Rawa

Pulau Rawa, or Rawa Island as it's also known, is a sun-kissed little outcropping more or less equidistant from Mersing and Tioman. To visit Rawa, travelers need to book a speedboat either at one of the Rawa resorts of from any of the speedboat providers in Mersing.

In a way, Rawa is like a mini version of Tioman. The main difference is that Rawa belongs to the province of Johor, whilst Tioman is part of Pahang.

The other difference between the two islands is that Rawa only offers one breathtaking "Survivor" beach peppered by coconut trees and just a couple of resorts, whereas Tioman features countless such beaches and a much greater variety of hotels and resorts.

That being said, for that idyllic Robinson Crusoe feel, Rawa, too, will do very nicely.

Like it's bigger sibling, Tioman, Rawa's forte is its fortuitous location, amid a spectacular azure-colored sea that's blessed with a considerable expanse of multi-colored coral and an abundance of marine life.

Given this natural richness, Rawa is renown for its excellent swimming, snorkeling and scubadiving. But those of the more laid-back persuasion will find plenty of shade-dappled sea front to recline in as well.

If you like the sea but prefer to stay dry, then you can rent little canoes or kayaks to explore the island from the perspective of the surrounding waters. Alternatively, you can hike around the island and enjoy the panoramic view once you get to the cliffs opposite Rawa's beach side. Don't gorget your camera.

Other activities to do in and around Rawa include fishing, windsurfing, beach volleyball, or just basking in the supreme sense of bliss that Rawa evokes.

Rawa offers two accommodations, Rawa Safaris Resort and Alang's Rawa. Both require booking in advance, as the number of rooms are obviously limited.

Keep in mind also, that, given that all food and drink, everything really, needs to be brought in by vessel, prices tend to be a few notches above those on the mainland. Still, that being said, both lodgings are considered value for money, particularly in view of their..... well, view :)

Getting to Rawa

In order to visit Rawa, you need to get to Mersing first. Mersing is the gateway to Rawa. A number of bus outfits go to Mersing from Singapore and from most towns in Malaysia too. You can book your bus tickets by visiting one of the bus operators' actual offices, or, alternatively and perhaps more conveniently, by booking online using below direct bus ticket booking form.




As most buses go to Mersing just once daily, we recommend securing your bus tickets before the bus is fully booked.

NOTE: Peak season is !

Prefer going to Mersing by private vehicle? Click here to see the pricing.