Johor Bahru Beaches and Islands: Desaru, the Mersing Islands and Tioman
Johor Bahru beaches and islands need some travel. The city itself faces the narrow Johor Strait, with Singapore on the other side, and has no swimming beach. Johor Bahru (JB) is still the gateway to Johor's east coast, where Desaru faces the South China Sea and the islands of the Sultan Iskandar Marine Park lie off Mersing. This guide covers 6 places checked for October 2026: three beaches and three islands.
Timing matters. The east coast is highly seasonal: the Northeast Monsoon brings rain, high waves and fewer boats from about November to February, and the islands are at their best from March to October. At the end of October 2026 the monsoon season is starting, so check boats and sea conditions before you travel. For parks and mangroves, see Johor Bahru nature and outdoors.
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At a glance
In Johor Bahru City
The only beach in the city is a short strip on the strait, east of the Causeway.
Stulang Beach
Stulang Beach (Pantai Stulang) is a small stretch of sand below the seawall at Stulang Laut, facing the Johor Strait and Singapore's northern shore. Locals come in the evening for the sea breeze, and there are food stalls and restaurants within walking distance along the waterfront.
Treat it as a promenade, not a swimming beach: the strait is narrow, busy with boats and right next to the city. Come around sunset, then eat nearby. The Stulang Laut ferry terminal, for boats to Batam and Bintan in Indonesia, is a short walk along the shore.
Desaru Beach on the East Coast
Desaru is about 1 to 1.5 hours east of the city by car on the SenaiโDesaru Expressway, close enough for a long day trip.
Desaru Beach
Desaru's beach runs for about 22 km along the South China Sea, lined with casuarina trees and, at Desaru Coast, by resorts including Anantara, The Westin, Hard Rock Hotel and Mandarin Oriental. Day-trippers mostly use the public beach (Pantai Desaru) near Bandar Penawar, which has a car park (about RM8 for cars, as listed in 2025), a few barbecue pits and basic toilets.
It is the closest proper sea beach to JB, but expect greyish sand and often cloudy water rather than the clear blue of the islands. The sea is calmest from April to October; from November to February monsoon waves make swimming risky, although surfers come for them. Swim only in calm conditions and near other people. For a quieter stretch, Tanjung Balau beach is about 10 km up the coast.
Mersing: Air Papan Beach and the Islands
Mersing town is about 2.5 hours' drive north-east of JB. Boats to Pulau Rawa, the other northern islands and Tioman leave from the Mersing jetty; boats to Pulau Sibu leave from Tanjung Leman, just over an hour south of Mersing. Each island resort runs its own boats, so book your room and transfer together.
Air Papan Beach
Air Papan is a 3 km beach set between low hills north of Mersing, backed by a Malay fishing village, a mosque and a few chalets and resorts. Every 1 May the village holds the Pesta Air Papan festival, with cultural shows, games and food.
It works as a stop on the way to the Mersing jetty or for a quiet night by the sea, not as a resort beach. The area is fairly isolated, so take the usual care. In the monsoon months the waves run high and the water turns murky; swim only in calm weather and stay close to shore.
Pulau Rawa
Pulau Rawa is a small coral island in the Sultan Iskandar Marine Park, with a white-sand beach on one side and a rocky cliff on the other. There are no roads, only walkways. The water is clear, and Rawa Island Resort says its shallow house reef begins just metres from the beach, which makes it easy for snorkelling and first dives. Blacktip reef sharks are sometimes seen offshore.
There is no public ferry: you stay at one of the island's resorts, which run their own boats from Mersing. Rawa Island Resort needs a minimum of two nights, does not take day-trippers, is fully cashless and does not allow outside food or drink. Its 2026 standard rate for two adults starts at RM2,820 for two nights in a beachfront or beachview room, with three meals a day and the boat. The resort is open all year but recommends March to October for the weather. Fishing and jet-skiing are banned in the marine park.
Pulau Sibu
Pulau Sibu is a lightly developed island in the south of the marine park, with no roads and no independent restaurants: each resort feeds its own guests. It is the closest of the Johor islands to Singapore for diving, and Johor National Parks notes 248-million-year-old volcanic rock formations on its south-eastern side.
Sea Gypsy Village Resort & Dive Base, which has been running for about 30 years, packages chalets with three meals and the boat from Tanjung Leman. Its listed rate is RM400 per person per night for two adults sharing, plus 10% service charge, 8% SST and tourism tax. The marine park fee of RM35 per adult and RM20 per child is paid separately at the jetty. When the sea is rough, boats land on the sheltered side of the island and guests walk about 15 minutes through the forest to the resort.
Pulau Tioman
Pulau Tioman is in Pahang, not Johor, but most visitors reach it from Mersing, so it belongs on any list of islands from JB. It is much larger than Rawa or Sibu, with villages and beaches along its west coast, and ferries call at Genting, Paya, Tekek, Air Batang and Salang.
Two companies, Bluewater and Cataferry, sail from Mersing; the crossing takes 1.5 to 2 hours and departure times follow the tide, so leave a buffer or plan a night in Mersing. Wikivoyage lists the Bluewater adult fare at RM75 (2025) and the marine park fee at RM30 for foreign visitors and RM5 for Malaysians (2026), paid in Mersing. From late October to mid-February the monsoon cuts sailings, and bad weather can stop them for days.
Visiting Johor Bahru Beaches and Islands: Practical Tips
Getting there. Desaru and Mersing are easiest by car. Express buses run from Larkin Sentral to Mersing, but book early and check the last boat of the day before you choose a bus. Island resorts arrange their own boats, and Sea Gypsy and Rawa can arrange road transfers to the jetties.
Monsoon season. From about November to February the east coast gets rain, strong wind and high waves. Ferries to Tioman run less often and may stop for days, and swimming at Desaru and Air Papan is risky. March to October is the time for the islands.
Marine park rules. Rawa, Sibu and the other Mersing islands are in the Sultan Iskandar Marine Park. Expect a conservation fee, do not touch or stand on coral, and do not fish or take shells.
Not in this guide. Pulau Kukup is a mangrove island without a beach; it is in Johor Bahru nature and outdoors. Other Mersing islands such as Pulau Besar, Pulau Tinggi and Pulau Aur are reached the same way, through their resorts.
Johor Bahru Beaches and Islands: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Johor Bahru have a beach?
Only Stulang Beach, a small strip of sand on the Johor Strait at Stulang Laut. It is good for an evening stroll but not for swimming. The nearest proper sea beach is Desaru, about 1 to 1.5 hours east by car.
Can you swim at Desaru?
Yes, in calm weather, best from April to October. The water is often cloudy rather than clear, and from November to February monsoon waves make swimming risky. Swim near other people and stay out when the sea is rough.
Can I do a day trip to Pulau Rawa?
No. Rawa Island Resort takes overnight guests only, with a minimum stay of two nights, and boats leave from its own jetty in Mersing. Its 2026 packages for two adults start at RM2,820 for two nights with meals and the boat.
When is the best time to visit the Mersing islands?
March to October. From about November to February the Northeast Monsoon brings high waves, fewer boats and more rain; some resorts stay open, but crossings can be rough or cancelled.
How do I get to Tioman from Johor Bahru?
Drive or take an express bus from Larkin Sentral to Mersing, about 2.5 hours, then take a Bluewater or Cataferry ferry for 1.5 to 2 hours. Departures depend on the tide, so arrive early or plan a night in Mersing.