Singapore Cycling - Johor (Malaysia)

Access to Johor

On the bicycle, there are 3 ways to get into Johor from Singapore. The western link at Tuas is off limits for bicycles. Am I the only cyclist who ever crossed that border? Anyway, I promised the authorities never to venture it again. Pedaling into Johor can be done via the Johor Causeway and then there are two attractive ferry options. See the map below and each option will be dealt with in detail.

Via the Johor Causeway into Malaysia

Cyclists go to the Woodlands border checkpoint via the motorcycle lane. Motorcycles have to take the Bukit Timah Expressway. This is a problem for cyclists. The other option to get to the checkpoint is for cars only, taking the ramp from the junction in front of Woodlands Centre. It's only 200 metres, who cares? (in fact an immigration officer pointed me this way, realizing I had no other possibility). On top of the ramp, cross one lane and make sure you get to the motorcycle lane. In Johor Bahru, if you want to continue in the direction of Kota Tinggi, don't follow the signs for Kota Tinggi (you'll make a huge clockwise detour around the city). Take the first possible U-turn instead and follow the road, through the centre.

Via the Johor Causeway into Singapore

'Singapura' is in general well shown on road signs, but there is one trap. Coming from Kota Tinggi, very near the centre of Johor Bahru and also very near the border, the road makes a left turn. Then, you have an option to go straight (under a fly-over) and an option to go more left. Take the option to the left. On this crucial point there is no sign!! Follow the track for the motorcycles. When approaching and going through the Singapore checkpoint facilities, take care for the (several) steel grids on the road. (see the section about cycling in Singapore)

The Changi - Belungkor ferry

This service used to be run by a car ferry, but the (very pleasant) car ferry is no more. Instead, there is a passenger service that runs 3 times a day, see the ferry section.

The Changi - Pengelih ferry

This service, from Changi Village, at the same place where the boats to Pulau Ubin depart, is done by so-called bumboats. There is no time schedule; when the number of waiting passengers is 12 (the maximum allowed no. of passengers), the boat leaves. See for more details the ferry section. Important note: The last boat from Pengelih leaves around 3:30 p.m. and it is advised to be in Pengelih not later than 3 p.m.

The Roads in Johor Province

The main roads are very busy and not very attractive for cycling. When you enter Johor Province over the Johor Causeway, you will have to go far before encountering quiet (good) roads. The best part is the south east corner; everything east of Singapore and east of Kota Tinggi. But take into account that the main connection Kota Tinggi - Sungai Rengit, is a busy main road as well. All other roads in this area are attractive for cycling. There are no reliable maps for sale. For that reason, I did some mapping myself (in the end, it's my profession) and the result can be seen, downloaded and printed if you wish, from the maps section, 'Map of Johor Province, east of Johor Bahru'. The quality of the roadsurface is sometimes very bad. Nice roads (e.g. the road along the east coast south of Desaru) can deteriorate quickly, but maintenance is regularly applied.

Touring routes

The small maps are only suitable for general reference; (saves me a lot of explanation) use other maps, like my Map of Johor Province, east of Johor Bahru for more details. All distances mentioned below, are distances in Malaysia only.

  1. Sungai Rengit 38 km.
    Take the ferry to Pengelih and cycle along the coast to Sungai Rengit, a nice market village with good (seafood) restaurants. The road is flat and not busy with nice small villages and nice sea views. Same road back.

  2. Tk. Ramunia 56 km.
    Same as route 1, but continue after Sg. Rengit along the coast. This part is not attractive at all, but things change when you reach the south east corner of the Johor peninsula. Turn right on a small (asphalt) road passing by Kg. Gambut, taking you to the east coast, where you find Ramuniah Beach and a restaurant, which is only for groups, visiting the resort at that place. If your idea of a tropical beach is one with only palm trees, no litter and no other people (but also no foodstalls), go a few kilometres more north, over the very narrow road along the coast, beyond the Peranginan Seaview Resort.

