A weekend getaway to a beautiful island sounds like a perfect vacation. It is even better if the island is pregnant with lush greenery and a rich marine life with plenty of water activities. Tioman Island, locally known as Pulau Tioman in the Malay language, is one such destination located in the district of Rompin in the state of Pahang in Malaysia. The 2 main ferries operators are Cataferry & Bluewater. Checkout the latest ferry schedule & prices via Easybook.com
Due to having a unique placement on the southeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia, the island is a hotspot for travelers from both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The island is around thirteen miles long and seven and a half miles wide. There are seven villages on the island, of which Kampung Tekek is the most populous.
One of the most beautiful islands in the world, Tioman is heavily forested and sparsely populated. The various coral reefs around the island have made Tioman a popular snorkeling and Open Water Diving Course destination among tourists from around the globe. Surfers flock there to explore the surf breaks and anglers get their adrenaline shot by hunting fishes like giant barracudas.
Catering to tourists are various chalets and resorts. The island has a duty free status aimed at encouraging more foreign tourists.
You could get to Tioman from Pahang in Malaysia, albeit it is closer from the town of Mersing on the coast of Johor. One of the convenient routes you can take is via Singapore. Whether you are planning to holiday in Singapore or you simply use the city-state as a stopover, it is better to have the transportation options planned out.
The idyllic Tioman Island with its pristine beaches, secluded retreats, a plethora of water sports and activities, amazing resorts, and the perfect setting for honeymooners can be reached via road and sea from Singapore.
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Singapore to Tioman Island: Available Transportation Options
You can access the island by ferry, small planes, and speedboat—the first one is the most popular and common transportation mode.
The first destination is Mersing—a small town in Johor—from where you can take a ferry from the Mersing Jetty Terminal to Tekek Village, Tioman Island. Or, you can travel to Tanjung Gemok, a small coastal village in Malaysia, and take a ferry to the island from the Tanjung Gemok Jetty.
These transportation options are available to reach these destinations from Singapore.
1. Hire a Private Car to Tioman Island from Singapore
Renting a private car is a convenient but expensive means of reaching the Mersing Jetty. There are many operators that rent everything from compact vehicles to minivans. Hire a hatchback or sedan if you are traveling solo or with a small group but an MVP (multi purpose vehicle) or minivan is the best option for a large group.
KM Transport: The company offers pick-up services from anywhere in Singapore to Mersing Jetty. Renting a Toyota Innova will cost S$235/S$450 (one way/round trip) whereas a Hyundai or Alphard is S$285/S$530 (one way/two way). These 7- to 10-seater vehicles are fully air-conditioned.
The journey takes approximately two hours (depending on the traffic) while the ferry from the jetty to the island is another one and a half hour journey.
SGMYTAXI Private Car Service: With a door-to-door pickup service, you can rent a car for traveling to both Mersing Jetty and Port Dickson (which is near the Tanjung Gemok Jetty). The expenses are:
To Mersing → Toyota Innova → S$220 and S$420 (One Way and Round Trip)
To Mersing→ Hyundai Starex → S$270 and S$500 (One Way and Round Trip)
To Port Dickson → Toyota Innova → S$350 and S$650 (One Way and Round Trip)
To Port Dickson →Hyundai Starex → S$4000 and S$750 (One Way and Round Trip)
Limousine Transport: If you want some luxurious services other than the regular AC cars, Limousine Transport is a good choice. The one way flat rates from Singapore to Mersing for different vehicle classes are:
- Executive Taxi → S$240
- Toyota Innova → S$190
- Hyundai Starex → S$330
- Toyota Alphard → S$350
- Mercedes E Class → S$500
2. Take a Direct Bus to Tioman Island from Singapore
Changing rides so many times is hassling unless you have enough time to spare or a genuine thirst for checking on all the public transport options from Singapore to Tioman.
There are direct bus routes from Singapore to Tanjung Gemok jetty from where you have to take a ferry to the island. Instead of changing buses, you just have to pass screenings at the Woodlands Checkpoint and Johor Customs.
Some popular bus companies operating in this route are:
Discovery Tours: They help to facilitate visits to Tioman Island by providing bus and ferry transfer to Tioman Island, as well as the returned service. Their departure point is at Singapore Flyer. The bus service is only available from March to October. It costs S$46 for a one-way trip.
KKKL Travel & Tours Pte Ltd: The bus service takes the passengers to both Mersing and Tanjung Gemok jetty. The journey to Mersing takes three hours while going to Tenjung Gemok will take another 30 minutes from Mersing. Boarding to the ferry from Tenjung Gemok is recommended because the ferry schedule is more stable there. The bus departs from Kovan Hub at 6:00am and Bugis MRT Exit D at 6:30am. Including the ferry transport, a round trip costs S$45.
WTS Travel & Tours Pte Ltd: You can use the bus service to visit Mersing and Tenjung Gemok. The fair could be between S$21 and S$30, depending on the days of the week and peak hours. Including the ferry service, the fare will rise to between S$77 and S$95. The bus departs from Singapore Flyers.
Note that tickets purchased for Singapore to Tioman Island and Tioman Island to Singapore, through BusOnlineTicket.com, include the bus tickets to Tanjung Gemok and ferry transfer service to the jetty in Tioman Island. The ferry transfer service will stop at following jetties in sequence, Kampung Genting Jetty, Kampung Paya Jetty, Tekek Jetty, Kampung Air Batang Jetty, Panuba Bay Jetty and Kampung Salang Jetty.
