Looking for a fun day trip or longer stay by nice beaches close to Singapore or Johor Bahru? The Desaru Coast could be just what you are looking for!
The Desaru Coast is a 22 kilometre stretch of beautiful coastline at the southern end of the east coast of Malaysia facing the South China Sea. Recently, many top resorts have opened here including the Westin, Lotus Desaru Beach Resort and the Hard Rock Hotel. In addition to fabulous beaches, there is also a golf course, a huge water park and many other attractions and activities for tourists.
Despite the big name resorts and great beaches and attractions, the Desaru coast area is still relatively low key and has an untouched feel.
The best part is that getting to Desaru from Singapore is easy and relatively fast – you should be there in less than two hours making this a perfect weekend trip, day trip or longer stay when you want some beach time, some different attractions or just want to stay in a great resort for cheaper than you’ll find in Singapore.
Although travel from Singapore to Desaru is relatively fast and easy, working out how can be tricky. As Desaru is an up and coming destination, there is not so much information about it online. To fix this, below I have detailed exactly how to travel to Desaru from Singapore and given you all four options so you can pick the one that best fits your needs and budget.
This means whether you prefer to take the Singapore to Desaru ferry, a bus from Singapore to Desaru, you want a 1 day Desaru tour from Singapore or you’d simply like to drive to Desaru from Singapore or take a taxi, full details are below!
If you aren’t sure what you’d prefer then I’ll help you chose how to get to Desaru Malaysia from Singapore below as well!
So let’s start!
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How To Go From Singapore To Desaru Coast, Malaysia
The quickest and easiest way to go between Singapore and Desaru Coast is by taxi. This can be the cheapest option for groups of two or more as well. For a more cost effective option, my recommendation is to take the direct bus if you can travel on a Friday. More details on all options below!
The fastest driving route is pictured below. This also shows you where the Desaru Coast is located in relation to Singapore.
What Is The Distance From Singapore To Desaru?
By road, going to Desaru from Singapore is about 100 kilometres. It takes just under two hours to drive but this does depend on where you are coming from in Singapore and how busy the border area is.
It’s also possible to take a ferry from Singapore to Desaru which is less distance and usually faster than other forms of public transport. More below!
Want the Easiest (and BEST) Way to travel between Singapore and Desaru?
We can book a taxi for you from anywhere in Singapore to anywhere in Desaru for a great price.
A taxi is the best way to cross the border as you don’t have to leave the air-conditioned comfort of your vehicle.
Remember when comparing the following options that the ferry and bus are per person prices. If you are more than one person, these can add up to more than the cost of a private taxi. The cost of a taxi is for up to six people.
Option 1: Taking The Ferry From Singapore To Desaru
The Desaru to Singapore ferry is one of the fastest way to get between the two locations on public transport. Check out our detailed guide on catching the ferry to Desaru here.
The Desaru ferry to Singapore leaves from the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and takes about 90 minutes to get to the Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal.
The Singapore to Desaru ferry schedule is a daily ferry leaving Singapore at 8:30am which returns at 5:30pm. You can see the current schedule for the ferry service from Singapore to Desaru here.
The current price for a ferry ticket from Singapore to Desaru is SG$70 each way.
Click here to see the latest prices for a ferry ticket to Desaru from Singapore.
The biggest downside of the ferry is that you need to get to the ferry terminal in Singapore and it is quite expensive. For a few people, a private taxi is cheaper. You also have to pay extra if you have more than 10kg of luggage.
By the time you factor in extra charges for getting to and from the terminals and any luggage, a private taxi is usually cheaper for two people as well.
Time – 2.75 hours
Cost – SG$70+* per person
*This depends where you are coming from in Singapore and does not include taxis or public transport to get to and from either ferry terminal. You should also arrive at the terminal at least 15 minutes early which is included, but this assumes only 30 minutes travel time to get to terminals. It is for one person.
The Hard Rock Hotel, the Westin and some other hotels in Desaru do have a free shuttle bus between the Desaru ferry terminal and their hotels.
Note: There is currently no car ferry from Singapore to Desaru.
Option 2: Taking The Singapore To Desaru Bus
There are several options for travelling from Singapore to Desaru by coach.
The best way is to book this coach bus from Singapore to Desaru that will take you directly between the two destinations.
It takes about 2.5 hours and departs at 9am on Fridays. So this only works if you want to depart then.
