Review Author: Premilla Rajan

Review Date: 17 Nov 2023

Review Body: Hi folks, this morning's  experience with 'Let's Go Tour' on their trip to the last Kampung standing at Lorong Buangkok was indeed a fascinating peep into the past! 'Yap' our tour guide was well informed and gave us a leisurely stroll through the settlement addin information as we went along. Age old stories dating 1954 and earlier peppered the tour. How the first HDB flats came by, the introduction of modern toilets and running water through taps were additions to the settlement. Shanties that even today are full occupied! 35 of these dot the area covered in a large number of fruit trees - mainly banana, breadfruit,  and Mango! We spotted a few cocoa trees with pods & Moringa trees, as well as Indian betel leaf vines too. Elsewhere, Pandanus and Citronella strike claim. Gone are the open drains thanks to plumbing. No more flooding as huge canals at the periphery take charge! Unspoilt, shady woodlands of sorts with canopies that tower high making the settlement almost invisible. Tucked away though, the HDB flats are right next door, and inky glimpsed through the tree canopies. Madam Sng the proud landlady, whose father was instrumental in purchasing the land in the 1950s, actually owns this area and has leased the tiny houses for a song! Can you imagine paying just $6 per month in a city like Singapore? Of course modernity is evident in the TVs owned and cars too, we spotted several Mercedes cars and others, parked in front of the more modern homes that have been modified from the original shanties!  Gone are the bicycle days !  Our excursion today was a remarkable opportunity to see life captured in a frozen state as it were. We could visit one of her houses which is used for film shoots by Media Corp! Ms Sng was gracious to chat with us too. A splendid morning-  this interesting trip was indeed Time Travel

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jocelyn Cheng

Review Date: 31 Aug 2020

Review Body: It’s the school hols and like many other families with young, energetic kids, we were on the lookout for fun ways to keep them entertained. The options are limited during this Covid-19 period since we can’t travel out of the country, and we try to avoid malls as much as possible. The private guided Kelong tour did a lot more than just entertain. It literally brought history, science & social studies lessons to life for all of us! Our knowledgeable and friendly guide, Robin, fed us interesting nuggets of information about the different types of kelongs, farming methods, the various islands, etc. And our boys were obviously fully engaged as they fired tons of questions which Robin readily answered. Lunch at Smith Marine, a floating kelong, was especially memorable since the boys had the opportunity to fish for it! Our promfret was literally from farm to table. The sotong, mussels & promfret were yummy - you simply can’t go wrong with fresh seafood. When I asked if they had fun, our 7 & 9 year olds beamed & shouted in unison, “Yes! Very much!!!”

Review rating: 5

Review Author: twk2

Review Date: 16 Nov 2020

Review Body: We read about the Kelong tour in the Straits Times and it sounded like a fun way to spend Sunday morning.. and indeed it is was! It was so nice to be ‘overseas’ after months of staying home most weekends;) Robin our tour guide and ‘driver’, shared with us many interesting nuggets of information about the waters around Singapore. We were taken into the mangrove swamps of Pulau Ubin, and also visited the only floating restaurant in Singapore, and also sailed past the traditional Kelong on stilts and the modern high tech Eco Ark fish farm. Robin was friendly and obliging and communication with him prior to the trip was a breeze. The only complaint we had was the trip seemed too short (even though we were out in the boat for longer than the tour time of 2 hours) as it was just so nice to be out on the sea with the wind on our faces (and occasional splash of water - so beware if you are sitting right in front or remember to bring a change of clothes! Thanks Robin for the awesome tour! My family loved it!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: twk2

Review Date: 16 Nov 2020

Review Body: We read about the Kelong tour in the Straits Times and it sounded like a fun way to spend Sunday morning.. and indeed it is was! It was so nice to be ‘overseas’ after months of staying home most weekends;) Robin our tour guide and ‘driver’, shared with us many interesting nuggets of information about the waters around Singapore. We were taken into the mangrove swamps of Pulau Ubin, and also visited the only floating restaurant in Singapore, and also sailed past the traditional Kelong on stilts and the modern high tech Eco Ark fish farm. Robin was friendly and obliging and communication with him prior to the trip was a breeze. The only complaint we had was the trip seemed too short (even though we were out in the boat for longer than the tour time of 2 hours) as it was just so nice to be out on the sea with the wind on our faces (and occasional splash of water - so beware if you are sitting right in front or remember to bring a change of clothes! Thanks Robin for the awesome tour! My family loved it!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tan Zheng Hui

