Tanjung Gemok Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

Tanjung Gemok, is a small town on East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia near the state border between Pahang and Johor. The main attraction of the town is the Tanjung Gemok Jetty, which has ferry connections to Tioman Island as well as some other nearby islands. Find out more in this Tanjung Gemok destination guide.

What is Tanjung Gemok Malaysia famous for?

Tanjung Gemok is known for being a gateway to Tioman Island. Ferries to Tioman Island and other nearby islands depart from Tanjung Gemok Jetty.

Why you should visit Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Tanjung Gemok is one of two entry points to Tioman Island, with the other one being Mersing.

Tanjung Gemok Destination Guide: Know before you go

Basic info about Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

• Language – Malay. There are 10 dialects of Malay used throughout thought the country, with Standard Malay being the unifying language. English is becoming more widely spoken in the country. However not everyone you meet will be able to speak English. Mandarin Chinese, Malaysian Chinese, Tamil, other Indian languages as well as Creole are spoken by the various ethnic groups that live in Malaysia.
• Currency – Malaysian ringgit (MYR). This has been the official currency of Malaysia since 1967. Currency exchanges can be found in most cities and ATMs are also available widely throughout the country.
• District – Rompin
• State – Pahang
• Emergency number – 999
• Police number – 999

Utilities in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

• Electricity – Malaysia uses Type G power plugs. The country operates on a 240v supply voltage at 50Hz. Power outages are reasonably common in Malaysia.
• Water – the tap water in Malaysia is not generally safe to drink. Whilst tap water is usually treated, pipes may be old. Most locals boil their water or use a water filter just to be safe.
• Toilets – sit-down flushing toilets as well as Asian style squat toilets are common in Malaysia. Toilets generally come equipped with a spray hose (sometimes referred to as a Muslim shower). The spray hose is like a European bidet and is used for cleaning personal areas as an alternative to toilet paper. All of the accommodation we stayed in throughout the country was equipped with the western style sit-down flushing toilets with spray hoses. Toilet paper is also usually provided. Don’t flush your toilet paper – use the bins provided. The use of bathroom slippers is customary and is provided in accommodation and sometimes also in public bathrooms. Public bathrooms often offer both sit-down and squat style toilets. Public toilets are common in Malaysia. The charge is usually around 30-50 sens.
• Telephone country code: +60

Where is Tanjung Gemok Malaysia?

Tanjung Gemok is in the Rompin district at the southern end of the state of Pahang Malaysia. It a seaside town located on the South China Sea. Tanjung Gemok Port is at the mouth of the Endau River. The port connects the town with Tioman Island as well as islands in the Seribuat Archipelago. An important point to note is that there is a similarly named town, called Tanjung Gemuk in the state of Negeri Sembilan near Port Dickson. Some information online, including Google Maps gets these two places confused.

Tanjung Gemok is just across the Endau River from the city of Endau in the state of Johor. Other nearby towns are Kuala Rompin and Mersing. Tanjung Gemok is less than 1 hour by bus from Kuala Rompin and 1 hour by bus from Mersing. However the buses may have been cancelled during Covid. We asked a number of people in town about the buses but even at the hotels they were unsure of the bus schedule. Staff of one of the hotels rang up the bus company for us, but was unable to get clear guidance on the bus timetable. We waited for about an hour for the bus and it never came. Eventually we caught a taxi to Kuala Rompin for 50 ringgit for the both of us. Kuala Rompin has a much larger bus terminal. While buses still weren’t frequent, there definitely were buses running from there.

How to get to Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: Arriving by land

Tanjung Gemok Malaysia intercity land transport

The main transport options for travelling overland to Tanjung Gemok Malaysia are:

• Private vehicle
• Private transport operator
• Bus
• Bike

Driving to Tanjung Gemok from within Malaysia

If you are driving to Tanjung Gemok from within Malaysia, here are the travel times and distances:

