Map of Tioman
Tioman is in Pahang ("East Coast") within the Mersing Marine Park, which contains fewer commercial islands such as Sibu Island. The primary gateway Mersing is in Johor ("South").
Tioman's beaches were depicted in the 1958 movie South Pacific as "Bali Hai". In the 1970s, Time magazine selected Tioman as one of the world’s most beautiful islands. The densely forested island is still sparsely inhabited. Also it is surrounded by numerous white coral reefs, making it a haven for scuba divers from around the region.
Already the most commercially developed of Malaysia's eastern islands, a controversial RM 40 million marina project for Kampung Tekek, complete with 175 m cargo jetty, now threatens to speed up the pace of development on Tioman considerably. The marina is finished and the jetty is under construction. However, visitors with an aversion to such progress can avoid this part of the island and stay elsewhere without any impact.
Monitor Lizards roaming the village in Salang.
You will find enormous monitor lizards across the island and in the kampongs you will often see them sifting through the rubbish piles looking for food. There is also an abundance of domestic cats.
Rubbish control on the island is still in a development stage, apart from in some of the resorts. So expect some less than pristine circumstances, but there is no doubt that at June 2011 places such as Air Batong are making progress on this front, encouragement required.
Get in
There is a RM5 Tioman island fee, and a RM10 (Student) or RM20 (Regular) Marine Park fee. Both must be paid separately at two little kiosks just before departing from the Mersing ferry terminal (April 2016). The biggest Kampong (Village) on the Island, Tekek, will be your most likely point of entry and wether arriving by ferry or plane, transfer from there can be arranged by your resort. Those on a budget might get off the ferry in "ABC" and crash in one of the many places there.
By Ferry from Mersing
Tioman Ferry
Most visitors arrive by ferry from Mersing on the mainland. Bluewater Express operates the ferry services and its boats are fast and comfortable taking approx 2 hours to the first jetty in Kampong Genting. This ferry is now the only option, the smaller and faster services being cancelled because of safety concerns after a tragedy. The boat is sometimes boarded by the Malaysian coast guard but it appears that the operators' are aware of when this will take place and take pains to follow the rules only on those days.
Coast Guard boards Tioman ferry for safety check
There are three services per day in each direction (sometimes only 2 during week days), but tidal issues (or lack of passengers) may cause cancellation. Bluewater Express charges RM 35 (RM 55 before 7.30am and after 7.30pm) for an adult ticket, RM 25 for a child ticket (babies in arm free, as of last info).
The timetable is variable and depends on the tide. Contact Bluewater for info. The Tioman Dive Centre posts monthly ferry schedules on their facebook page. Tioman-Scuba.com also posts the schedules on their homepage.
The ferry will stop at the different Kampongs ("village" in Malay) along Tioman's west coast. This is the usual order of the stops on the ferry to Tioman:
- Kampong Genting
- Kampong Paya
- Kampong Tekek
- Kampong Air Batang ("ABC")
- Kampong Salang
The ferry operator tends to leave Mersing when the tide is high enough for the ferry to be able to pass through the mouth of the river, there are sufficient passengers aboard, or perhaps they are waiting for a connecting bus. The ferry ticket sellers advise arriving an hour early at busy times. This does not guarantee a seat, but will put you near the front of the queue. The ferry may still leave much later than the scheduled time, so if you are planning to use the ferry then leave sufficient buffers (1-2 Hours) at both ends of your ferry trip. During the monsoon season (late October to mid/late February) the ferries run much less frequently and exceptionally bad conditions may shut them down completely for several days at a time.
In Mersing, the main bus terminal is about 1000 metres up river from the ferry terminal. From the terminal face the river and go right. Follow through the commercial centre of Mersing, past the stadium to the ferry terminal. The bus may also drop you off at the corner where a conveniently located travel agent will attempt to sell you accommodation on the island. It may suit some to make a booking in the town before going to the island, others may prefer to take their chances and check out the offering on the island. In the instance where the afternoon ferry is not running, one may have to stay in Mersing, which can be a fairly low expectation affair, depending on demand. Suggestion is to head straight to the ferry terminal, buy a ticket and worry about other matters later. Alternatively, you simply buy your ferry tickets in advance at Tioman Ferry Tickets, so your ferry seats are 'guaranteed' - providing you arrive early and queue. Do no attempt to arrive 'on time' as you may end up waiting for the next ferry. If you are not heading for the island, boats are available for private boat charter, scuba dive, fishing & Islands Tour along Jalan Dato Onn, Mersing.
