7 Ways To Get To Tioman Island (The Complete Guide: Travel Tips, Bus Ticket & Ferry Ticket Guide Included)

Since there’s no direct flight from Singapore to Tioman Island yet, you basically have two options – take a bus (or coach) or drive!

Regardless, all options will lead to either Mersing or Tanjung Gemok jetty so you can take the ferry to Tioman Island.

Read also: How To Go To Rawa Island From Singapore

It’s a long way to paradise so you might as well pick a direct bus so you can sleep on the way.

The journey is usually anywhere from 3 to 5 hours.

There are a few options if you want to take a bus from Singapore to Mersing Bus Terminal.

Where, it’s just a short walk (10-15 minutes) to Mersing Jetty.

Bus Operators

• Transnasional
• Starmart Express
• KKKL Singapore
• Causeway Link Express

Singapore To Mersing:

How To Book A Bus From Singapore To Mersing

This link will take you to the booking page on easybook.com.

All you have to do is change the date, preferred departure point and the number of people in your travel group.

Read also: How To Go To Tioman Island From Changi Airport

Presently, you will find yourself in Mersing. Mersing is after all, the gateway to Tioman Islands. You can take ferry from Mersing Jetty to Tioman Island.

Click here for more information on the Tioman Island ferries including their prices and schedules.

Prefer a coach over bus as your go-to travel mode?

Depending on the coach operator you choose, you can arrive at Mersing Jetty or Tanjung Gemok Jetty.

Read also: Tioman Vs Rawa: Which Island Is The Best For First-Timer From Singapore

There are daily coaches that will take you from Singapore to Tanjung Gemok Jetty and Mersing Jetty.

Coach Departure Time: The coaches typically leave Singapore at 6.30am.

Coach Operators

• Discovery Singapore
• WTS

For Discovery Singapore, there is a surcharge of SGD$5 to the total cost per booking.

WTS is cheaper than Discovery Singapore if you choose dates between Sunday to Thursday.

How To Book A Coach From Singapore To Mersing/ Tanjung Gemok Jetty

If you want to take a coach from Singapore to Mersing or Tanjung Gemok Jetty, you can book a coach from Discovery Singapore here.

Or you can book a coach from WTS here.

Read also: 4 Simple Steps On How To Take The Train To JB From Singapore

There are some differences between taking a ferry from Mersing Jetty or Tanjung Gemok Jetty.

Click here for more information on Mersing and Tanjung Gemok Jetty.

Or you could make the journey to Mersing Jetty by driving (2.5 hours).

Which is significantly shorter than taking the bus or coach!

This is a great option if you want to have a flexible schedule! Or pick up your travel buddies along the way!

Read also: How To Get To Mersing Jetty

It is quite a straightforward drive to get from Singapore to Mersing Jetty:

Route

Singapore (via Laluan Persekutuan 3/AH18) – Johor Bahru- Kota Tinggi – Jemualang – Mersing

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/SingaporetoMersingJetty

When you reach Mersing Jetty, you can park your car there for about RM15/day (bring ringgit for this!).

For more information on taking the ferry from Mersing Jetty.

Even though Mersing Jetty is in Johor, it’s still quite a ways to go. You can decide to take the bus or drive on your own.

Allow at least 2.5 hours of travel before you reach Mersing Jetty.

Plan ahead to avoid missing your ferry!

There are regular daily buses to Mersing if you choose to take a bus from Johor Bahru.

The departure point from Johor Bahru to Mersing is at JB Larkin Terminal.

Bus Operators

• Maraliner
• Plusliner
• S&S International (M) Express
• Causeway Link Express
• Transnasional

All bus journeys from Johor Bahru to Mersing will take 2 hours and 37 minutes roughly.

Bus Departure Time: Daily from 7:25 to 23:00, every ~1 to 3 hours

Bus Price Range:

Adult: RM12.70 – RM17.60

Child: RM9.50 – RM17.60

How To Book A Bus From Johor Bahru To Mersing

To book a bus from Johor Bahru to Mersing, you can check out this link.

Once at Mersing, you can board a ferry to go to Tioman Island.

Click here for more information on taking a ferry from Mersing Jetty to Tioman Island.

If you do not mind a 2 hour drive (130km), you can get to Mersing from Johor Bahru via any of the two routes below:

Route 1

Johor Bahru (via Laluan Persekutuan 3/AH18) – Kota Tinggi – Jemaluang – Mersing Harbour Centre – Mersing Jetty

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/JBtoMersing-Route1

Route 2

Johor Bahru (via Jalan Jemaluang/Laluan Persekutuan 3/AH18 for 14km) – Bandar Penawar (via Lebuhraya Senai-desaru/E22) – Kota Tinggi (via route 92 and 99) – Mawai (via Jalan Jemaluang/Laluan Persekutuan 3/AH18 again) – Mersing

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/JBtoMersing-Route2

Leave your car at the guarded carpark beside Mersing jetty for RM15/day.

