City Escape: Island-Hopping Day Trip to the Southern Islands
7 hours
Day Trips
Singapore
Choose one of 5 locals available
Experience hosted by Kang, Stefan & other locals
Private Tour
Carbon Neutral
Trade skyscrapers for swaying palms and sandy paths. On this unique island-hopping day trip from Singapore, you’ll explore three of the country's most charming offshore islands using public ferries — no need for a private boat. From rustic village life to WWII relics and beachside serenity, this tour offers a refreshing escape with a local guide by your side.
Destination
Singapore
Category
Day Trips
Duration
7 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, 中文, Melayu, Msa
Included
Private Guide
All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
Excluded
Entrance to Attractions
Combo Ferry Ticket
6 reasons to book this tour
Discover the region off the beaten path
Check out St. John's Island & Lazarus Island
Connect with a local & discover their culture
Take in breathtaking sceneries & panoramas
Enjoy the freedom to make stops along the way
Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
What you can expect
Just off Singapore’s southern coast lies a cluster of lesser-known islands — each with its own charm, stories, and scenery. Join your local host on this full-day island-hopping adventure using the regular ferry services from Marina South Pier.
Your first stop is St. John’s Island, a peaceful spot once used for quarantine purposes, now a haven of walking trails, greenery, and sea views. Next, walk over the causeway to Lazarus Island, home to one of Singapore’s quietest and most beautiful beaches — perfect for a scenic break or picnic.
Then hop back on the ferry to Kusu Island, where you’ll learn about its rich mix of Malay and Chinese pilgrimage traditions. Visit the hilltop Malay shrine (keramat) and Chinese temples, and hear about the island’s transformation from turtle-shaped legend to peaceful retreat.
Throughout the tour, your host will share local stories, help you navigate ferry schedules, and ensure a smooth, relaxed day away from the city buzz.
And with a convenient meeting point, all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the ferry ride! To make the trip even more enjoyable, you can choose your local host for the day. Each of the hosts available for this day trip will take you on a unique journey based on their passions and expertise, and of course, also taking into consideration your interests.
Our local hosts are natural storytellers, each with a different background ranging from arts and history to real foodies. They can't wait to share some of their unique stories and let you connect with their culture in an enjoyable and inspiring way! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes.
Choose your local
Get to know these 5 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.
Kang
One of us is a horse
5.01 review
English・中文
Stefan
The Vocalist and Sustainability Advocate
4.617 reviews
English・中文
Marcus
Easy going person
4.749 reviews
Melayu・English・Msa・中文
Jack Zhao
The Passionate Local Specialist
4.8145 reviews
English・中文
Jon
The Licensed Driver
4.979 reviews
English・中文
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.
Meeting point
Meet at In front of the ticket office - Singapore to start your journey
Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
Station Meeting Point
Meet and greet your local host at the ferry ticket station and get an introduction to your full-day trip and what to expect
Scenic Boat Trip
This full-day trip is arranged for you, so all you have to do is enjoy the sights as your host takes you Island Hopping to the Southern Islands while telling you incredible stories and insights
Only You & Your Host!
On this private day trip, you’ll have all of your host’s attention. Get the chance to speak 1-1 and get all of your questions answered for a personal experience that will make this trip more memorable
What’s in Store for You
Check out from viewpoints, nature, and other gems on St. John's Island, Lazarus Island and Kusu Island plus other stops your local host has prepared for you along the way
Optional Lunch
Along the way, your local host will recommend you typical and local places where you can stop to have lunch and catch a break. Lunch is not included in the price
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
Flexible cancellation policy
Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
Basile
(About local )
12 September 2025
Ernest
(About local )
10 September 2025
We have just finished a wonderful walking tour through Gardens of the Bay with Marcus and cannot express how happy and satisfied we felt after the tour. Marcus was incredibly knowledgeable about Singapore and the Gardens and was very caring and ensured we remained comfortable in the heat. He obliged by taking many pictures of us and we have a great photographic record of the visit.
