EASY TRIPS
An interesting place to visit is
the Grotto Santa Maria
located just 20 minutes
away from Trikora
Beach. It is rumoured to
have been built by a
Dutch priest with the
newer parts
being added by sea
gypsies from Vietnam,
and Catholics from
East Timor. Here,
tourists can find the ’14
Stations of the Cross’
made of limestone that
depict Jesus Christ’s last hours
before His crucifixion. Believers
still gather here on Sunday to pray and worship at the chapel.
From Grotto Santa Maria, visit the remnants of the last Malay
Kingdom at Pulau Penyengat. This is where the tombs of national
hero Raja Ali Fisabililah and poet and writer of Gurindam Dua
Belas, Raja Ali Haji can be found. There’s also one of Bintan’s
oldest mosques, the Grand Sultan of Riau’s Grand Mosque, in
which resides a rare handwritten Quran that is said to be more
than 150 years old.
Be sure to check out Senggarang Village as
well. The settlement of the ethnic Chinese
has the oldest temples in Bintan – the
Banyan Tree Temple and Vihara Dharma
Sasana. There’s also the recently
renovated and reopened Vihara
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, which is also
known as the 500 Lohan Temple.
Once night falls, head to the local
night markets for a taste of local
Indonesian cuisine. Rimba Jaya is an area
filled with plenty of food options, ranging from local food to hip
cafes and pubs. For more local flavour, Akau Potong Lembu is
an open-air night food market with stalls selling all kinds of
cuisines and fresh seafood.Day 3
Before wrapping up the trip, spend a day in the sun at Treasure
Bay Bintan or Lagoi Bay to try out the vast variety of water
sports available. Nestled in Treasure Bay Bintan is Southeast
Asia’s first and largest Crystal Lagoon. Spanning 6.3 hectares,
the crystal clear lagoon boasts plenty of fun in the sun with a
plethora of water and land activities
such as the Jetovator, Aquaglide
Sailboat, sea scooter mangrove
kayaking and ATV rides without
waves, rocks or jellyfish
threats, which makes the
lagoon suitable for all ages and
seasons. Over at Lagoi Beach,
the only public beach in
Bintan Resorts, take part in sea
sports like snorkelling, Jet Ski,
kayaking and more. Public
washing facilities are available at
both locations too.
For travellers arriving in Singapore, transit via Changi Airport to
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal via shuttle bus (£1.15), taxi or public
transport, then take a 60-minute ride on a high-speed catamaran
ferry on Bintan Resorts Ferries to Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry
Terminal (BBT).
To transit via Indonesia, there are domestic flights from Jakarta,
Pekanbaru and Matak.
With a multitude of accommodation options in Bintan Resorts,
there’s something for every traveller:- Relax in the comforts of your own private pool in Holiday Villa
Pantai Indah - Melt away city stress at Banyan Tree Spa with a spa session at the
award-winning Banyan Tree Spa in the comfort of your own villa - Grand Lagoi Village is a stone’s throw away from Lagoi Beach and
Plaza Lagoi - Enjoy family or corporate team bonding activities at Club Med
Bintan Island - Head to Nirwana Gardens to indulge in fresh seafood at The
Kelong Seafood Restaurant and cocktails at sunset at Calypso Bar.
For more information, check out bintan-resorts.com.
MAKE IT HAPPEN2 Bedroom Villa,
Holiday Villa Pantai IndahNinebot Tour,
Nirwana Gardens