Welcome to my guide to Mersing, the town that you have to go through to get to some of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia. Such as Pulau Tioman, Pulau Besar, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Tengah and many more.
I’ve broken this guide up into a few sections that you can skip to by clicking on these links.
1. How to get to Mersing / Tioman Island.
What / Where is Mersing?
Mersing is a southeast Malaysian coastal town that travellers have to go through to get to Tioman Island and other islands off the southeast coast of Malaysia. Other islands include Pulau Besar, Rawa, Sibu, Tengah and many more.
Essentially there can only be one reason why you are headed towards Mersing, and that is because you are heading to Tioman or one of the other tropical islands. There is literally NO other reason you would go there. Unless of course are actually Malaysian and are heading back to your hometown for the holidays (balik kampung!)
You’ll probably only be here for short while so I’ll make this as short sweet and as comprehensive as possible.
Welcome to Mersing. / Selamat Datang ke Mersing 🙂
View from the bridge
How to get from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing.
If you’ve just arrived in Malaysia and you are heading to Tioman straight from the airport (KLIA or KLIA2) then you will need to take a shuttle bus / taxi to the TCS Bus Station (which is brand new and looks more like an airport than a bus station) and catch a connecting bus from there to Mersing.
Another great option is to rent a car in Malaysia. Driving a car around Malaysia has a lot of pros. You can easily check any amazing place on your way to Mersing. Plus you will not be dependable on the public transport which sometimes can be timely if you are limited in days on your vacation. Keep that option in mind as you can get a great deal for as low as $23 USD per day.
Time: 5 to 6 hours (Bus)
Cost: RM60 (US$17)
How to get from Singapore to Mersing.
If you are tech savvy and have already surveyed the location of Mersing / Tioman online. You will have correctly noticed that Mersing is actually a lot closer to Singapore than Kuala Lumpur.
However, closer doesn’t necessarily mean quicker.
Getting to Mersing from Changi Airport involves taking a taxi / LRT from Changi to either Queen Street Taxi Junction and getting a taxi across the border:
Price Taxi: S$12 per person or S$48 per vehicle. [From Queen Street to Larkin] Price Bus: S$3.5 per person. [From Queen Street to Larkin]
Then catching a bus or another taxi from either TK station or wherever the taxi driver dropped you off.
Time to Mersing: 2-3 hours
Price: RM20 (US$5) [Bus]
These are basically the only options of getting to Mersing / Tioman now that there is no longer a functioning airport on the island.
Here is a good website for the taxi information – http://www.taxisingapore.com/singapore-to-malaysia/
Here is a good website for the bus schedule – http://causewaylink.com.my/singapore-bus#/-1/
2. Accommodation in Mersing.
Traveller’s that require accommodation in Mersing always have two things in common – they are either arriving very late, or have just missed the last ferry (or, worse, have discovered there is no ferry due to tidal reasons) and they need to find somewhere to sleep. Somewhere that isn’t as “god-forsaken” looking as the rest of the Town.
Fear not fellow traveller’s; here is a list of accommodation options in Mersing that won’t have you running for the hills. It is important to note that there are actually many options to choose from but we are purposely leaving out those that we think are terrible. We haven’t stayed at all of these but we have heard they are pretty the best available.
Please search for these on Agoda / Booking.com
Hotel Havanita: Apparently the best hotel in town (certainly looks the best) but isn’t cheap and isn’t close to the jetty.
Timotel: Apparently the second best in town but again, not cheap and on the wrong side of the bridge.
Mersing Inn: Right opposite popular (and good) restaurant – Calypso Cafe. Cheap and 5 min walk from jetty.
Riverside Hotel: Well priced, close to jetty and apparently quite clean. 3min walk from jetty.
Hotel Seri Malaysia: Has a pool but the one time we stayed there all the rooms were mouldy. Not the cheapest either.
Sakiza View Hotel: 3min walk from jetty, apparently quite decent.