• Endau, Johor – 8 minutes (5km, 3miles) without tolls
• Kuala Rompin, Pahang – 24 minutes (24km, 15miles) without tolls
• Mersing, Johor – 38 minutes (41km, 25miles) without tolls
• Kluang, Johor – 2 hours 4 minutes (128km, 80miles) without tolls
• Johor Bahru, Johor – 2 hours 34 minutes (227km, 141miles) without tolls
• Malacca, Malacca– 4 hours 6 minutes (262km, 163miles) without tolls
• Kuala Lumpur – 4 hours 35 minutes (315km, 196miles) with tolls or 4 hours 51 minutes (304km, 189miles) without tolls
• Kuantan, Pahang – 2 hours 16 minutes (158km, 98miles) without tolls
• George Town, Penang – 8 hours 51 minutes (674km, 419miles) with tolls or 11 hours 16 minutes (691km, 429miles) without tolls

Intercity trains to Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Tanjung Gemok does not have a train station. The closest train stations are at Gemas and Bahau, both of which are 2.5 hours drive away. These train stations are on Malaysia’s KTM East Coast Railway Line (also known as the Malaysia Jungle Train). This Malaysian railway line extends from Gemas to Tumpat, servicing the states of Pahang and Kelantan on the east coast Peninsular Malaysia. Gemas is also on Malaysia’s west coast line which runs from the Singapore border, through Kuala Lumpur and up to the Thailand border. Train travel in Malaysia is a cheap and scenic way to see the country.

Malaysia train travel vlog

We spent about a week travelling along the Malaysia jungle railway, starting at Kota Bharu and stopping along the way at Kuala Krai, Dabong, Gua Musang and Kuala Lipis. Our train journey in Malaysia was a very memorable journey and we never expected to affect us so much. We share our Malaysia jungle train travel experience in the Malaysia travel vlog below. In this Malaysia vlog we show you how to travel Malaysia by train. We provide everything you need to know about Malaysia train travel, including costs for Malaysia trains, Malaysia train amenities, how to book trains in Malaysia as well as Malaysia travel tips so you can plan your own amazing Malaysia trip.

Intercity buses to Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

A common way to get around Malaysia is by using intercity buses. However as at 2022 it is unclear whether buses currently service Tanjung Gemok. Additionally, the bus information listed on Google maps is incorrect. We tried to catch a bus from Tanjung Gemok to Kuala Rompin and it never came. After speaking to quite a few locals, it was clear that buses weren’t typically relied on in this part of Malaysia as no-one we spoke to seemed to know what the bus schedule was nor whether buses were still running. We were told by one person that the buses had been cancelled due to Covid.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: Arriving by air

The closest airport to Tanjung Gemok is Tioman Airport, Malaysia (Airport code TOD). This airport is 62km (38 miles) away.

Other nearby airports include:

• Seletar Airport, Singapore (Airport code XSP). This airport is 142km (88 miles) away.
• Senai International Airport (Airport code JHB). This airport is 214km (134 miles) away.
• Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport (Airport code KUA). This airport is 221km (137 miles) away.

The national airline of Malaysia is Malaysia Airlines.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: Arriving by boat

Ferries to Tioman Island operate from Jetty Tanjung Gemuk (Terminal Teluk Gading). The two ferry operators at Tanjung Gemok are Bluewater Express and Cataferry. A one way ticket to Tioman Island is around 40-130 ringgit one way and the journey time is around 1.5 hours. Additionally, you must pay a 30 ringgit per person Tioman Marine Park Fee at the jetty any time prior to boarding the ferry. Be sure to allow sufficient time to pay that fee or you will not be allowed on board the ferry.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: How to get around Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Walking in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

By far the easiest and cheapest way to get around Tanjung Gemok is to walk. Most of the main attractions in the town are within easy walking distance.

Local buses in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Local buses service Tanjung Gemok.

Trams in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Tanjung Gemok does not have a tram system.

Local trains in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Tanjung Gemok does not have a local train line.

Metro trains (subway or underground) in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Tanjung Gemok does not have an underground train line.

Vehicle hire in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

A wide variety of vehicles can be rented in Malaysia. This includes:

• Electric scooters
• Bicycles
• Motorcycles
• Cars
• SUVs
• Boats

In Malaysia they drive on the left side of the road.

Taxis in Malaysia

Taxis are common in Malaysia. We caught a taxi from Tanjung Gemok to Kuala Rompin for 50 ringgit for the both of us.

It is not necessary or expected to tip taxi drivers in Malaysia.

