Guide No. 06 · Getting there
Route · Pulau Tioman
How to get to Pulau Tioman
Take the ferry from Mersing jetty, about 2 hours, or from Tanjung Gemok in Pahang between March and October. There are no scheduled flights.
Operator notice
1–30 November 2026: Mersing ferries sail once a day at a time set by the tide. There is no sailing either way on 14 November, and no return from Tioman on 1 and 15 November. Tanjung Gemok has no ferries until the end of February. The December timetable is due by mid-November.
The journey
- Kuala LumpurBus from TBS to Mersing, 5–5.5 h, from about RM32. Or drive, 4.5–5 h.
- Mersing bus terminalWalk about 10 min to Mersing Harbour Centre, or a taxi for about RM10.
- Mersing jettyFerry about 2 h, RM60 one way for Malaysians, RM75 for others. Pay the RM30 charge here.
- Pulau TiomanGenting, Paya, Tekek, Air Batang (ABC) or Salang jetty.
Ways across
| From | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mersing jettyUsual route, all year | Ferry (Bluewater, Cataferry) | 1 h 30 min–2 h 30 min | RM60 |
| Tanjung Gemok (Teluk Gading)From KL or Kuantan, Mar–Oct only | Ferry (Bluewater) | 2 h | RM60 |
| Tanjung Gemok (Teluk Gading)Tioman SpeedBoat, from May 2026, Mar–Oct only | Speedboat | 1 h | – |
Fares are one way for a Malaysian adult; non-Malaysians pay RM75 on Bluewater, from either jetty. Cataferry prices change by date and seat class. A dash means the operator does not publish a fare. Tanjung Gemok has no sailings from November to February.
Step by step
Get to Mersing or Tanjung Gemok
Buses from TBS in Kuala Lumpur reach Mersing in 5 to 5.5 hours, and Mersing Harbour Centre is a 10-minute walk from the bus terminal. Buses to Mersing pass Tanjung Gemok; ask the driver to stop. Driving takes 4.5 to 5 hours to either jetty. From Singapore, coaches to Mersing take about 4 to 4.5 hours. The nearest airline airports are Senai for Mersing and Kuantan for Tanjung Gemok; agree a fixed taxi fare.
Book the right jetty and ferry
Ferry times from Mersing follow the tide and change every day; Bluewater publishes them month by month. Sailings from Tanjung Gemok do not depend on the tide but run only from March to October. A Mersing booking cannot be used at Tanjung Gemok. Cataferry stops only at Genting, Paya and Tekek, so book Bluewater for Air Batang (ABC) or Salang.
Pay the charges and check in
Arrive at least an hour before departure and collect your boarding pass at the operator's counter at Mersing Harbour Centre or Tanjung Gemok. Pay the marine park conservation charge there, in cash; it is not in the fare. The Mersing terminal may also collect a separate Tioman island fee of about RM20; Tanjung Gemok does not. Have your passport or MyKad ready for the manifest.
Cross to Tioman
The ferry calls at Genting, Paya, Tekek, Air Batang (ABC) and Salang, in that order. Tell the crew in advance if you need Panuba, Nipah or Mukut. For Juara and for Berjaya Tioman Resort, get off at Tekek. Sailings depend on sea and weather.
Questions
How long is the ferry from Mersing to Tioman?
About 2 hours, between 1.5 and 2.5 hours depending on the tide, the sea and your stop; Salang is the last. The ferry from Tanjung Gemok also takes about 2 hours, and the speedboat there, launched in May 2026, quotes about an hour out, March to October only.
Can I go to Tioman without a package?
Yes, and most packages leave out the ferry anyway. Book a room, buy a Bluewater ticket (RM60 one way for Malaysians, RM75 for others) and pay the conservation charge in cash at the jetty.
Is there a ferry to Tioman in the monsoon?
From Mersing, yes: usually one sailing a day at a time set by the tide, with some days without a sailing and cancellations in bad weather. Tanjung Gemok has no ferries from November to February.
Mersing or Tanjung Gemok: which jetty should I use?
Mersing if you come from Singapore, Johor Bahru or Senai, and from November to February, when it is the only choice. Tanjung Gemok, also called Teluk Gading, if you drive from Kuala Lumpur or Kuantan between March and October; its sailings do not depend on the tide.
Can I fly to Tioman?
Not on a scheduled flight. SKS Airways suspended its flights in November 2023 and no airline has replaced it. Fly to Senai or Kuantan and take the ferry.