In Mersing you can find on the way to the jetty a 24h food court serving Malay food. You can spend a few hours there if you are going to take the first ferry in the morning and you are arriving from Johor Bahru at night. Next to the ferry terminal, the Port Café & Bistro offers stable WiFi and decent food and beverages. The place serves no alcohol and you should not embarrass anyone by asking for it.
By Speedboat
It is possible to book a private boat from Mersing, which is independet from the tide. The Ride costs RM 1300 one way and only departs if enough passengers are found, willing to put together that amount. This is usually not the case during low season. Inquire at different travel agencies near the ferry terminal. They will give you a deadline and if enough passengers are found by that time, you are good to go. In March 2016 the time was 14:00 and the required number of passengers 10, paying RM130 each.
By Ferry from Gemuk
Some ferries also depart from Tanjung Gemuk to the north of Mersing. Especially travel agents from Singapore use this ferry terminal, if the ferry schedule in Mersing is inconvenient due to tidal timings. The Tioman Dive Centre posts monthly ferry schedules on their facebook page.
From Singapore and Johor Bahru
There are several travel agencies in Singapore offering direct packages including bus, ferry and accomodation. Many dive operators in Singapore operate their own trips to Tioman, and this would usually include taking a bus from Singapore to Mersing or Gemuk, then boarding the ferry for Tioman. While it might be more expensive, this would probably be one of the most hassle-free ways to visit Tioman. These operators also know the Ferry time tables and schedule the busses accordingly. There are fairly comfortable coaches leaving from the Singapore Flyer bus terminal run by WTS Travel. Tickets can booked easily online. These also drop you directly at the ferry and carry a courier to explain matters.
The cheaper way is to cross the Singapore border at Woodlands checkpoint and head for Larkin Bus Terminal in Johor Bahru (JB) via one of the singapore bus services 170, CL1 or CL2. The ride can be paid via ezlink-card and will be suspended at the singapore and malaysian checkpoints. Don't forget to tap your ezlink-card each time you leave the bus and take the same service to continue your travel to Larkin.
Bus tickets from JB to Mersing cost around RM 13 one way and there are 3-4 connections a day. Bus tickets can be bought online or at the bus terminal in JB. The ride takes 1.5 to 2 hours. One possible bus operator is Transnasional, but there are more available. For the return trip from Mersing to JB you can book tickets at Counter 33 near the ferry terminal. At time of writing Zainal Hamid was running this service (+6019-753 4250) (April 2016).
If you are coming from Johor Bahru too late, there is the chance to have no more ferry when you arrive and you will be forced to stay a night at Mersing. Enjoy it and take time for shopping as it will be more expensive on islands. Please note, most shops will be closed in the early morning (before 10am).
By plane
Tioman Airport (IATA: TOD, ICAO: WMBT), also known as Pulau Tioman Airport is located next to Tekek village (Kampung Tekek).
The sole commercial operator to the island's small airstrip near Tekek was (see note below) Berjaya Air [7], which flew 48 seat Dash-7 turboprops from Kuala Lumpur (60 min; RM214 one-way; daily) and Singapore (35 min; RM240 / S$111 one-way; daily peak season, several times a week during the monsoon season). Discounted fares are available if booked online more than 3 days in advance, and may be available if booked in a package with accommodation.
Maximum baggage weight is 10 kg. Excess baggage charges seem to depend on how many passengers are on the flight.
The landing at Tekek involves a tight banking to avoid one mountain, a right-hand tight turn, then a relatively quick drop onto the airstrip which is at the base of Gunung Kajan, another mountain. Since the airstrip has been extended this is no longer the hairy procedure it once used to be. The flight from KL takes around 1 hr.
These flights use the secondary airports of Subang (IATA: SZB) in Kuala Lumpur and Changi Budget Terminal in Singapore (IATA: SIN), so factor in transfer time from KLIA/Changi when making your plans. As a general guide, allow 1 hr on the road to travel between KLIA and Subang.
Please note: Berjaya Air has suspend its services between Subang-Tioman-Subang and Singapore-Tioman-Singapore with effect from 01st March 2014 until further notice due to operational reason! Check their website for more details. As of August 2014 there are still no flights inward and this is causing most travellers to have to use the ferry which is compounding problems with terminal crowding and cancellations there as well. The island resort businesses are now suffering and the operators are tentatively discussing taking matters into their own hands.
By Yacht
Tekek now boasts a recently built harbour with substantial wave break walls. The Tekek anchorage does not look like the nicest part of Tioman to hang about in, especially given the carefully chosen high intensity sky polluting orange lights installed in abundance. With any luck for all residents and visitors to the island the usual non-existant standards of maintenance will apply and these lights will fail over time.