3. The Mersing Bus Stop.
Most traveller’s arrive in Mersing via the bus, a few come by taxi, and even fewer wake up here wondering where the hell they are.
Like most things in Mersing, the bus stop is close to the centre of town. Conveniently, and surprisingly well thought out, a brand new covered walkway has been built for travellers arriving in Mersing. The walk way begins at the bus stop and works it’s way up and over over a busy road into town.
The bridge section doesn’t have stairs so it’s perfect for people with roller-luggage.
The bus stop.
Bus stop, different angle.
The walkway leading up to the new bridge
The walkway end’s on the other side of the bridge, at the KFC, and from there it’s a short walk to the Ferry terminal / jetty where you can book your tickets.
4. What to do in Mersing while waiting for the ferry.
There really isn’t much to see in Mersing so rather focus on getting every thing sorted out for your final destination.
However, if you do have some time to explore the town a little then I recommend heading down to the beach for an evening stroll. There is a relatively nice walkway and even an outdoor gym for anyone feeling active. There are only usually between 2 and 6 people at the gym so it’s always empty.
Mersing beach itself is a pretty dirty. There is always filth and litter washing up from who knows where and is generally not a clean environment. The locals don’t seem to mind though and every evening there are families that enjoy the cool breeze coming off the South China Sea.Mersing beach is not for swimming. In the last 16 months I have not seen one person swimming there – you would most definitely catch a disease if you tried.
If you have time and want a nicer beach experience then Air Papan beach is where you want to go. My wife and I are usually here in the evenings. We jog, play soccer and sometimes even swim, it’s much cleaner, there is white sand and beach facilities. Air Papan is a 15min drive from Mersing, so you would have to find transport to get there. The drive along coast to Air Papan is stunning, it takes you through coconut palm groves and winds through rice paddies. The sunsets over the rice paddies and makes for some awesome pictures. The town itself has no real attractions to speak of but visiting the Chinese Temple, The Hindu Temple and the main Mosque (Masjid Jamek) are definitely worth a few photos. Mersing is easy to walk through. The town centre is made up of three (short) main roads and you can get a good idea of everything in the town within 30 min of walking around. Which is good because it’s hot here.
Welcome to #Mersing! Our new town’s official welcome board. #vmy2014 cc @TourismMalaysia A photo posted by Vaughan McShane (@vaughanmac_) on
5. Map of Mersing.
Below is a custom-made Google map of Mersing showing everything that I think is worth your time. There are restaurants, cafe’s, hotels, places of interest and places to drink alcohol all highlighted in various colours. Click on the Markers for more information.
6. Where to Eat in Mersing.
The below are all marked out on the map of Mersing that I’ve made. All to often I see foreigners wandering around town looking for a place to eat or drink. They all look a little lost and most of the time they end up at the worst places in town looking very uncomfortable. I always wish I could tell them that there is a better place just around the corner but I think the restaurant owners would hate me of I went around doing that. So hopefully you find this article before you end up in the same situation.
- Calypso Cafe – Malay / Western
- Calypso is the foreigners friend. Clean, cool and trendy, you can immediately tell it is a huge cu above the rest of the restaurants in town. Calypso serves a mixed menu of western and local Malay foods and often has funky music playing too. The owner is extremely friendly and we have no worries punting her establishment first. We go there at least once a week. No alcohol is served here as it is a hall restaurant.
- Restaurant Syed Ali – Indian
- For those who have an Indian palate, Syed Ali is one of the cheapest and best little (Mamak) restaurants you’ll find in Malaysia. We’ve been all over the country and I like our one the most. There is nothing clean or fancy about the restaurant. Cats are all over the place and it’s a little bit scattered but the food is great. Roti Kosong, Lamb Curry (Kambing Kurri) and Tandoori Chicken are my favourite things to order. I usually order them all at the same time and the whole meal for two of us is around RM15. Very cheap. No Alcohol is served here.