At the time of publishing, it costs SG$25 and has a convenient drop off point close to the Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark.
This private coach from Singapore to Desaru is my recommended way to go between these places if you don’t have a car or don’t want to pay for a taxi – but only if the timetable works for you. Hopefully, it will go back to being daily soon like it was before the pandemic.
Click here for the latest schedule – hopefully, it’s running more often again!
Again, if there is a group of you and if you have to travel to and from bus pick-up and drop-off points, a private taxi may be cheaper. It’s coming up!
Time – 2.5 hours
Cost – SG$25 per person
For cost savings, it’s possible to take a longer but possibly cheaper Singapore Desaru bus option. This involves catching two buses – one from Singapore to Larkin Bus Terminal then a second bus to Bandar Penawar via Kota Tinggit and finally a taxi to Desaru Coast. I don’t recommend this due to how long it can take, but it is possible. It also may not save you money if you are travelling alone by the time you pay for the taxi at the end.
For the first bus, take any bus to Larkin across the freeway. You can find Causeway Link bus details here. A bus from Queen Street Bus Mall costs SG$4.80 and takes about 1.5 hours but the time varies depending on the time of day and whether it’s a peak time or not so it could take a lot longer.
For the second bus, you take a Mara Liner to Bandar Penawar. This only runs a few times a day and currently costs SG$3.16. It takes about 1.5 hours. Latest timetables and prices are here.
There used to be a minibus on to the Desaru Coast resort area. However, this no longer runs so at this point, you need to take a taxi or order a Grab taxi. Expect this to cost around SG$9
Time – 3.5 hours+
Cost – SG$17 per person
*The time taken will probably be much longer – I have only included minimal wait times and assumed that the bus across the border is fast. Realistically, it will take longer especially if you don’t arrive at Larkin at a good time to catch one of the limited onwards buses.
Option 3: Taking A Desaru Tour From Singapore
If you are after a Singapore to Desaru package or a day trip to Desaru from Singapore, I recommend you hire a private taxi for the day.
This costs around SG$280 for eight hours and can pick you up and drop you off wherever you want both in Singapore and around the Desaru coast.
Click here to book it now – write in the comments that you require day hire and for how many hours you want it.
This is how we travelled to Desaru on our most recent trip and we were able to visit Teluk Sengat Crocodile Farm, Desaru Ostrich Farm and Desaru Fruit Farm on the way.
If you are planning on visiting the Desaru Adventure Waterpark on your trip, you can find discount tickets here.
Option 4: Transport From Singapore To Desaru By Car/Taxi
The quickest and easiest option is to drive in your own car or to get a taxi between the two places. If you have your own car, this can be economical. In a taxi, it’s going to cost more.
The Singapore to Desaru drive is pictured above in the map. It takes only about 1.75 hours if you are lucky with the border crossing time, but it does depend on where you are coming from in Singapore.
To book a taxi/private transfer, you can book through your resort. The Hard Rock Hotel Desaru currently charges SG$170 for this.
A better and easier way is to book online with our Singapore taxi booking service. It is just SG$160 from anywhere in Singapore to anywhere in Desaru. This is for up to five passengers, and we have other options for six or seven passengers.
This is how we travelled from Desaru back to Singapore on our most recent trip. So easy!
Time – 1.75 hours
Cost – SG$160 for up to six people
* The cost will be a lot lower if you take your own car.
Travelling From Desaru To Singapore
For the reverse journey from Desaru to Singapore, all the above methods are still valid. You just need to reverse the instructions. The only cost difference is the causeway bus from Larkin to Singapore which is cheaper.
To book the Desaru to Singapore ferry click here.
Final Words
The Desaru Coast is a fun place to visit and getting between Singapore and Desaru does not need to be hard. You just need to pick your preferred choice of the options above.
I recommend a private taxi between the two places. Consider booking the taxi for the day to visit some attractions on your way to or from Desaru as well.
If you are travelling alone then the ferry can be a good choice or if you are available on Friday morning to bus out then the bus can work too.
Click here to book your taxi online now.
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Hope you found this guide helpful. Be sure to check out our guide on things to do in Desaru as well as our guide to the best hotels here. Find all our Desaru guides here.
Any questions? Ask them in our Malaysia Planning Facebook group! Thinking about visiting Johor Bahru on your trip as well? Find all our Johor Bahru guides here.