Bintan Island

If you plan on spending a whole day at a rustic Indonesian village, then Senggarang village remains the best choice. Do not miss the old-world charm of the Senggarang village. Located in Bintan island of Indonesia, this amazing village serves as a melting pot of various ethnic groups — Chinese, Indonesian, and Malay origins.

The stilt cottages, spicy seafood, and the quaint ancient village set up express the fundamental aspects of the Riau Archipelago.

Of the smallest villages in Bintan, the Senggarang village holds a very distinct population and culture, unlike elsewhere in Indonesia. The village remains home to an ethnic Chinese community that arrived about 1800 years ago. They settled here while on their route to India.

The villagers live in beautiful fishing hamlets facing the waters, and most of them follow the Buddhist religion. Apart from the beautiful cottages, the Senggarang village also holds a lot of other tourist destinations. Destinations in the form of Buddhist shrines and temples filled with Buddhist iconography and depictions of various Chinese legends. You can also see various forms of Buddha statues and sculptures dotting the entire village. Meanwhile, a local guide could come in handy for taking you to the best places around.

How to get at Senggarang Village

Do not miss the two most renowned temples — Tay Ti Kong Temple and Tian Shang Miao Temple(Banyan Tree Temple). To avoid all the hassle it is recommended to opt for a guided tour with a local guide from Locaguide. If you plan on travelling to Bintan Island from Bali or Jakarta, you can easily get a flight to Bintan Island. If you travel from Singapore, you may take a ferry or a flight to Jakarta and an onward flight to Bintan. The rustic ambience and the beautiful coast makes Senggarang Village one of the top places to visit in Indonesia with family.

Planning your escapade from the frenetic city life by travelling to the mystic islands of Indonesia? Your Indonesian vacation itinerary without including the best Bintan holiday attractions would be quite incomplete, especially a visit to the stunning Trikora beach.

The long shorelines of Trikora is famous for its incredible white sandy beaches, coconut palm-lined shores, seaside playgrounds, and gazebos with coconut palm-leaf roofs — everything that makes your Bintan Island vacation even more interesting.

How to get there

A 45-minute drive away from the city of Tanjung Pinang in Bintan, Trikora beach is one of the must-visit places if you’re planning a tour to this quaint island. Trikora beach has rows of ‘kelongs’ or fish traps, which are set up along the coastal walkways where you can find the local fishermen and tourists catching Bintan Island’s famous Ikan Bilis or small fry fish. Don’t miss your chance to try your luck at fishing by renting out a kelong yourself. Your local tour guide will be able to help you connect with the local community and engage in these fun activities.

At Trikora beach, you can enjoy your evening carelessly gazing at the sunset or playing your favourite sport at the seaside playground which is open for both locals as well as tourists. There are a bunch of rustic seaside shacks and cottages where you can spend your evenings

In order to best enjoy your trip, hire a local guide from Locaguide, as he can show you around the beach as well as take you to some of the other important places nearby, including the historic island of Penyengat and the city of Tanjung Pinang.

Nature lovers Treat !

This part of Bintan Island is definitely a treat for photographers and nature-lovers alike, with the stunning beach dotted with huge boulders. Try your luck at capturing the splendid sunset in your camera as you enjoy some time off in a cottage while savouring a platter of Ayam Goreng (Fried Chicken).3

If there is a magical eco-experience that you shouldn’t miss on your trip to Bintan Island, that would be a boat ride through the mangrove forests near the Sungai Sebong river.

The mangrove forests of Sungai Seibong is one of the most surreal attractions of Bintan Island and home to a wide variety of wild flora and fauna.

Bintan Island, also called Negeri Segantang Lada Island, has always been a favourite destination among nature lovers. Well known for its natural extravaganza, this small island has a wonderful mangrove forest, located south-west of the Bintan Resorts tourism area.

Cruise ships and magnificent sights await

The relaxing cruise along the mangrove forest offers an otherworldly experience, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. The short tour starts from a river-facing stilt cottage in a quiet, serene, and picturesque location. After passing through many dilapidated stilt huts and hotels, the river narrows down and you’ll enter the thick mangrove forest that brims with life. During this incredible boat ride, get a glimpse of the amazing wildlife amidst a serene setting. Here, you can easily spot some monkeys, snakes, and iguanas during the ride.

The essential guide

The Bintan mangrove forest tour can be best enjoyed if you have a local guide along with you. A local guide from Locaguide could explain the history and importance of the location as you cruise along the narrow waterway. Moreover you can hear stories and legends about how the people of this region are dependent on fishing and related activities to earn their livelihood. Earlier, a coal industry was operational in this area but was closed down due to the mangrove conservation efforts by the local environmentalists.

The Bintan mangrove forest tour is truly relaxing and is rightly one of the best attractions in Bintan where you can spend an amazing Indonesian family vacation. Bask in the tranquillity of the mangrove forest while you’re surrounded on all sides by the peaceful natural setting.0

There’s nothing as spiritually satisfying as a travel that accompanies meditation. If you’re longing for such a spiritual expedition, Indonesia has a lot to offer. The 500 Lohan Temple is one such amazing destination where you can immerse yourself in Buddhist spirituality.

The 500 Lohan temple, also known as Vihara Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, is one of the very few monasteries that is dedicated to the Buddhist saint, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Where is it located ?

Located in Tanjung Pinang City of the Bintan Island, this surreal Buddhist monastery is featured as one of the key attractions in Bintan Island. From the outside, the 500 Lohan Temple looks like any other Buddhist monastery. But, pass through the grand stone archway made in the Chinese architectural design guarded by the statues of General Ha and General Heng, and be ready to be fascinated by the incredible sculpture park. A local guide from Locaguide could be a great choice as he can give you more insights into the meanings of the sculptures and inscriptions as well as describe some of the legends and history behind this temple.

The Golden Arhats

With 500 golden statues of arhats or Buddhist saints all lined up in perfect order and harmony, this place is truly a spiritual extravaganza. The peculiarity of these lifelike statues is that all of the arhats are sculpted with a different posture and facial features, depicting their characters in its true sense. Each statue also displays the name of the saint at its base.

The incredible Tibetan Buddhist artwork and symbols adorn the surrounding walls of the temple. The Thai style sculptures of the Buddhas along the pavilion. You can see the sculpture of the Baby Buddha, as you walk facing the pavilion.

The 500 Lohan Temple is indeed a photographer’s wonderland. It is best to explore this place along with the other tourist destinations in Bintan Island, such as the mangrove forest near the Sungei Sebung river or the quaint Senggarang village so ask your local guide to plan your day accordingly.4