We were very impressed by his courtesy and friendliness and if you are booking a tour through the Gardens make sure Marcus is your allocated guide.Ernest and Adrianne
Gwyn
(About local )
9 September 2025
Very informative about the food, culture and history of Geylang and Joo Chiat. It was great to try different dishes we would not normally experience. The condensed milk hot tea was an unexpected pleasure for a coffee drinker. Marcus was excellent. 10 Tastings: Geylang & Joo Chiat Food Tour
Michelle🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 September 2025
Jon was an incredible guide and host. The tour was wonderful - all the food stops were delicious and we learned so much about the food, the culture and the amazing nation of Singapore. Highly highly recommended!! Thank you Jon!!!Singapore Food Tour with Jon
David and Nicola🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
5 September 2025
Great tour with Jon who not only introduced us to some great food but told us a lot about life in Singapore and the history of the country Jon is ace
Sean🇳🇿 New Zealand
(About local )
2 September 2025
Tour was really good, excellent value and Jon was an excellent tour guide, he was extremely informative of culture and history in Singapore. Highly recommend this tourCrazy Rich Asians Tour
Stephanie🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
28 August 2025
Our family had a great time with Kang! He is very knowledgeable about the past and stories of Singapore and loves to share his knowledge. Kang was really thoughtful and flexibly adapted the tour for my children, finding interesting activities for them and making sure they were comfortable in the hot, humid weather. The places we visited on the tour were really interesting and I wouldn’t have found them by myself. And the tips on where to have lunch and what local specialties to try were awesome! Go with Kang, he is a very thoughtful and knowledgeable person who will look after you!
Salvo🇮🇹 Italy
(About local )
27 August 2025
I recently took part in a walking tour of Singapore and was thoroughly impressed by the experience. Our guide Jack was incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and friendly, making the history and culture of the city come alive at every stop. From the bustling streets of Chinatown to the serene gardens of the Colonial District, each location had its own fascinating story, which the guide explained with clarity and enthusiasm.
One of the highlights was learning about Singapore’s multicultural heritage and how the city has evolved over the years. The guide also shared insider tips on local food stalls and hidden gems, which made the experience feel personal and unique.Excellent Walking Tour in Singapore!
Ross🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
22 August 2025
Stephan was a really good guide , had good knowledge and history of the area. As far as a foodie tour , yes we tried a number of foods of different cultures however we felt we could have tasted these foods at random ourselves. For the price we felt it was not good value. Foodie trip
b9ckzjdthd
(About local )
19 August 2025
We really had a good time with Jon. He explained a lot about Singapore’s local culture and took us to one local hawker centre. When you want to see the old Part and the new Part and of Singapore‘s Chinatown, choose Jon! He listened carefully to our questions and answered them well. Great tour
Lucy Rachel🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
18 August 2025
I’d recommend doing this tour with Jon in the morning and early on in your time in Singapore:
1.its cooler
2. Jon takes you a number of places so great way to get your bearings
3. Jon explains how to use the MRT and get around and suggests other places to visit
4. You won’t need lunch lol
Loved hearing all the cultural and historical insights form Jon so way more than just a food tour a real locals insight. The food tour ticked all our boxes of getting toa number of different hawker markets whilst removing all the guess work of where to go, how to get there, what to order and how to order it and associated etiquette as unsurprisingly in Singapore there are lots of rules for the unwary
Jon was also just a really nice bloke. This was a treat for my wife’s birthday and as if by magic a sparkling candle appeared at our last stop
Thanks Jon - we had a blastQuite literally a full morning
Akiko🇯🇵 Japan
(About local )
17 August 2025
Marcus provided a great tour.
This exceeded our expectations. He's a very friendly and wise guide,
He provided us with a lot of history, culture and background information and answered our questions.
