Tioman Island (Malaysia) is located at a distance of 60 km from the mainland of the country. It is part of the Pahang National Park in Malaysia. Tiomana can be safely considered one of the most picturesque islands in Southeast Asia, its amazing nature is shown in the musical “South Passion”. The main attraction of the island is the beaches with clear turquoise water, white sand and exotic nature.
General information
Tioman Island has a length of 20 km and a width of 12 km, there are about a thousand inhabitants in eight settlements, many of them are descendants of pirates and fishermen. Some settlements resemble small villages in Indonesia.
The center of the island is densely forested, and some of the plants are unique. The highest point is the top of Mount Gunung Kajang, 1038 m high.
Interesting fact! The streets are very clean, and river water can be drunk without pre-boiling. However, you should not check this fact in practice, it is better to buy purified water in stores.
People have surrounded Tioman Island in Malaysia with various legends. One of them tells about a Chinese princess who, on her way to the groom, was fascinated by nature and decided to stay here forever, turning into a Tioman pearl.
Getting to this part of Malaysia is recommended for anyone who wants privacy, dreams of a comfortable beach holiday, exotic nature. In addition, it is a real paradise for diving enthusiasts, because the underwater world is as colorful as the flora and fauna of Tioman.
Attractions
The main attraction is the comfortable coastline, nature and wildlife. It is home to unique animals and plants. The island’s most popular village is Juara, which has the cleanest sand on the island and a sea turtle sanctuary where animals can be fed and petted.
Tioman has two mountains covered with dense jungle — “Donkey’s Ears”and” Dragon’s Horns”. It is noteworthy that only a few people were able to reach the top of the “Dragon’s Horn”.
Another interesting place to visit is the village of Tekek, where you can visit the Marine Park, where unique types of corals are collected – soft, hard.
Purchases
The territory of the island is a duty-free zone, however, shopping here is unlikely to be profitable. Most of the retail outlets are located in the village of Tekek. Here you can buy food, drinks, cigarettes, sweets.
Useful to know! If the purchased goods need to be transported to Singapore, a fee must be paid.
There are quite a lot of souvenirs in the settlement – T-shirts with interesting drawings, dishes in the shape of pumpkins, jewelry in traditional Malaysian style, clogs made of wood.
In the resort areas there are small shops where you can buy personal hygiene items, insect protection, and other necessary goods.
It is important! It is forbidden to break off and remove corals from the island, you can buy a branch in a souvenir shop.
Transport
There are almost no high-quality paved highways on Tioman Island in Malaysia, the only road leads to the village of Tekek, and then to the resort of Berjaya. The fastest and most comfortable way to communicate between settlements is by private boats. The cost of travel in them is $7-25 (per boat), depending on the distance.
Also on the island there are SUVs-an analog of taxis. Cost of a trip between the extreme points of Tioman:
- $25 per passenger;
- $40 for two people;
- $12 if there are four passengers.
Connection
The best mobile connection in the south of the island. The Internet is available almost everywhere. Most Internet cafes are located in Tekek and Air Batang. The cost of a single session is usually $3. The hotels have wireless internet access.
It is better to call from hotels, since most of the phones are broken. Wherever there is an Internet connection, you can contact the subscriber through various messengers.
Infrastructure
Hotels on an island in Malaysia are completely different from traditional European modern buildings. Most often, these are compact chalets for 7-9 rooms, decorated in the national Malaysian style. The interior decoration is dominated by natural wood.
The largest village on the island is Tekek, near the local airport, there are grocery stores, Internet cafes, you can rent transport. Ferries from mainland Malaysia dock near Tekek. There are also a police station, currency exchange offices and customs.
Genting is an entertainment center with a nightclub, a restaurant (the menu is dominated by Chinese cuisine), and a disco.
If you want to get to the jungle, it is best to go to the village of Paya, from here excursions go deep into the tropics, tourists are always accompanied by funny monkeys who strive to get to the personal belongings of vacationers.
The village of Nipa attracts lovers of romance, there are many deserted beaches and almost no tourists.
Useful to know! The widest coastline is located near the Berjaya Hotel and belongs to it. Many beaches are experiencing an influx of Singapore residents over the weekend. This is due to the fact that Tioman is a center for diving and spa services and golf.
