7 Best Island Hopping Tours in Singapore (2026)

Beyond the beach photos, here is what actually shapes the day.

• Ferry or private charter. The public ferry from Marina South Pier is the cheapest way, around S$15 return, but runs on a fixed schedule and you hop yourself. A private charter from a marina costs more but gives you flexible timing, a direct drop at Lazarus and gear included. Pick by budget and how much you value control of the day.
• Which islands. Lazarus has the best beach and connects to St John's by a walkway, St John's has lagoons and history, Kusu has a temple and tortoise sanctuary, and Sisters' is the marine park for snorkelling. Decide what you want to see, since the ferry routes and charters differ.
• Bring everything. This is the single biggest planning point. There are no shops or food stalls on the Southern Islands, so pack your own food, water, sun protection and snorkel gear, and take all your trash back with you.
• Snorkelling. If snorkelling is the goal, Sisters' Islands Marine Park is the place, and a guided tour that supplies gear and knows the spots is worth it.
• Facilities and timing. Check ferry timings carefully so you do not get stranded, and note that some jetties change with maintenance works. A charter avoids the timetable worry.

The Southern Islands and Sisters' Islands Marine Park are managed by NParks, which sets the marine park rules and runs guided walks, so it is worth checking their guidance before a snorkelling trip. Reputable boat operators run licensed vessels under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Cost depends on whether you take the public ferry or charter a private boat. These are the going rates I see in 2026.

A private charter splits well across a group and includes snorkel gear and water toys, while the ferry is unbeatable value for a couple happy to DIY. Prices vary by day and season, so reconfirm before you go.

Marina South Ferries is the cheapest and simplest way to island hop, and where I would start for a DIY day. From Marina South Pier they run to St John's, Lazarus, Kusu and Sisters', and their Island Hopping Pass lets you move between St John's, Lazarus and Kusu on the same day, with the ticket valid both ways.

Fares are around S$15 for an adult and S$12 for a child, round trip included, and you can book direct or through the usual booking platforms. For a couple or a family happy to work around the ferry timetable, it is unbeatable value. Just check the current jetty and timings, as these shift with maintenance works.

Website: marinasouthferries.com
Location: Marina South Pier
Google Rating: Well reviewed
Best known for: The cheapest DIY Southern Islands ferry pass

Singapore Island Cruise is the other licensed ferry operator from Marina South Pier, and a long-running one. They serve Kusu, St John's, Lazarus and both Sisters' Islands, with a route that runs from Marina South Pier out to Lazarus and Kusu and back, and online booking through their site.

Being the established operator, they have particularly good information on the islands, including Sisters' Islands, which helps you plan. For a DIY ferry trip, they are a solid alternative to Marina South Ferries, so it is worth comparing the two timetables to find the departure that suits your day.

Website: islandcruise.com.sg
Location: Marina South Pier
Google Rating: Well reviewed
Best known for: The long-running Southern Islands ferry operator

Wanderlust runs the closest thing to a proper guided island hopping tour, and my pick if snorkelling is the goal. They operate a guided snorkel and island exploration trip to Sisters' Islands Marine Park, Singapore's first marine park, with snorkelling equipment, a guide and a BBQ lunch included, over a full day at weekends.

At around S$130 a person it is more than the ferry, but you get the gear, the guiding to the best spots and the catering handled, which is exactly what a marine park trip needs. For anyone who wants to actually snorkel the reefs rather than just beach hop, it is the standout.

Website: wadventures.com.sg
Location: Departs Marina South Pier
Google Rating: Well reviewed
Best known for: The guided snorkel and BBQ tour to Sisters' Marine Park

White Sails is my pick for an affordable private charter to the islands. Their catamarans seat 16 to 18 guests and commonly run to Lazarus Island, about thirty minutes from Sentosa, for a beach and picnic day, with snorkel kits included and transparent pricing from around S$649 on a weekday.

Chartering the whole boat means you set the timing and go straight to the beach rather than wait for a ferry, and with a no-corkage BYO policy you bring your own food and drinks. For a group that wants a private island day without a luxury price, they are the value choice.

Website: whitesails.com.sg
Location: Marina at Keppel Bay and ONE°15 Marina
Google Rating: Well reviewed, thousands of trips
Best known for: Affordable private catamaran charters to Lazarus

Ximula is my pick for island hopping under sail. Their sailing catamarans head to the Southern Islands including Lazarus Beach and St John's, and because they are genuinely wind-powered rather than a motor boat, the journey itself is part of the experience rather than just transport.

