necessary to choose the right period for visiting it.

The average annual air temperature in Bintan is +28…+30°C, and the average water temperature is +28…+29°C, so swimming and sunbathing here is possible all year round. However, when planning a trip, keep in mind that the weather on the island is usually sunny, dry and windless from late March to early November. But during the period of the northeast monsoon, which lasts from late November to early March, we should expect increased winds and short-term showers.

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