Review Date: 26 Sep 2020

Review Body: Went on a tour this past weekend with my nephews on their new “Post a statue very nice” tour. Wanted to try something new and fresh for a change rather than bringing them to the usual attractions or arcade to play, I felt that getting them to learn more about Singapore’s history in an ‘out of classroom’ experience will make for a memorable and purposeful weekend. On the tour, I felt that the guide Yap was very engaging and communicated well with the kids to really get them to participate in the roleplay and games, but it wasn’t just the kids that were having fun, I find myself playing along and it just make for such a wonderful family bonding session together. I will highly recommend this activity for families to sign up for their tours as they are very educational, as they go beyond what the social studies textbooks teaches and really go in-dept into more of Singapore’s obscure history such as the Dutch and British war, which even I didn’t know about!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sharon774

Review Date: 11 Sep 2020

Review Body: Really lovely morning, we were especially lucky with the weather. I'm an interested Singaporean, and it was the first time for me seeing some things close up, and I was so happy that my kids got to see an old-style kelong. This is a great way to explore some little known places and facts about Singapore, and rather nostalgic. Robin's boat is fast and comfortable (although I recommend that you protect yourself against sunburn, and were it to rain, you would have little shelter). The kids also got to see some cool wildlife like monitor lizards, fish, gulls. Robin was a super-pleasant, articulate guide and enthusiastic sea man. He informed us about the government's plan for food security (from the viewpoint of the seafood industry) as we explored the kelongs and over-water communities en route. Highly recommend to Singaporeans and tourists alike!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: LWS

Review Date: 11 Aug 2026

Review Body: If you are looking for a unique and nostalgic experience in Singapore, heading for a visit to Kampong Buangkok with Cheyenne is the answer. It is the last kampong (village) in Singapore with probably the clock ticking, counting down to its existence. We were a party of 5 - me, my hubby and my daughter, hubby and 9-month-old baby who were visiting from Seattle USA and we embarked on this tour on 8 August '26. We truly enjoyed the story shared by Cheyenne as well as the opportunity to relive my childhood days with the traditional games, which may not be known to children of today as tablets and mobile phones have mostly shaped their lives now. Thank you for a wonderful experience at Kampong Buangkok.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Dalikestotravel

Review Date: 22 Oct 2020

Review Body: This was definitely something different to do together as a family. Most of us Singaporeans have been to Pulau Ubin at some point and think we have seen everything on those boat rides from Changi jetty right? Well, yes and no...! Skipper Robin kept us engaged throughout his guided tour and pointed out things we may not have noticed. This tour was educational, exciting (the boat ride) and eye opening. Such a refreshing change of scenery from the concrete jungle we live in. Seeing a Kelong up close was an interesting experience considering this is Singapore. We really enjoyed ourselves and highly recommend that you try it too. Robin, you did a wonderful job! Thanks!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kaitlyn Lin 凯特琳

Review Date: 02 Oct 2020

Review Body: Thanks for the hospitality! I have to say I am very , very impressed by Yap (our tour guide). Not only is he knowledgeable about everything, but he is so friendly that it was so enjoyable talking to him. The tour was well-planned and we totally love the visit as it is a literal transportation back in time. In addition, I have learned so much about the culture and new lessons that are out of the textbooks. I would like to give 2 thumbs up to Yap for his excellent service and I'll definitely recommend everyone!! Well done and I look forward to touring Singapore again! (Even though Singapore is my own country but I love every moment of it)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Samantha

Review Date: 19 Jul 2024

Review Body: The walking tour was a great start to my trip to Singapore! Having arrived to work on a research project about urbanism, I happened to stumble upon the existence of Kampong Lorong Buangkok during a museum visit. Not knowing what to expect, the tour was incredibly informative! I've learned so much about the past and future of urbanism in Singapore (and how important the two are to one another). Walking around the neighborhood chatting with Yap felt like taking a walk with a very well informed friend. I highly recomend the tour for tourists looking to learn more about Singapore, but also to students or scholars who are looking to explore!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Julian Chang

Review Date: 05 Sep 2020

Review Body: Robin our guide is knowledgeable about a wide range of topics, and is able to share his insights on coastal protection, climate change, biodiversity, kelong life, fish farming and so much more. A number of us who joined the tour are educators and we are immensely impressed by his sincerity and genuineness. The tour is definitely a worthwhile experience. Within two hours or so, we get to see the seascape of the northern islands and coasts, and get to stop over at one of the kelongs. We get a number of stops along the way to take a closer look at different features of island life. A definite must-do!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Karen Belandbray

