Best Hiking Trails For People Who Don't Like Hiking
So you’re trying to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, and immerse yourself in some nature. But you have no idea where to start and *whisper it quietly*, you’re not really a fan of walking. Fret not! Whether it’s the highly Instagram-able scenery or fascinating wildlife, these are the island’s 5 best hiking trails to ignite your sense of adventure and make you forget about the distance!
1. Southern Ridges – The Most Scenic View
With the panoramic vistas of the city skyline and the Southern Islands that you can enjoy from the peak of Mount Faber and the iconic architecture of Henderson Waves, the Southern Ridges offer you an unparalleled outdoor experience. Be sure to bring your camera with you as you explore the undulating terrain and lush greenery that constantly varies throughout the route. And why go to one park, when you can explore five?
Start your trek on Marang Trail (a stone’s throw away from Harbourfront MRT, up through Faber Walk, before proceeding towards Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark and finally Kent Ridge Park. Alternatively, you can take a separate path that ends at the Labrador Nature Reserve. Before you know it, you’ll have completed all of 10km and loads of Insta-worthy pics!
2. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve – The Most Wildlife
Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park is teeming with a rich biodiversity amongst its mangrove rainforest and wetlands. If you’re a nature lover with a keen interest in wildlife, then be sure to pay a visit during the migratory season especially from September to March, where you’ll be able to catch sight of the diverse flocks of shorebirds and waders that make the reserve their temporary sanctuary.
Closer to the ground, the 500m-long boardwalk allows you to enjoy an up-close and personal look at mud lobsters, tree-climbing crabs and if you’re lucky, even monitor lizards! If you’re looking to meet a couple of interesting creatures along your weekend hike, then make Sungei Buloh a part of your itinerary!
3. Fort Canning Park – The Most Historical
Located smack dab in the middle of the city, Fort Canning Park not only offers a fun and easy hike but a historical experience as well. Explore landmarks such as the site of Sir Stamford Raffles’ first bungalow, the famous Battlebox bunker and Fort Gate, a remnant of the fortress that was built atop this hill.
There are 4 trails that are interconnected within the area but feel free to start at any entrance and discover a slice of Singapore’s history at every turn. There is even an archaeological excavation site there to bring out the inner Indiana Jones in you Hiking has never been more educational!
4. Pulau Ubin – The Most Kampung Vibes
If you really want to get away from the city life, why not take a boat off the mainland, and step into the 60s Singapore time machine that is Pulau Ubin? Soothe your senses and calm your nerves as you breathe in the tranquillity and rustic charm of this offshore island.
Take a 40-min walk from Ubin Jetty to the Chek Jawa Wetlands (or rent a bicycle if the kampung atmosphere has gotten you feeling too laidback) and you’ll find yourself at the start of a 1.1km coastal boardwalk that extends out into shallow water. When the sea recedes during low tide, you might even catch a glimpse of the anemones and corals that line the surface. A definite recommendation if you’re looking for a chilled-out hike.
5. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve – The Most Challenging Hike
We’ve saved the hardest, for last! As non-hikers, you would probably dread the notion of climbing the tallest natural hill in Singapore at 163.8m. But the newly revamped area around this rainforest is probably the most authentic hiking experience anyone can have on our little red dot.
The 7 hiking trails that meander around the undisturbed tropical floral and fauna lets you test yourself and will leave you sweating buckets once you’re over and done with it. Check out the recently opened Chestnut Nature Park that is filled with bustling streams and pretty bridges or the more family friendly Hindhede Nature Park with its well-defined footpaths, trampolines and even swings that will keep the young ones occupied before enjoying the breath taking view of the Hindhede Quarry.
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