Pulau Ubin day trip: the bumboat from Changi Point, bike hire and the Chek Jawa boardwalk closure

In this guide

💡 The Short Version: Travel to Pulau Ubin by taking the MRT to Tanah Merah (EW4), then bus 2 to Changi Village Terminal, and descending to Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Traditional wooden bumboats depart continuously once 12 passengers gather: the 15-minute crossing costs S$4 each way (plus S$2 for a bicycle), cash only. Rent a bicycle at the jetty for S$8 to S$25 per day to reach Chek Jawa Wetlands, open daily 07:00 to 19:00. Watch the boardwalk closure: a section of the Coastal Loop boardwalk is closed for maintenance from 15 September 2026 until 30 April 2027, while the Mangrove Loop, Jejawi Tower, and Visitor Centre remain fully open. Or book a tour: travellers wanting an active guided adventure through the island’s coastal estuaries can reserve a Round Ketam mangrove kayaking tourad from S$110.

Lying just off the northeastern coast of Singapore across the Serangoon Harbour, Pulau Ubin (literally “Granite Island” in Malay) offers an authentic glimpse into Singapore’s rural past. Spanning 1,020 hectares of lush coastal forest, abandoned granite quarries, mangrove estuaries, and rubber plantations, the island is home to Singapore’s last surviving rural village (kampong).

With no high-rise developments, no motor cars (outside authorized open-top passenger minivans), and no public power grid, Pulau Ubin feels decades removed from downtown Marina Bay.

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How to get to Pulau Ubin: the bumboat from Changi Point

Reaching Pulau Ubin requires a scenic two-stage journey by public transit and traditional wooden bumboat.

Bumboats at the Changi Point Ferry Terminal jetty. Photo: Whoosises, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

Step 1: Mainland transit to Changi Point

1. By MRT and Bus: Take the East-West Line (Green Line) to Tanah Merah MRT station (EW4). Exit via Exit B and board public SBS Transit bus 2 at the bus stop directly outside. Ride bus 2 to its final terminus at Changi Village Bus Terminal (approx. 25–30 minutes).
2. Alternative bus connections: You can also connect to Changi Village via bus 29 from Tampines MRT station (EW2/DT32) or bus 109 from Serangoon MRT station (NE12/CC13).
3. By Taxi or Ride-hail: Direct your Grab or taxi driver to “Changi Point Ferry Terminal, 51 Lorong Bekukong”. The drive takes roughly 25 minutes from the city centre and costs approximately S$20 to S$28.
4. Walk to the pier: From Changi Village Bus Terminal, walk two minutes past the hawker centre to Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Take the escalators down to the basement passenger waiting lounge.

Step 2: The wooden bumboat crossing

• How bumboats operate: Bumboats do not adhere to a published timetable. Instead, they operate on a turn-based queue system: captains depart as soon as 12 passengers assemble in the waiting area.
• Operating hours: Regular bumboats operate daily from 06:00 to 19:00. If you arrive early in the morning or during mid-afternoon, wait times rarely exceed 10 to 15 minutes.
• Fares: The one-way crossing costs S$4.00 per person. If you bring your own personal bicycle, there is an additional S$2.00 surcharge (S$6.00 total).
• Payment method: Cash only. Fares must be handed directly to the boat captain in Singapore Dollar cash as you step aboard. Contactless credit cards, SimplyGo transit cards, and EZ-Link cards are not accepted.
• Private charter option: If you travel early in the morning, late in the evening, or simply do not wish to wait for 12 passengers to gather, you can charter the entire 12-seat bumboat immediately by paying the full vessel fee of S$48.00 one way ($12 \times \text{S}$4$).
• The journey: The boat ride across the Johor Strait takes roughly 15 minutes, offering open-air views of passing tugboats, coastal kelongs (floating fish farms), and forested coastlines.
• Returning to Singapore: The return crossing follows the exact same arrangement. Head down to Pulau Ubin Jetty, join the passenger queue, pay S$4 cash to the captain, and alight at Changi Point.

⚠️ Bring sufficient cash from the mainland. There are no ATMs or bank branches on Pulau Ubin. Bumboats, bike hire operators, drink stalls, and seafood restaurants require physical currency. Withdraw cash from the DBS/POSB or OCBC cash machines located inside Changi Village Hawker Centre before boarding the boat.

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Bicycle hire on Pulau Ubin

Bicycles represent the primary mode of exploration on Pulau Ubin. As soon as you step off the jetty onto the island’s timber boardwalk, you will enter Ubin Town, where half a dozen rustic rental shops line the road.

