exploring Bintan

[pj]

Taking parents to Bintan next month.
Just wondered if there are any, easily accessible, places of interest.

PJ

[Alex 1]

There is hardly anything to see on Bintan; except from the few Singapore resorts. For sightseeing, you better go to another island.

[Rob]

Try going on a trip with these guys. You will find that there is a lot more to Bintan than the resorts..
http://www.riau-islands.com/

[Joey G]

Here are some places worth seeing Bintan..

My favourite is to stay at the Hotel laut Jaya in Tj Pinang Harbour. The hotel is nothing much - but clean comfortable. Go visit Penyenget Island - it is right in front of Tj Pinang. You can spend the best part of day exploring the old fort and palace ruins.

Take a small boat across the harbour to Sengarang and spend a few hours walking around the Chinese temple and Kampung Bugis.

Take a motbike or txi to the hilltop behind the town and walk through the lovely old Dutch houses. back downhill to the main town.

At night, just hang out on the deck under the hotel and eat some seafood and drink cold beer.

If you are staying at the Bintan Lagoon Hotel, try doing their afternoon "African Queen River Trip". It is well worth the effort. I once stumbled on this trip on the web, but can't remember where.

Dont say there is nothing to do in Bintan. I havent even mentioned the beautiful islands of Numbing, Pangkil and Terkulai.

[Johnny T]

Just looked on the map - there are two Pangkil islands near Bintan. One between Bintan and Galang and another between Bintan and Mapur.

Which Pankil is nice to visit? What is there?

[Marsel]

The Pangkil off Bintan's East coast is actually Pangkil Kecil. They have a website - do a search. Well worth the visit, though the guy who built it, Peter Timmer is leaving soon and moving on to do new things. We hope the new management can keep up Peter's standards.

The other Pangkil is half way between Tj Pinang and Barelang Bridge-5. The place has a nice beach and some good cycling. The island is still undeveloped. Island Adventures sometimes brings guests there, on their Riau Straits Adventure Cruise. That is the only way to see the island in comfort.

[Johnno J]

The Bintan Lagoon Resort (previously called the Sedona) does a very enjoyable half day trip into Bintan's hinterland, called the "African Queen River Trip". Very diffferent. wE felt like we stpeed back 100 years to see the old Bintan, before modern tourism.

There is a website somewhere, but I cant remember where. Try doing a search,