Bintan day trip from Singapore: the ferry timetable, fares and peak dates, and Indonesian entry rules

💡 The Short Version: Bintan Resort Ferries sail from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Bandar Bentan Telani in Lagoi in exactly 60 minutes. Standard economy return fares are S$100 on regular dates and S$110 on peak dates (with an S$87 same-day weekday promotion available online). The last return ferry departs Bintan at 18:35 Bintan time (19:35 Singapore time). You need an Indonesian visa: either the 7-day Riau Islands Special Visa for IDR 250,000 (~S$21) or the 30-day VoA for IDR 500,000 (~S$42), plus the digital customs declaration. Or book a tour: when you want island transport with guide and nature activities ready upon arrival, the Bintan Mangrove Discovery, Sand Dune & Blue Lake Tourad (from S$52, 5.0 stars from 3 reviews) meets you at the ferry terminal.

⚠️ Mind the 1-hour time zone difference: Bintan runs on Western Indonesia Time (WIB), which is UTC+7—one hour behind Singapore (UTC+8). The last ferry back leaves Bintan at 18:35 local island time, which is 19:35 on your Singapore watch.

Ferry timetable, ticket prices and peak surcharges

Bintan Resort Ferries operates modern high-speed catamarans across the Singapore Strait to northern Bintan (brf.com.sg). Published fares are in Singapore dollars and strictly include the S$19 Singapore passenger departure fee and S$25 Bintan terminal tax.

• Peak dates schedule: Peak fares apply on Singapore and Indonesian public holidays, festive weekends, and school holiday periods: 6–9 November, 20–22 November, 27–29 November, 4–6 December, 11–13 December, and 18–31 December 2026. If outbound is regular and return is peak, the adult economy fare is blended at S$105.
• Ferry timetable:
  • Departures from Tanah Merah (Singapore time): Monday to Thursday at 08:10, 11:10, 14:00, and 17:00. Additional 09:10 morning departures run on Fridays and Saturdays.
  • Departures from Bandar Bentan Telani (Bintan local time): Monday to Thursday at 08:35, 11:35, 14:35, and 18:35. Additional 16:35 late afternoon departures operate on Fridays and Sundays.
• Check-in deadlines: Check-in and luggage drop at Tanah Merah close strictly 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Boarding gates close 15 minutes before the vessel casts off.

Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal. Photo: Bint (Wikivoyage), Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Day tours and nature activities on Bintan

Because public transportation on Bintan is non-existent outside resort shuttles, day visitors booking independent activities rely on guided excursions meeting at the ferry terminal.

Bintan mangrove discovery, sand dunes and Blue Lake tour

From S$52 · 5.0 stars from 3 reviews · 6 hours · private vehicle and boat

Bintan Mangrove Discovery, Sand Dune & Blue Lake Tourad: meets directly outside Bandar Bentan Telani arrivals. Features an open-air riverboat safari down the Sebung River through dense mangrove canopies (spotting mudskippers, macaque monkeys, and kingfishers), followed by private vehicle transport to the surreal white dunes of Gurun Pasir Busung and the turquoise quarry waters of Telaga Biru.

Bintan Sebung River mangrove or night fireflies boat safari

From S$29 · 4.6 stars from 12 reviews · 1.5 hours · riverboat safari

Bintan: Mangrove or Fireflies Tourad: focused purely on the pristine Sebung River ecosystem. Choose either a daytime natural history expedition to observe mangrove crabs and sleeping mangrove snakes in overhanging branches, or a magical post-sunset tour where thousands of synchronized fireflies illuminate the riverbank mangrove foliage.

Blue Lake and Gurun Pasir Busung sand dunes tour

From S$26 · 5.0 stars from 3 reviews · 3 hours · landscape photography tour

Bintan: Blue Lake and Sand Dunes Tourad: a shorter private excursion to Bintan’s most famous natural photography landmark—a former sand mining site that nature transformed into sweeping golden sand ridges surrounding vivid mineral-blue lakes.