Get around
Local transport is by bike, cars at Tekek, and by boat. A concrete road runs through Tekek, extending from the Berjaya resort in the south, past the airport, and to the northern end of Tekek village. From this point some steps lead to Air Batang and a concrete path is runnning the length of Air Batang area. Elsewhere there are almost no roads on Tioman. Cars may charge around RM20 for the short distance from the end of Tekek jetty/parks info office to the airport and up to RM120 for the biggest distance with a minimum of 2 or 4 passengers.
The rough concrete track to Juara was started by the Japanese in WWII and was re-opened several years ago. It follows the main electricity cable across to Juara. A 4 wheel drive vehicle is required. When you arrive you may be asked for up to RM175 to charter a whole vehicle to take you across. In May 2012 chartering a whole vehicle from Juara to Tekek cost RM60, though individual passengers in shared vehicles were quoted as RM35/head. It takes 45 min and is an interesting, steep and hairy ride. One alternative to paying a vehicle to take you down this road is to walk through the spectacular forest trail instead. The entrance to this trail is part-way up the mountains when coming from Juara (turn right at the sign), or when coming from Tekek (or ABC) simply turn east at the northern end of the airport.
By boat
By far the best and cheapest way of hopping from one village to the other is to use the Mersing/Tioman ferry service. On its way to and from Mersing it goes between Salang in the north and Genting in the south. The ferry will take you to most villages between from RM20 per person (for the Bluewater ferry) and is much cheaper than the private speedboat services. As of July 2011, the ferry operators do not appear to be charging for the island-hopping.
Speedboats or "Water Taxis" charge from about RM20-60 per head for a single trip, depending on the covered distance. Although you can try to negotiate, they know full well that they're the only game in town (unless you hike). Expect to pay double at night.
Current price lists are posted in each village. For example, a speedboat from Salang to Tekek will cost about RM 30, but a trip from Salang to Juara will cost about RM60-100. A single trip by boat as far as from the west coast to the east coast is RM150 and can be shared if there are more passengers. Mukut (south) to Air Batang village (north) will cost RM150 per head. One local is setting up a "water taxi base" on Monkey Beach and offers transport for tired hikers; he charges RM25-30 per Person to Tekek (April 2016).
By jeep
There are 4WD "taxis" from Tekek to Juara. In May 2012 only RM60 was requested. In fact a new road has been built between Juara and Tekek and now also normal car can run between the 2 villages. The ride is around RM 35 a person (depends on the number of persons). Don't be forced into using those who tout directly outside the airstrip. Slow down to local pace and take your time over everything.
By Scooter / Bicycle
It is posible to rent a scooter (at RM25 per hour or RM80 for 24 hours) or bicycle in several places. One scooter rental stall is near the Jetty in Tekek. Turn left and walk north for some 200m, the place is on the right, next to the airstrip. Fuel is included in the rental fee, since there is not much to drive around: the only road accessible to the scooter is the 4km stretch from Berjaya resort in the south to the end of Tekek in the north. The guards at Berjaya won't let you continue further south and in the north stairs block the way to ABC.
On foot
Trek from Tekek to Juara. Stairs facilitate the way up.
There are several jungle treks , following the power lines, which connect the Kampungs. Depending on your condition and preferences, it could be better to have walking/trekking shoes and long pants.
- Tekek - Juara It is relatively easy to cross the island on foot from Tekek to Juara. The path up from Tekek is a well established but unpaved, 7 km long track with occasional stone steps to assist and a few fallen tree trunks to keep things interesting. You cannot lose the trail because it follws the powerline to Juara. It's feasible with a small backpack, but fairly strenuous, so allow plenty of time (at least two hours each way for the trail itself, or three and a half hours if crossing from settlement to settlement). In Tekek, the trail starts north of the airport (sign to Juara). Next to the mosque and close to the waterworks, one leaves the road and continues on the trail going uphill. On the east side, it's an easy broad concrete footpath with no steps all the way from the highest point down to Juara. Once on the concrete, soon there is a short path to the right, leading to a lovely waterfall. Watch for the sign and get ready to refresh yourself in the water. Locals are able to drink the water, you might be not. Allow a minimum of at least two hours for the whole hike, significantly more if you want to stop along the way or if you're carrying anything, and take plenty of water (and optionally bug repellent). You can refill water bottles in the stream that feeds the Tekek town as drinking water catchment area about half way. Bear in mind that the path is unlit and that it gets dark early in the jungle (especially on the Tekek side). There is no cheap way to go back. Alternatives to walking are speed boat or 4WD, RM50-100.
