Rawa Island

Rawa Island is a stunning, privately owned tropical paradise located off the east coast of Johor, Malaysia. Known for its white sandy beaches, clear waters and laid-back atmosphere, Rawa Island is a perfect getaway for those seeking a relaxed getaway. Unlike some of the more commercialized islands in Malaysia, Rawa is relatively untouched, with only a couple of resorts and no roads, making it an ideal retreat for nature lovers.

Rawa Island is located about 16 km off the coast of Mersing, Johor. Getting there involves two main steps:

Step 1: Travel to Mersing Jetty

• From Singapore

By car: A 3.5 to 4-hour drive.
By bus: Take a bus from Singapore to Mersing (e.g., KKKL, Transnasional). The journey takes around 4 to 5 hours and costs SGD 30-50. Easybook is a recommended platform to get your tickets.

• From Kuala Lumpur

By car: A 4.5 to 5-hour drive
By bus: Take a bus from to Mersing. There are usually a few places you can board the bus from, although trips usually begin from TBS Bus Terminal. The trip takes around 5-6 hours and costs RM 35-50. Tickets can also be purchased easily from Easybook.

If you're driving, the carpark is available for parking at RM15-18 per car per day.

Step 2: Boat Transfer from Mersing Jetty to Rawa Island

Once at Mersing Jetty, you will need a boat transfer to Rawa Island. As Rawa Island is privately managed, boat transfers operate based on very specific timings in the week. Your pickup information is usually provided by Rawa Island itself upon booking confirmation.

Booking your Rawa Experience via Klook would offer the most seamless experience, as it gives you end to end coverage of your stay, from your ferry and accommodation down to your meals.

You can choose to stay for either 3 or 4 days and can indicate your preferred room type and bed configuration. Meals are included with this package, meaning you get to enjoy the full suite of the resort's buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Rawa Island primarily has 5 different room types you can choose from - Details of each can be found on their official website. We went with the Hillside Deluxe, which was the basic tier but came with all necessary amenities needed for a comfortable stay, including air-conditioning, hot showers and a balcony.

You can also book your experience through the official Rawa Island website, which provides slightly more flexibility in the event you want to stay for a period longer than 4 days. Similar to Klook, the booking includes your meals and boat transport by default.

Rawa Island has two main accommodations:

1. Rawa Island Resort

Booking via any of the 2 options above (Klook / Official website) would mean staying in Rawa Island Resort. This is the island's main resort, which is nearer to the pier.

2. Alang’s Rawa Resort

This is the other resort on the island which you have to book via the website directly. The resort is smaller, offering only 12 rooms. It is also situated away from the pier although it takes just an extra 5 minutes to walk there. The resort comes with its own kind of rooms, and reservations can be made with the resort directly.

Note: There are no other hotels or homestays on Rawa Island, so booking in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak seasons (March to October).

We got on a bus from Singapore that brought us to Mersing Jetty where we were instructed to register at the Rawa Island Office at Mersing Jetty. We were then instructed to head to the Mersing Harbour Center (1 minute away) to purchase the marine park ticket. Purchasing the ticket (RM30) is mandatory as it serves as a toll for travelers, and is also known as the Tioman Conservation Fee.

Once that's done, we waited in the office until the boat was ready, and got on little speedboat that looked like it could fit just about 10 people.

The boat ride took around 45 minutes and we were greeted with gentle blue waters upon arrival.

Upon disembarking, we were greeted with the island's main attention grabber - Beachside slides leading directly into the sea.

The yellow slide stands at least 2 storeys high while a lower blue slide towards the right of the image provides a gentle drop into the water. This slide would keep many guests (and us) entertained for the next few days.

We headed straight to reception and got ourselves checked in, before changing into our swimwear and heading into the water.

To start off, snorkelling in the island is free of charge. There is also no designated snorkelling points, although the island is surrounded by buoys to prevent tourists from venturing too far out. The activity is free and easy, which means you can head into the water and snorkel whenever you like. The island's dive center, OrcaNation Scuba Rawa, rents out snorkel gear if you don't already have it.

Prices are reasonable in my opinion, and we went straight for renting equipment per day. Just note that the equipment has to be returned by 6PM daily. Unfortunately, Rawa Island does not offer snorkelling island hopping as an activity.

Other activities are also available such as kayaking and standup paddle boarding. If you're looking for diving activities, this has to be enquired separately with the dive center which can be done via their website.

A popular spot for snorkelling would be right below the pier, as huge schools of fishes swim around. I'm no marine expert, so I can't tell what kind of fishes they are.

We took some time to explore the corals too. Sadly, we didn't see much corals which were alive. After snorkelling, we went back to wash up and get changed before heading for dinner.

As with all packages, guests are entitled to the resort's buffet dinner.

The dining hall was aesthetically pleasing, and we were treated to food fresh from the grill.

We did not hold back and got ourselves generous portions of proteins and pasta carbs -

The food coma was real and we turned in early to prepare for our morning activity the next day - Catching the sunrise at Rawa viewpoint, the top of the island.

We were up by 6AM in the morning and made our way in the darkness up the slopes behind the chalets. The climb to the top of Rawa Island is a short and straightforward one, and were up in 15 minutes after climbing up some steps and rocks. We hung around and started to catch a glimpse of the sunrise somewhere around 630AM. Note that sunrise times might vary through the year so do a quick search the night before on what time the sun is expected to rise. The viewpoint gave us unobstructed views of the South China Sea stretching into the horizon - Here's what we saw that morning:

We then made our way to breakfast to enjoy another buffet meal:

The rest of the day was spent in the water again. This time, I explored a little bit more with some freediving:

There were not much fishes here and most corals were also dead. I spotted numerous sea urchins as well - Since the depth of the sea is relatively shallow, take some precaution when going towards the seabed.

The day ended with our final buffet meal of the trip:

We were provided the timing of our speedboat upon checkout, and so hung around reception until the speedboat arrived and transported us back to Mersing Jetty. We then caught a bus back to Singapore from there.

And that's a wrap for a quick getaway to Rawa Island in Malaysia. Apart from just eating and snorkelling, there are plenty of other activities on the island that you can participate in as well:

1. Diving

Rawa Island houses a dive center - OrcaNation Scuba Rawa, where divers can arrange their dive trips. You can expect to see various marine life from fishes to reef sharks. There are different kinds of dive trips available, ranging from beginner try-out dives to night dives for certified divers. The price ranges from around Rm250 - 400 per dive.

2. Kayaking & Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Kayaks and paddleboards are available for rent via OrcaNation Scuba Rawa for around Rm 30 - 60 per hour.

3. Relaxing on the Beach

The beach itself offers chill spots for guests to relax and soak in the view, and is ideal for sunbathing, reading, or just unwinding.

4. Other Recreational activities

Other activities are also available such as:

If equipment is needed, these can be loaned from reception at no cost.

Some final tips:

1. Book in Advance - Resorts on Rawa Island have limited rooms, and they fill up quickly (months ahead during peak season)
2. Check the Tide Schedule - Boat transfers depend on the tide, so confirm your ferry timing with the resort at least 24 hours prior to your travel
3. Bring Cash – There are no ATMs on the island, and credit card facilities may be limited

Rawa Island offers a quiet retreat with stunning scenery and clear waters. The resort and experience is definitely family friendly and makes a good getaway for families as well. In terms of tranquility, I would compare the island to the likes of Gili Trawangan in Lombok, Indonesia, although Gili T is much larger and commercialized. Still, Rawa Island should definitely be on your travel list!