Want to visit a tropical paradise and wondering how to go to Tioman Island from KL? We can help!
While it’s not far from Kuala Lumpur to Pulau Tioman, this journey can seem complicated – at least until you take it step-by-step. It’s actually quite straightforward with many people taking this trip every day.
And it’s very worthwhile. Tioman Island is great!
Below, I break down exactly how to get to Tioman from KL so you know exactly what you need to do and when.
This guide will help you whether you are looking for a Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island bus or a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman (which are running again). After reading this guide, you will be in paradise before you know it!
To get the most out of this guide, it is recommended that you read through all the different options for how to go to Pulau Tioman first and then select the option which is best for you. You can even book your bus to Tioman or ferry via the links below and then all you’ll need to do is to get ready to be relaxing on the beach soon!
Coming from elsewhere? Find our full guide for how to get to Tioman Island from anywhere here.
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Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired.
Contents
How To Get From Kuala Lumpur To Tioman Island [2024]
There are a few different ways to get from KL to Tioman.
Your first choice is to decide whether to go overland or to take one of the flights from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island. These flights have recently started and are the quickest, but priciest, way to get there.
If you decide to go overland, there are really only two ways to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island – either via Tanjung Gemok or Mersing. We have detailed each journey below and show them on a map. Both require an overland trip by car or bus to Tioman from KL and then a ferry ride.
I recommend travelling via Tanjung Gemok as the ferries are much more likely to run on time which can save a lot of waiting around. But whichever way you end up getting to Tioman Island from Kuala Lumpur, you will soon be relaxing on the beach!
| Overland | Ferry | Best For… | |
| Option 1 | Bus Kuala Lumpur to Mersing – Book here. About 5.5 hours Taxi Kuala Lumpur to Mersing – Book here. About 4.75 hours | Mersing to Tioman – Book here. About 1.5-2 hours | People who want the fastest and cheapest way |
| Option 2 | Bus Kuala Lumpur to Tanjung Gemok – Book here. About 5.5 hours Taxi Kuala Lumpur to Tanjung Gemok – Book here. About 4.75 hours | Tanjung Gemok to Tioman – Book here. About 1.5-2 hours | People who like certainty with the ferry schedule |
| Option 3 | Fly Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island direct | Find flight options here. About 1.5 hours. | People who like to go the fastest way |
Map: KL To Tioman Island
The following map shows the route to take from KL to Mersing Jetty by car OR from KL to Tanjung Gemok. Both will be described more below.
The Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island distance is 305 kilometres to Tanjung Gemok and a 4.75 hour drive. The distance from KL to Tioman Island via Mersing is a drive of 356 kilometres and about 4.75 hours as well.
In both cases, you still need to take a ferry across to Tioman Island.
Option 1: Travel Via Mersing
This first option describes exactly how to go Tioman Island from KL via Mersing Jetty. It covers both KL to Mersing by car as well as by bus. It then details how to get to Pulau Tioman by ferry from Mersing Jetty.
Part 1: Bus Or Car From Kuala Lumpur To Mersing Jetty
With this option, you need to drive, hire a taxi or take a bus from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing Jetty. There is a bus (Kuala Lumpur – Mersing) which takes the route directly so it is not overly complicated to choose a KL to Mersing bus for your Tioman adventure.
The Kuala Lumpur to Mersing distance is 356 kilometres. Note, there is no KL to Mersing by train option. If you are travelling by public transport, you’ll need to take a bus.
The bus from KL to Mersing Jetty takes about 5.5 hours and there are some early morning departures so you will be able to get a morning ferry across to Tioman Island.
You can find the latest bus schedules and ticket prices here.
If you drive from KL to Mersing jetty, there is safe parking available at Mersing Harbour Centre opposite the jetty where you need to go to get your boarding pass anyway.
Even easier is that you can take a private taxi from the airport or your hotel in KL right to the jetty. It’s also very affordable. Click here to find out the price and book now.
When planning on how to get to Mersing jetty from KL, make sure you plan to get to Mersing Jetty 1-2 hours before your scheduled ferry.
Part 2: Mersing Jetty To Tioman Island
Once you have made it to Mersing Jetty, the next step for how to get to Tioman Island from Kuala Lumpur is to take a ferry.
Ferry timetables vary depending on the weather and tidal conditions so there is no set timetable and, instead, it varies daily. The timetable for a new month is released in the middle of the previous month. For example, this means if you want the timetable for July, it will be released around June 15.
I recommend you book your ferry as soon as tickets are released (the same time as the timetable) because they can sell out especially around weekends.
The weather and tidal conditions mean that timetables can change at the last minute, and I recommend checking your ferry departure time either the day before or on the morning of your journey.
There are usually a few ferries a day except in the monsoon season when there is usually just one. They take 1.5 -2 hours depending on where you are getting off on Tioman as they make multiple stops along the west coast.
You can book tickets online and see the latest prices and schedules here.
Before you hop on your ferry, you need to get your boarding pass and pay the entry fee for the Marine Park (currently RM30 adults/RM15 kids – cheaper for Malaysians).
There are a few steps to this process and you can read the full details of getting the ferry from Mersing to Tioman Island here. In this article, I’ve included photos and instructions for every step.
Option 2: Travel Via Tanjung Gemok – BEST OVERLAND OPTION
The other option of how to go Tioman from KL is what I consider to be the best overland option (flying is still easier).
Below I detail how to get to Tioman Island from KL via Tanjung Gemok. It covers both driving and taking the bus from KL to Tioman. It then describes how to reach Tioman Island by ferry from Tanjung Gemok.