You can also purchase digital ferry tickets via the Bintan Resort Ferries Ticket on Klookad{rel=“sponsored nofollow noopener”} or through KKdayad.

DIY ferry vs packaged island tour: the prices side by side

Independent beach trip costs compared with guided day tours on Bintan.

Indonesian border entry rules and customs

Northern Bintan is part of Indonesia’s Riau Islands province. Passports must have at least six months of remaining validity.

• 7-Day Riau Islands Special Visa on Arrival (IDR 250,000 / ~S$21): Issued specifically at sea checkpoints including Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT) in Lagoi and Sri Bintan Pura in Tanjung Pinang. Designed for short visits up to 7 consecutive days for passport holders from 13 qualifying nations (including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and EU countries). Payable by credit card or Indonesian rupiah cash at immigration counters.
• Standard 30-Day Visa on Arrival (IDR 500,000 / ~S$42): The standard single-entry tourist visa, valid for up to 30 days and extendable once. Can be purchased at the pier or applied for online in advance via the official Indonesian e-Visa portal (evisa.imigrasi.go.id).
• ASEAN Passports: Citizens of ASEAN nations enter visa-free for up to 30 days without payment.
• Electronic Customs Declaration (e-CD): Complete the free official All Indonesia Electronic Customs Declaration online within 72 hours before arrival to generate a QR clearance code.
• Returning to Singapore: Before re-boarding the return ferry to Tanah Merah, submit the free electronic SG Arrival Card online to receive your Singapore digital entry pass.

The Sungai Sumpat shore on Bintan’s northern coast. Photo: Bintan info, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

Exploring Bintan: Lagoi vs South Bintan

Bintan Island divides into two sharply contrasting geographic zones:

• Bintan Resorts (Lagoi Enclave): Covering 23,000 hectares along the northern coast, this is a master-planned, secure tourism enclave operated in close coordination with Singapore.
  • Lagoi Bay Beach & Plaza Lagoi: A pristine, 3.5-kilometre crescent of white sand with gentle surf, beach loungers, and sea kayak rentals. Plaza Lagoi houses open-air cafes, Indonesian warungs, souvenir shops, and the Lantern Park. Free shuttle buses connect Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal to Plaza Lagoi throughout the day.
  • Treasure Bay Crystal Lagoon: A massive 6.3-hectare artificial saltwater recreational lagoon—the largest in Southeast Asia. Offers wakeboarding, cable ski, bumper boats, and water zorbing (entry packages from S$20).
• Southern Bintan (Tanjung Pinang & Penyengat Island): Situated 90 minutes’ drive south of Lagoi, this is traditional Indonesia. Tanjung Pinang is the provincial capital, home to the floating stilt fishing village of Senggarang. Just offshore lies Penyengat Island, the historic 18th-century royal seat of the Johor-Riau Sultanate, featuring the Grand Mosque of the Sultan of Riau (built with mortar mixed with egg whites) and ancient royal mausoleums.

Getting to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal

Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal is situated at 50 Tanah Merah Ferry Road, Singapore 498833.

• Via MRT and Public Bus: Take the East West MRT Line to Tanah Merah MRT Station (EW4). Exit via Exit B to the bus stop along New Upper Changi Road and board SBS Transit Bus 35. The bus journey takes approximately 18 minutes directly to the terminal entrance (standard distance bus fare ~S$1.60 paid via contactless card).
• Via Taxi or Grab: A taxi or Grab ride from downtown Singapore (Marina Bay or Orchard Road) takes approximately 25 to 30 minutes and costs S$22 to S$30 off-peak. From Changi Airport, a taxi takes just 12 minutes (~S$12 to S$16).
• Comparing other day trips: To compare Bintan’s resort beaches against Batam’s budget seafood and shopping, see Batam day trip. For jungle nature within Singapore’s territorial borders, consider Pulau Ubin. Review every regional island and mainland excursion in our comprehensive day trips from Singapore hub.