Ride-share services in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

While there are ride-share services available in Malaysia, there are no vehicles currently operating in Tanjung Gemok.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: Is Tanjung Gemok Malaysia worth visiting?

Tanjung Gemok itself is a small town that is not worth going out of your way for. It is a gateway to Tioman Island, which is certainly worth visiting. However if you want to go to Tioman Island we would recommend taking a ferry from Mersing rather than Tanjung Gemok. Mersing is a bigger town and has better public transport infrastructure. We ended up getting a taxi out of Tanjung Gemok as the bus servicing Tanjung Gemok did not appear to be running.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: How long to spend in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Tanjung Gemok is a small town with its main claim to fame being its jetty, which has ferries to Tioman Island. The town has a few hotels and rental accommodation, some eateries and a nice night market. We spent 1 night in Tanjung Gemok and enjoyed discovering all of the delicious food available throughout the town.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: What to do in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Tanjung Gemok is a quiet Malaysian town on the water. While there is not too much to do in the town at the moment, it has potential. Additionally, it’s just across the river from the neighbouring town of Endau. There are a number of free and paid activities in the area.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: Free things to do in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

There are enough free activities in Tanjung Gemok and neighbouring Endau to keep you entertained for a couple of hours:

• Pantai Semanyir
• Pantai Tanjung Kempit, Endau, Johor
• Masjid al-Mansuriyyah mosque
• Endau River
• Jeti Udang Galah Yuti fishing pier
• Chinese Temple

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: Paid activities in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

A number of activities in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia charge a fee:

• Boat tours
• Fishing tours

Weather in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

The climate for Tanjung Gemok is classified as tropical, with relatively uniform hot temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. The hottest month is May with an average temperature range of 24°C to 33°C (75°F to 91°F) and conversely the coldest month is December with an average temperature between 24°C-29°C (75°F to 85°F). Malaysia has two monsoon seasons which affect different parts of the country at different times. Tanjung Gemok is only impacted by the Northeast Monsoon, which is the more rainy of the two monsoon seasons and lasts from November to early March. It is not affected by the Southwest Monsoon, which is from June to September. The intermonsoonal period (the period between the two monsoons) of March through to June is the hottest and also the most uncomfortable weather of the year.

Best time to visit Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

The best time of year to visit Tanjung Gemok is between February and September. During these months there is the least amount of rain. However if you want to combine your trip to Tanjung Gemok with visiting Tioman Island, we recommend coming between May to September, which is an ideal time to visit Tioman Island.

Internet and mobile phones in Malaysia

Major internet and phone companies in Malaysia – Celcom, Digi, Hotlink (Maxis), U Mobile, UniFi Mobile, Tune Talk, Yes, XOX Mobile / ONEXOX, redONE, Yoodo, Telekom Malaysia and Time dotCom.

5G has been in Malaysia since December 2021. 2G will not be be switched off in Malaysia. 3G is was switched off in March 2022.

Malaysia is ranked 61^st fastest in the world for mobile internet speeds and 38^th fastest for fixed broadband. For Fixed Broadband the average download speed is 90mbps and upload is 51mbps (as at October 2022).

Cell phone SIM cards can be bought in a numbers of places throughout Malaysia. These include phone stores, in shopping malls, at bus stations as well as at airports. Some form of ID, such as a passport, is required in order to purchase a SIM card in Malaysia.

How much to budget for Tanjung Gemok Malaysia?

Is Tanjung Gemok Malaysia expensive?

Tanjung Gemok itself is an affordable destination. Accommodation and food costs are quite reasonable and there’s not too much to spend your money on in the town. However, Tanjung Gemok is the gateway to the luxury destination Tioman Island. Tioman Island is much more expensive than mainland Malaysia.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: Daily spend for a couple travelling in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

As a rough guide, we recommend the following budgets for a couple:

• Low-budget daily spend – 150 ringgit per day for a couple will get you hostel accommodation, meals from bakeries and markets, local transport and free or cheap activities such as visiting temples and markets
• Mid-range daily spend – 300 ringgit per day for a couple will get you mid-range accommodation, local transport, restaurant meals and a few paid activities
• Luxury spend – Tanjung Gemok itself is not a luxury destination. However it is a gateway to Tioman Island, which certainly is a luxury destination.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: Accommodation in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

There are a small number of hotels, homestays and rental properties in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia. However not many of them can be booked online. Additionally, some hotels that listed on Google maps are no longer open. Airbnb operates in Malaysia, when we looked in 2022 there were only 2 properties Airbnb properties in Tanjung Gemok and only one property had wifi included. Another thing to keep in mind with hotels in Malaysia is that smoking in hotel rooms is often permitted.