- Greenhouse – Thai EDIT: GREENHOUSE IS NOW CLOSED (We are so sad about this.)
- This little haven is a little bit out of town unfortunately and I doubt many traveller’s have been. But it’s really not that far. Walkable actually. It’s probably a 10-15min walk from town and it really is the best Thai we have had in Malaysia. That’s because Mike, the owner, is from Bangkok. Mike is truly a friendly guy and one of the most well-travelled people we’ve met in Mersing.
- Our favourite foods are Tom Kha Gai (Tom Yum but with coconut milk), Dagin Bakaar (sliced meat), Stuffed chicken, Pad Thai (Of course) and a few others. The menu is large and in English . No Alcohol is served here either.
- Mersing Seafood – Chinese
- Located on the “Main” Main Rd, next to Guardian, Mersing Seafood has the reputation of being one of the best Chinese restaurants in Mersing. We’ve eaten there a few times and haven’t been disappointed. They are about twice as expensive than any other restaurant in Mersing too but overall, you still get value for your money. Tip: When eating Chinese order several dishes from the menu and share between you. Alcohol is served for those that would like a cold beer.
- The Port Cafe – Malay / Western
- Probably the most popular restaurant among foreigners in town. Chiefly because of the location. The Port is right next to the ferry and makes a good hangout place if you are only waiting a couple of hours until your ferry arrives. The Port serves more western food than any other establishment in town but that doesn’t mean it’s better than any other food in town. Also, the price is higher than Calypso which is run by the same family. The port provides shade, fans and wifi too which is great. We recommend the pizza. No alcohol is served here but they do have plenty of refreshing alternatives.
- Ee Lo – Chinese
- Another Chinese restaurant we like to go to in town. Ee lo serves great Chinese dishes at a slightly cheaper price than Mersing Seafood and because its more centrally located, there are generally other foreigners here. Alcohol is served.
- Xiang Gao
- Located right next door to Ee lo, Xiang Gao is a bakery / restaurant here in Mersing. Xiang Gao has a small selection of meals but a fairly nice interior. There is wifi and small little bakery treats to choose from too. I like the bread pudding.
- Fong Kopitiam
- Very popular with the locals, Fong Kopitiam is a restaurant / beer garden type of establishment just a few shops down from Ee lo. We’ve never actually been to Fong Kopitiam (Kopitiam literally means coffee (kopi) shop (tiam) – it is a mixture of Malay and Hokkien) but it always looks clean and there are always locals and foreigners there.
7. Mersing Jetty and Tioman Ferry Schedule.
If you are coming to Mersing to go to Tioman then it is essential to know where the ferry is. Please see the above map showing you the typical route directly from the bus stop to the ferry terminal. If you are coming to Mersing via taxi, your driver will just drop you off right at the jetty if you ask him.
Getting Tickets for the Ferry
When you get to the ferry you will notice that there is no clear instructions on how to get your tickets and board the ferry. I wish it were more clearly laid out because when it gets busy you have to stand in about four or five queues before you get on the boat. Below are some instructions, to help you with the crazy process.
- When you get to the ferry terminal head straight to the Bluewater Ferry tickets counter.
- Ask them for return tickets to which ever bay on Tioman Island that you are headed to – you don’t have to buy return tickets immediately – Bluewater does sell tickets on the Island back to Mersing.
- Once you have bought your tickets you need to register for the ferry at the counter to the right of you.
- After buying your ferry tickets and registering for the ferry you must go the the Marine Park Permit counter. You will need to buy one Marine Park Conservation permit per person.
- Now depending on how much time you have you need to decide if you are going to sit and wait in the official seating area straight away or if you want to explore the town / get something to eat and drink in the meanwhile.
- When you head into the official seating area you need to collect your boarding pass before you sit down / queue for the ferry.
Altogether it is a very disorganised process and it’s not difficult but it can be frustrating when you are in a rush or don’t know what you are doing.
