Singapore Sea Kayaking Trails: Pulau Ubin

This is the last of the 4 Singapore sea kayaking trails that I think are doable, popular among local paddlers, and should be paddled by anyone interested in kayaking. Singapore is small, but compared to many cities in the world, a paddle is just an hour away from most homes.

So I still think we are lucky to have places near to paddle, and to be within easy reach to anywhere in our vast archipelago of southeast asia.

Perhaps I am just comforting myself in thinking this way. But it is only recently by staying away often, visiting other cities, staying there for some time, that I realized how fortunate I was to be able to paddle any free day, and on weekends.

Right now, I keep counting the number of days since my last paddle, dreaming of the next time on the water. It's driving me mad.

[photo by mark rainsley, southwestseakayaking UK]

PULAU UBIN (updated 2013)

Distance: 22km around Ubin Island (Pasir Ris/Changi, Ubin Island)

Duration: 5-8 hours, or spend a weekend with a overnight camp on Pulau Ubin

Type: Channel Crossing, Circumnavigation, River Paddling

Difficulty: Intermediate to Experienced. Beginners can paddle with guide.

Access: From Changi Beach Park or Pasir Ris Park

Permit: Kayaking certification required for renting kayaks, free camping permit from Nparks at Jelutong or Nordin Campsites.

Facilities: Kayak rental from Water Venture Pasir Ris or Changi, or WaterCross Pasir Ris (private operator). Showers facilities on Ubin (at Nordin Campsite and Ubin Jetty) but plenty on mainland. Excellent F&B choices.

Highlights: Ubin has lost some of its wild allure since a metal fence ringing the north side of the island was erected. Still it offers a stretch of wild seas and greatest possibility of seeing wildlife. Dolphins, manta rays, otters, sea snakes, and other multitudes of marine life have been seen within Ubin's waters.

Many paddlers used to stop by Frog Island, a little paradise, en route from Pasir Ris to Ubin (Chek Jawa and Frog Island are now gazetted a marine park, the area is off-limits to kayakers). Opposite Frog island is Chek Jawa, the most celebrated sandy bottom in Singapore. Impassable at low tide, paddlers should avoid the temptation of disembarking their kayaks to walk among the many exposed corals.

The Northeast of Ubin has a couple of mangrove rivers (Sungei Besar and Sungei Mamam) worth exploring, especially at high tide. It is also possible - and very beautiful - to paddle through Ubin using the Jelutong River during high tide, and this connects to Sungei Besar and sometimes to Sungei Mamam and Sungei Puaka. Before leaving for the mainland, stop by some of Ubin's finest restaurants for a beer or seafood meal.