Where to stay in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

We recommend the following accommodation in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia:

• Best hotel in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia – Hotel Jeti Tanjung Gemok is a clean and comfortable hotel which is centrally located in Tanjung Gemok. It is a popular hotel, so we recommend booking in advance. The staff are very friendly and helpful.

How much is accommodation in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia?

For short-term accommodation, a general price per night is as follows:

• Budget accommodation – there is no dorm accommodation in Tanjung Gemok. The cheapest accommodation is around 60 ringgit for a private room
• Mid-range accommodation – 90-120 ringgit for a private room
• Luxury accommodation – there is no luxury accommodation in Tanjung Gemok
• Rental property – 250-350 ringgit a night for a fully furnished 3 bedroom home

Tourist tax on accommodation in Malaysia

From 1 January 2023 there is a tourist tax of 10 ringgit per accommodation per night in Malaysia. This tax is collected by the property. Permanent residents and Malaysian nationals are exempt from the tax. Furthermore the tourist tax does not apply to homestays and kampung stays registered with the Ministry of Tourism.

Tanjung Gemok destination guide: Food in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

How much does food cost in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia?

Our price guide for your food budget in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia is as follows (prices as at 2022):

• Restaurant meal – 30-60 ringgit for a main dish
• Night market or hawker market food – 5-15 ringgit for a dish
• Ais kachang – 4-6 ringgit
• Coffee – 1.50-2.50 ringgit

What to eat in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

Typical Malaysian food found in Tanjuk Gemok Malaysia includes:

• Nasi lemak
• Nasi kerabu
• Char kway teow
• Fried chicken
• Soto daging
• Curry mee
• Murtabak
• Cendol
• Gulai tempoyak ikan patin
• Street food such as potato twisters and deep fried mozzarella sticks

Cheap Eats in Tanjung Gemok Malaysia

• Bakeries are a great place to get cheap and delicious food.
• Hawker centres in Malaysia are ubiquitous and have excellent budget friendly food.
• Night markets in Malaysia are another of our go to places for affordable and tasty food. There’s also usually stalls selling items like clothes, toys and shoes in addition to the food stalls.
• Street food is also a very common cheap eat option in Malaysia. You can often find street food around transport hubs as well as scattered in various places around the town.

Tanjung Gemok Malaysia food vlog

If you want incredible food and great atmosphere, hop on a plane right now and come to Malaysia! One of the best things to do in Malaysia is indulge in delicious Malaysian street food. In the Malaysia travel vlog below we do a Malaysia Street food tour of Tanjung Gemuk night market in east coast Malaysia. We spent 3 months living in Malaysia, discovering the best of Malaysia tourism and exploring everything this incredible country has to offer. One of our favourite things about travelling Malaysia is the wide variety of incredible Malaysia food and particularly Malaysia street food. From deep fried favourites like fried chicken to noodle dishes like Char Kway Teow, you will be in heaven on a Malaysia night market tour! This Malaysia vlog is perfect for anyone considering visiting Tanjung Gemok as well as anyone that wants to know about Malaysian food.

Tanjung Gemok Malaysia culture

Weekends in Pahang Malaysia

Which days are weekdays and weekend days vary in Malaysia depending on the state you’re in. In the state of Pahang weekdays are Monday to Friday and conversely weekends are Saturday and Sunday. Keep this in mind as weekends can affect prices and availability (particularly for accommodation). Additionally weekends may impact opening hours as well as how crowded attractions are.