You could easily get all of this completed at one counter but this is Malaysia and they seem to take job creation very seriously. You can the Tioman Ferry Schedule from this website.
What to do at the jetty
If you have a few hours before your ferry it is worth heading into town on foot to buy goods at the 7/11 or grab lunch at Calypso as opposed to going to the Jetty Plaza – which is a terrible looking place set up for vendors to sell their goods. The concept is good but the building is not maintained, dirty and not where you want to spend your time. Check out the Google Map above that I made above for places worth going in Mersing.
The End
That’s really all I can think of to help travellers navigate through their short time in Mersing. It’s fairly comprehensive and if you would like me to answer any questions that you might have please ask me in the comments.
Have fun on the islands!
A photo posted by Vaughan McShane (@vaughanmac_) on
Rural Malaysia. This is a typical home in our little Kampung (village) that we’ve lived in for the last year. As good as it looks, you can see why we getaway often! I’ve always been torn between big city lights and the country life. I’m super grateful for zero to no crime and violence, but we do miss the conveniences! A photo posted by Vaughan McShane (@vaughanmac_) on
Sorry I’ve been so quiet lately, but I’ve been hanging out with these guys. Good to be back 🙂 A photo posted by Vaughan McShane (@vaughanmac_) on
Even though you say theres not much to do in Mersing, you’ve captured it on camera nicely. Looks like some beautiful places around if you just go for a walk! Shame the beach is so dirty though. Mersing is sometimes a connection to Johor, no?
Thanks Lily, you’re awesome 🙂 There certainly are parts that are beautiful, but overall Mersing is really just a connection hub between the mainland and the beautiful islands. It does link up with Johor yes, but it would only make sense to go through Mersing to Johor Bahru if you are coming down from Kuantan. Also, there aren’t really taxis in Mersing to get to the nice paddy fields or Air Papan Beach so 99% of tourists will never see them 🙁
Hey Vaughan and Lauren, I’m currently planning a trip to Singapore/Malaysia, including a stop at Tioman, and your blog has just been the greatest source of information for me! Thank you for sharing all the things you know!
From what I’ve been reading, I *think* the more relaxed way might be to take the ferry from Tanjung Gemok. (Planned travel day to Tioman is Aug. 24th). Do you have any information/tips about that (i.e. ferry schedule, place to stay one night there)? Any further tips would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Barbara
Hi @barbaraluef:disqus , so happy you’ve found our information useful. That makes us happy campers 🙂 Tanjung Gemok is definitely the more relaxed way (but possibly only for locals) – we’ve never actually taken that ferry so I cannot truly give an opinion. However, we have been to the jetty and it’s really in the middle of nowhere, with no real facilities.
If you are really keen on going that route you could stay at the Seri Malaysia Hotel in Tanjung Gemok (not close the jetty) but be advised it is an awful location for a hotel die to the fish processing plants nearby (L and I stayed there once and the smell in our room woke us up at 3am.)
I don’t think it’s worth the extra effort (but I wouldn’t know.) My friend has actually just added these schedules to his site – http://tioman-scuba.com/this-months-ferry-schedule-tanjung-gemok-to-tioman/ – Perhaps contact him for more info on the jetty there as I know her used to use it.
Overall I would still recommend Mersing as the better hub for tourists. It’s the lesser of two evils but it all depends on you – if you don’t mind the lack of facilities and extra effort to get to TG, then by all means go for it. As far as I know you can buy a bus ticket to TG instead of Mersing but if you chose that route I would recommend that you try get a bus that get’s you there before the ferry leaves so that you don’t have to stay the night, because accommodation options are severely limited.
Other than that, i’m not sure what else to say. Either way once you get to Tioman you’ll have a great time. As always Salang Bay is our recommendation for the snorkelling and diving right off the beach and we usually stay at Ella’s Place (you can’t book online though) but there are plenty of other options available.
Have a great trip!
Hey Vaughan,
thanks for the fast reply, and the link to the ferry schedule! That’s very helpful.
