Johor Travel
The Southern Gateway
to Malaysia

The state of Johor (also spelt Johore in English), is known as "The Southern Gateway to Malaysia". It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. Situated at the southern-most tip of Peninsular Malaysia, which also means the southern-most point of mainland Asia, it is surrounded by the South China Sea on the east and the Straits of Melaka on the west. It is the only state in Malaysia that has both east and west coasts.

The name Johor originated from the Arabic word Jauhar meaning Gem / Precious Stone. Before that name was adopted, the area south of the Muar River to Singapore Island was known as Ujung Tanah meaning "end of the land", due to its location at the end of the Malay Peninsular. Coincidently, it is the southern-most point of the Asian Continental mainland.

Modern Johore history began in the early 16th century with the founding of the Sultanate of Johore by the son of Sultan Mahmud Shah, the last Sultan of Melaka, who fled from the invading Portuguese in Melaka. The Johore Sultanate is one of the two successor states of the Melaka empire. The sultanate grew in economic and political importance due to its position as an East-West trading hub and eventually evolved into an Empire, covering Johore, the Riau Archipelago and parts of eastern Sumatra.

Today, it is a prosperous state with a rapidly growing economy that is dominated by agriculture, manufacturing, trade and tourism.

Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri, is the state capital and the hub for businesses, transportation, and entertainment.

It is linked to Singapore by a causeway measuring 1038 meters in length, that provides access to the island by rail and road.

The only thing that separates Malaysia from the Republic of Singapore is the Selat Tebrau (or Straits of Johore).

There are many Johor Travel spots and tourist attractions here in this beautiful state. With the scenic beaches and Islands that grace the east coast, it is home to one of the most famous beaches of Peninsular Malaysia, Desaru.

With beaches spanning 25 kilometers and the many water sport activities that can be found here, Desaru attracts thousands of visitors, both local and foreign every year.

Nature lovers and recreation seekers will not be dissappointed when they visit this beautiful state. The state has five sites which are declared as national parks; the Endau Rompin National Park, Endau Rompin (Selai) National Park, Pulau Kukup National Park, Gunung Ledang National Park and Tanjung Piai National Park. These five eco-tourism destinations are popular because of their natural wonders.

A landmark which is worth mentioning here is the Sultan Ibrahim building. Standing tall on Bukit Timbalan, this unique building is the State Government Secretariat building. It is well-known for its impressive Saracenic architecture and mosaic designs.

Johor is also known for its large number of golf courses. The state has earned the reputation as a golf enthusiast's paradise. Some of the golf clubs provide holidays facilities, such as accommodation, swimming pools, spa, health centres and shopping stores.

The few Johor travel spots I've shared with you here are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other Johor travel spots and tourist attractions here worth exploring but it would be quite impossible to share with you all of those interesting places to visit on this one page. So, I'll be starting (and constantly updating) a new section on this page specially dedicated to the amazing and beautiful Johor travel spots. So, do check back often!

Meanwhile, if you are planning or have already planned a vacation to Johor and will be coming here soon, it would be helpful to have a Johor Map (requires pdf reader) to make your traveling easier. A Johor Bahru Map (requires pdf reader) would also come in handy when you're on your vacation there. Hope it helps!

So, how do we get to Johor, the "Southern Gateway to Malaysia"? Want to know the easiest and most convenient way? Simple! Just Click here to find out how.