A perfect holiday getaway.
The swaying palms, heavenly beach and island breezes of Rawa are within four hours from Singapore and less than 45 minutes from Mersing on the mainland of peninsular Malaysia.
The crown jewel of the Seribuat Archipelago, Rawa is a private island, fittingly owned by family of the Sultanate of Johor. It is a popular weekend destination, particularly for expatriates residing in Singapore.
Getting There
Hotels & Resorts
Photo Gallery
Getting there
Speedboats and ferries to Rawa
All boats and ferries depart from Mersing.
When booking your stay on Rawa, a speedboat transfer between Mersing and Rawa can be included in your package. The departure time is dependent on availability of boats, tidal conditions and the size of your group and cost about RM 35-45.
Alternatively, ferry services between Mersing and Tioman Island can make a stop at Rawa on your request. Tickets cost RM 45 each way and ferries leave every one to two hours between 09:30 and 17:30.
Getting to Mersing
At the Mersing’s ferry terminal are located restaurants and convenience stores for any last minute needs and pangs of hunger. In town, about 15-20 minutes’ walk from the jetty, there are banks, ATMs, internet cafes, supermarkets, shops and hotels (in case you need to spend the night in Mersing).
Rawa Safari Resort has an office in Mersing, close to the ferry terminal.
There is a secure car park that charges around RM8 per day.
Fly
The closest airports to Mersing and Rawa Island are the Senai airport in Johor Bahru and Changi airport in Singapore.
Take a bus
From Johor Bahru (Larkin Bus terminal) take the Causeway Link, Transnational or S&S Express bus to Mersing (2.5-3 hours; around RM 10 each way): An alternative is to take the local bus between Johor Bahru and Kota Tinggi and then transfer to the local bus between Kota Tinggi and Mersing.
From Singapore (Lavender St. Terminal) take the Transnational bus to Mersing (3 to 4 hours). Tickets cost around RM 12 (if bought in Malaysia) / SGD 27 (if bought in Singapore) each way.
From Kuala Lumpur take the Transnational bus to Mersing (5 hours). Tickets cost around RM 23.
From elsewhere in Malaysia: Transnational, S&S Internasional and other bus companies that serve destinations along the east coast (Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Kota Bahru etc.) mostly stop at Mersing as well. S&S Internasional also has a service from Melaka.
In Mersing buses arrive and leave from the bus station close to the ferry terminal (Plaza R&R) or from the new station in the centre (about 15 minutes walk to the ferry terminal).
Take a taxi
From the Johor Bahru Larkin bus station, you can charter a taxi to Mersing. The cost is around RM 100 and the journey takes around 2 hours. To get to Larkin from Singapore, take a shared taxi from the Queen St. bus terminal (S$ 10 per person).
You can also charter taxis from Tanjung Leman (1 hour, RM 70-100) and Kota Tinggi (1 hour, RM 70-100).
Drive
From Singapore cross the border to Johor Bahru and Malaysia at the Causeway and continue down Jalan Wong Ah Fook. Keep an eye open for the left-hand side exit and flyover to Kota Tinggi. Continue east on the Tebrau highway and follow the signs to Kota Tinggi. From Kota Tinggi, the way north to Mersing is clearly signposted on Route 3. The journey should take around 3 hours.
From Kuala Lumpur the most common option is via the PLUS highway (E2) to the south, exiting at Segamat and continuing through east on Route 50 through Kluang to Mersing. Alternatively, take the East Coast Highway (E8) from KL to Kuantan and Route No 3 southwards through Pekan and Rompin to Mersing.
Top
The centre point of Rawa Safaris is the comfortable bar and restaurant. It is located exactly in front of the jetty and welcomes everyone arriving at the island. An extensive buffet, with a variety of typical Malaysian and Western dishes is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every Saturday the resort organizes a great BBQ night on the beach.
The resort offers an ample variety of activities around the island to spend your free time, like karaoke, table tennis, beach volleyball or windsurfing. Each chalet includes air conditioning and an attached bathroom with a hot shower. You can access the Internet on the resort’s computers or through WiFi on your own laptop in the restaurant area.