I’ll ponder that TG/Mersing question a little more… I’m leaning towards TG cause of the more convenient time (departing at 11am vs. 6:30am from Mersing). My BF and I will arrive late the day before via taxi, so I’m a bit worried that we won’t make it in time to the Mersing ferry (we’d need to be there by 5am latest, which means getting up at 4am. Ouch. 😉
In Tioman we’ll stay in Coconut Grove on Juara beach. Can’t wait to relax there!
Thanks again, Barbara
@barbaraluef:disqus ok awesome – yeah, the schedule from MErsing has been insane this month – no one can really work out why? Enjoy Coconut Grove, we had a really special time there and if possible try head out on the SUP’s. The owner, Andy is a really nice guy. #Protip – if you can, take some sun tan oil with you. Not to actually tan with but to prevent the Sandflies from spoiling your time.
It’s difficult to tell when they are around but if they get you, you’ll be itching maniacally for days. The oil prevents them from getting in contact with your skin. Apparently low-tide is when they come out but when we stayed at Juara we didnt have any sandflies at all.
Have a wonderful time! and if you’re on social media – stay in touch!
Ciao,
V
Hi Vaughan and Lauren, I am planning to move my family to Malaysia… was thinking of Ipoh.. Have you been there? We have a 5 year old daughter who would be going into 1st grade… all of us are From America, except my husband is Chinese/Cambodian. Do you think we would have any trouble fitting in? I am a graphic designer/project manager and my husband runs his own business. I absolutely love this blog and am falling hard for Malaysia.
Thank you,
Jennifer and Lorn
Hi Jennifer, thanks for you awesome compliment! Despite trying our best, we actually never got to Ipoh but I have heard that it’s a beautiful town, similar to Malacca (where we would have moved to in a heartbeat if we could’ve.)
Sounds like an exciting time for your family! To be honest, and despite the friendships we made, Lauren and I did have a hard time fitting in in Malaysia, but this was mostly because we lived in Mersing, a TINY tiny town. Basically because we had no “family” connection we weren’t included in many things.
That said, this problem doesn’t exist in bigger towns, cities like Kuala Lumpur & Malacca, etc. I can’t speak on behalf of Ipoh because unfortunately we never got there.
Hope this helps! PS – do you have website? We might need your services 🙂
joostdesigns.com and pictographics.net
Try Langkawi. I think there’s a sizeable expat community there. Maybe Penang, but was there very long back…
Hi,
If I drive to Mersing from Kuala Lumpur is there any safe parking lot where I can leave my car for 2 days?
Thanks!
Hi Niel, yes you definitely can. There are car parks at the ferry where people leave their cars for up to a week while they enjoy the islands 🙂
Hello there, thanks a lot for the info… very precious indeed!
We’re going to Pulau Besar from Singapore this week. We were wondering whether it’d be better to take direct bus from Singapore very early in the morning or reach Mersing the night before. In this regard, do you know whether it is easy to find a Taxi that drives you from Johor to Mersing after dinner time? If so, how much you reckon it’d cost?
Thanks a lot!
Cheers,
Hi Riccardo, first of all, that’s awesome! I hope you have a great trip.
If I were you I would first call the hotel you’re staying at and check what time the boat leaves from Mersing before you decide when to arrive in Mersing. The boat that goes to Pulau Besar is not the main ferry that goes to Tioman Island. If you can get a bus from Singapore in the morning and make it to Mersing before your boat leaves – that would be the best option.
If not, then definitely try get there the night before.
I have no idea what a taxi from Johor to Mersing would cost but i’m betting it would be around RM200 or so? Not sure!
Let me know how it goes!
Dear Vaughan,
thanks for the prompt answer! I’ll surely let ya know how it goes.
By the way, we will have to wait 4/5 hours in Mersing before the bus brings us back to Singapore. We were thinking of spending this time in Air Papan Beach, hoping it is easy to reach (rhyme not intended!). Can we cab there? Or take a bus? Do you know whether there is a place where we can temporarily leave our luggage, or is it safe enough to leave them on the beach?
