How to Go

Pulau Tioman can be reached by land or sea. The most popular way of getting there for all tourists is by ferry from Mersing in Johor State. Visitors from Singapore can also use the ferry from Tanah Merah which runs only in June, during the highest peak tourist season, but most of the year, will have to drive or take a bus up to Mersing. Ferries may also run from Tanjong Gemok, which is a nearby town in Rompin.

Most visitors will use Mersing as their entryway to Tioman via the ferry service. There are several ways by road to Mersing from Kuala Lumpur, but the primary method is to use the North-South Highway and head towards the Ayer Hitam exit. After turning off, drive straight eastwards towards Kluang, passing Kahang, the entrance to Endau Rompin National Park and you will soon reach Mersing by following the directions listed on the signboards, which is a sleepy town by the coast. The total distance from Kuala Lumpur using this way is about 400 km, taking between 4-5 hours of driving. There are alternative routes using the trunk roads, but you need to be familiar with the landmarks and know the towns to pass through in order to use them.

From Singapore, visitors can drive up across the Causeway to Johor Bahru and then follow the eastern road towards Mersing, passing through Kota Tinggi via the Tebrau Highway. The total distance from Singapore to Mersing is about 150 km, which is a 1-2 hour drive. Once in Mersing, visitors from KL or Singapore can secure a parking lot at the jetty or around there for MYR5 per day (some may attempt to charge as high as MYR8 during peak seasons). Alternatively, you can spend a night in any one of the hotels of Mersing that offer parking lots and transfer to the jetty. These hotels will allow you to leave your car in their parking lot for the entire duration of your travel to Tioman. You'll have to find your own way back to the car on your return though.

Travellers from Penang and other northern destinations just need to head to Kuala Lumpur, probably with the North-South Highway, and follow the directions listed above. Visitors from places located south along the highway, such as Malacca, Port Dickson and Seremban (Negeri Sembilan) can just cut straight out and then do the same. Buses are available from Puduraya Station in Kuala Lumpur to Mersing, while Queen and Lavender Street Bus Terminals in Singapore offer rides to Mersing. Visitors from Singapore can also head to Larkin Bus Station in Johor Bahru for a cheaper ticket to Mersing. Finally, if you wish, taxis and cabs are available from anywhere in Malaysia that will take you to Mersing for the right price.

Ferries are the main mode of transport for visitors to Tioman. There used to be many of such services running during peak tourist periods, but with corruption, poor enforcement of weight regulations and safety checks built up over the years (as typical of Malaysian standards), many of the ferries were dangerously in bad condition and consistenly overloading passengers on trips. It was in 2007 that one of the ferries finally caught fire and passengers were forced to leap out into the water with insufficent life jackets and in a mass of panic, subsequently causing several deaths. Today, only Bluewater Express runs the ferry service, using only large ships suitable for carting large loads of people. Speedboats may, however, still be available for charter during peak seasons as an alternative way of getting to Tioman from Mersing.

From between February till September, ferry services run a few times a day from Mersing, the earliest starting at 7.30 am. Departure times may be inconsistent, despite the bold signboard outside the jetty displaying the ferry schedule. This is especially so during the monsoon season, when the ferries will only run once or twice a day at appointed times set only a day before, in view of weather forecasts and predictions. During the peak periods (rest of the year except October-January), you can expect the ferries to run every 3 hours from 7 am onwards. Weather and tidal conditions can affect the speed of travel dramatically. Ferries can reach Tioman in as little as an hour if following the tide, low number of onboard passengers, in clear weather and assisted by winds. Under unfavourable weather conditions, strong opposing winds or tidal flow, choppy seas and heavy rain, it can take as long as 4 hours to reach!

Prices for the ferry tickets are MYR35 per adult. You can purchase a one or two way ticket (MYR70) from the counter in the jetty. You may be asked to pay the MYR5 marine park conservation fee at a nearby counter, but if you just buy your ticket quickly, quietly and confidently, you may be able to escape notice. If you've bought a one way ticket, you can purchase return tickets at the marina in Tekek, where there is a counter. Otherwise, you just hop on the ferry when it comes to pick-up passengers from Kampung Genting, Paya and Salang Beach. You then pay the ferry attendants when they come around to check for tickets. Note that the tickets only cost MYR35 per adult, so do do not be duped into paying extra. The ferry operators are only too happy to receive such generosity without revealing the true price.

Flights are available from Subang Jaya Airport in Kuala Lumpur and Seletar in Singapore via Berjaya Air, using small propeller planes that offer a bumpy but lively ride. Berjaya Air provides this service mainly for guests and customers staying in the Berjaya Tioman Resort, but anyone else will be able to fly, though at a higher ticket price than if you booked an accommodation package with them. There are daily flights during the peak season, but off peak periods may be see only a few flights in a week. If you happen to be staying in Tioman with exceptionally bad seas, then the plane may be the only option to get off the island if you're in a hurry.