Bicycle rental shops in Ubin Town near the jetty. Photo: alex.ch, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Hire costs and bicycle types

Bike inspection checklist

Before paying and pedalling away from the shop:

• Test both front and rear handbrakes on a short test roll.
• Shift through all gears to ensure the derailleur changes smoothly.
• Inspect tyre pressure and check tyre treads for worn rubber or thorns.
• Ensure the seat post clamp holds firmly when adjusted to your height.
• Collect a complimentary island trail map from the shop or the National Parks Board (NParks) volunteer station.

If cycling is not an option, authorized open-top minivan taxis (maroon-coloured minivans with rooftop luggage racks) queue near the jetty. Drivers charge fixed fares (approx. S$3 to S$4 per person one-way on a shared basis, or S$24 to S$30 per vehicle for private charter) to ferry passengers directly to Chek Jawa Wetlands or Mamam Beach.

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DIY excursion vs guided outdoor tours

Most visitors find exploring Pulau Ubin by hired bicycle straightforward. However, an organised eco-tour provides expert naturalist insights into mangrove biodiversity, safety instruction, and all watersport equipment.

Recommended outdoor and regional tours

Round Ketam Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin

From S$110 · 5.0 stars from 8 reviews · 4 hours · Eco-tour

For the ultimate Pulau Ubin adventure, this guided sea kayaking tour launches from the island’s coastline into the sheltered mangrove channels surrounding Ketam Island. Paddle past historic floating fish farms (kelongs), weave through intricate mangrove stilt roots, and observe nesting white-bellied sea eagles, kingfishers, and playful smooth-coated otters. All kayaking gear and certified paddle instruction are included. Book on GetYourGuidead.

Batam Culture Day Tour with Lunch & Massage

From S$162 · 4.8 stars from 42 reviews · Full day · Island excursion

Take a high-speed catamaran across the Singapore Strait to Batam Island in Indonesia. This guided package covers round-trip ferry bookings, private air-conditioned transport, cultural temple visits, a fresh Indonesian seafood lunch, and a relaxing traditional massage. Book on GetYourGuidead.

Private Day Trip to Johor Bahru from Singapore

From S$180 · 4.8 stars from 12 reviews · 8 hours · Private group

Travellers wanting a comfortable cross-border cultural day trip to Malaysia without waiting in bus queues can reserve a private door-to-door transfer across the Causeway into historic Johor Bahru, visiting mosques, glass temples, and colonial bakeries. Book on GetYourGuidead.

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What to see: Chek Jawa and island sights

Pulau Ubin’s sights are spread across the island’s 10-square-kilometre footprint.

Bicycles parked beside the timber jetty at Pulau Ubin. Photo: Jnzl’s Photos, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Chek Jawa Wetlands

Situated on the eastern tip of the island, approximately 3.5 kilometres (a 20- to 30-minute bike ride) from Ubin Town, Chek Jawa Wetlands is one of Singapore’s most biologically diverse marine habitats. Six distinct ecological zones converge here: coastal forest, mangrove swamp, sand flat, mud flat, coral rubble, and seagrass lagoon.

• Opening hours: Daily from 07:00 to 19:00. Admission is completely free.
• Boardwalk network: A 1.1-kilometre timber boardwalk allows visitors to wander above the fragile intertidal flats without trampling marine life.
• Maintenance Notice: A section of the Coastal Loop boardwalk has been closed for structural refurbishment since 15 September 2026, with completion scheduled for 30 April 2027 (NParks notices). The Mangrove Loop, the open portion of the Coastal Loop, and the Jejawi Observation Tower remain fully open to visitors. The guided Chek Jawa Wetlands Tour is suspended until repairs finish.
• Jejawi Tower: A 20-metre viewing tower rising above the forest canopy, offering sweeping 360-degree views across the Johor Strait and the treetops where hornbills and eagles perch.
• House No. 1 Visitor Centre: A restored 1930s Tudor-style cottage built by British chief surveyor Landon. It houses interpretive marine displays and features Singapore’s only operational fireplace.

Ketam Mountain Bike Park

Located around the perimeter of Ketam Quarry in the western sector of Pulau Ubin, this 45-hectare purpose-built bike park meets International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) standards:

• Over 10 kilometres of single-track dirt trails graded by difficulty: Blue Square (moderate single-track), Black Diamond (challenging steep technical drop-offs), and Double Black Diamond (extreme rock gardens and drops).
• Features berms, switchbacks, wooden pump sections, and dirt obstacles. A proper front-suspension mountain bike and cycling helmet are mandatory.

