MY · Johor · 2.58°N 104.33°E

pulau pemanggil

Boulder-backed beaches, village life and reef trips on an island far out from Mersing.

Best time
March to October. The north-east monsoon, roughly November to February, cuts the boats back and most places close for the season.
How long
3 days, 2 nights
Getting there
Drive about 4–4.5 hours from KL to Mersing, then 1.5–2 hours by fast boat, or much longer on a slow one. Your host arranges the transfer.
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MY · Johorpulau pemanggil2.58°N 104.33°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Boulder-backed beaches, village life and reef trips on an island far out from Mersing.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPulau PemanggilMY, Johor
KLpulau pemanggil
≈ 300 km from KL, as the crow flies
Sebuah kapal sedang berlayar melintasi Pulau Pemanggil, Malaysia, dipotret dari jarak 6 mil laut, dari arah timur laut

Photo: Marwan Mohamad · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Pulau Pemanggil is a hilly island about 45 km off Mersing, with sandy coves, small fishing villages and Batu Buau, a huge boulder at its centre that islanders hold sacred. It's quieter than Tioman or Rawa, and anglers know it for deep-sea fishing.

Makan

  1. Island mealsFish, vegetables and sambal with rice, cooked by your host.Map ↗
  2. Your own catchIf you've been out fishing, ask the kitchen to cook what you brought back.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Batu BuauThe giant boulder in the middle of the island, visible from the beaches. Treat it with respect; locals consider it sacred.Map ↗
  2. The beachesSandy coves backed by boulders and forest. Teluk Lancang on the north-east coast is the most cut-off.Map ↗
  3. SnorkellingBoat trips to the reefs around the island, chosen for the day's sea.Map ↗
  4. Deep-sea fishingCharter a boat for mackerel and other game fish in the waters offshore.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Ask whether your transfer is a fast boat or a slow one; it changes the day by hours.
  • Tell your host about dietary needs before you arrive; there's little other choice of food on the island.
  • The island is in the marine park, so leave coral and shells where they are.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.