Accomodation
Tioman has accommodation for every taste and budget, and most hotels are located in the western part of the island. There are luxury hotels, affordable hotels, as well as individual houses and chalets. Most of the hotels are villas decorated in a traditional Malaysian style.
Many inexpensive hotels and chalets are located in the village of Tekek. Accommodation in a simple chalet with a minimum set of amenities will cost$ 12-13, in a slightly more comfortable hotel it costs from$30 to $ 60. In expensive hotels, a room costs an average of about$100. Berjaya is one of the most prestigious resorts on Tioman Island. The hotel has a swimming pool, SPA center, wi-fi zone, private beach. The hotel also has a huge picturesque territory of the island.
Useful to know! With a budget of 200 ringgit (about $ 50), you can find good accommodation in any part of the island. The cost of accommodation is determined by the season – in the period from January to March, prices are 50% less than in the high season-from July to August.
Food
Local restaurants and cafes serve national and European cuisine. Here you can taste traditional Malay dishes, as well as the usual European cuisine. Cheap snacks are best served in eateries, most of them in the villages of Tekek and Juar.
On a note! Be sure to try nasi rice, served as a side dish, also cooked in coconut milk. Interesting and unusual-tasting meat prepared according to local recipes. Do not deny yourself the pleasure of trying seafood. It is better to buy alcoholic beverages in duty-free stores.
Compared to other resorts in Malaysia, food on Tioman Island is quite expensive. Prices in ringgit:
- local dishes cost from 5 to 12;
- European dishes are more expensive – 15-25;
- rice + grilled seafood — 30-40;
- breakfasts — about 8-12;
- burgers — 5-10;
- coffee — 2-3.
Safety
The main feature of the locals is their friendliness, so crimes on the island are extremely rare. However, even with such external calm and serenity, one should not forget about precautionary measures. Women should dress modestly, especially when planning a trip to local villages.
Before traveling, it is recommended to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B and against malaria. Tourists are advised to use mosquito nets, insect repellent products, sunscreen cosmetics and wear hats. If you plan to swim in a snorkel, be sure to specify which underwater inhabitants are poisonous and can be dangerous.
TOP 8 beaches of Tioman Island
1. Tulay
This is a small island that is located 4 km from Tioman Island. The beach is covered with exotic vegetation, white sand, and the water is perfectly clean. This is where the best places for diving and snorkeling are located. The sea floor is sandy.
2. Monkey Beach
It is a wild, secluded place located in the northwestern part of the island. The beach got its name because of the large number of monkeys that live here. The sea floor is covered with sand, there are small stones. The water is turquoise and clear.
You can get here by walking through the jungle or by boat on the water.
Photo: Tioman Island.
3. Juara (Pantai Kampung Juara)
Great location in the eastern part of the island. The length of the beach is about 2.4 km. There are many turtles here. The coast is sparsely populated, as it is difficult to get here. The sea floor is covered with fine sand, the entrance to the water is gentle. On the shore there are cozy cafes.
4. Salang
A popular holiday destination in the northern part of Tioman Island. There are a lot of palm trees on the shore, clean, white sand, the water is clear. Nightlife lovers come here, as it is the only place on Tioman where there are night bars and discos. To go snorkeling, you need to get to the southern part. The sea floor is covered with sand and rocks. Here you can go diving, well-developed tourist infrastructure.
5. Paya
Holiday destination in the west of the island, the beach is covered with palm trees b lheubvb n, which give a warm shade. The descent into the water is comfortable, and in the northern part there is a convenient place for snorkeling.
6. Genting
A picturesque beach in the western part of the island, it is here that you can find picturesque landscapes, beautiful bays, but the sea floor is covered with stones. The beach has a well-developed tourist infrastructure.
7. Air-Batang
Beach in the western part of the island, also known as ABC. The length of the coastline is 1 km, the sea floor is mostly rocky, some places are suitable for snorkeling. The infrastructure is well developed.
8. Tebek
The main village on the island, where ferries arrive, and the beach is located to the north and south of the port. In comparison with the beaches in other villages, this holiday destination is inferior, but in general you can sunbathe on the seashore.