Part 1: Kuala Lumpur To Tanjung Gemok
For this option, you’ll first need to drive, take a taxi or a KL to Tioman bus to Tanjung Gemok. There is a direct bus from KL to Tanjung Gemok so this is straightforward.
The bus takes closer to 5.5 hours depending on the time of day you leave and, like the Mersing bus, many leave very early in the morning so you can catch a morning ferry.
You can find the latest timetables and prices for the bus from Kuala Lumpur to Tanjung Gemok here.
If you go KL to Tioman by car, there is a fenced car park at the terminal building where you can leave your car.
It’s super easy to book a taxi here from KL (or back again) and it’s quite affordable. Click here to find out the prices and book.
No matter how you travel to Pulau Tioman from KL, be sure to arrive at the terminal one hour early.
Part 2: Tanjung Gemok To Tioman Island
Once you have made it to the Tanjung Gemok Jetty, the next step for how to get from KL to Pulau Tioman is to take a ferry.
Ferry timetables vary daily depending on the weather and tidal conditions. However, it is nowhere near as variable as from Mersing and ferries are less likely to be delayed or cancelled.
As with Mersing, the timetable for a new month is released in the middle of the previous month.
I recommend you book your ferry as soon as tickets are released (at the same time as the timetable) because they can sell out especially around weekends. You can buy a ticket once you get to Tanjung Gemok but you run the risk of not getting on a boat – which would be frustrating after the journey there.
There are usually a few ferries a day except in the monsoon season when there is only one. When you travel to Tioman Island, the journey is also about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on where you are getting off.
You can book tickets online and see the latest prices and schedules here.
Before you hop on your ferry, you do need to get your boarding pass and pay the entry fee to the Marine Park. The fee is the same as from Mersing.
It all feels much more straightforward and easier from Tanjung Gemok compared to Mersing which is the main reason this is my recommended option of how to go Pulau Tioman from KL. The building is much smaller – and there is only one building! Everything is more streamlined and the departure times aren’t dependent on tidal conditions.
Option 3: Kuala Lumpur To Tioman Island Flight
SKS Airways recently started to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island. So if you want a flight to Tioman Island from Kuala Lumpur, you are in luck.
They fly from Subang Airport. Timetables depend on the day, but you can usually find a KL to Tioman flight in the morning and around the middle of the day outside of the monsoon season.
You can find schedules and prices here.
This is really your only option for flying as there is no Kuala Lumpur to Mersing flight.
It takes about an hour and a half and can be much more convenient. Just remember that on arrival, there are very few roads on Tioman so depending on where you are staying, you may still need to take a boat to your accommodation.
The Airport is in Tekek near the jetty, so this is not so hard, but it is another step. There are roads from Tekek to the Berjaya Tioman Resort and to Juara, so staying in these places can be more convenient if you fly.
Want the Easiest Way to travel between Kuala Lumpur and Tioman?
We can book a taxi for you from anywhere in Kuala Lumpur direct to the ferry to Tioman Island for a great price.
You can pick your own departure time, relax and know everything will go to plan.
Tioman To Kuala Lumpur
When making the journey in reverse, you simply need to do everything listed above in reverse.
I recommend you always book return tickets to Tioman Island as you don’t want to get stuck with no way of returning. The ferries all stop at the same places on Tioman as they did on your arrival and you can get on at any of these points where you have a ticket – although note that our ferry back to Tanjung Gemok did not stop at all stops. I’m guessing if there are no bookings for a stop, it doesn’t stop.
There is a ticketing desk at the entrance to the jetty at Tekek. I also needed to get my ticket validated at this desk when leaving from this stop and tickets were checked once on the boat as well. It is possible to buy a ticket on the boat when there is space – but like I said – the ferry didn’t stop at all stops, so best to book in advance to secure your spot.
Ferries can get delayed coming off Tioman especially to Mersing or in the monsoon season so be careful about booking a Mersing to KL bus shortly after the time you should be back in Mersing.
You can click here for timetables and prices for buses from Mersing to Kuala Lumpur or here for buses from Tanjung Gemok.
Even easier is to book a taxi to take your back to KL. Click here for details.
Just like when travelling from KL to Tioman Island by bus, I recommend you travel via Tanjung Gemok to make things easier.
Of course, you can also fly from Tioman to Kuala Lumpur Subang Airport on SKS Airways. This is usually the quickest option. You can find schedules here.
Want To Dive When You Get There?
Check out our fabulous diving experiences in Tioman.
If you are already a certified diver, find our leisure diving package here.
If you want to learn to dive, here’s our top experience to teach you.
Final Words
It is straightforward, albeit time consuming, to travel overland from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island, but it is possible to arrive on the island on the same day ready to eat lunch!
Besides which, the second you see Tioman Island in the distance from the ferry, you will know it was all worth it!
Whether you travel via Mersing or Tanjung Gemok, it is easy. I recommend Tanjung Gemok over Mersing simply because the ferries are more likely to run on time.
Of course, you also fly from KL to Tioman which is even easier. It just depends on your budget and resort location whether this is the best option for you.
Looking for the ultimate Malaysia Itinerary Planner for your trip? Click here to get it now!
Want more details for how to get to Tioman Island? Read our full guide here. You can also find all our guides to Tioman Island here.
Planning a trip to Malaysia? Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!
Want An Amazing Diving Experience In Tioman Island?
Join one of our multi-day Tioman Island Experiences!
You won’t just get to dive every day (or learn how to dive), but you’ll also get great accommodation and breakfast included.
If you can already dive, click here for prices and online booking.
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