He also took occasional breaks to keep us from getting tired, prepared hand towels to make sure we were comfortable, and recommended delicious food. He was a wonderful, kind and considerate guide.
Would highly recommend.Marcus provided a great tour
acfeiner
(About local )
17 August 2025
Here's a possible review for a food tour in Chinatown, Singapore:
*5/5 stars*
"I recently joined the food tour in Chinatown, Singapore, and it was an absolute culinary delight! Our guide, Marcus was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the food and culture.
We visited several iconic eateries and street food stalls, sampling a variety of dishes that showcased the rich flavors and diversity of Singaporean cuisine.
The tour was well-organized, and the portions were just right, so we could try a little bit of everything without feeling overwhelmed. The guide also shared fascinating stories about the history and cultural significance of each dish, which added depth and context to our culinary experience. And of course his inside knowledge of Buddhisme.
What impressed me most was the connections, which allowed us to access some hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path eateries that we wouldn't have discovered on our own.
Overall, I highly recommend this food tour to anyone looking to explore the flavors and culture of Singapore's Chinatown. It's a fantastic way to experience the city's vibrant food scene and make unforgettable memories.
*Recommended for:* Foodies, culture enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a unique and immersive culinary experience.Great personal tour
David
(About local )
5 August 2025
Marcus was a fantastic guide, who provided an experience that was so much more than a food tour. He was very engaging, and highly knowledgeable about the food and the history of Singapore. We were given more food and drink than we could eat, and such a variety. Cannot recommend Marcus highly enough.Fantastic tour and guide
David
(About local )
5 August 2025
Stefan had great knowledge and led us through the history and future plans of Singapore.
James🇸🇬 Singapore
(About local )
31 July 2025
Enjoyable tour with Stefan. Temples, hdb tour and last remaining kampung visit. Good facts, questions answered and steady pace in hot weather. Nice to see a side to Singapore that is away from the shiny MBS and Singapore sling at the raffles hotel. A refreshing change
Cathy
(About local )
29 July 2025
We have just spent a wonderful afternoon being shown around various locations and tasting some wonderful food along the way (don't eat before you go !!!). Marcus was a fantastic host and really knows his stuff! We learnt so much about the history and culture of Singapore which we would never have done just wandering around ourselves. It also gave us a good grounding of where everything is so will be able to go back to the places again. Marcus was very considerate - making sure we were in the shade when we stopped, supplying us with drinks to keep us hydrated and tickets for the MRT. All in all a fantastic day - thank you Marcus!!! Fabulous food tasting day with Marcus
Lydia🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
27 July 2025
Die Führung mit Marcus war sehr informativ. Er wusste vieles zu erklären und erzählen, speziell im Buddha Tempel. Auch alle anderen Sehenswürdigkeiten.Interessante Tour
Sascha🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
24 July 2025
thank you so much Jack for your time and experience. it was such a great day and we will never forget the time with you...Highly recommend ... wonderful Guide
Maria🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 July 2025
Jon was very accommodating. He included all the spots we requested based on our short transit time in SIN. Very informative and funny too!
Tara
(About local )
12 June 2025
Our family had a great time with Jack and we enjoyed the food. He is very knowledgeable. Gteat tour
Gene
(About local )
10 June 2025
Marcus lead us on a great food tour of Singapore. Very knowledgeable on the history and food. He was able to accommodate special food requests and select the best food options. Would recommend Marcus as a tour guide. Wonderful Guide
Rodney🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
10 June 2025
We had a great afternoon on a tour with Jon in Singapore.
He was great with communication and very flexible.
We had a really well thought out tour with a mix of history, Singapore now, highlights and how to get around.
We would highly recommend Jon as a guide for you to get to know Singapore.Great Afternoon in Singapore
john
(About local )
4 June 2025
History..food choices...sites...