3. Take a Bus to Tioman Island from Singapore via Larkin Sentral
The route includes going to the Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru from Singapore and then traveling to Mersing. The transportation that you can take are below & you can book and secure your seat online:
| Service Name | From Singapore | To Johor Bahru | Departure Time | Fare |
| SBS Transit 170 | Queen Street Terminal | Larkin Terminal | From 5:20am to 12 midnight (every 11 to 17 minutes) | S$2.5 |
| Singapore-Johor Express | From 6:30am to 11:30pm (every 7 to 12 minutes) | S$3.3 | ||
| Causeway Link CW2 | From 6:00am till 12 midnight | S$3.3 | ||
| Causeway Link CW1 | Kranji MRT Station | From 4:30am to 11:30pm (every 20 to 30 minutes) | S$1.5 |
There are four bus operators that run from the JB Larkin Terminal to Mersing Jetty. The bus drops the passengers at the Terminal Bus Station of Mersing from where you have to take a 5-minute taxi drive to reach the jetty.
| Operator Name | Departure Time | Fare |
| Causeway Link Express | From 7:15am to 1:30pm | S$4.21 (MYR 12.80) |
| Transnasional | From 10:30am to 11:50pm | S$5.79 (MYR 17.60) |
| Plusliner | From 9:45am to 4:45pm | S$5.79 (MYR 17.60) |
| S&S International Express | From 7:25am to 5:45pm | S$4.17 (MYR 12.70) |
4. Take a Taxi to Tioman Island from Singapore
You may opt for taxis instead of a private car. The cabs or taxis are less comfortable but they ply reliably and you do not have to worry about the route. You can hire a local taxi and get to Mersing or Tanjung Jetty from JB. You may also have a chauffeur driven taxi who would double up as your guide. If you are traveling with co-passengers or as a group, you could save on the otherwise high costs of hiring a taxi. You may even share cab rides.
5. Drive Yourself From Singapore to Tanjung Gemok Jetty
Self-driving is a good option if you own a car. You can be yourself and drive at your own pace during the journey. The only problem is finding a safe and secure car park in Mersing while you are off to Tioman Island.
The journey from Singapore to Tanjung Gemok jetty will take approximately 3.5 to 4 hours. There are parking facilities in that jetty for MYR 10 per day. The route that you can follow is:
Singapore → Johor Bahru → Kota Tinggi → Mersing → Tanjung Gemok→ Tanjung Gemok Jetty
6. Cycling from Singapore to Tioman
Sounds too daunting? Well, if you are up for an adventure and an avid cyclist, you will definitely like this trip.
Cycle all the way up to the Changi Village as there is an immigration point there. Clear the immigration, catch a bumboat, and go to Pulau Ubin—a Singaporean island filled with cycle trails. Again, clear the immigration there and go to Malaysia via a bumboat that will take you to the port of Pengerang.
Pengerang is a municipal area in the Kota Tinggi District, 160km from Mersing. Take the motorway 3 to go there, which is a direct route but might not be the best option for cycling.
7. Take a Ferry to Tioman Island from Singapore
By now you must have got an idea that getting to Tioman is not the most convenient or the smoothest of experiences on a holiday. This is partly why many tourists prefer alternatives. However, if you are willing to endure some inconvenience or a seemingly long journey, then a jewel awaits you at the end of the trip. You can take a ferry to Tioman Island from Singapore. The journey is not the quickest but the simplest and most convenient option. There are government operated ferries and private enterprises too. The ferry is the most affordable option as well. Do not bring your pets along if you are boarding a public ferry.
You can take a ferry from Mersing or Tanjung. Both jetties are equally popular. You can take a car, taxi, train, or bus to either of these jetties. Ferries usually do not take over two hours if conditions are usual but there can be some delays for unforeseen reasons. There is a daily ferry service and most of the operators have several scheduled trips every day. You can take a ferry, go to Tioman Island and explore the place before returning to either jetty and thereon back to Singapore. You can plan a day trip if you wish to avoid staying overnight but you would still have a time crunch. You may purchase your tickets at the jetties or you can make reservations online. The cost of tickets is slightly higher when you book online to pay for transaction charges.
You can take CataFerry or Bluewater Express Ferry. The former is more popular. If you are at the jetty and buying a ticket, the prices are mentioned in Ringgit Malaysia but you may pay in Singapore Dollar. If you book online, make sure you are at the jetty terminal at least fifteen to twenty minutes prior to the departure time. If at all you do not like the slow ferries, you can take a speed boat. The ride would be fun and quick but you will pay more obviously. If you arrive at the jetty and have some time to spare, you can hang out at Port Cafe and Bistro. The place has wireless internet, good food, and a family-friendly setting.
Ultimately Can I Fly to Tioman from Singapore?
The island has a tiny airstrip, but the service was discontinued in 2014. Located nearby the village Tekek, the modern airstrip was once open for commercial flights to and from the island. It operated daily flights from Subang Airport in Selangor, Malaysia.
Whichever option you choose to get to Tioman Island from Singapore, you must not stress yourself to squeeze in an extensive itinerary into a brief span of time. It is always wiser to have a day at the least to experience the island and to indulge in various activities. Having only a few hours would invariably compel you to discard some of the experiences and you may only get to prioritize two or three. There can be some predictable and unpredictable delays when you choose public transportation.