Read more information on taking the ferry from Mersing Jetty.

Choose between 4 possible options to get from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island:

• Bus to Mersing Jetty
• Bus to Tanjung Gemok Jetty
• Self-Drive
• Flight

Taking the bus from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing will typically take ~5.5 hours either way, regardless of the bus operator. That depends greatly on the traffic in Kuala Lumpur too.

If you want to take a direct bus from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing, the main terminal is TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan).

Bus operators

• S&S International (M) Express
• Sanwa Tours (M) Sdn Bhd
• Sepakat Liner (Mersing)
• Transnasional

Bus Departure Time: Daily from 9:00 to 23.45 starting at 9:00 then 11:00, 11:30, 12:30, 16:30 and 17:00.

The last three departures are at 23:00, 23:30 and 23:45.

Bus Price Range:

Adult: RM32.80 – RM41.50

Child: RM28.50 – RM38.30

How To Book A Bus From Kuala Lumpur To Mersing

You can check out this link.

Be at the jetty at least an hour before your departure time in case of unexpected delays.

Click here for more information on taking the ferry from Mersing Jetty.

There are basically 3 bus operators that offer routes from TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) in Kuala Lumpur to Tanjung Gemok Jetty.

Bus operators

• Sanwa Tours (M) Sdn Bhd
• Sepakat Liner (Mersing)
• Transnasional

Bus Departure Time: Daily from 9:00 to 23.45 starting at 9:00 then 11:00, 11:30, 12:30, 16:30 and 17:00.

The last three departures are at 23:00, 23:30 and 23:45.

Bus Price Range:

Adult: RM32.80 – RM38.30

Child: RM23.30 – RM38.30

How To Book A Bus From Kuala Lumpur To Tanjung Gemok

Book a bus from easybook.com to get to Tanjung Gemok Jetty from Kuala Lumpur here.

Read more information on how to take a ferry to Tioman Island from Tanjung Gemok Jetty.

Of course, you can always drive from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing Jetty.

There are a couple of ways you can do this drive but please allow at least 5.5 hours of travel time, to be on the safe side.

The drive will take you close to 4.5-5 hours.

Route 1

Kuala Lumpur (via Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan/E2) – Ayer Hitam (Take exit 244-Ayer Hitam) – Kluang & Kayang (via Route 50) – Mersing

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/KLtoMersing-Route1

Route 2

Kuala Lumpur – Cheras – Kajang – Kuala Pihah – Bahau (via Jalan Bahau)- Muadzam Shah – Kuala Rompin (via Laluan Persekutuan 3/AH18) – Endau – Mersing

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/KLtoMersing-Route2

Route 3

Kuala Lumpur – Hulu Langat – Muadzam Shah – Kuala Rompin (via Laluan Persekutuan 3/AH18) – Endau – Mersing

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/KLtoMersing-Route3

The duration for all three routes depends on traffic in Kuala Lumpur.

You can buy tickets from the Mersing Harbour Centre before proceeding to the Mersing Jetty for the ferry departures.

Click here for more information on taking the ferry from Mersing Jetty.

While there is currently no direct commercial flight to Tioman Island from Kuala Lumpur, you can arrange for a private charter flight (Through Systematic Aviation Services here.)

The state of Malacca (or Melaka) shares its eastern border with Johor so you can very well get to Tioman Island from Malacca if you wish.

Want to avoid driving? Then take a bus from Melaka to Mersing instead!

At the moment, S&S International (M) Express is the sole bus operator that offers transfer from Melaka to Mersing.

S&S International (M) Express

Bus Departure Location: Melaka Sentral

Bus Departure Time: Daily at 7:45AM and 12:45PM

Bus Ticket Price: RM25.1 (Adult), RM18.8 (Child)

Duration of Journey: 4 hours, 19 minutes

Once you arrive at Mersing Bus Terminal, it is only a 10 to 15 minutes’ walk to Mersing Jetty.

Read more information on taking the ferry from Mersing Jetty.

You are essentially going to drive across Peninsula Malaysia from the west coast (Melaka) to the East Coast (Mersing).

It is not exactly a straight road either since you will have to skirt around the Endau Rompin National Park too.

So to drive from Melaka to Mersing, there are 4 different routes you can take.

Durations for all 4 routes can range between 3.5-4.5 hours, depending on traffic congestion.