Thanks a lot again.
Cheers!
My pleasure Riccardo, Air Papan is pretty close (just a scenic 5 minute drive away) but i’m not sure about cab’s. We never used one in Mersing though I did spot several hanging around the bus stop. So maybe try there. As for your luggage, the beach is totally safe, but it’s also generally empty. And there aren’t many shops there. So I can’t recommend a solution in good faith. It’s a lovely long beach to walk the full length of, but i’m sure you’ll make a plan.
Thanks a lot for the feedback. It was a marvellous weekend. We did not spend much time in Mersing in the end as the ferry from Pulau Besar was delayed due to tidal condition. We did miss a bus for that, but we got to spend 4 more hours at Aseania and it was brilliant. We took the bus (The One/ 5 stars) back to Singapore at 5:30 PM (it was 30 mins late) and we got home pretty late because the driver lost 90 mins to pick up someone else north of Mersing before heading South to Singapore.It was a great weekend nonetheless.
Thanks again for the Guide. Cheers.
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed Aseania, they’ve got an awesome pool 🙂
Hi there, a real breath of fresh and a bit of the ‘way back when’, thanks for sharing tips & insights!
We plan to spend 2 nights in Mersing next week (on the way to Tioman) after our red-eye flight from Chennai to SG, forking out with My2SG taxis because stuff….. Any assist about Celcom broadband (?) & SIMs shop near Jalan Ismail, or do you think we’ll find a Hotlink in Changi at 5am? Imagine some SIM packages are generally available for non-residents, in Mersing.
Too many Rupees to be roaming 😉
Hey Isha, thanks for the kind words 🙂
Two nights might be overkill for Mersing but if you like slow travel then it’s all good.
You definitely won’t find a Hotlink at Changi airport because Singapore and Malaysia use different telecoms (sadly) so I would suggest using the Wifi while you are at Changi and then scouring Jalan Ismail, Jalan Sulaiman and Abu Bakar for Sim Cards. There is a Hotlink and Celcom store in Jalan Sulaiman (a little way down from the KFC) so maybe best start there?
Hope this helps 🙂
Oh, well we already have our Bluewater tickets – they are super helpful online – so time to enjoy small-town Malaysia (we really liked Kota Bharu 😉 …. and sleep 🙂 Yep, slow is fine.
The JS shop advertises, so we’ll have a look. Maybe you have a favorite small electrical place we’d find a travel-size power strip?
Seems we’re arriving during Ramadan (again!) – any tips about what not to expect in Mersing & Tioman? Last time the tourist spots were business as usual, but definitely not the mainland. Don’t blame them, we’re just passing through 🙂
Any thoughts?
Thanks so much !!
not sure what you mean by a power strip? – you mean a portable charger for phones? (I call that a power bank) but if so, you would be able to get one at the cellphone shop too.
Mersing is pretty miserable during Ramadan and not many of the restaurants are open but thankfully the Chinese restaurants aren’t affected and there is a decent sized Chinese population there.
Ee-lo and Mersing Seafood should serve you well (they were excellent options when we lived there, but KFC will always be open and in the evenings all the other restaurants will open too.
Where are you staying on Tioman?
Ah. Power strip as in ‘multi-socket’ thingy, we have our 3-pin adapters for Malaysia but sometimes one input socket is not enough, need an extension with 3 or so, many devices needing to be charged. The supermarket has this, maybe?
Yes, Chinese was the solution to Ramadan last time, too. And luckily we love KFC, woulda gone there in any case 🙂
For Tioman, not endorsing these sight unseen (and you stick to Mersing in your blog I think 😉 but we’ll be 3 nights at Swiss Cottage (cats & free coffee?) then hope to hop to Chilly Zaid’s, who is trying to be very helpful & nice via email. Ela’s sounds simple & best (a local expression here), no return date set so will see & go with the tides.
