1. Pulau Tioman

Located approximately 56 km off Mersing,  Pulau Tioman is the biggest island of the archipelago and is surrounded by numerous coral reefs, making it a popular scuba diving spot. Just a few meters off the beach, you can easily spot colorful fishes, small sharks and turtles. Besides, the island is also renowned for sunbathing, snorkeling and walking. To visit these places, you can use local transport such as motorbikes, cars at Tekek and boats (Mersing/Tioman ferry service is the best and cheapest way of hopping from one village to the other). Other options include 4WD “taxis” (RM 60 from Tekek to Juara) or just walking! All in all, Pulau Tioman is the perfect place for a quiet, slow holiday, filled with walks on the virgin beaches and through the rainforest, swimming, sunbathing and good food among friendly locals. You will definitely love the beautiful nature and peaceful atmosphere of this authentic, wonderful place.

2. Pulau Aur   Lying about 80 kilometers east of Mersing, Pulau Aur is part of the Johor Marine Park. Though it has not been more than a stopover point for local fishermen for many years, the island is now a popular tourist attraction, notably thanks to its offshore pools, coral lagoons and pristine beaches. From Pulau Aur, you can also reach the smaller Pulau Dayang. Together, these two islands make a paradise for divers; as the island are further from the coast, the waters are clearer and more species of marine animals can be spotted. A lot of Singaporeans love to come here, even though accommodation is quite basic. The weather conditions there are predominantly affected by the monsoon winds that blow from the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. As a consequence, the northeast monsoon brings heavy rainfall to the island between November and March, making the island difficult to access and the waters dangerous to swim in. Gusts of the southeast monsoons are also present between May and September, making the rest of the year the ideal time to plan a visit. Though the temperatures are relatively high all year-round, they are lower in the hilly central parts of the island, ranging between 16 °C and 24 °C. It would be a good idea to make plans in accordance.

3. Pulau Besar   Can be reach after a 30-minute boat journey from Mersing. If you have ever watched the reality TV show Expedition Robinson, you may already know what kind of paradise is awaiting you!. Pristine beaches and nice resorts are awaiting you, along with splendid coral reefs and sea creatures for your snorkeling hours. A nice idea is to take a trip to nearby Pulau Harimau, where you will find a delightful cavern filled with a natural pool. D’Coconut is the most comfortable one, with the other three offering more basic beach chalets. They are all located on the same stretch of sand, the rest of Pulau Besar being mostly bordered by rocky cliffs. Many activities and water sports are available on the island. A beach volley ball pitch is located at the Aseana Resort, for you to have the perfect fitness game with your friends or other travelers. An 18-hole golf course is also available on the island.

4. Pulau Pemanggil   Pulau Pemanggil lies 45 kilometers away from Mersing jetty, requiring a 4,5 hours boat journey to reach its shore. Along with clear water and gold sand beaches, Pulau Pemanggil will offer you the traditional folklore of its kampung, unforgettable fishing sessions and tasty durians and mangoes straight from the tree. The island is most famous for its amazing coral reefs, so some snorkeling will be in order. These reefs are also home to a significant number of marine species, and fishing lovers will be in heaven. Many actually say that Pulau Pemanggil is no less than the best fishing spot in Malaysia, and is ideal for deep-sea fishing. Some fishing trips specialize in big catches such as black marlins, dorado, shark, stingray or tuna. Some interested methods, such as baitless fishing, can also be used. In a word, you will be in for a treat! Dorado can be found in May and June and mackerel in the summer, while other species are available year-round. From the resorts, it is also possible to rent some canoes or even jet skis to explore the shore at your own pace. Only one hotel, the Lanting Beach Resort is available on the island, so make sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

