Chances are, by now, you’d have probably heard of the many reasons to visit Singapore: From world-class cuisines and flavors, inspiring art and culture and effervescent nightlife to international sporting events, a vibrant shopping and fashion retail scene and more–the list goes on. Yet, for the discerning adventure seeker, there is so much more to this “lion city” than meets the eye, with many off-the-beaten-path activities to enjoy.
1. Charter a boat to Lazarus Island
While many visitors to Singapore make a beeline for the ever-popular Sentosa Island, there lies another lesser-known isle along Singapore’s southern coast that remains one of the country’s best-kept secrets.
An open secret among the local community, Pulau Sekijang Pelepah (Island of the One Barking Deer and Palms), or more commonly known as Lazarus Island, has started to draw the attention of more adventurous tourists, thanks to its clean white sands on a C-shaped lagoon–touted to be one of Singapore’s best beaches. Take a dip in the glistening sun-kissed waters, work up a tan on the beach and explore the vicinity, including the nearby St. John’s Island, which is a mere 15-minute walk away via a connected causeway.
2. Take a hike!
One of this Garden City’s alluring charms is its wondrous tropical flora and fauna, and the best way to experience this lush wildlife up close is through the many hiking and biking trails spread across Singapore’s parks and nature reserves, some of which lay hidden beyond the skyscrapers and bustling streets.
Linking parks along Singapore’s south, The Southern Ridges is a 10-kilometer connector trail offering scenic vistas of some of Singapore’s most luscious natural gems, including Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark and Labrador Nature Reserve. Meanwhile, the popular music festival venue of Fort Canning Park offers a sedate climb to witness some of Singapore’s rich cultural heritage on a site where archaeological digs have unearthed remains of ancient brick buildings believed to be palaces of ancestral kings.
Other trails to explore include Clementi Forest for its Jurassic Park-esque vibes, Keppel Hill Reservoir which hides a “dark past” and MacRitchie Reservoir Park, famed for its variety of wildlife and peaceful, secluded paths and TreeTop Walk.
3. Ride a bike!
Cycling is an activity that has truly picked up in recent times and is one of the best ways to discover Singapore, which also offers many popular cycling trails. Among them is the East Coast Park, which offers a 15-kilometre coastal trail perfect for a casual ride.
Meanwhile, Pulau Ubin offers scenic routes to explore on a chilled-out ride through the 10-square-kilometre island with an abundance of nature. Take an adventure by yourself or go on one of the many guided tours available on the island, which is also accessible on foot or by canoe! More seasoned and technical bikers may want to opt for the Bukit Timah Mountain Bike Trail or the Ketam Trail where experienced riders and adrenaline junkies can experience some downhill action!
Trails, parks and islands aside, cycling is also one of the best ways to discover and experience Singapore up close, with several routes to explore, including the Marina Bay Loop, Northern Explorer Loop, or the Central Urban Loop. Feeling a little more adventurous? Go for the Singapore Round Island Loop, with a minimum distance of 120 kilometers, covering a mixture of roads, park connectors and gravel.
4. Explore Singapore on a sidecar!
Not up to hiking or cycling but still want to go on an equally exploratory adventure around Singapore? We’ve got you covered! Imagine taking in all that Singapore has to offer on a unique fleet of hand-restored vintage Vespa sidecars taking you off the beaten track. That’s exactly what you get with the award-winning Singapore Sidecars tours, which is perhaps one of the most novel ways to discover the island state (or any other city, for that matter).
This first-of-its-kind experience features multiple tours to choose from including Kampong Glam and Civic District tour, the Crazy Rich Asians tour, the Art & Museums tour, or a night ride with meals and drinks included! Take in the sights, sounds and flavors as you breeze down quaint alleyways and enjoy face-to-face encounters with real locals to discover Singapore for the true gem that it is.
5. Get your hands dirty and pick up a new skill
Besides going on an adventure on foot, bike or sidecar, there are even more ways to encounter Singapore while learning a new skill in the process, thanks to a variety of unique experiences that await visitors. Among them include the two-hour Intro to Pottery class by Dirty Hands Only. Here, participants will learn the two main pottery techniques – hand-building and wheel-throwing – on a beautiful rooftop garden studio.
Ever wanted to make your own pizza in an authentic woodfire oven? You absolutely can at the Secret Pizza Club! Experience making your own ooey-gooey pizza with none of the hassle as a team prepares everything you need, from the dough, to the toppings to the firewood. You can also customize your own pizza with garnishing harvested from the eatery’s own rooftop farm!
For something a little more cultured, try out the Gin Tasting Experience at Tanglin Gin–Singapore’s original gin distillery. This 90-minute experience takes you on a journey from wet market to gin bottle, where participants can taste locally-sourced ingredients, learn the process of distillation and mixing and bottling, before the tour culminates in a gin-tasting session.
So, there you have it! Of course, one day is never enough to experience it all. But Agoda has you covered here and invites you to Reimagine Singapore with over 150 choice accommodations around the city to suit every taste and fancy.
Discover a great choice of accommodation options at www.agoda.com/singaporeimagine2 and be rewarded with additional savings by using the promo code VISITSG8 on your bookings from now until 31 March 2023.
ADVT.
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