Pahang public holidays

Malaysia has one of the highest number of public holidays in the world. In total, there are between 18 and 20 public holidays observed in each state. This includes national holidays as well as state based holidays. Public holidays for the state of Pahang are as follows:

• New Year’s Day – 1^st January
• Chinese New Year’s Day – 1^st day of 1^st lunar month, in January or February
• Chinese New Year Holiday – 2^nd day of 1^st lunar month, in January or February
• Labour Day – 1 May
• Wesak Day (Buddha’s birthday) – May or June, date varies
• Hari Hol Pahang – 22 May
• Hari Nuzul Al-Quran – 17^th day of Ramadan, date varies
• Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa – the last day of Ramadan, date varies
• Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday or Hari Raya Puasa Holiday – day after the last day of Ramadan, date varies
• Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday (King’s Birthday) – 1^st Monday in June
• Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday – 30 July
• Hari Raya Qurban (Aidiladha) (Feast of the Sacrifice) – date varies
• Awal Muharram (Islamic New Year) – date varies
• Merdeka Day (National Day, Independence Day) – 31 August
• Malaysia Day – 16 September
• Maulidur Rasul (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) – 12^th day of the 3^rd month of the Islamic calendar
• Deepavali – date varies, October or November
• Christmas Day – 25 December

National symbols of Malaysia

• Malaysia flag – 14 alternating red and white stripes with a blue canton with a yellow crescent and 14 pointed star. The Malaysian flag is called the Stripes of Glory.
• Malaysia coat of arms – two tigers supporting a shield with a yellow crescent and a 14 pointed star on top and a yellow banner with words that translate to “Unity is strength” written in both romanised Malay and Jawi at the bottom.
• National flower – hibiscus
• National bird – rhinoceros hornbill
• Malaysia national animal – the Malayan tiger

Malaysia pastimes

• National dish – nasi lemak
• Popular drinks – teh tarik, Ipoh white coffee, milo ais, sirup bandang
• National sport – sepak takraw
• Religion – 64% Islam, 19% Buddhist, 9% Christian, 6% Hindu (as at 2020)

Is Tanjung Gemok Malaysia Safe?

Malaysia travel guide: Safety in Malaysia

We spent around 4 months travelling extensively through Malaysia over two separate trips. In our experience the country is extremely safe. Malaysia ranks 18^th safest country on the Global Peace Index (as at 2022). As with any country, there are good areas and bad areas. Watch out for pickpockets and bag snatching particularly at crowded tourist attractions. In particular, when eating out don’t leave your bag, phone or wallet on the table or next to you where someone can quickly grab it and run away. Instead keep your belongings physically attached to you at all times. Make sure no-one is watching whenever you are entering pin codes and never lose sight of your credit card when making a purchase.

General safety considerations in Malaysia

Other general safety considerations for travel in Malaysia:

• Drinking water – tap water in Malaysia is not generally safe to drink. Tap water is usually treated, but pipes may be old. Therefore most locals boil their water or use a water filter.
• Mosquitoes – mosquito borne illnesses are a significant risk in Malaysia, particularly dengue, Zika and chikungunya. Malaysia is in the pre-elimination phase of malaria. While malaria is a greater risk in Malaysian Borneo, there have also been cases on the Malaysian peninsula. Take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
• Altitude sickness – Malaysia has areas of high altitude and therefore altitude sickness risk. If you visit high altitude areas in Malaysia, allow sufficient time to acclimatise. If you experience signs of altitude sickness, including headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite or shortness of breath, get help immediately.
• Road safety – Road accidents are a significant risk in Malaysia. While road conditions in Malaysia are generally very good, traffic is often very heavy. Furthermore drivers in Malaysia tend to speed up rather than slowing down for amber lights. We also found that roads in Malaysia are not typically built with pedestrians in mind, and footpaths often stop unexpectedly in busy areas.
• Water safety – take care when swimming as currents and waves may be stronger than you expect.
• Earthquakes – Malaysia experiences both regional and local earthquake activity. In an earthquake, stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls and anything that could fall. If inside, get under a table, desk or solid furniture and hang onto it. Cover your head and torso to protect from falling objects. If outside, stay outside and go to an open area away from buildings.
• Sun safety – Exposure to the sun can have adverse short-term and long-term effects on the skin, eyes and immune system. Sun protection such as sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses is very important to ensure you don’t get burnt.
• Dogs – rabies from rabid dog bites is a risk in Malaysia. For more on dog safety while travelling, check out this video.

As with any destination, take all of your normal safety precautions.

Malaysia Blogs

You can find our Malaysia travel blogs below.

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