We are snorkelers-not-divers. Thinking to save Renggis Island (best?) for last, looking for heads’ ups about ‘the state of the coral’ (read that some steps were taken a few years back), very happy if people offer drinking water refills, that kind of thing. Every bit helps.
BTW, we live here (get lots of visitors, too): https://www.google.co.in/search?q=Auroville&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&ei=nfhLV5LfNc6L8QfI57PwDg
Hi my husband and I are heading to Mersing around 15 July this year he wants to go deep sea fishing whilst I will stay in our hotel, were Aussies on a 7 week trip thru Thailand and Malaysia, we plan to catch the bus from Singapore, having read thru your blog I see Mersing is really only a stopping point for the islands, can you recommend 1 over the other or should we do a couple of days on a few? We have about 8 days to play with before making our way to Cherating, can you give us a list of your favourite islands and places to stay we both love to snorkel.
Hey guys, yip – that’s a pretty much it. The islands are where you want to be, and if you’ve just got a few days then I recommend Tioman Island. There are several bays and plenty of accommodation offerings in each. Our personal favourites were Salang Bay for the snorkelling and diving, Juara bay for the peace and solitude (but not good for snorkelling or diving really, ) and Tekek is the main village with shops. However, for the best “walk off the beach snorkelling” check out Salang Bay. I’m not sure what your accommodation standards are like but Salang is a little rustic but there are a few places with decent digs – the double room on the beach at Ella’s Place was our favourite. Again, in Salang. Check out this article for more on Salang > https://thetravelmanuel.com/scuba-diving-on-tioman-part-2/
Hello, great page.
How is the weather in December?Are there any chances of boat routes cancellation cause of the weather? I don’t want to miss my return flight from singapore.
Hi Mixalis, the weather in December is not good at all. The ferry is unreliable during monsoon and many of the hotels close on the island.
It will definitely be a risk.
Hey Vaughan, nice blog.
I guess I’ve landed on the right blog to get some travel destination for my itinerary. I’m travelling to Malaysia in October mid, planning to spend a day or two in Malaysia before I head for tioman . Would you be knowing what sightseeing can be done between the international airport and Mersing. I’m interested in national park , waterfall , shopping . I’ve seen a Rompin national park on the map, can one stay with a kid out there.
Hi Vaughan,
Thanks so much for this post. I’m planning a trip to Malaysia, and this was really helpful. I’m also trying to figure out how to get from Mersing to Taman Negara,( as that’s the next stop after Tioman Island!) then Taman Negara to Langkawi Island! as that’s the next stop after Tioman Island! Please share if you can!
Hey Shanye, thanks for that. I reckon you can just bus it. Buses in Malaysia are cheap and pretty comfortable. There is a bus station in Mersing where you can grab a ticket.
Hi there, we are going to Mersing and than to Tioman tommorrow. What about beer&alcohol there. What about prices? Is it possible travel between resorts (Tioman) through the island now? Thx for your answers…
Hi Jebediah, Tioman Island is officially duty free so alcohol costs a lot cheaper than the mainland 🙂 There should be places that sell alcohol in every bay. It’s monsoon on Tioman right now and the weather is unpredictable. If the weather is good then you just ask water taxi to take you between the bays and the resorts. If the weather is bad, then I am not sure. But it should be ok. Good luck and have fun!
Hi Vaughn – Thanks for this guide. Do you happen to know any reliable taxi firms that could whisk two people from Mersing to Johor Bahru?
Hi Russell, unfortunately I can’t recommend anyone because I havent lived there for a year.
you can always take a bus from mersing bus station straight to JB
Hello Vaughn, thank you so much for this lovely review of Mersing. My friends and I are planning to head over to Mersing next weekend and I thought if it is possible for us to stay at a kampung house, like what you did.
Thank you Iqbal. Which Kampung house are you referring to?
you can find so called homestay.
