Singapore is so close to beautiful Indonesian islands and plenty of home-grown natural beauty

Singapore is within easy reach of some beautiful islands and lots of home-grown nature spots.

Indeed, almost half of the city state is covered in greenery, thanks to charming urban parks, unspoilt nature reserves and a Unesco World Heritage Site. The Lion City has long been the place to be if you enjoy an urban lifestyle but love nature.

“Our first prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, [was] the architect of Singapore’s transformation,” says Masagos Zulkifli, Singapore Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. “He focused on creating a ‘Garden City’ [and] planted the first tree in 1963, which kick-started the annual Tree Planting Campaign. Today, we are building on the legacy of our pioneer leaders and transforming Singapore into a ‘City in a Garden’.”

Locals and tourists also enjoy Singapore’s easy sea links to neighbouring islands such as Bintan, which is the largest island in the Riau archipelago of Indonesia. An hour’s ferry ride from Singapore, Bintan is famous for its luxurious resorts, turtles and the charming rocks of its Trikora Beach.

There are also “pristine mangrove forests” on Bintan’s “meandering, clear river of Sungei Sebung”, says Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism. “Visitors can take a boat ride almost right to the source of the river, and experience a thrilling trip into the world of tropical mangroves.”

Nature lovers might also trek to the island’s Gunung Bintan Besar hill, whose forest tracks offer sweeping views of the island.