Singapore to Kukup Private Car for Seafood

Kukup is a Chinese fishing village in Johor’s Pontian district, built on wooden stilts over the Straits of Malacca. People come for one thing above all — seafood eaten over the water — and stay for the mangrove island across the channel and the southernmost tip of mainland Asia a short drive away. It is a favourite weekend lunch run for Singapore families, especially those with grandparents who remember the place from decades ago.

There is no direct public transport, so most visitors drive. With Luxway SGMY you skip the driving: a private car picks you up at home, crosses the Tuas Second Link with you seated inside, and brings you right to the restaurant. The fare is per car and includes tolls, checkpoint fees, fuel and parking, and you pay your driver only when you arrive.

Wooden houses on stilts over the water at Kukup fishing village, Johor — Photo: Kukup stilt village by Wee Hong, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

Wooden jetty and fish farms off Kukup with Pulau Kukup mangroves behind — Photo: Pulau Kukup by Sengkang, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Globe monument at Tanjung Piai, the southernmost tip of mainland Asia — Photo: Tanjung Piai globe monument by Amy00, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

Distance

About 60 km from the Second Link

Travel time

About 1 hr 30 min – 2 hr

Best crossing

Tuas Second Link

Best for

Seafood, mangroves, multi-generation trips

Prices last updated: 1 October 2026

Vehicle	One way	Return
Toyota Innova	SGD 170	SGD 330
Toyota Alphard / Vellfire	SGD 200	SGD 390
Hyundai Staria	SGD 220	SGD 430
Toyota Hiace	SGD 250	SGD 500
Van 18-Seater	SGD 250	SGD 500
Random 5 Seater Car	SGD 170	SGD 330

Need the driver to wait? Waiting hour: SGD 40 per hour.

What to See and Eat in Kukup

Kukup is small, but the area around it packs in more than most visitors expect. These are the stops our passengers ask for most.

Seafood restaurants on stilts

Large open-air dining halls sit right over the water. Chilli crab, steamed fish, butter prawns and lala clams are the usual order, served family-style for big round tables.

Kukup Laut stilt village

Walk the plank paths between wooden houses, drying racks and moored fishing boats. At low tide the mudflats underneath are busy with crabs and mudskippers.

Pulau Kukup Johor National Park

Just offshore lies one of the world’s largest uninhabited mangrove islands, a protected Ramsar wetland. A short boat ride from the jetty brings you to its boardwalk and lookout tower.

Kelong fish farm visit

Boats from the village run out to floating kelong farms where fish are reared in nets. Children enjoy seeing the feeding, and some farms let you try line fishing.

Tanjung Piai

About 20–30 minutes’ drive from Kukup, Tanjung Piai is the southernmost point of mainland Asia. A mangrove boardwalk leads to the tip, with ships passing in the strait beyond.

Pontian town

The district town you pass on the way is known across Malaysia for its own style of wonton noodles — an easy breakfast or snack stop going in or coming back.

Planning Your Kukup Day

Most groups leave Singapore mid-morning, arrive for an early seafood lunch before the dining halls fill up, then spend the afternoon on the mangrove boardwalk or at Tanjung Piai before heading home. Leaving Kukup by late afternoon usually beats the worst of the evening checkpoint traffic. For a full loop with the same driver, our Day Trip Service keeps the car with you by the hour.

Book a Day Trip Service package (8, 10 or 12 hours) if you want Kukup, Tanjung Piai and Pontian in one loop with the same driver
A return transfer with SGD 40 per hour waiting time works well for a simple lunch-and-back trip
Weekends and school holidays are busiest — weekday visits are calmer and the restaurants are easier to get into
Bring sun protection and mosquito repellent for the boardwalks, and comfortable shoes for the uneven plank paths
Wheelchair users and elderly passengers: tell us when booking so we can suggest a roomier vehicle and drop you as close to the restaurant as possible

Best Time to Visit Kukup

Kukup is a year-round trip, but timing within the day matters more than the season. The village looks its most lively around lunchtime, when the restaurants are full and the fishing boats are tied up below the walkways. If you want to see the mudflats and their wildlife, check the tide table — the stilts and the creatures underneath are only exposed when the water drops.

Tanjung Piai is at its best in the late afternoon, when the heat eases and the light over the strait turns golden. During the wetter months at the end of the year, afternoon showers are common, so plan the outdoor boardwalks for the morning and keep lunch for when the rain comes.

Which Vehicle for Kukup?

Kukup trips are often three generations in one car, so comfort matters more than luggage space. The Alphard, Vellfire and Staria offer wide captain seats and an easy step-in height that older passengers appreciate; the Toyota Innova is the value choice for up to six. A full family reunion of seven to thirteen fits in a Toyota Hiace or 18-seater van, so everyone arrives at the same table together. Couples or small groups of up to four can also take the Random Standard Car.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get from Singapore to Kukup?

Usually about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours door to door. Kukup is about 60 km from the Tuas Second Link, which is normally the quicker crossing for this side of Johor.

How much does a private car to Kukup cost?

From SGD 170 one way in a Toyota Innova. Kukup is usually a lunch-and-back outing, so if you plan to return the same day, ask us to compare two one-way fares with an 8-hour Day Trip Service package.

Can we go to Tanjung Piai on the same trip?

Yes. It is only a short drive from Kukup. Mention it when booking — a Day Trip Service package or added waiting time keeps the car with you for both.

Will the driver wait while we have lunch?

On a return booking the driver can wait at SGD 40 per hour, or you can book a separate pick-up time instead. Choose whichever fits your plans.

Is Kukup a good trip for elderly parents?

Yes — it is one of the most popular outings for seniors. Staying in the car through immigration saves a lot of walking, and the restaurants are a short stroll from where we stop.

Do I need to book a boat to Pulau Kukup in advance?

Boats are arranged locally at the jetty and we do not sell boat tickets. We simply drop you at the jetty and pick you up when you are back.

Which checkpoint do you use for Kukup?

Usually the Tuas Second Link, as Kukup is in south-west Johor. If traffic there is unusually heavy, your driver may choose the Woodlands Causeway instead.