Hi Vaughan
Thanks for all the information you’ve posted here. I was wondering whether you might be able to help me with some advice. I’ll be coming with my wife and two year old to Tioman via Mersing in August. We’ll be coming from Malacca to Mersing by bus and in theory we will have two of three days to kill before we are booked in Tioman. I understand from what you have written that there isn’t much to do in Mersing (although we don’t mind taking things slowly). However, are there any day trips you can take by bus or taxi or even any interesting places to stay a night or two near Mersing? I’ve seen that there is a national park near the town (Gunung Arong). Is is the sort of place you can visit for a day with a child or even a place that has accomodation you can stay overnight in to do a bit of walking in the forest?
Thanks in advance for any advice you might be able to give.
Dan
Hi Dan, sorry to say but I don’t actually know of any places like that. I never went to Gunung Arong, and as such am not really of much help. Sorry mate but have a great trip! Though I do feel that three days in Mersing is wasted. Better to be on tioman as soon as possible
OK, thanks anyway!
U need to take tour guide for hiking gunung arong and register with Forestry Department because it was permanent reserved forest. It’s does not have clear trekking way like pavement or cement. It’s very natural jungle. U can see view of sea when reached the summit. It’s really gorgeous because most of the mountain in Malaysia far from the seaside. You can ask any question Hiking and Camping Around Malaysia group in FB. Most of the time got someone will answer.
Hey, Vaughan. I’m not sure if anyone has notified you yet. In this part:
“If you’ve just arrived in Malaysia and you are heading to Tioman straight from the airport (KLIA or KLIA2) then you will need to take a shuttle bus / taxi to the TCS Bus Station (which is brand new and looks more like an airport than a bus station) and catch a connecting bus from there to Mersing.”
Did you mean TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) Bus Station? Probably a typo there? Also worth noting that one can always take an ERL train from KLIA/klia2 straight to TBS.
Also, may i add. Coming from Singapore, although closer, it may cost more.
Thanks for a wonderful write up. I’m always fond of this charming little town. Love going to the morning fish market by the jetty.
Hi Vaughan,
We’re considering taking a taxi or car form KLIA 2 to
Mersing (lousy arrival time for a bus, it would take us more then 10
hours to get to Mersing). Any tips on a company from Mersing that could
pick us up?
Hi Hans, unfortunately I can almost guarantee that there is no company in Mersing providing that service – or at least none that I know of. Maybe a bus / taxi to Johor Bahru and then another taxi to Mersing? It’s not a straight route but may be faster. Hope it helps.
Thanks Vaughan,
I’ve done some more research and found these two willing to do the trip:
http://www.taxiexora.com/index.php from KL and https://taxi-mersing.blogspot.nl/ from Mersing who are both willing to do the trip. The former is a bit cheaper than the latter; 600 MYR against 650 MYR.
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing here. Have a wonderful trip 🙂
Hi Vaughan, thank you so much for putting up such an informative blog for the public! However, i’m just wondering do you by any chance know if there’s any bus from mersing to larkin beside the 6.30pm plusliner bus? So I’m leaving tioman at 4.30pm to catch a 10pm bus in larkin, but the only mersing-larkin bus available booking online is 6.30pm which I’m afraid i couldn’t make it on time. Is there any bus that available just that they are not show online?
HI Vaughn! Nice post, really plenty of useful information.
I will be in Mersing and whas thinking to stop one night there in order to be able to buy a SIM Card to have internet in Tioman Island.
Do you know if there is any shop where I can buy a Data Sim Card in Mersing?
Thanks a lot, Anna
Hi Vaughan, we will be going to Pulau Besar next month, however, we plan to spend a night in Mersing before departing to the island next day. Can you kindly recommend which hotel (around +-RM100) to stay in Mersing? Our preference is near the jetty and plenty of restaurants around, perhaps town centre. How about Mersing Hotel recommended by wikitravel?
Thak you in advance.