  3. the Desaru loop 77 km.
    Start the same way as in 2, but continue going north along the east coast. The 'very narrow road' described in route 2 will join the main road again. From there on are no sea views, but it is a quiet and attractive road. After 4 kilometres on the main road, there is a signposted junction. Turn right to Tanjung Punggai. You reach the coast with beaches and a local style resort, called Batu Layar Resort, marked 'a' on the map. A restaurant can be found here as well as accomodation for the night. Continue along the coast; the road will join the main road again, where you turn right to continue direction north. After 12 kilometres you turn left (final destination Belungkor is signposted) and continue for 4 kilometres until you hit the main road Kota Tinggi - Sg. Rengit. Turn left and find the right turn to Belungkor after 7 km. Finish in Belungkor by taking the ferry back to Singapore.

    Now, there are 2 excursions that can be made. It's the excursions that make this tour a very enjoyable one. First: instead of avoiding the whole Desaru Resort circus, you could go there and have a lunch or just a drink in an upmarket atmosphere, watching people. There are several hotels, restaurants and nice beaches. Instead of turning left at the point where 'Belungkor' is signposted (see above), continue 1 km more and turn right to Desaru at the roundabout. Depending on to what extend you're going to explore Desaru, this excursion takes 5 to 10 kms extra.
    Second: from the roundabout near Desaru, continue north. After 4.5 km you reach another roundabout, near the village of Tanjung Balau. Want to visit the village with beach? turn right. Otherwise, or after visiting Tanjung Balau, from the roundabout take the road that goes into southwestern direction. (That's turning left when coming from Desaru). After 6 kms you hit the Kota Tinggi - Sg. Rengit main road. Your destination Belungkor is to the left, but if you have some time to spare, turn right. Immediately on the left side, you find a complex of restaurants and a big market-like shop, nicely located on a hill. This place is a pleasant stop, there's always a lot of ambiance and they sell many kinds of excellent fruit, available in small portions. From that place, Belungkor is still 28 kilometres to go. If you do all the above suggested excursions, the total tour will be about 95 kms.

  4. Sedili 118 km.
    This tour is definitely the best you can get in south Malaysia. Part of it follows a new road (2001) through uninhabited and uneffected nature. An ideal starting (finishing) point would be one of the Desaru resort hotels.

    From Desaru, head west, until you reach the Kota Tinggi - Sg. Rengit main road. Turn right. (don't forget to stop at my favourite roadstop, see 3) and you will find a junction at 3 kilometres beyond the just mentioned roadstop. Turn right. Now you find yourself on a quiet, long road with mainly palmtree plantations and for the next 40 kilometres you'll find no villages (a few places to buy a drink, though). The terrain is attractively ondulating, no steep slopes or high hills. The road ends at a T-junction. You have to turn right to continue, but you may want to know that there is a village (with shops) nearby, if you turn left. For the next 18 kms your direction is north east, to the fishing village Tanjung Sedili. Just before this village, there is a road to the right, following the coast to the south. After 12 kilometres you reach Sedili Kecil. Here you can find an attractive local style resort with a good restaurant, on the waterside. After passing the bridge, you find yourself on a brand new road, leading all the way to Desaru, which is still some 40 kilometres away from that point. You may see more monkeys than cars on this road.

  5. Pontian 128 km.
    In Johor Bahru, follow the stream of traffic westward. You find yourself on National Rd. no. 1, don't deviate from it, till the village of Sekudai (at approx. 15 kms). There you find a left turn (marked 'a' on the map), with signs for Kg. Tiram and Kg. Pendas. Follow that road. You cross a new motorway and reach the village of Gelang Patah, after another 15 kilometres. Before reaching this village, you cross a new and wide road with, amazingly, no traffic. You can take this road (turning right), this makes a shortcut. You end up at a T-junction; turn right (if you go via the village: head north). You have another 10 km or so of a lovely and quiet country road and then you hit the busy Johor - Pontian main road. Pontian is 20 kms away. (see map, marked 'b'). Now, when you, after 2 kilometres or so, just started getting tired of the rushing cars, there's an escape. You'll see that the old Pontian road deviates from the main road, on the left. Follow that old road. It's only a few kilometres long, but it's a lovely quiet road before you join the main road again. In Pontian, at the T-junction, turn right. After 2 kilometres, next to the bus terminal (on the left side), you find an attractive complex of restaurants, on the shore.

    Same way back.


Latest update: January 1, 2004.