Puaka Hill (Bukit Puaka)

Rising 74 metres above sea level, Puaka Hill is the highest elevation on Pulau Ubin:

• A rugged 15- to 20-minute uphill hike on an unpaved forest trail.
• The summit overlooks the dramatic vertical granite cliffs and turquoise waters of Ubin Quarry, with Johor Bahru visible in the distant horizon.

Kampong houses and Sensory Trail

• Traditional Kampongs: Dotting the island are authentic wooden zinc-roofed kampong houses surrounded by fruit orchards growing durian, rambutan, jackfruit, and pomelo.
• Ubin Sensory Trail: A gentle 1.5-kilometre walking loop near the village designed to engage the senses, featuring heritage economic crops including coffee, rubber, and culinary herbs used in traditional Malay and Peranakan medicine.

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Practical advice: safety and wildlife

1. Beware of wild boars and macaques: Wild boars and long-tailed macaques roam freely across Pulau Ubin. They associate plastic bags and crinkling wrappers with food. Never feed wildlife—doing so attracts heavy fines up to S$5,000 under Singapore’s Parks and Trees Act. Keep snacks, drinks, and food containers tucked securely inside your closed backpack. If approached by boars, maintain a calm posture, do not scream or run, and walk away slowly.
2. Marine safety and jellyfish: The National Parks Board advises caution along coastal shores due to sporadic sightings of box jellyfish in surrounding waters. Avoid swimming in unmarked coastal waters.
3. Carry mosquito repellent and sunscreen: Dense coastal foliage means mosquitoes and sandflies thrive. Apply insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin generously, and wear a broad-brimmed hat.
4. Hydration: Pulau Ubin is hot and intensely humid. Carry at least 1.5 to 2 litres of drinking water. You can purchase chilled coconut water and bottled drinks at rustic shops in Ubin Town before pedalling east toward Chek Jawa.
5. Where to eat in Ubin Town: Before catching the return bumboat, stop at one of the open-air heritage seafood eateries near the jetty (such as Cheong Lian Yuen or Season Live Seafood) for a plate of seafood fried rice, sambal kangkong, or chilli crab accompanied by fresh cold drinks.

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More Singapore guides

Continue exploring Singapore’s green escapes and islands:

• Day trips from Singapore: comprehensive comparisons of all day trips.
• Kusu and St John’s Island: ferry schedules, beaches, and pilgrimage shrines.
• Sentosa Island: beaches, resorts, and attractions in the south.
• Singapore public transport: MRT trains, buses, and SimplyGo contactless fares.
• Where to eat in Singapore: best dining quarters, street hawkers, and local dishes.
• What to book before you go to Singapore: complete ticket planning and booking checklist.

Common questions

How do you get to Pulau Ubin from mainland Singapore?

Take the East-West MRT line to Tanah Merah station (EW4), transfer to SBS Transit bus 2 to Changi Village Bus Terminal (25 minutes), walk 5 minutes to Changi Point Ferry Terminal basement, and board a wooden bumboat. Bumboats take 15 minutes to cross the Johor Strait and leave whenever 12 passengers assemble.

How much is the bumboat to Pulau Ubin?

The bumboat costs S$4 per person each way, plus an additional S$2 surcharge if bringing your own bicycle. The fare must be paid in cash directly to the boat operator; contactless cards and SimplyGo are not accepted.

Is the Chek Jawa boardwalk open?

Partly. A section of the Coastal Loop boardwalk at Chek Jawa Wetlands is undergoing structural restoration from 15 September 2026 until 30 April 2027. The Mangrove Loop, the open section of the Coastal Loop, the 20-metre Jejawi Observation Tower, and the House No. 1 Visitor Centre remain open daily from 07:00 to 19:00.

How much does bike hire cost on Pulau Ubin?

Rental shops near the jetty charge S$6 to S$12 per day for basic single-speed city cruisers and S$15 to S$30 per day for geared front-suspension mountain bikes or tandem bicycles.

Are there ATMs or cash machines on Pulau Ubin?

No. There are no automated teller machines or banks on Pulau Ubin. All bumboat captains, bicycle rental shops, and traditional seafood restaurants accept cash only. Withdraw sufficient Singapore dollars at Changi Village before boarding.