Explore the Southern Islands at a leisurely pace and discover the islands' past, their cultural heritage and no less their appeals as getaway or go-to destinations with their beautiful beaches and rich biodiversity of flora and fauna.

Located about 6.5km from mainland Singapore, St John's is the largest of the Southern Islands of Singapore with a history of having been (1) a quarantine station for diseases and screening immigrants, (2) a penal settlement, and (3) a drug rehabilitation centre. Today, the 40-hectare island offers an idyllic getaway from the bustling mainland with its lagoons, beaches, picnic grounds and trekking routes. Our guide will take you on an Island Trail that will allow you to appreciate the island's colourful history and its various ecosystems - coastal forests, mangroves and intertidal zones - with the possibility to sight wildlife like turtles, dolphins and herons to name but a few of the fauna.

From St John's, you can talk a stroll to Lazarus Island and spend some time to enjoy the beach of its beautiful lagoon that is in fact quite popular with water-sports enthusiasts.

A short ferry ride from St John's will take you to Kusu Island, aka Tortoise Island and the smallest of the Southern Islands. Apart from its sacred and religious sites, like St John's, Kusu Island beckons as a getaway destination with its tranquil lagoons, beaches and picnic grounds. And, of course, there is the Tortoise Sanctuary that houses hundreds of the lovely creature. The island is particularly busy during the 9th month of the lunar calendar when devotees by the thousands would head there - the "Kusu Pilgrimage" - to pray at the Tua Pek Kong Temple (built in 1923) and also at a sacred site at the top of a little hill. Allow the guide to enthral you with the tales and the myths of the island…

This tour starts at Marina South Pier.