Disappearing Kelongs: Singapore Boat Tour Around Pulau Ubin

4.9 (751 reviews) 3 hours Free cancellation

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751 reviews

4.9

Disappearing Kelongs: Singapore Boat Tour Around Pulau Ubin — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Disappearing Kelongs: Singapore Boat Tour Around Pulau Ubin, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Leave the city skyline behind and journey into a quieter, rarely seen side of Singapore — where mangroves, fishing boats, floating homes, traditional kelong structures, and coastal fish farms still tell the story of our maritime past.

On this small-group boat tour around Pulau Ubin and the Johor Straits, your licensed local guide and seasoned boat captain brings you through waters that feel worlds away from modern Singapore. Hear stories of disappearing kelongs, old fishing communities, Ubin’s island life, and the narrow stretch of sea separating Singapore from Malaysia.

Depending on tide, time of day, and sea activity, you may spot grey herons, fishermen, crab traps, or boats hauling in the day’s catch. Stop at Smith Marine Floating Restaurant, a kelong-style fish farm and seafood restaurant, before cruising back with sea breeze and open coastal views.

More than a boat ride, this is a rare chance to experience Singapore’s vanishing coastal heritage before it fades from memory.

Nature and Wildlife Tours Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Sustainable Tours Water Tours Small Group Excellent Quality Weather Dependent - Moderate

At a glance

Duration: 3 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 11 people
People per booking: 1–11
Guide: Chinese, English
Operated by: Let's Go Tour

Ages: Adults (2–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Visit to Smoth Marine Floating Restaurant / floating fish farm
Included: Boat ride / catamaran cruise
Included: Safety briefing onboard before departure
Included: 3-hour guided boat tour around Pulau Ubin and the Johor Straits
Included: Licensed Tour Guide

Not included

Not included: Meals and drinks
Not included: Hotel pickup and drop-off
Not included: Personal expenses
Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Stop 1

5 min

Captain Robin will meet you at the Quarterdeck Building inside SAF Yacht Club, our boarding point for the kelong boat tour. He will check everyone in and give a short safety briefing before boarding. From here, we begin the cruise into Singapore’s northern coastal waters to explore kelongs, fish farms, the waters around Pulau Ubin, and the Johor Straits.
Sembawang Park

10 min

From the water, pass the Sembawang coastline and hear stories of its naval past, including the history of Sembawang Shipyard and its role as a former British naval base area. Your guide will also share lesser-known stories of the northern shores, including past smuggling activity, sea patrols, and how this quiet coastline once played a much bigger role in Singapore’s maritime life.
Stop 3

10 min

From the boat, pass the waters around Seletar Island and learn about Ah Hua Kelong, one of the names connected with Singapore’s remaining fish-farming scene. Your guide will explain what kelongs used to be, how they have changed over the years, and how modern floating fish farms differ from traditional wooden kelong structures. You will also hear a brief introduction to Seletar Island and its surrounding waters, including how the area is used by Singapore’s wakeboarding community today.
Pasir Gudang

15 min

Learn about our neighbouring port and how it got its name. We will make a brief stop to understand the the 2 ports in Pasir Gudang and learn how close Singapore is to the Malaysia waters.
The Punggol Settlement

10 min

From the boat, pass the Punggol coastline and hear how this waterfront area has changed from old coastal kampong life to today’s Northshore and Punggol waterfront developments. Your guide will also share stories of the former Punggol seafood restaurants, once popular with locals for seaside dining. Depending on the time of day and sea activity, you may also spot wild birds such as grey herons, or see Malaysian fishermen hauling nets for fresh sea prawns along the way.
Stop 6

20 min

Cruise along the waters around Pulau Ubin without landing on the island. You will pass a rustic kelong that is no longer in operation and learn about the challenges that led to the disappearance of many traditional kelongs. You will then see how close Singapore is to Malaysia across the Johor Straits and hear stories from the past about life along these shared coastal waters. Along the way, catch a glimpse of Outward Bound Singapore’s Pulau Ubin site, where generations of young Singaporeans have experienced outdoor learning, teamwork, and sea-based adventure in one of the country’s last rustic island settings.
Stop 7

15 min

Pass the quiet waters around Pulau Ketam, a small mangrove-fringed island near Pulau Ubin. From the boat, catch a glimpse of rustic wooden floating homes and fishing structures that still exist in Singapore — a rare reminder of an older coastal way of life. Enjoy a peaceful cruise through one of the area’s quieter estuary landscapes, away from the city skyline. Your guide will also share stories of Pulau Ubin’s past as a granite island, and how its resident population has fallen from more than 2,000 in the 1950s and 1960s to only a small community today.
Stop 8

30 min Admission included

Visit Smith Marine Floating Restaurant, a floating kelong-style seafood restaurant and fish farm in Singapore waters. Here, learn how live seafood is reared, how modern floating fish farms differ from traditional wooden kelongs, and why this coastal way of life is becoming increasingly rare. This is also a restroom stop before the return cruise. For morning departures, meals are not available, while drinks are at your own expense. For afternoon departures, meals and drinks are at your own expense. The cruise back is a relaxing time to enjoy the sea breeze, take in the coastal views, and reflect on Singapore’s disappearing kelong heritage.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Quaterdeck Building @ 43 Admiralty Road West, Singapore 759962

End point

Quaterdeck Building @ 43 Admiralty Road West, Singapore 759962

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This tour requires a minimum of 4 paying guests to depart. If the minimum is not met, Let’s Go Tour Singapore will contact guests in advance with available options, including rescheduling, a full refund, or topping up the difference for the tour to proceed.
This is a boat tour around Pulau Ubin and the Johor Straits. Guests do not land on Pulau Ubin during this experience.
The route may vary depending on tide, weather, sea conditions, and operational factors. Light rain does not automatically cancel the tour, but the tour may be rescheduled if conditions are unsafe.
Guests may be required to remove footwear before boarding, as is common practice on private boats.
Meals are not available for morning departures. Drinks are at guests’ own expense. For afternoon departures, meals and drinks at Smith Marine Floating Restaurant are at guests’ own expense.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour start time for check-in, boarding, and safety briefing. Late arrivals may miss the tour and be treated as no-shows.