3D2N Rawa Island Trip Review

Last updated 26 Jul 2024SGMYTAXI

Thinking of planning a holiday at Rawa Island Resort?

Struggling to make a decision since the average cost per night (about RM 2500) is triple than that of Tioman Island Resort?

My review of my 3D2N stay at Rawa Island Resort can be of service.

I’ll be taking you on a journey through every aspect of my trip, including a speedboat guide, food, activities to do, and more!

With all this helpful info, you can use it to plan your next Rawa Island getaway.

And since it’s always better to show than tell, check out photos attached below and throughout this post, so that you yourself can be the judge.

 

 

 

1. Overall 3D2N Itinerary of Rawa Island Trip

 

Here is the full itinerary of my 3D2N stay at Rawa Island Resort. You can use this as a helpful guide.

Rather than writing a whole essay about it, I’d rather show you how I spent my time here.

 

 

Here is the map of the Rawa Island Resort.

Rawa Island Day 1: 

 

6:00am – Get ready to depart from Singapore to Mersing Jetty.

10:00am – Arrive at Rawa Island Resort Office at Mersing Jetty.

11:00am – Depart via speedboat from Mersing Jetty to Rawa Islands Jetty.

11:30am – Arrive at Rawa Island Resort Jetty and enjoy a welcome drink.

12:00pm – Check-in at the Front Desk and familiarize yourself with the surrounding facilities. 12:30pm – Have lunch at the restaurant; there is only one dining option available.

1:00pm – Explore the amenities and activities offered at Rawa Island Resort.

2:00pm – Relax in your room.

3:00pm – Get ready to swim in the sea in front of the chalets.

6:00pm – Head to the hilltop to enjoy the view of the South China Sea.

7:00pm – Dinner time.

8:00pm – Relax at the beach bar with a mocktail.

11:00pm – Goodnight.

 

Rawa Island Day 2:

 

7:30am – Wake up and have breakfast.

8:30am – Take pictures at Rawa Spa Center & Ocra Nation Dive Center Area.

11:00am – Rest in the room.

12:00pm – Lunch.

12:30pm – Depart for Island Hopping.

4:30pm – Return to the room and rest.

6:00pm – Take a walk around Rawa Island.

7:00pm – Dinner time.

8:00pm – Relax and enjoy a mocktail.

11:00pm – Goodnight.

 

Rawa Island Day 3: 

 

7:30am – Wake up and have breakfast.

8:30am – Take some Instagrammable photos.

10:00am – Swim, snorkel, and relax at the beach.

12:30pm – Order lunch.

1:30pm – Return to Mersing Jetty.

2:00pm – Head back home.

 

If you are looking for Private Car from Singapore to Mersing Jetty, look no further, here is the solution https://www.sgmytaxi.com/mersing/

 

2. What To Bring 

 

Here are some of the things that I brought. I decided to only carry one bag.

• Swimming Suite
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Water Sport Wear
• Books
• Some Snacks
• Cloth For 3 Days
• Sandals Or Shoes
• Phone & Charger
• Credit Card, RM Cash
• Passport
• Hair Dryer
• Mosquitoes Repellent
• Waterproof phone case

 

3. Speedboat to Rawa Island Resort

 

The speedboat ride is relatively short, only taking 20-30 minutes to reach Rawa Island. You’ll be relieved to know it was a comfortable ride.

 

For a full speedboat guide from Mersing Jetty, you can read this post: Mersing Jetty Speedboat To Rawa Island 

 

But if you’re coming from Singapore, this guide will be very helpful: How To Go To Rawa From Singapore

 

4. Surrounding of Rawa Island Resort (Photos)

Ok, so now you might be wondering what the resort actually looks like. Well, lucky for you, I took plenty of photos on my trip—all captured with an iPhone 15 pro.

 

5. Unboxing BeachFront, WaterFront and Frangipani Villa

 

On this trip, our group was made up of 3 couples, which gave me the fantastic opportunity to book 3 different rooms: Beachfront Chalet, Waterfront Bungalow, and Frangipani Villa.

To know more about each of these 3 rooms, read this: 5 Rawa Island Resort Accommodation & Room Review

 

 

 

 

 

6. Food – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

 

Unfortunately, the selection of food here left us wanting for more.

The spread was rather limited, especially the breakfast, since nasi lemak wasn’t even provided at all. The roti canai tasted like it was instant and not handmade.

But taste wise, it was good. Lunch and dinner was better for us, though we still think they could’ve expanded the options a bit more.

 

 

7. Islands Hopping – 4 Nearby Islands

 

While here, you should totally jump at the chance to go island hopping.

 

I got the contact for an island hopping tour from the resort’s front desk, and managed to snag a 4-hour trip for RM 850.

We were brought to the nearby islands, namely Pulau Harimau, Pulau Hujung, Pulau Tenah, and Pulau Besar.

 

If you’re thinking of going underwater, I’d say Tioman is a better destination for snorkelling. Here, the coral and fishes seemed average, and there wasn’t much to discover.

Which is the reason why I decided to sit out the diving course offered at Rawa Island Resort. I would prefer trying it out at Tioman in the future.

 

8. Activities – Walk To Hilltop & Jungle Trekking 

 

On Day 1, we went up to the hilltop. It’s just a short 10-minute walk, but the route is quite steep.

So if you’re with kids, take extra precaution. Because of the weeds surrounding the hilltop, you might not see the edge of the cliff and fall off it.

 

Both of these activities were really enjoyable, and it’s because of the amazing views and surroundings.

Honestly, I actually think the management should install a safety gate or handrail up there.

On the 2nd day, we went along the Rawa Walk Trail. We stopped at the Orca Nation Dive Centre to snap some pictures and wait for the orange sunset over the horizon.

 

9. Activities – Snorkel, Swim and Kayaking 

 

 

If you’re keen on more fun, there are basic water activities and sports offered here at Rawa Island.

• Snorkelling: Rent snorkelling gear with fins, which will enable you to swim further and discover more at sea.
• Swimming: Since the seawater is so clear near the chalet, it’s perfect for swimming, especially when it’s high tide.
• Kayaking: If you don’t want to swim, go kayaking instead! Just 1 round is good enough exercise.

 

If the sun is getting to you, retreat to the nearby jetty, where you can observe the fishes in the water. Some might even get close to you!

 

 

 

10. Conclusion

 

 

Rawa Island is known for its crystal clear waters and clean beach, and we certainly weren’t disappointed by that. The environment at the resort was also clean and well-maintained.

The rooms were great too, though some things in the room were rusty. I’m willing to overlook that, since we are on an island after all, not the mainland.

One thing I disliked about Rawa Island Resort was the food. There was nothing to shout about and the spread was very limited.

Many people enjoy snorkelling here, but I’m still dissatisfied with the coral reefs here. They looked like they were dying, and it’s probably because of the low tides.

The lacklustre marine life at this resort prompted me to charter an island hopping adventure to snorkel at the other nearby islands instead.

Furthermore, I think it would have been better if the resort provided at least a complimentary set of snorkelling gear for their guests, since it’s one of the main activities promoted here.

Since it was a short trip, I didn’t have time to check out the PADI Fun Dive or the spa for a much-needed massage.

Despite all this, I still had a great experience at Rawa Island Resort and thought it was worth what I paid.