We had an extended family trip to Pulau Besar in April 2016 before I got pregnant with the twins. All in all, there were 12 of us, including three preschool kids and one toddler.
Pulau Besar is an enchanted little island off Mersing, located along the east coast of Johor, West Malaysia. Mersing itself is a small fishing village. Its jetty is well used by travellers heading towards Pulau Tioman and Pulau Besar.
We arrived at Mersing after a 4-hour bus ride from Singapore. Before heading to the jetty, we took a quick tour around Mersing town, which provides a selection of restaurants and some shops that sell necessities and beach accessories.
We were pleasantly surprised by some murals hidden in one of the backyards. The twelve of us spent at least 30 mins posing in front of the murals. I am guessing the artist is one of the locals there.
We boarded the speedboat after lunch after the high tides returned. The 30-min ride on the speedboat was quite bumpy and exciting. Our little kids were uncomfortable and apprehensive at first. It took them a while to start enjoying the ride.
Aseania Beach Resort
We checked into the Aseania Beach Resort at about 3 pm and were welcomed with fresh fruit juices and cut fruits. As I wasn’t planning on setting up a blog then, I didn’t deliberately take any Instagram-ready photos of the place.
The rooms were neat and clean, equipped with necessities such as a mini-fridge and bathroom. Although this is a kampong-style resort, I didn’t find any insects or lizards loitering in the room or toilet, unlike some other resorts I have been to in other laid-back locations. Since we were there to spend time with each other, we didn’t mind the lack of facilities in the resort. It was accorded with an accessible price tag anyway.
There are two swimming pools, one for adults and one for children. When there is no one around the pools, wild monkeys are the regular users. Not for the faint-hearted and anyone particular with poor hygiene, but this is not surprising since the resort is located in the wild and the weather is super hot. It was about 33°C when we were there.
The Beach
The beach is the main attraction, with soft white sand and crystal clear water. Other than beach volley, we also kayaked while the kids focused on their sand-castle building all day long. I particularly like the treehouse located on the beach. It is a quiet and cooling spot where we can sit and take an afternoon nap.
Other services provided at the beach include biking, island hopping and snorkelling.
A Short Trek
We ventured into the forest behind for a 20-min trek. It is not advisable to venture into the forest, especially with kids tagging along, as wild animals are lurking and the road is not well maintained.
Food
I must say that food was surprisingly good for a simple resort; no extra charges for our three meals. If we don’t eat there, there is nothing else to eat on the island unless we go to the adjacent resort. There are only two resorts in Pulau Besar. Again, we did not take any food pictures. On our second night here (Saturday), the resort arranged a BBQ feast for the hotel guests.
You may also like:
Throwback Blue Mountains – Farm Stay in the Duckmaloi Farm and our mini Adventures
A Weekend Getaway to Ranoh Island, Batam
Discovering Singapore: Pasir Ris Park Mangrove Swamp Boardwalk
Packing List for the babies – a weekend city trip
Book your accommodations here*.
How to get there
Click here for the guide on getting to Mersing from Singapore, Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur.
The photos taken here are gathered from our family members, using our simple goody smartphones and thus varying photo qualities.
Don’t want to miss my posts? Subscribe here to get updates from me.
* contains affiliate links.
Is there any watersport in pulai besar?
Yes! You can snorkel and kayak there. As it is the monsoon season now, the resort is closed till Feb 2019.
I love this post! Feel free to check out my recent travel post!!
Looks amazing!