We’re all for luxe city hotels, but there’s something special about getting away from it all. In recent years, private island resorts across Southeast Asia have pulled out all the stops to help guests go off the grid, but just off the coast of Indonesia’s Bintan Island lies one particular private island that’s doing as much for sustainability as it is for the guest experience. We checked into Nikoi Private Island for a modern Robinson Crusoe experience.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Review of Nikoi Private Island
Hotel snapshot
Hotel: Nikoi Private Island
Location: Nikoi Island, off the east coast of Bintan, Riau Islands, Indonesia
Address: Nikoi Island, Riau Islands, Indonesia (access is by boat)
Accommodation: 18 villas comprising 28 rooms, with capacity for around 56 guests
Style: Barefoot eco-luxury, with open-air villas, natural materials and traditional Indonesian craftsmanship
Family-friendly: Yes. A family-focused island with a kids’ club, children’s activities and multi-bedroom villas
Wellness: Spa treatments, yoga on request and opportunities for swimming, walking and time in nature
Activities: Snorkelling, sailing, kayaking, tennis, rock climbing, jungle zip-lining, croquet, cooking classes and nature walks
Best for: Families, couples, multi-generational holidays, nature lovers and travellers seeking a relaxed private-island escape
Prices starting from: SGD$1000 for two adults for two nights, depending on room and season.
Setting the scene
Set amid Indonesia’s Riau archipelago, Nikoi is an unpretentious private island popular with in-the-know people across Southeast Asia and intrepid travellers looking to explore beyond Singapore and tourist hotspot Bintan. Getting there is relatively easy, but requires some coordination. We took a one-hour ferry from Singapore’s Tanah Merah terminal to Bintan, where we were met by Nikoi staff for a one-hour drive to the island’s private jetty and a speedy boat ride.
As the boat neared the island, we caught glimpses of long swathes of empty beaches, thick tropical vegetation with thatched roofs peeking through, and gigantic boulders rising imposingly from the shoreline. It’s a far cry from Singapore’s urban sprawl.
Several other guests had arrived on the same boat as us, and we were all escorted to a sheltered pavilion that functions as the reception area. As cool drinks and cold towels were passed around, the friendly staff completed the check-in process and sent us onto the island’s main restaurant for a long, lazy lunch in the sun.
Focus on sustainability
Nikoi began as a passion project for a group of friends based in Singapore. Bored with the usual holiday accommodation offerings in the region, they bought an uninhabited island and created their own escape, combining their passion for the outdoors, food, and wine while respecting the local culture and nature.
What started as a destination for personal holidays soon developed into a fully-blown resort concept. Nikoi officially opened to the public in 2007 and quickly developed a loyal following of returning guests. During our stay, we met an Australian family who’d travelled to Singapore for the Formula 1 Grand Prix and were recovering from the festivities on their third visit to Nikoi.
As Nikoi evolved, the owners went to great lengths to ensure that sustainability was kept at the forefront. Stays here are about treating guests to the restorative effects of nature and nourishing mind, body, and soul while respecting the local environment and people, not trying to impress with opulent furnishings, celebrity chefs, and extravagant offerings.
Every facet of the island has been calibrated to minimise its impact on the environment. Local driftwood reclaimed from the surrounding islands was used in construction. Environmentally-friendly designs harness the wind for natural ventilation. Solar hot water systems and LED lighting are used across the island. And there’s a robust water and waste recycling programme.
The owners also established three foundations to support the local environment and communities, including The Island Foundation, which operates 13 Learning Centres to deliver education programmes across the Riau islands. Nikoi has also had a marine conservation officer since 2011 to create a Marine Protected Area with the support of Conservation International and Indonesia’s Fisheries Ministry.
There’s also an artist residency programme, called Ubah Rumah. Through it, local and Southeast Asian artists are invited to stay on Nikoi for several months and work out of the purpose-built studio. Guests can visit the studio and chat with the artist, and participate in regular workshops – the day we left, there was a crafting session.
Villa life
There are just 18 beach houses on Nikoi, each one rustic in appearance but cleverly and sustainably designed in a style reminiscent of traditional Indonesian architecture. Each is built with locally salvaged driftwood and features “alang alang” roofing.
Our Two-bedroom pool villa is the epitome of barefoot luxury and, hidden amid thickets of greenery, offers plenty of privacy. Be warned, though: there’s no technology here, and just a handful of charging points. There is decent Wi-Fi, though.
The duplex layout offers plenty of space for relaxing. We spend most of the time downstairs, taking dips in the private pool, lounging on daybeds, and reading in the comfortably appointed living room.
While my friend took the cosy ground-floor bedroom, with its own ensuite, I commandeered the master bedroom upstairs. The space is dominated by an oversized king bed shrouded in mosquito nets with prime views of the palm trees and glittering ocean.
The villas are designed to completely immerse guests in nature, and they certainly fulfil this goal. I woke to dawn breaking over the ocean and enjoyed a coffee on my deck as I watched the sky turn from deep grey to baby blue; the only sounds were the trees’ leaves rustling in the wind and the occasional birdsong.
One evening, I heard my friend shrieking downstairs. I got a message seconds later saying she’d seen otters brazenly stroll across our pool deck. Close encounters of the furry kind are par for the course on Nikoi.
Barefoot dining
There are two restaurants on Nikoi, though for efficiency, only the main restaurant is operating during our visit. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, guests congregate here for well-balanced meals that highlight Indonesian cuisine. The casual space encourages guests to kick their shoes off to feel the sand beneath their feet and enjoy the views of the ocean (during the day) or stars (by night).