Weather and climate
Tioman Island in Malaysia is located in the equatorial climate zone. Throughout the year, it is hot here – about +30-32 degrees. The sea temperature is almost unchanged all year — +29 degrees.
Malaysia has two distinct seasons: rainy and dry. The rainy season on the island begins in November and ends in March, at this time it is difficult to get to the island and the weather is not conducive to rest – a squally wind blows, and the sea is stormy. Not all hotels accept tourists at this time of year.
The best weather on Tioman in Malaysia is set in May and lasts until September. The maximum number of tourists arrives from June to August. Please note that on most days the forecast will show rain, which is always possible in the tropics, but in 90% of cases Tioman will have dry weather. Therefore, it is worth looking at the whole picture.
The absolute best time for diving during the year is March-June, when we see visibility reaches 30 meters, but the weather and conditions are good for diving all year round.
Diving and snorkeling
For diving enthusiasts, Tioman in Malaysia is a real paradise. Clear warm water, a variety of aquatic life and bright corals create excellent conditions for sea diving. Diving centers are available in every village and in all resort areas. The cost of one dive is about 130-150 ringgit, if you pay for 3-5-10 dives at once, you will get a discount. The duration of one dive is usually 60 minutes plus 5 to 20 minutes on the way to the dive site.
Tioman’s best snorkeling and diving spots:
- Chebeh Island – located a quarter of an hour from the village of Salang, depth up to 27 meters, features-numerous tunnels and caves under water, a lot of coral, you can meet rays;
- Malang Rock-is located to the north of the island in Malaysia, at a distance of 20 minutes from the village of Salang. In addition to diving, there are excellent conditions for snorkeling – in shallow water there are many corals, sponges, at great depths you can meet rays, barracudas and even sharks;
- Salang Bay-located in front of the village of Salang, the depth is up to 15 meters, the reefs are easily accessible, novice divers come here to admire corals, anemones, turtles and parrot fish;
- near the office of the Marine Park-located between the settlements of Tekek and Air Batang, the depth is up to 30 meters, in addition to diving, this is a wonderful place for snorkeling, as fish are baited here, there are several sunken ships nearby;
- Renggis Island-located near the village of Tekek, the depth is up to 15 meters, it is one of the most popular places for diving and snorkeling, you can find parts of sunken ships.
Snorkeling equipment can be rented for the whole day, and the service is available at each beach.:
- Vest and fins – 10 ringgit each;
- mask and snorkel – 15 ringgit.
Some hotels and guesthouses offer half-or full-day snorkeling excursions. The price ranges from 60 to 150 ringgit.
How to get from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman
1. How to get to Tioman by plane
The airstrip is located near the village of Tekek, there is also a customs office and a pier where ferries dock.
Since 2020, there are no flights to the island. Tioman can only be reached by ferry.
2. How to get to Tioman Island by bus and ferry
The route includes a transfer to the city of Mercing. Tioman Island is served by only 2 Malaysian ferry companies: CataFerry and BlueWater.
Express buses run 4 times a day from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) to Mersing. Flights to Mersing Jetty (Gateway to Tioman) are convenient for those who do not want to stay in the city of Mersing, but immediately plan to transfer to the ferry. Travel time is 5.5-6 hours. The ticket price is 50 Malaysian ringgit. You can find out the current schedule and buy tickets on the website www.easybook.com.
The ferry schedule changes daily due to tides on the Mersing River, so check it out a day or two before departure on the previously specified website (www.easybook.com). Ferry tickets to Pulau Tioman (Pahang) can also be purchased here. The cost is 51.75 ringgit one-way, buy immediately round trip, as the island has its own difficulties when buying them, and the return ticket is issued with an open date, which is very convenient. In addition, you need to pay 30 ringgit for visiting an island in Malaysia (as a national park). Tickets can be purchased directly at the ticket offices near the pier.
The ferry ride from Mersing to Tioman takes about 1.5 hours. The cabin of the ship is air-conditioned, so be sure to take a warm jacket with you.
Now you know how to get to Tioman in Malaysia, which beach to relax on and how to organize leisure activities. Be sure to visit this corner of Malaysia and experience the exotic flavor of the resort.
