Pulau Tioman

Malaysia

Pulau Tioman is an island off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, acclaimed as a geological wonder, ecological paradise and one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful travel destinations. Located 32 nautical miles off Pahang state, but connected through Mersing town in Johor, the island continues to enchant visitors with its warm beaches, lovely seas and lush rainforests. Budget and midrange hotels provide quick accommodation at every village, but there are also luxury resorts nestled within private coves and beaches. A melting pot of cultures, Tioman Island attracts youthful travellers from around the world - a great place to make friends every season.

Travel Tips

Commercial development at Tioman Island is still relatively low compared to other tourist islands, such as Langkawi. This restricts most major facilities to Tekek, the largest village along the west coast. Food is generally expensive here, but there are some cheaper hawker stall restaurants that you can find. Since the island is duty-free, beer is a staple while the local pastimes are fishing, surfing and smoking substances. Most places (and people) are tourist traps - do some research before your trip and check around to evaluate prices. If you're a lady, it's best not to travel alone - and there are many beach boys at popular beaches.

The only bank with an ATM machine is located near the jetty in Tekek, but most hotels (even budget chalets) will accept foreign currencies at higher exchange rates. Broadband internet is available in most villages, from cybercafes or as part of a resort's facilities. There are clinics in Tekek, Paya and Genting. Most sundry shops are stocked for travel needs, including mild medication for general ailments, raincoats, shoes and spare clothes. Besides jungle trekking, water taxis (speedboats) are the main method of getting to different beaches and places of interest around the island. It's best to book a package tour from your resort for the best value, as one-way stops are incredibly expensive.

Best Time to Go and Weather

Like mainland Malaysia, Tioman Island has a hot and humid climate, with sunny afternoons and warm evenings but cool nights. Temperatures are usually consistent and the calm weather peppered with occasional showers and storms. The tourist season peaks between May and August, when the weather generally displays the least rainfall. The monsoon winds begin to blow from October, bring heavy rain and strong waves till January (surfing season). During this time, ferries run once a day, while only select hotels (usually the larger ones) will open, providing significant discounts off their standard rates.

How to Go

Getting There, Directions

Pulau Tioman can be reached by a combination of land and sea transport, or a quick flight from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. The major gateway to the island is Mersing, a coastal town at the west of Johor state. The common route for most visitors is to drive or take a bus ride up to Mersing, then wait for the next available ferry out to sea. Berjaya Air operates quick flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore from MYR214-240, one-way, that lands at Tekek. For those with private yachts, a new marina facility lies in Tekek, with power, water supply and easy customs clearance. The moonsoon season (Nov-Jan) suspends the frequency of ferry departures, though at least one trip is usually made daily.

From Kuala Lumpur, use the North-South Highway and head south towards Johor Bahru. Turn off the Ayer Hitam exit and drive towards Kluang, which will pass through Kahang and isolated rainforests. Follow the signboards to Mersing and you should arrive in four or five hours, over a distance of 400 km. If you have a map and do your homework, trunk roads are a good alternative which will evade all tol costs incurred on the highway. An example is the road from Bahau (after Seremban) to Kuantan; turn off at Rompin and follow it south to Mersing. From Singapore, visitors can drive up across the Causeway to Johor Bahru and follow the coastal road towards Mersing, passing through Kota Tinggi via the Tebrau Highway over a 150km journey.

Once in Mersing, a parking lot can be secured at the jetty complex for MYR10 per night, which gets a little cheaper the longer you park (pay when you leave). Some of the hotels at Mersing town provide free parking if you stay a night in their rooms (such as Timotel), with complimentary transfer to the jetty. Buses are available are available from Puduraya Station (Kuala Lumpur), Larkin (Johor Bahru), and Queen and Lavender Street Bus Terminals ( Singapore). From the bus terminal at Mersing, it's a quick 1km walk to the jetty or a MYR10 cab ride. Alternatively, the jetty at Tanjung Gemuk (35km north of Mersing), also offers ferry rides to Pulau Tioman during non-monsoon months - with a slighty faster duration of sea travel and no tidal issues.

Getting There by Ferry and Air

Bluewater Express runs the main ferry service, accompanied by smaller operations during peak months between February and December. There are generally three rides (once during monsoon season) per day, from 8.30am to 2.30pm. The trip takes about two to three hours depending on tidal conditions and wind speeds, with the ferry making a stop at every village except Mukut and Nipah. Tickets cost MYR35 per way; pay double for a return ticket. A small MYR5 marine park conservation fee is levied on visitors at the jetty gate. Finally, Berjaya Air flies small 48-seater propellor planes daily or several times a week, depending on season, from Subang Airport (Kuala Lumpur) and Changi Budget Terminal (Singapore). The plane lands at the airstrip in Tekek, which is just opposite a jetty and customs complex to get your passport chopped or travel to other villages by speedboat.

Nature

Forest, Waterfall, Wildlife

Pulau Tioman is a vibrant nature destination that invites discovery and exploration from intrepid visitors. Large granite boulders and karst formations provide exciting rock climbing pursuits, especially along the south, while the summit of Gunung Kajang, the highest off-shore mountain of Malaysia at 1,038 meters, can be assailed from Paya, Nipah and Juara. Meanwhile, the coastal jungle and hilly dipterocarp rainforest that drapes the island in a shroud of green, support a diverse range of ecosystems. Many new species of wildlife have been described here over the last years, including colourful mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish living on land and sea.

For beginners, an easy 20 minute hike through the rainforest starts from the southern edge of Berjaya Resort in Tekek to Kampung Paya, which in turn, connects to Genting Village with a similarly short jungle trek. From Ayer Batang, a jungle trail starts at the northern end which will take you through Panuba Bay (30 minutes), Monkey Beach and Monkey Bay (1 hour plus), before ending at Salang Beach (approx 3 hours). There's also the popular cross-island jungle trek from Tekek which starts at the village mosque on top a hill. After 3km (an hour) of trekking through hilly rainforest, the trail cut outs to the paved road to Juara. At Genting's south, a 2.5km jungle trail begins moderately, then undulates steeply to Nipah Bay after passing Japamal Resort. Finally, Juara Bay has jungle trails that lead to scenic view points and waterfalls, while the famous Asah Waterfall can be accessed from Mukut with a half-hour trek.

Diving

Islands, Reef, Wreck

Pulau Tioman is one of Malaysia's most popular scuba diving destinations, counting among the likes of Pulau Redang, Mabul and Sipadan. Vibrant coral reefs reside under the sea waters off Tioman and neighbouring islands, as well as wrecks and caverns that attract a tropical variety of marine life, including fish, crustaceans and turtles. Most dive centers are concentrated in Kampung Tekek and Salang Beach, but you smaller establishments are found at Paya, Juara, Genting and Ayer Batang villages. These dive centers provide a variety of diving courses with full board accommodation, from beginner to veteran under PADI certification.