Sunny tropical weather, soft sandy beaches, swaying tall palm trees…. these were what I had envisioned Bintan, one of the islands of Indonesia’s Riau archipelago, to look like prior to my maiden visit.
Bintan, or pronounced by the locals as Ben-tan, is in fact, much more than that, as discovered during my one day tour of the island, as part of the Batam/Bintan familiarisation trip that I was invited to go on in early April.
Pelabuhan Telaga Punggur, Batam
Bintan Island is 10 kilometres east of Batam Island, and there are various means to reach it. We opted for a ride on the RORO ferry from Pelabuhan Telaga Punggur in Batam. The journey took approximately one hour. Fare is IDR19,7000 one way. Just FYI, my exchange rate at the time was IDR100,000 = MYR29.30.
Another option is to take the speedboat, with a duration of 15 minutes only. It’s pricier, and boarding is from another terminal.
arrival at Bintan ferry terminal in Tanjung Uban
The beauty of Bintan surprised me as it offered more than just beaches and water activities. After all, one beach can’t look that much different from another. In Perak, my home state, we have Lumut and Pangkor.
Upon reaching Bintan, our first stop was Gurun Pasir Busung. Imagine an Arabian desert, with its undulating sand dunes. One could easily spend hours taking photos here because there are just too many angles to capture! This former bauxite mine site is free to visit, in fact, it is a MUST VISIT, for tourists. However, selected photography spots within the area are chargeable, such as with the camel or by the pond, at IDR5000 for two pax.
Gurun Pasir Busung
Gurun Pasir Busung
As in a barren landscape, it is exceptionally hot out there. PRO TIP: Bring along sunglasses, water, a hat, and lather a generous amount of sunscreen on yourself, if you don’t want to be roasted.
Tasik Telaga Biru
Just a short walk from Gurun Pasir Busung is Tasik Telaga Biru, another super picturesque spot that will see you click on your camera shutter button non-stop! This deep blue abandoned mining pond, like an oasis in the desert, is a sight to behold. Pose for your cover model photo shoots with the disused pond as backdrop. upload these shots to your social media accounts to the envy of your followers!
Tasik Telaga Biru
Tasik Telaga Biru
Time required: at least one hour for shutterbugs. Make sure to head out on weekdays or low peak time to reduce the chances of being photobombed by strangers.
Poyotomo Fishing Park is fishing park that offers joy to not only anglers, but also other visitors who may take delight in its beautiful scenery, backed by Mount Bintan far in the horizon. Entrance fee is just IDR10,000 to enjoy many of he facilities. However, do take note that while one is free to jalan-jalan and take photos, some of the facilities require a small fee, such as cabana rental and fishing.
Poyotomo Fishing Park
Poyotomo Fishing Park
If you plan to spend long hours here, there’s food and drinks stalls to purchase from, but do take care to be hydrated as the heat could be unbearable out there.
Another destination in Bintan that’s worth your time visiting for photography is Madu Tiga Beach & Resort Bintan. It doesn’t matter if you do not plan to overnight here. The beach is for public and you can hang around for some awesome photos. Of course, do respect the privacy of guests when you are there.
Madu Tiga Beach & Resort
Madu Tiga Beach & Resort
Perhaps, it is a good idea to order a drink or two, as you laze on the beach chair, watching the day go by.
Last but not least is Desa Wisata Ekang in Bintan’s Lagoi Bay. This resort with a unique countryside concept known as D’Bamboo Kamp makes a scenic photography backdrop. This vast resort is best explored either walking, riding an electric bike, or even on a horse carriage.
Desa Wisata Ekang
Desa Wisata Ekang
Similar to Madu Tiga Beach & Resort, you can also hang out here without staying the night. However, pandai-pandai lah, order a drink or patronise the cafe somehow, so that you won’t be shoo-ed away. LOL
From my one-day visit to Bintan, I noticed that there is hardly any public transport. Therefore, a trip to explore Bintan is usually via a tour agent with chartered transport. Some resorts do rent out motorcycles, such as Madu Tiga Beach & Resort. While it is great to book your Bintan accommodation, my trip has proven that a day tour is doable, depending on your budget.
Last ferry out the island is 5pm local time. Passengers have to arrive at the Bintan ferry terminal in Tanjung Uban at least an hour earlier from departure time.
If you have more Bintat places of interest to recommend, do let me know. This is one island that I will make a return trip in the near future!
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