Reviewers mention an onboard BBQ at St John's, and there are water toys like kayaks and sea scooters, taking up to 18 guests. For a group that wants the island day to include some real sailing, and a stable, spacious deck between stops, it is the pick.

Website: ximulasail.com
Location: ONE°15 Marina, Sentosa Cove
Google Rating: Well reviewed
Best known for: Island hopping under genuine sail

YachtCruiseSG is my pick for a flexible private transfer to Lazarus. Alongside their cruises they run a dedicated Sentosa Cove to Lazarus Island transfer, a private drop-off and pickup that lets you spend the day on the beach on your own schedule and be collected when you want, which the ferry cannot do.

They also offer speedboat tour options and a Kusu Island heritage tour if you want some guiding, all from ONE°15 Marina. For a group who want the freedom of a private drop without chartering a big yacht for the whole day, it is a neat middle option.

Website: yachtcruisesg.com
Location: ONE°15 Marina, Sentosa Cove
Google Rating: Well reviewed
Best known for: A private Lazarus transfer plus a Kusu heritage tour

Minmed Cruise rounds out the list as the family-friendly private charter. Their boat, Sophia, is a 39-foot cabin cruiser that runs to Lazarus Island, with a skipper and a deckhand, and a generous set of water toys including snorkel gear, a floating mat, a paddleboard and a two-person kayak, so the kids are entertained at anchor.

A four-hour charter is around S$700 on a weekday for up to ten guests, with karaoke and a sound system aboard. For a family or a small group who want a private, comfortable island day at a reasonable price, it does the job nicely.

Website: minmed.sg
Location: Sentosa Cove
Google Rating: Well reviewed
Best known for: A family-friendly private charter to Lazarus

I looked at whether each option is a public ferry, a private charter or a guided tour, which islands it reaches, what is included, the pricing, and the weight of genuine reviews. I spread the list from the cheapest DIY ferry to guided snorkel tours and private charters so there is a fit for a budget couple, a snorkelling day and a private group outing alike.

Prices and details are checked when I publish and revisited as things change. Always confirm the ferry timings or charter route, what is included, and pack everything you need, since there are no shops on the islands.

There are two ways. The cheapest is the public ferry from Marina South Pier, run by Marina South Ferries or Singapore Island Cruise, from around S$15 return, which follows a fixed schedule and lets you hop between St John's, Lazarus and Kusu on the same ticket. The more flexible way is a private charter, a yacht, catamaran or speedboat from Marina at Keppel Bay or Sentosa Cove's ONE°15 Marina, from around S$650 a boat, which gives you your own timing, a direct drop at Lazarus and gear included. For a couple on a budget, take the ferry. For a group who want control of the day, charter.

It depends what you want. Lazarus Island has the best beach, a curved stretch of white sand and a calm lagoon, and it connects to St John's by a walkway, so many people combine the two. St John's has beaches, lagoons and a quirky history as a former quarantine island. Kusu is known for its Tua Pek Kong temple and tortoise sanctuary and gets busy during the ninth lunar month pilgrimage. Sisters' Islands is Singapore's first marine park and the place for snorkelling, though only Big Sister's Island is publicly accessible. For a first trip, Lazarus paired with St John's is the classic beach day.

No, and this is the most important thing to plan for. There are no shops, food stalls or gear rental on the Southern Islands, aside from very limited facilities, so you need to bring everything: your own food, plenty of water, sun protection, and snorkel gear if you want to snorkel. There are toilets on the main islands, but do not rely on finding anything else. Take all your trash back with you, since keeping the islands clean is part of the deal. A private charter usually supplies snorkel gear and water toys, which saves packing them, but you still bring your own food and drinks.

You can, but it is a separate trip from the Southern Islands, not part of the same circuit. Pulau Ubin sits off the north-east coast and is reached by a licensed bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal, a roughly ten-minute crossing that costs around S$4 a person each way and departs when about twelve passengers have gathered. Ubin is a rustic, old-Singapore kampong island best known for cycling, mountain biking and nature rather than beaches, so it suits a different kind of day. If you want white-sand beaches and snorkelling, stick to the Southern Islands; if you want to cycle through a slice of old Singapore, Ubin is the trip.