Illustrative image, not a photograph

Pulau Ubin & Chek Jawa Wetlands

A rustic offshore island where six ecosystems meet at low tide

Difficulty: Easy
Duration: Half a day to a full day

A short bumboat ride from Changi, Pulau Ubin preserves Singapore's kampong-era landscape, with cycling trails, mangroves and old quarries. At its eastern tip, Chek Jawa Wetlands lets six distinct ecosystems, from coral rubble to seagrass lagoon, be explored on a boardwalk and a 21-metre viewing tower.

Highlights

The Chek Jawa boardwalk and viewing tower
Cycling around the island's quarry and kampong trails
Wildlife spotting: hornbills, monitor lizards and, at low tide, carpet anemones
Ketam Mountain Bike Park for more technical riding

Getting there

Take a bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal; boats leave when full, with no fixed timetable.

Safety tips

Trails and the boardwalk are flat and low risk, but bring cash for the bumboat and check the last boat time back to the mainland, since services stop in the evening.

What to bring

Cash for the bumboat fare
Water and sun protection
A bicycle rental fee if cycling the island

Permit

No permit needed

Official source: National Parks Board (NParks), Pulau Ubin
Fee: Free entry to the island and the Chek Jawa boardwalk; small fees for guided low-tide walks and the bumboat fare to reach the island
Apply at least: Book guided Chek Jawa walks in advance through NParks; casual boardwalk visits need no booking
How to apply: Casual visits need no permit; a permit is only required to go off the marked trails for approved research. Book the paid guided Chek Jawa tour ahead through the Pulau Ubin NParks permits page.

Best months

Year round; check tide tables for the best Chek Jawa exposure

Avoid

None fixed, though high tide covers most of the intertidal flat

Chek Jawa's wildlife is most visible at low tide; check the tide calendar before your trip.