Marcus was very versed in facts and figures about Singapore!Informed guide
Ulrike
(About local )
19 May 2025
Jack adjusted the tour to my wishes which was great, I saw a lot and he also extended the schedule. Unfortunately he was quite unfriendly and not in the right mood. Sometimes he weren't listening and didn't answer my questions or in a complete different context and kind of arrogant. Sorry to say that, but I didn't feel welcome. Highlights of Singapur
Christin
(About local )
12 May 2025
If you want to see a lot of the city, experience great food and interesting culture while learning about Singapore, this is the tour for you. Marcus was a great guide and took us to three major areas of Singapore. He is very knowledgeable about the city, culture, food and history. We learned how to ride the MRT subway system also. I would highly recommend Marcus and this tour to start your Singapore journey!Great tour to experience Singapore!
Unknown
(About local )
26 April 2025
Couldn’t be happier with our experience with Jon, who is both very knowledgeable and good at adjusting to his group, as well as meeting specific requests!Fantastic guy!
jkqnyfv9n6
(About local )
17 April 2025
Having never set foot outside of Changi Airport before my wife and I wanted to see as much as possible. Jack expertly guided us through the highlights of Singapore giving us some great memories along the way. When we finally finished it was hard to believe exactly how much we had covered in so little time.Perfect start to a great holiday
Justin🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
15 April 2025
We spent a morning with Jack, he had designed a tour around Chinatown and the Hawker centres for our group. We had a great time, ate some really excellent food and Jack was really knowledgeable.
An excellent host and would highly recommend his tours!Lunch with Jack
Christopher🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 April 2025
We have a great introduction to Singapore with Marcus despite the rain. We could tell he was very knowledable and proud of his city. We were on the 10 tastings tour and had more food than we could handle. Come hungry!Good time
Amanda🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
4 April 2025
Marcus showed us so much of Singapore - both history and food. He was able to cater to our group spanning 3 generations, was great with the kids and my older mother. Helped us with the MRT, ordering, umbrellas and local etiquette. The food he selected was perfect as well. Would highly recommend this tour. Particularly, early in your Singapore stay. Whilst we have been to Singapore several times this was a highlight of our many trips and increased our confidence to eat more local foods. Thanks Marcus. Wonderful food tour Marcus
Julio🇹🇭 Thailand
(About local )
31 March 2025
We had a 7 hour layover in Singapore on our way back to San Francisco. We chose the 1.5 hour tour because we wanted to get back to the airport on time although on a Sunday it was a quick taxi ride there and back. Stefan was our tour guide and he took us around some of the buildings in downtown while giving us history about Singapore and its path to independence. He was very knowledgeable about the architecture and history of the buildings we sa. Stefan was a great guide and very knowledgeable. Quick Singapore Walk
Carl🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
30 March 2025
Jack is a great guide. He has an eye for photography. He even helped us rake better pictures with our phone cameras. we took a nice walk through Kampong Glen and little India and China town. up to the amazing sky park observatory. Rode the cable car for awesome views. we visited the Orchid gardens (wow) and Singapore Botanical gardens. that was just day 1! Day 2 went to the civic center and learned about Singapore planning. Merlion park, river cruuse, Gardens by the bay (amazing), Rhapsody light show (beautiful) and finally the Spectra light show. THANK-YOU Jack for the introduction to Singapore and sharing all those photos! Singapore IS the best!Jack is awesome!
Ann
(About local )
28 March 2025
Marcus took us on fast paced tour of 3 areas of the city which really suited us.
He was an extremely knowledgeable guide across a range of subject - culture, history and food.