Review Date: 09 Sep 2020

Review Body: Brought my son along on the latest This is Home series tour and we chose the Kampong experience, which was led by affable and friendly guide, Yap. Yap shared useful insights of the Kampong based on our local Social Studies Textbook, from the past, and transition stories from Kampong to High Rise! So interesting to hear his narration of little stories of Kampong Buangkok, which made our tour all the more personalised and engaging. The guided tour also included interactions with residents there which were precious and valuable, and totally unexpected!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Cassandra Tan

Review Date: 23 Nov 2020

Review Body: Booked the Kampong Buangkok tour for my grandma's birthday. Tour guide Colin was punctual, super friendly, and very knowledgeable. He kindly spoke in both English and Mandarin throughout the tour to cater to the people in our group. It was a really informative tour and really eye-opening to see an actual kampong in Singapore and get a taste of kampong life, it was surely nostalgic for the older folks. We got to sit down and have a chat with Mdm Sng (the landlady) as well — which was very lovely. It made for a wonderful morning, highly recommend!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Clover Plum

Review Date: 09 Aug 2020

Review Body: Had an amazing trip with my family on this very well planned trip. This private tour was very well arranged and handled by the owner, who definitely is an authorised provider by tourism board. The boat's very well maintained and felt safe throughout the entire trip. For anyone wanting to explore the unknown of the north eastern part of Singapore, this is a must go at least once in your lifetime. Lunch on the kelong (floating fish farm) is definitely a must. Foodd's very well done and super fresh. Thanks again for this amazing trip.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Stephanie

Review Date: 20 May 2024

Review Body: Robin, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the history of the kelongs and was able to share his personal experiences about fishing and the development of Singapore's coastline. Although we experienced some heavy rain during the tour, Robin was able to modify the sequence of the tour to accommodate the weather and even provided ponchos for us. He was also able to answer any questions that we had along the way. My husband and I had a fun and adventurous tour and would definitely recommend it to our friends.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: ChengyChua

Review Date: 05 Sep 2020

Review Body: Robin was punctual and he gave us an excellent tour of the kelongs in Singapore. We visited the kelongs of different varieties from afar - the ones that have been managed traditionally to the latest one opened in 2019 (Eco Ark). Overall it was a nice day out and I learned about the experiences of those who are still residing on the kelongs nearer to Ketam Island. Hopefully next time, visitors can get to hop on to the Eco Ark =) Oh and thank you Robin, for acceding to our requests to see the granite outcrops

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jasper Yeo

Review Date: 26 Sep 2020

Review Body: Wonderful kampong trip! Very informative and interactive. We were most fortunate to chat with some of the residents and hear them share some of their experiences. We were treated to home made ice popsicles which we all loved (especially the kids). Yesteryear games like five stones, zero point and pick up sticks has the attention of the kids (enjoying the fun) and the parent (reminiscing the fun)... This trip has been very fulfilling and we look forward to more trips with Let's Go Tour!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ken Ong

Review Date: 31 Oct 2020

Review Body: Great thumbs up to YAP, for the amazing Kampong experience I had in the tour. YAP is not only knowledgeable, but also interactive by in bringing a city boy like me into wanting to become a Kampong boy. Games mostly played in Kampong like five stones, zero point and marble is also introduce in the tour. Finally, before the tour end, ice pops is given by the kind owners which make the tour perfect. Definitely a tour that I will introduce to peers and other families!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Robert

Review Date: 31 Jul 2023

Review Body: Took my aunt and uncle when they were visiting singapore and it was amazing! Guide was great and we learnt a lot. The kampong is private property so we were glad we went with a guide because we were able to visit while being respectful of the residents. Because our guide knew the residents well, many of them were welcoming and shared their stories with us. It was a really fun and educational walk back in time, and seeing how people still live there today.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: KWO9999

Review Date: 10 Oct 2020

Review Body: Excellent tour of the the northeastern coast of Singapore! Very unique experience that provides an informative look at our kelongs, surrounding islands and maritime features. We were pleasantly surprised by the interesting tidbits and hidden secrets that were shared by our guide Robin regarding our local waters during the trip. It is definitely a tour that I would strongly recommend for families and friends who are looking for a different type of cruise.

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Boat tour of Eastern Singapore

Itinerary Description: Hop on to the boat and enjoy the views while you learn about the Eastern shore of Singapore Get a glimpse of Outward Bound School from the sea. Get to see wildlife eg. sea creatures Get onboard a one-of-a-kind restaurant on the water Enjoy the sea breeze and astonishing views. Play old school games like Carrom or Jenga. Visit one of the closest banks between Singapore & Malaysia Return to the marina