40+ DIY Walking Trail Guides That You Can Use For Every School Holiday
Singapore Botanic Gardens; Photo by Christian Anasco on Unsplash
Feeling cooped up from staying home? A walk could do the whole family some good!
Walking not only improves your fitness and physical health—it can help put everyone in a better mood too. Thanks to trail guides created by our park and heritage authorities, it’s so easy to plan your own DIY walking tour for a family-friendly day out.
Be it on a free weekend, a public holiday, or during the school holidays, don’t miss this chance to put aside your devices and enjoy a novel experience as a family, as well as see our city in a fresh light. Below, we’ve highlighted some nature and culture walks that are suitable for families with children, and you can click on the links to download the trail guides.
DIY Nature Walks In Singapore
Want to connect with the family while clocking your green hours? Escape the city routine with one of these nature experiences.
| DIY Trail Guide | Description | Distance | Duration | Difficulty |
| Bedok Reservoir Park | Good for bird watching: look out for the Collared Kingfisher, the White-throated Kingfisher, and the White-breasted Waterhen. | 4.3km | 1 to 2hrs | Easy |
| Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park | This park is divided into two sections: Bishan Park 1 and 2. On either side, visitors can explore a riverbank habitat rich in flora and fauna. | 6km | 2hrs | Easy |
| Bukit Batok Nature Park | Explore a trail that meanders through a secondary forest. Note: secondary forests are forests that have regenerated through largely natural processes, after the original forest vegetation was removed or disturbed. | 1 to 2hrs | Easy to moderate (some areas are not wheelchair friendly, due to stairs and steep slopes) | |
| MacRitchie Boardwalk: Chemperai Trail | A relaxing walk along the edge of MacRitchie Reservoir. Look out for the Clouded Monitor Lizard, the Long-tailed Macaque, and birds such as the Banded Woodpecker and White-bellied Fish Eagle. | 1.5km | 30mins | Easy |
| MacRitchie Boardwalk: Prunus Trail | This trail connects to the Petai Trail, where you can get to see even more wildlife. | 3km | 1hr | Easy |
| MacRitchie Tree Top Walk (reopening in Q3 2021) | An exciting walk that gives you a bird’s eye view of the forest canopy. | 6km | 2 to 3hrs | Moderate to difficult |
| Changi Point Coastal Walk | This boardwalk trail offers lovely views along the Changi Beach coastline. If you are here in the evening, do stay to catch the sunset. | 2.2km | 45mins | Easy |
| Changi Walking Trail: Heritage Trees | Discover seven tree species nestled in the Changi Tree Conservation Area. | 30mins | Easy | |
| Civic District Tree Trail | Learn about 19 species of plants and trees within Singapore’s Civic District. | 3.5km | 2.5hrs | Easy |
| Coney Island Park | Ideal for birdwatching and exploring different natural habitats including coastal forests and mangroves. | 5.1km | 3hrs | Easy |
| Dairy Farm Nature Park: Wallace Trail | This walk takes you through a dense forested area that used to house a kampung (village) community. It’s a chance to see fruit trees, butterflies, birds, and meandering streams. | 1km | 30-45mins | Easy to moderate |
| Fort Canning Park: Spice Garden | Take a closer look at the interesting herbs and spices at Fort Canning Park’s Spice Garden. | 1km | 30mins | Moderate |
| Fort Canning Park: Trees of the Fort Trail | Learn about 25 tree species in Fort Canning Park. | 2km | 45mins | Easy |
| Heritage Roads of Singapore | Walk through five of Singapore’s Heritage Roads, and discover unique treescapes in the city. | 6.2km | 3-4hrs | Moderate |
| HortPark and the Southern Ridges | Trekkers can enjoy the lush hilly parks of Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill, and Kent Ridge, as well as the rich flora and fauna of Labrador Nature Reserve. | 10km | 3-5hrs | Moderate to difficult |
| HortPark: Bee Trail | Discover three different bee habitats and spot up to 20 bee species. | 20-30mins | Easy | |
| Lakeside Garden: Bunyan Trail | Walk along restored freshwater swamp forest habitats, and appreciate the rich biodiversity of this area. | 3.3km | 1hr | Easy to moderate (some gravel paths are not wheelchair friendly). |
| Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk | Get an up-close experience with mangrove flora and fauna. | 2.1km | 45mins | Easy |
| Lower Peirce Trail | A relaxing boardwalk trail that will reward you with sightings of native animals like the Clouded Monitor Lizard, Common Sun Skink, Plantain Squirrel, and Long-tailed Macaque. You might also catch a glimpse of native birds like the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. | 0.9km | 30mins | Easy |
| North Eastern Riverine Loop | Venture into the less-visited areas of Singapore with this loop, which links four parks and runs through Buangkok, Sengkang, and Punggol. | 16km | 3-4hrs | Easy |
| Pasir Ris Park | Explore the mangrove forest, kitchen garden, and butterfly garden — a fun and educational experience for the entire family. | 10km | 3hrs | Easy |
| Pulau Ubin: Tree Trail | This well-shaded trail lets you discover 12 trees while taking you to old plantation sites and the home of the late Village Head. | 2hrs | Easy | |
| Singapore Botanic Gardens: Rainforest Trail | Explore one of the oldest remnants of primary rainforests in Singapore, right in the heart of the city. | 0.6km | 30mins | Easy |
| St John’s Island Trail | This walk introduces you to the natural habitats, heritage trees, and rich wildlife at St John’s Island. | 2.8km | 1 to 1.5hrs | Easy to moderate |
| Tampines Eco Green | Go on a Diversity Trail, a Forest Trail, and a Marsh Trail at this eco park. | 3km | 1.5 to 2hrs | Easy |
| Western Adventure Loop | Use park connectors to explore parks in the western region of Singapore, such as Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, and Pandan Reservoir. | 12km | 2 to 3hrs | Moderate |
DIY History & Culture Walks In Singapore
Hope to understand more about the stories that shaped Singapore and its people? Try one of the informative walks in this list!
Caption: Little India, Singapore; Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
| DIY Trail Guide | Description | Duration | Difficulty |
| Ann Siang Hill and Telok Ayer Green: Pioneers Trail | Gain insight into the lives of Singapore’s early immigrants. Spot tamarind, cinnamon, nutmeg, and breadfruit trees along the way. | 30mins | Easy |
| Balestier Heritage Trail | Download a companion guide to Balestier. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| Bedok Heritage Trail | Download a companion guide to Bedok. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| Bukit Timah Heritage Trail | Download a companion guide to Bukit Timah. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| Chinatown Trail | The Historic District of Chinatown comprises four sub-districts: Telok Ayer, Kreta Ayer, Bukit Pasoh, and Tanjong Pagar. Learn about the prominent buildings in each of these sub-districts with this walking guide. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| Fort Canning Park: Ancient History Trail | Discover the era of the five kings who ruled Singapore during the 14 Century. | 45mins | Moderate |
| Fort Canning Park: Colonial History Trail | Get to know Fort Canning Hill’s military history, while gaining appreciation for the colonial structures in the park. | 45mins | Moderate |
| Kampong Glam Heritage Trail | The Kampong Glam district is where Malay royalty once resided, and it is home to one of the most significant mosques in the country, the Masjid Sultan. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| Little India Heritage Trail | Download a companion guide to Little India. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| Monument Trail | Walk through Empress Place, Esplanade Park, and War Memorial Park to visit prominent historical landmarks in Singapore. | 45mins | Easy |
| Queenstown Heritage Trail | Download a companion guide to Queenstown. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| Singapore River Walk | Download a companion guide to the Singapore River. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| Toa Payoh Heritage Trail | Download a companion guide to Toa Payoh. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| Tiong Bahru Heritage Trail | Download a companion guide to Tiong Bahru. | 1-2hrs | Easy |
| World War II Heritage Trail | Refer to the trail booklet to pick a location to visit. | 1-2hrs | Easy |