Route 1 (3hrs 28min)

Malacca – Jasin (via Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan/AH2/E2) – Ayer Hitam (Take exit 244-Ayer Hitam) – Kluang & Kayang (via Route 50) – Mersing

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/MelakatoMersing-Route1

Route 2

Malacca (via Lebuh AMJ/Route 19 for 14km) – M109 (3.6km)- Tangkak (via Jalan Merlimau / Jasin/M25) – Chaah – Paloh – Kluang & Kayang (via Route 50) – Mersing

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/MelakatoMersing-Route2

Route 3

Malacca – Bemban – Selandar – Batang Melaka – Kampung Pasir Besar – Muadzam Shah – Kuala Rompin (via Laluan Persekutuan 3/AH18) – Endau – Mersing

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/MelakatoMersing-Route3

Route 4

Malacca – Durian Tunggal ( Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan/AH2/E2) – Pagoh Toll – Ayer Hitam – Senai – Ulu Tiram (exit 2204 from Lebuhraya Senai-desaru/E22) – Kota Tinggi (Laluan Persekutuan 3/AH18) – Jemaluang – Mersing

View route details and map here: http://bit.ly/MelakatoMersing-Route4

Park your car near at the designated car park for RM15/ day once you get to Mersing Jetty.

Click here for more information on taking the ferry from Mersing Jetty.

Yes, Penang has its own beaches and Langkawi is close too.

But what if you want to go somewhere a little less crowded? A diving paradise with super clear waters? Like Tioman Island.

So if you want to visit Tioman Island from Penang, a flight is unavoidable. Because a drive all the way down to Mersing will take you 8 hours.

There are direct 1-hour flights from Penang to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA2) and Senai International Airport.

But in terms of convenience (less bus changes), you better stick with the flight to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA2)

Flights to KLIA2 from Penang are typically in the evening and cost around RM130-150. Pick a weekday for a cheaper flight!

Airlines from Penang to KLIA2

• Malindo Air
• AirAsia

Take the KLIA2 T2 transit train for 29 minutes to Bandar Tasik Selatan. Get off at Bandar Tasik Selatan.

Train time interval: Every 30 minutes

Ticket price: RM35 to RM65

At Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, take a bus for around 5 hours to Mersing.

Bus operators:

• Transnasional
• Sepakat Liner
• Sanwa Tours (M) Sdn Bhd
• S&S International (M) Express

Bus Departure Time: Every 2-3 hours

Ticket price range: RM30 to RM60 (Adult/ Child)

You can book a bus here. Filter out the search by selecting “Terminal Bersepadu Selatan” or “TBS” under pick up points.

From the Mersing Bus Terminal in Mersing, it’s a 13 minute walk to Mersing Jetty.

Click here for more information on taking the ferry from Mersing Jetty.

At Mersing Jetty, there is only one ferry operator, Bluewater Express.

Read also: How To Go To Rawa Island From Changi Airport

Ferries from Mersing Jetty to Tioman Island are very dependent on the tidal conditions.

Remember to check the tioman ferry schedule which will be updated monthly.

These are the 5 places where Bluewater Express will drop off its passengers on Tioman Island:

• Air Batang (ABC)
• Genting Pier
• Paya Pier
• Salang Pier
• Tekek Pier

Either way, the crossing will take approximately 2 hours.

You need the following to get to Tioman Island from Mersing Jetty:

1. Ferry tickets
2. Marine Park entrance fee
3. Johor National Park fee

These can be paid at various counters in the Mersing Harbour Centre.

Since Tioman Island is in Mersing Marine Park (a private property), visitors that do not live close to the islands in the Marine Park need to pay a small entrance fee.

That includes foreigners. You can see the prices below:

Marine Park Entrance Fee At Mersing Jetty

Johor National Park Fee At Mersing Jetty

After getting your ferry tickets at Mersing Harbour Centre, you can make your way to the jetty to take the ferry to Tioman Island.

Be there at least an hour before.

Mersing Harbour Centre: http://bit.ly/mersingharbourcenter

Mersing Jetty location: http://bit.ly/mersingjettylocation

One Way – RM35 (Adult), RM30 (Child)

Two Way –  RM80 (Adult), RM70 (Child)

Tanjung Gemok Jetty is an additional 35 minutes’ drive time if you come up from Singapore.

But if you are coming from Kuala Lumpur, you can save some driving time (20 minutes) if you choose Tanjung Gemok Jetty over Mersing Jetty.

Ferries from Tanjung Gemok Jetty to Tioman Island are less susceptible to unfavorable tidal conditions.

Read also: How To Get To Tanjung Gemok Jetty

Another reason to come to this jetty is to take a newer ferry operator, Cataferry.

Ferry Operators At Tanjung Gemok Jetty

1. Bluewater Express
2. Cataferry

Both ferry operators will make their stop at the same 5 villages on Tioman Island:

• Genting Pier
• Paya Pier
• Tekek Pier
• Air Batang
• Salang Pier

Even though you can buy your ferry tickets over the counter, it is better to buy them online.

This is because tickets at the counter are sold on a first come first serve basis.

Don’t forget to pay your Marine Park entrance fee! There is only one counter where you can do this at Tanjung Gemok Jetty!

These entrance fees help to pay for the conservation of the Marine Park.

Johor National Park Fee At Tanjung Gemok Jetty

Note that unlike in Mersing Jetty, you do not have to pay the Johor National Park Fee if you choose to take a ferry from Tanjung Gemok Jetty instead.

With this post, you can find out how to get to Tioman Island and which is the best method that suits your travel group and yourself.

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