5. Pulau Rawa   A small, beautiful island, surrounded by clear deep blue water, Pulau Rawa is located 16 km off the coast. The island will mainly attract you for its amazing white beaches, as the interior is only thick jungle, hard to penetrate. Considering the small size of the island, there is no local transportation on Rawa. It would barely take 15 minutes to walk up and down the island’s western coast. This is the perfect sport to observe the best sunrise and sunset. Other activities include beach volleyball, wind surfing (if weather conditions are good), personalized fishing tours arranged at your request and of course, relaxing in the sun or under a coconut tree.  In a nutshell, welcome to paradise. From Mersing,  Rawa is only a 30 min speed boat ride away, or 1 hour with a normal ferry. It is ideal to check the ferry timings in advance and plan the trip accordingly since the ferry times vary in accordance with the weather conditions. It is also possible to visit Rawa on the way back from Pulau Tioman.  As there is no TV and no phone line, prepare yourself for an amazingly relaxing time, away from all your troubles.

6. Pulau Harimau The island when translated means the Tiger Island, is a deserted location that is not inhabited. This island shows no signs of life but is indeed a very perfect location for most scuba divers and those who wish to do snorkeling. Pulau Harimau is located in Mersing, Johor Darul Ta’zim and can be reached from the Mersing Jetty by boat. This island is a divers paradise as it offers breathtaking seascape features which are so unique and attractive to any visitor. It has a cavern that can be easily reached when one snorkels from the drop off point at the beach. This cavern has no roof and forms a wonderful little private pool where both snorkelers and divers can take time off to enjoy the waters and the breeze. The location is very peaceful and serene and offers maximum relaxation not only to the divers but to anybody that is interested in visiting this deserted but exciting island off the coast of Mersing.

7. Pulau Tinggi Outdoor activities include water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing and fishing. The tropical jungles form a backdrop to the island and jungle trekking in the hilly jungle should also be considered. After a 35-40 minute walk, you can reach a nice waterfall in the middle of the forest with a small lagoon. It is better to avoid going alone though, as the path is not clearly marked. You can easily ask for a guide at your hotel. It is also just a few minutes away from Pulau Sibu by boat. However, the best thing to do on Pulau Tinggi is nothing! Or, more exactly, laze under the sun, read, and relax.

8. Pulau Sibu Known as the Sibu Islands, Pulau Sibu actually regroups several islets. The smaller islands are namely Pulau Sibu Hujung, Pulau Sibu Besar, Pulau Sibu Kukus and Pulau Sibu Tengah. Some of these islands were also the décor of some seasons of the TV show Expedition Robinson. Sibu Besar, covered by thick vegetation, is the main islet. The eastern side of the island has four main beaches, which will offer you white sand, clear water and no crowds. As the island never gets more than 1 kilometer wide and is mostly flat, it is easy to cross from one side to another to enjoy all the different beaches and points of view it has to offer. There are no roads, so you will not get disturbed by the traffic. This will make your holiday even more relaxing. On the southern coast, the island is protected from winds, making the sea so calm it looks like a lake and is a haven to swim in. Due to those remarkable conditions, you can also see some mangrove trees growing on the shore. Sibu Besar is a popular weekend getaway, as it is only a mere 3 hour drive from Singapore

9. Pulau Dayang   Located on the western parts of Johor Bahru and is part of an island that also consists of others which include Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Lang and Pulau Aur. This island which has a series of locations offers you the perfect destination for a relaxing vacation with various water sport activities and marine life attractions. Dayang Island is a tourist destination location which is well known for scuba diving and snorkeling activities. Scuba divers are treated to an array of marine life which are found under the sea. Marine life that can be found in this island include a wide number of rays, whales and sharks. Diving courses are provided here for both beginners and advanced divers. These diving sessions usually run from February through to November.

10. Pulau Tengah Tengah Island is among the few islands in Malaysia that have been gazetted as a Marine Park because of its vibrant marine life feature and also the availability of rare special types of fish and corals. You can reach this island from Mersing Jetty by taking a boat, a trip which lasts about 30 minutes. The island is a very popular tourist destination spot given its historical significance and status as a widely recognized Marine Park in Malaysia. This island is owned privately and lies about 9 miles off the coast of Mersing on the South China Sea.