Bintan, Indonesia
Banyan Tree Bintan: Secluded rainforest and clifftop villa sanctuary in Bintan overlooking the South China Sea with Saffron dining and Laguna Golf
Perched high on granite hillside boulders amidst ancient tropical rainforest overlooking the secluded golden beach of Tanjung Said Bay and the South China Sea on Bintan Island in the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia, Banyan Tree Bintan opened in 1995 as an eco-luxury haven. Located just a scenic 55-minute high-speed catamaran ferry ride from Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, the 64-villa sanctuary is sculpted in traditional Balinese-style timber architecture built on stilts. Featuring the signature Thai restaurant Saffron (cantilevered over the ocean waves), the coastal Mediterranean restaurant Cove, an 18-hole championship golf course at Laguna Golf Bintan, two outdoor swimming pools, and the holistic Banyan Tree Spa, this resort is Singapore’s premier island weekend getaway.
Arrival introduces travelers to unvarnished Indonesian rainforest and coastal tranquility: personal hosts greet guests at Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal with private luxury transfers to the open-air timber lobby pavilion beside reflection ponds with chilled ginger-honey tea and fragrant frangipani leis. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating bespoke Bintan rainforest, marine, and golfing pursuits: playing 18 championship holes at Laguna Golf Bintan (designed by Greg Norman, 3 minutes away), exploring the private white sands of Tanjung Said Bay, kayaking through mangrove forests, swimming in your private villa plunge pool or the rock-edge infinity pool, indulging in botanical massage treatments at Banyan Tree Spa, and reserving dinner at Saffron or Cove.
Resort living balances jungle tranquility with sublime Asian wellness: the Banyan Tree Spa features private open-air hillside treatment pavilions overlooking the ocean, steam rooms, saunas, and therapies utilizing local Indonesian spices, coconut oil, and warm ginger compresses. Dining is extraordinary: authentic royal Thai gastronomy at Saffron (featuring tom yum, regional curries, and fine wines overlooking the sea), Mediterranean grills at Cove, Asian dishes at Treetops, and private beach barbecues.
Accommodations comprise 64 private standalone stilt villas ranging from 84 to 315 square metres. Each residence features traditional Balinese carved timbers, private outdoor relaxation plunge pools on panoramic ocean-facing decks, plush king beds with fine linens, and sunken terrazzo bathtubs.
Rainforest purists, golfers, and luxury travelers seeking Bintan Island stilt villa seclusion, Saffron Thai dining, and 55-minute ferry access from Singapore should book Banyan Tree Bintan without hesitation. Travelers seeking generic urban shopping towers should look elsewhere. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.7 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 2,600 reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 on Google across 3,100 reviews.
First day
- Take the 55-minute ferry from Singapore to Bintan, meet your Banyan Tree host, and transfer to Tanjung Said Bay.
- Check into your Cliffside Pool Villa, jump into your private plunge pool, and watch the waves.
- Dine on Thai cuisine at Saffron.
What guests say
Hotel Flock Score
Exceptional
Based on 5.7k published ratings
Category breakdown
Guests Love
Rainforest Stilt Villas & 55-Min Ferry from Singapore
Guests revere the private pool villas, lush jungle, Saffron cliff dining, 18-hole Laguna Golf, and Banyan Tree staff.
Saffron Dining & Banyan Tree Spa
Reviewers consistently praise the Thai curries over the sea, open-air spa pavilions, monkeys in the canopy, and tranquility.
Guests Warn
Tropical Island Getaway from Singapore
Visitors love being able to escape the city and be in a secluded rainforest paradise in under an hour.
Rustic Balinese-Style Luxury
Travelers celebrate the traditional timber architecture and nature immersion.
The overall score is a review-count-weighted average of named public platforms, normalized to /10. Category scores — including cleanliness and location — are Hotel Flock editorial readings of those reviews, not a platform's private formula. Hotel Flock is not affiliated with Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Trivago, or any other review site.
Awards & Recognition
Tanjung Said Bay Rainforest & Ocean Clifftop Sanctuary
Banyan Tree
Traditional Balinese Stilt Villa Architecture Landmark
Condé Nast Traveler
World’s Best Island Rainforest Sanctuary
Travel + Leisure
In the stay
- Full access to two swimming pools, fitness center, tennis court, and beach facilities
- Complimentary buggy transport throughout the resort and ferry terminal shuttle transfers
- Full cooked-to-order gourmet Asian and Western breakfast daily and Wi-Fi throughout
Usually extra
- –Saffron & Cove multi-course tasting dinners and sommelier wine pairings
- –18-hole green fees at Laguna Golf Bintan and Banyan Tree Spa customized rituals
- –Private speedboat charters and mangrove kayak discovery tours
Good to Know
- The 64-villa rainforest resort sits on Tanjung Said Bay on Bintan Island, Indonesia, Banyan Tree.
- Accessible via a 55-minute catamaran ferry from Singapore; includes Saffron, 18-hole Laguna Golf, and spa.
- Located on Jalan Teluk Berbak, a 15-minute drive from Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal.
Editor's Note
Book an Ocean Villa on the Cliffside with a private outdoor plunge pool suspended high above the South China Sea, and dine on the cliff terrace at Saffron as fishing boats illuminate the ocean horizon.
Reviewed by Hotel Flock · Last updated September 2026