PULAUMY

Guide No. 10 · Getting there

Route · Pulau Besar

How to get to Pulau Besar

Take your resort's boat from Mersing jetty in Johor, about 30 minutes. Mersing is 4.5 to 6 hours by bus from Kuala Lumpur and about 2 hours from Johor Bahru.

Operator notice

1 November 2026 to about mid-February 2027: the resorts and their boats have stopped for the monsoon. No resort has published a 2027 opening date; Emerald Sands says its 2027 rates will be out in January 2027.

I

The journey

  1. Kuala LumpurBus from TBS, 4.5–6 h, from about RM32. Or drive about 370 km, 4–4.5 h.
  2. Mersing bus terminalWalk to the jetty, about 10 min, or a 5 min taxi.
  3. Mersing jettyResort boat about 30 min, RM110–130 return. Pay the marine park charge.
  4. Pulau BesarIsland jetty on the west coast; resort staff carry your bags.

Most resort boats leave Mersing around midday, so from Kuala Lumpur take an early bus or leave the night before. Facts checked 8 November 2026 against operators.

II

Ways across

FromModeTimeFare
Mersing jettyYour resort's own boat, once a dayResort boat30–60 min–
Mersing jettyIf you miss the boat: RM600–700 each way, up to 10 peoplePrivate boat30–60 min–

There is no public ferry and no fixed public timetable: each resort runs its own boat, usually once a day. Resorts publish only return fares, about RM110–130 for an adult, so the one-way column shows a dash. Boats to Sibu and Tinggi leave from Tanjung Leman, not Mersing.

III

Step by step

  1. Get to Mersing

    Buses run to Mersing from TBS in Kuala Lumpur, from Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru and direct from Singapore, about 3.5 hours and SGD 30–40. Driving from Kuala Lumpur is about 370 km via the Karak Highway and the East Coast Expressway to Kuantan, then south on Federal Route 3. Senai Airport is about 1 h 45 min by road.

    KL bus from RM32 · JB bus from RM14, 2–2.5 h

  2. Find your resort's counter at Mersing jetty

    Mersing jetty, also called Mersing Harbour Centre, is on Jalan Abu Bakar, about 10 minutes' walk from the bus terminal. Tioman ferries leave from the same jetty, so follow the meeting point on your voucher and board your resort's boat. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early.

    Parking about RM15 a day

  3. Pay the marine park charge

    The official charge is RM30 for adults without a MyKad and RM5 with one. Resellers in Mersing quote RM5–10 (MyKad) and RM30–40 (non-MyKad), usually collected with the boat ticket, so check the total with your resort.

    Conservation charge RM30, MyKad holders RM5

  4. Cross to Pulau Besar

    Boats land at the jetty on the west coast, a short walk from the resorts. Outbound times differ by resort: Aseania's FAQ gives 11 am, Bayu Lestari 12 pm and Emerald Sands 12:30 pm. Sailings depend on sea, weather and tide.

    About 30 min, up to 1 h in rough seas

  5. Coming back

    The return boat usually leaves the island mid-morning, around 10:30 am, but low tide can bring it forward. Confirm the time 48 hours ahead and keep your phone on the night before you leave. If you miss it, a private boat costs RM600–700.

    Once a day · confirm 48 h ahead

IV

Questions

Is there a ferry to Pulau Besar Mersing?

No public ferry. Each resort runs its own boat from Mersing jetty, usually once a day, and most packages include it. Book your stay first and the resort tells you the boat time.

How long is the boat from Mersing jetty to Pulau Besar?

About 30 minutes, up to an hour in rough seas. The island is about 15 km off Mersing.

When is Pulau Besar closed?

The resorts and their boats stop for the northeast monsoon from November to February. In 2026 some opened from mid-February and most closed on 31 October.

Which jetty do I use for Pulau Besar?

Mersing jetty in Johor. Tanjung Leman is for Sibu and Tinggi. Pulau Besar in Melaka is a different island.

NextWhere to stay on Pulau Besar