Challenge yourself to these long-distance treks around the island – only if you're willing to hike the trail from Jurong to Punggol
If you're up for a challenge, the National Parks Board recently launched a 36km trail linking northeast to the west side, which means you can pretty much walk from Jurong Lake Gardens to Coney Island in Punggol. And if you didn't already know, Singapore has got some pretty hardcore trails you can take on – we're talking cross-country treks that would take up more than half a day and probably some training. Need to go on a long trek? Walk, run or cycle through these challenging trails.
RECOMMENDED: The best nature trails in Singapore and the best hidden trails in Singapore
The newly announced Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Trail will cut across the island and link Coney Island in the northeast with Jurong Lake Gardens in the west. If you're feeling ambitious, you can embark on this 36km trip and walk through some of the best parks and nature reserves in Singapore like Bukit Batok Nature Park, Macritchie Reservoir and Singapore Botanic Gardens.
For a more urban trail, take on the central urban loop where you'll experience the charm of the heartlands. Take in the architecture of some of Singapore's oldest HDB homes in Bishan and Potong Pasir and explore sprawling parks like Punggol Waterway Park (also known as the 'Venice of Punggol') and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park where you might catch a glimpse of the famous otter family.
Linking seven park connectors together, the Eastern Coastal Loop is the best trail if you love the sun, sea and beaches. Hop from beach to beach starting from East Coast Park before covering the coastal routes of Changi and Pasir Ris Park. Cut through Tampines, Bedok and Siglap before you end the loop at Gardens by the Bay – that's a total of 42km.
The north has loads to offer as well with their 25km trail that links 11 parks and nature sites together. Start from Admiralty Park in Woodlands and trek through Woodlands Waterfront where you can see the Causeway and Johor Bahru, before continuing through Lower Seletar Reservoir and Yishun Park.
The 26km trail will take you on a journey around the lush banks of Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon. Covering the lesser-travelled coastlines and waterways of Buangkok, Sengkang and Punggol towns, this trail is probably one of the most tranquil and scenic ones if you're looking for something peaceful by the water.
Explore the adventurous side of the west with the 20km Western Adventure Loop. Encompassing Bukit Batok, Bukit Timah, Bukit Panjang and more, this loop takes you through some of the best sites in the west like Bukit Batok Nature Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve where you can take in the sights of the majestic quarries.
For the ultimate challenge, the Round Island Route (RIR) is a trail that will cover most of the park connectors in Singapore. Still a work in progress, hiking enthusiasts can look forward to the complete route only in 2035 but you can start by exploring the newly-launched Rower's Bay which is part of the first phase of works completed for the RIR. It connects to Seletar Aerospace Park via a 3km path, and features a wetland, lookout pavilion and a boardwalk that will bring visitors closer to the coast.
Discover Time Out original video
