We have discussed in detail ferry ride to Tioman Island as one of the ways to get to the island. You can take a ferry to Tioman Island from Mersing or Tanjung Gemuk. We will discuss in details how you can go to the Mersing first.
How to get to Mersing
There are plenty of ways a tourist can go to Mersing. The most favorable and affordable way to get to Mersing is by bus. Buses are readily available to take tourists to Mersing from Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Singapore, and from there Tioman Island is just a ferry ride away. You can also take a taxi or private cars to get to Mersing.
Melaka to Mersing
The S&S international bus service from central bus station (Melaka Sentral) is the one you can catch from Melaka. The bus tickets can be booked online for Mersing as well. The bus ride from Melaka to Mersing is about four and a half hours with bus depart in the morning, afternoon and evening. The buses to Mersing from Malacca leave thrice a day.
To read more about the historical city of Melaka, you can check out this handy Melaka Travel Guide.
Kuala Lumpur to Mersing
If you are planning a trip from Kuala Lumpur then the time enhances to about 5 to 6 hours, depending upon the speed and rush on the way. S&S international from TBS is the way to go. The departure of the bus is usually at 10:30 pm, so be sure to have your tickets ready in advance. You can also book your bus ticket online by clicking here.
Related Article: How to get to Tioman Island from Kuala Lumpur
Singapore to Mersing (via Johor Bahru)
Most people take buses from Singapore to Mersing which is an affordable option as well. The Queen street bus terminal is the one to catch a bus to Larkin Terminal that is at Johor Bahru. You can probably get to Larkin in about an hour (depending on the immigration time as you will exit from Singapore and enter into Malaysia), but from the Larkin terminal in Johor Bahru to Mersing only a limited number of buses depart. The buses usually depart at 8:30 am, 9 am, 10 am,11:30 am & 2:30 am. You can also book your bus ticket online & get an instant confirmation of your trip.
The best way is to reach to Larkin terminal early in the morning to catch a first bus to Mersing.
Related Article: Bus from Johor Bahru to Mersing
Singapore to Mersing
You can also take a direct bus to Mersing from Singapore. The Lavender Bus Terminal is a departure point of buses going to Mersing. The price is a bit high, but it will save you from the hassle of traveling to Johor Bahru first and then changing another bus to Mersing. The first bus usually departs early morning around 9am, so it is better if the tickets are booked in advance. You can also book your bus ticket online. Then you can catch a ferry ride from Mersing to Tioman Island.
For more information about Singapore, you can check out this handy Singapore Travel Guide.
Taxi Ride
Taxi rides are another great way to get to Mersing and then catch a ferry ride to Tioman Island from there. Taxi rides are easily available from Johor Bahru, Melaka and other towns in Malaysia. A cab ride will usually cost somewhere around RM 150 to RM 250 (Malaysian Ringgit) depending on the timings you catch it and off course the driver.
It is highly recommended to start your journey early in the morning in order to reach Mersing by the afternoon. It is certainly a bad idea to start your journey to Mersing in the evening as there are no ferry services, that goes to Tioman from Mersing at night, so you have to accommodate yourself in one of the hotels in Mersing.