We enjoyed the insight into the different cultures and how they work together in Singapore. the food choices were very varied and tasty.wide ranging introduction to Singapore
Jenn🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
17 March 2025
We were very excited to learn about Hawker food and try things we wouldn’t normally order. 3 of us recently moved to SG and we had one visitor. Marcus was friendly and gave us a lot of SG history but we wanted to focus on food. I did like that we started at a more local hawker however 3 of the 5 tastings were dumplings. Next we had fruit as a tasting and finally we had satay at Lau Pa Sat. Our tour abruptly ended 30 minutes early after the satay was dropped off. We had questions to ask and we had hoped to at least walk through the hawker. We didn’t talk about any local dishes. For the price of the tour it was not worth it at all. My visitor and I ended up reading a few blogs and went back and just tried food on our own. I originally booked with a different guide and it was changed last minute. There was a lack of communication between the guides and I should have been clear about what we wanted to focus on. Disappointing for a food tour
Valorie
(About local )
14 March 2025
We enjoyed our street food tour with Marcus, eating an incredible array of food from Muslim, Indian and Chinese culinary cultures. He gave us insights into Singapore’s rich history, introduced us to the efficient and easy-to-use subway system, and ensured that this introduction to Singapore met our interests. Highly recommend this guide and tour, especially as an arrival day activity to help orient you to the city. Marcus was super!
Richard
(About local )
12 March 2025
Makes you feel welcome. Dont feel rushed around. Enthusiastic about food and singapore history. Also keeps an eye on your needs.Chill tour
Signe
(About local )
7 March 2025
My partner and I had a 24 hour layover in Singapore and wanted to make the most of it with a food tour. Stefan was a great guide, showing us around three neighborhoods in the city and tailoring our tour to what we were interested in and had time for. We especially enjoyed seeing multiple hawker markets while learning some history and architecture along the way. If we’re back in Singapore, we’d absolutely take another tour with Stefan!Wonderful morning food tour
Jane
(About local )
3 March 2025
A bit disappointed with this trip. Stefan was pleasant but only provided information when asked and didn’t try to connect with us. Had 3 dishes at a Hawker centre which were great, only got very limited info when prompted and then a quick dash to Gardens at the Bay for the lightshow. Stefan didn’t appear to notice that we were lagging behind. We were meant to have further snacks at satay at the bay but they had stopped serving (which seemed to surprise Stefan) so could only have a couple of drinks and some spring rolls ( nice but we can get them at home!) that we paid for. This wasn’t the experience that we hoped for.
We said we were tired and would like to get a taxi/grab back to our hotel but Stefan wanted us to go to the MRT and get a taxi at Orchard. It didn’t feel like our needs were taken into account. Hmmm
Dominek
(About local )
3 March 2025
I had a fantastic experience with Stefan as my tour guide in Singapore! He was incredibly friendly and welcoming, making me feel comfortable from the start. His deep knowledge of Singapore's history, culture, and everyday life made the tour both informative and engaging.
It was a pleasure to have him guide me through the city's highlights, sharing interesting insights along the way. He also gave great recommendations, including the must-do experience of going up to the Supertrees—an unforgettable view!
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a knowledgeable and personable guide in Singapore. Thank you, Stefan! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Stefan – THE Singapore Tour Guide
Neil
(About local )
24 February 2025
Jon was a bag of knowledge and took the extra care to provide headphones linked to a microphone which made it very easy to hear.
We visited some great sights and Jon was able to describe everything in great detail.....we almost had no time to breathe. Night tour of Singapore
Srinivasan🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
23 February 2025
We had a morning and evening trip with Jon. He is informative and amusing and we learned a lot. We had a very relaxed time and were given plenty of opportunities for photos and exploring. We can highly recommend him as a Singapore guide.
Ravi and Jeanette Singapore with Jon
Luke
(About local )
20 February 2025
My wife and I recently did the Singapore food tour with Marcus. He was great and knowledgeable. We met him in an Arab market, and later in the day two or through Little India and Chinatown. The food was all good. The choices in food were barely basic dishes but all very tasty. Marcus gave us really great history of all of the areas that we tour through. And also took us on the subway system and taught us how to get from place to place in Singapore. He also want the extra mile, because when I booked the tour I sent him a message that I wanted to try durian and would love to go to places that serve beer. When we met Marcus he handed me a bag with four beers and a sealed package of durian in it. When we went to Little India and Chinatown he got us glasses of ice to poor our beers into.
