The island, about 20 miles in length and the same in breadth, is much indented on its N and S sides.

It is separated from the E coast of Sumatra by the Berthala strait. North of Pulau Singkep is Pulau Lingga, with Pulau Selayar in the channel between. Off the W end of Pulau Singkep is a group of islands separated from Pulau Singkep by Selat Sebayur.
From Tanjung Malang (Perpat), the SE point of Pulau Singkep, the coast has a NE direction for 10 miles to Tanjung Tengku, with Tanjung
Tija (Tidja) about 2 miles farther N.

The coast between these two points is fairly thickly populated; the most important village is Dabo.

Singkep has two ports, Dabo near Dabosingkep and Jago near Sungaibuluh. Singkep also has a small airport capable of handling small 40 passenger aircraft. The airport is currently used by charter flights and the government patrol aircraft. Singkep has many beautiful beaches.

On the W coast of Pulau Singkep and Pulau Lingga the flood current runs to the S and W and the ebb to the N and E, but near the SW coast of Pulau Singkep between Tanjung Buku and Tanjung Sebayur the flood sets N as an eddy and the ebb S at the rate of 1.75 knots.