Menus, presented on chalkboards, change daily and focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. For lunch, set menus are composed of flavourful Indonesian dinners; three-course dinners lean more Western. And, for breakfast, there are freshly brewed coffees, fruit, cereal, delightful Indonesian treats, and a choice of Indonesian or Western made-to-order mains. To minimise waste, there are no options or buffets, but they’ll cater to dietary restrictions.
Each evening, we headed to the Sunset Bar to sip on well-made cocktails in Adirondack chairs while watching the sky turn shades of pink, orange, and purple. The Negronis and Aperol Spritzes are as good as at any award-winning spot in Singapore.
Added extras
Stays on Nikoi are about getting some R’n’R, so there’s no urgency to do much. There’s a pool area, nestled amid massive boulders and towering vegetation; for best effect, snag a day bed on the terrace to sip cocktails while enjoying the views.
There’s also a natural beach which takes different forms according to the tides and seasons. One afternoon, the stretch of white sand goes on unendingly; it’s big enough that in different areas, the water depths are alternatively deep enough to swim in or shallow enough to get your feet wet.
Perhaps the best part, though, is the dedicated spa. Housed across three large safari tents, this oasis of wellness is a tranquil spot offering a full suite of treatments. My time here began with a ritual footbath overlooking the sea, watching the waves put me into a zen state faster than any meditation, before I jumped on the table for a signature Island Massage that soothed muscles still aching from a heavy weights session.
Getting there and around
Getting to Nikoi from Singapore
The most straightforward route is via Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore. The journey takes approximately two and a half hours in total.
Ferry to Bintan: Take a high-speed catamaran from Tanah Merah to Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal. The crossing takes around one hour.
Car transfer: Nikoi’s team meets guests at Bintan’s ferry terminal and arranges a private car journey of approximately one hour to its operational base at Kawal.
Speedboat to Nikoi: A private speedboat takes you from Kawal to the island in around 20 minutes.
Nikoi coordinates the car and boat transfers, but guests need to book their ferry tickets separately. Transfers currently cost approximately S$121 per adult and S$65 per child for the return journey, including tax and service; check the hotel’s current charges and designated ferry schedule before booking.
The Tanah Merah terminal is approximately 10 minutes from Singapore Changi Airport by taxi, or around 30 minutes from the city centre, depending on traffic. If you’re connecting from an international flight, allow sufficient time between landing and the ferry departure, particularly if you need to clear immigration or collect checked luggage. Nikoi does not meet every ferry, so confirm your ferry choice with the island team before purchasing tickets.
Travelling from elsewhere in Indonesia or Malaysia
There are daily flights from Jakarta to Tanjung Pinang Airport on Bintan. From the airport, the journey is approximately 30 minutes by car to Kawal, followed by a further 30-minute boat ride to Nikoi. Ferry routes to Bintan are also available from parts of Malaysia and from Batam; contact the island team to confirm the best connection for your itinerary.
Getting around the island
You won’t need a car once you arrive. Nikoi is a small island best explored on foot, with beaches, villas, dining areas and activities connected by paths. Some accommodation, including the two-bedroom pool villas on the north beach, is around a 10-minute walk from the main dining area and kids’ club. The island team can help you organise activities and explain the best routes around the property.
Frequently asked questions: Nikoi Private Island
Nikoi is a 15-hectare private island approximately 8km off the east coast of Bintan, Indonesia, and less than 85km from Singapore. Although it feels remote, it can be reached from Singapore in around two and a half hours by ferry, car and speedboat.
Yes. Nikoi is designed with families in mind and welcomes children of all ages. There is a kids’ club with daily activities, plenty of outdoor space, watersports and nature-based adventures. Multi-bedroom villas are useful for families who want more room to spread out, and babysitting services are available on request.
Yes, particularly for couples who prefer a relaxed, nature-focused escape to a large conventional resort. You can swim, snorkel, sail, enjoy spa treatments and spend evenings watching the sunset. Couples seeking a quieter, adults-only experience may also want to consider Nikoi’s sister island, Cempedak Private Island, which has an adults-only policy.
Nikoi has 18 villas with 28 rooms in total. Accommodation includes beach houses and larger multi-bedroom villas, with options suited to couples, families and groups. Two-bedroom pool villas have two ensuite bedrooms and a private pool, while three-bedroom pool villas provide additional space for larger families or groups.
Yes. The island is surrounded by tropical waters and coral reefs, making snorkelling and other watersports part of the appeal. March to October is best for snorkelling and sunbathing, when conditions are generally drier. Conditions vary, so check with the island team before travel if a particular activity is a priority.
It depends on what you want to do. March to October is generally recommended for snorkelling and sunbathing, while November to February is considered a good period for sailing and other watersports. Sea turtle hatchlings are usually seen between June and October, although the season can vary.
A two-night stay is possible, but three or four nights gives you more time to settle into island life, enjoy the water and try different activities without feeling rushed. Families may appreciate a longer stay, particularly if they want time for both structured activities and unplanned days on the beach.
Final thoughts
Sure, luxury hotels with all the trimmings are great. But for a real break from the rat race, there’s nothing like getting back to nature on a well-thought-out private island where your only focus is relaxing. On that front, Nikoi certainly delivers, plus you might just get up-close-and-personal with an otter.
Discover more about Nikoi Private Island
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