If you book this tour I would recommend doing it at the beginning of your trip because the knowledge you will learn will help you make decisions of where to go on the remaining days of your trip. City tour wirh food mixed in.
Henry
(About local )
17 February 2025
Jon was the perfect choice for our group of 4 elderly travelers! His large van had room for all our luggage and comfortable seating for us. He offered to meet us at our cruise ship and deposit us at our hotel after the tour. His presentations were perfect, full of interesting and informative information about Singapore, its culture, population and history. He tailored the tour to fit our needs. We all recommend him very highly!Outstanding Guide! Smart, Kind & Flexible
gotfredsonnn
(About local )
11 February 2025
Jack is funny, engaging and an expert on the city’s history. He seems to know everyone and shows you a side of the city that is not bustling with only tourists. Cannot recommend him enough as a guide. Excellent experience
Janet🇨🇳 China
(About local )
4 February 2025
We had a great time with Stefan in the Singapore zoo. Stefan gave us good advice to enter the Zoo in the morning. The schedule and route were very well-organized (we entered the park early and got to see the most spectacular feeding scene in the morning, we also watched the 10:30AM performance). Stefan also provided us with audio guides and headphones, allowing us to listen to the commentary at any time. I can also feel Stefan’s great passion for animals, the good understanding of the animals in the zoo and the fun facts of the animal was really good. I highly recommend Stefan if it is your first time to visit Singapore.Great tour and highly recommend
Peter
(About local )
1 February 2025
Leider war die Tour das Geld nicht wert.
Jack's Englisch war für uns (obwohl wir gut Englisch sprechen) kaum oder nur sehr schwer zu verstehen. War aber nicht schlimm, weil Jack uns im Grunde nichts erzählte. Wir marschierte vorweg, wir versuchten ihm mühsam im Gedränge von Chinatown zu folgen. Neue Information erhielten wir kaum, auf Fragen ging er kaum ein. Außerdem bot er uns nach kurzer Zeit an, die Tour zu beenden, weil am Vortag des chinesischen Neujahrsfestes in ChinaTown ohnehin alles geschlossen wäre (und - wo unsere Vermutung - er selbst lieber zurück nach Hause wollte). Warum bestätigt er diese Tour an diesem Abend, wenn das ein ungeeignetes Datum ist? Statt dessen überreichte uns zwei (ohnehin kostenlose) Tickets für eine öffentliche Veranstaltung in den Gardens by the Bay. Zu der Veranstaltung konnte er uns wenig sagen. Wegen seiner schlechten Zeitplanung konnten wir dorthin nur noch mit dem Taxi fahren.
In Summe die schlechteste Tour ever mit einem unseres Erachtens ungeeigneten Guide - trotz seines offiziellen Tour Guide Zertifikats.Mega-Flop
nxx92q8xt7
(About local )
1 February 2025
Although Jack had some very good local knowledge and we were able to prize the information out of him, it was very hard work. He was quite clear that we had chosen the wrong time to do the tour, which made us wonder why he accepted the commission in the first place. Overall, we were able to gain insight into the Hawker centres and some of the local dynamics, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time. Jack let us eat a full lunch for the first of five courses, which meant every single next course was a struggle to eat and was very uncomfortable. Finally, his English was questionable, and I found it very hard to understand what he said, so consequently missed a loss of the information. Not worth the money.Could do better…
Marta🇩🇰 Denmark
(About local )
27 January 2025
We were very happy after this tour as we saw a big part of the city and learned the history and facts as well.
Jack is super nice, good english and perfect photographer!
Thank you Jack!
We really do recommendExcellent Tour
Keeley
(About local )
26 January 2025
Jack was wonderful! His passion for the history of Singapore was super informative. It was such a fun experience and all of the food was adventurous and delicious. Fantastic tour with Jack!
Withlocals experiences
are always
Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.