- Tekek - Air Batang It is also possible to walk from Tekek to Air Batang (ABC). The path is relatively level, made in concrete and has some stairs right before arriving at ABC.
- Air Batang - Monkey Beach Again following the power cable, the hike is possible, though this is less level. Don't try it with a heavy backpack. First comes Panuba resort. Next is Monkey Beach which is beautiful (it takes about 70 min to get from ABC to Monkey Beach). Make sure to follow the established trail by the power cable. Shortly thereafter is Monkey Bay. The two lie next to each other (in fact, a good swimmer can swim out of the bay of Monkey Beach and reach Monkey Bay on the right). At Monkey Beach, one local has set up a "Water Taxi Base" in March 2016.
- Monkey Beach - Monkey Bay If you continue along Monkey Beach to it's northern end, you will find a foot path that leads to the side of Monkey Bay, a very pretty hourglass indented beach. The foot path is subject to tree-fall so expect it to be hard to follow in places, but panic not if you lose the path, use your head and nut it out. The more use the better the path will get. Both beaches offer very good snorkeling. The other way to reach them is by water taxis. There is a hut at Monkey Bay and ruins of attempts to set up business here, but otherwise no development, but the writer definitely saw a family of monkeys, who ignored the humans and didn't seem to expect any food. Of course don't feed them.
- Monkey Bay - Salang Keep following the power cable to get to Salang. Remember to follow the power lines, since the path may be hard to see sometimes. This path is more steep than the previous paths. It may take up to 90 min for this part of the hike. Don't try it with a heavy backpack.
Monkey Beach with its yellow sand
Air Batang (ABC)
Air Batang is a village which is spread a couple of kms along the coast. It is full of basic accommodation charging around 50 MYR a night for a fan room (in June 2013). There are also more upscale accommodation with air conditioning. Mini markets are available. Restaurants in this area have low quality. Drinks are available at a few place where you can also enjoy the beautiful sunset sipping a cheap beer (5 MYR in June 2013). Regarding snorkeling, the quality of the reef is poor on the north of ABC. Also a trip for snorkeling at Coral bay and Monkey beach (costing 85 MYR a person - negotiable but price high due to the fact you hire a boat) does not offer much to see underwater.
A 40minute walk to Tekek airport allows you to go to the duty-free shop, where you can buy a beer as low as 2.5 MYR for a can. It is a mini-market where you can also buy other products.
Juara
Juara is a very quiet beach at the east coast especially in the off season, when almost nobody is there. The village is spread back from the little track which follows the coast. People live all over the place, normally in simple huts. The tourist huts and accommodation is within 20 m of high water mark. The place itself is divided into two beaches that are separated by a small hill, which is said to be the "origin" of Tioman. Some locals say "you have not been on Tioman, if you did not stand on these rocks".
The beach to the north with the jetty has very nice sand but with some dead coral in the shallow water. Swimming is OK, but walking in the water can be painful. At both ends of this beach is the mouth of one of the rivers.
The beach to the south is even quieter. The sand again is very nice and there are no obstacles in the water. At the south end of this beach the last of the three rivers meets the sea.
There are three rivers coming from the mountains, delivering cold freshwater to the beach, a chilling alternative to swimming in the sea and good for "showering" off the salt water. A path leads to waterfalls in the jungle, which is nice for a swim and climb over the large rocks. To reach the waterfalls, just follow a marked path for about 30 min. The path starts at the south beach, next to the turtle breeding farm opposite of the great rocks on the beach. The path is marked by the bottoms of cans, nailed to the trees and painted yellow and red. At the beginning of the path there are three such signs at a tree. If you walk along the only concrete road towards south to the turtle breeding farm, you can not miss it.
- At the southern end of Mrntawak beach there is a turtle hatchery.
- Juara Turtle Project, (about 30min of crossing to tetek by walk), ☎ 09 419 3244 (contact@juaraturtleproject.com), [8]. open during the day to visitors. available volunteer and group programs. sea turtle conservation / sustainable living / habitat protection. privately funded and operated. 1-2h to understand more how sea turtles live and how to preserve them; you may see eggs or injured sea turtles depending on current situation. Minimum donation of RM10 as entrance fee.
Genting
Genting Village lies on a narrow strip of golden sand, fringed by dark grey granite boulders, at the foot of steep hills covered in lush rainforest. The village is stretched out along a footpath that follows the coastline and the buildings reach hardly a hundred metres from the shore into the jungle behind.
A few shops, restaurants, cafes, chalets, a clinic and a mosque complete the core of the village around the jetty. Villagers’ wooden homes are a few metres further down the footpath in either direction, surrounded by the tall emerald trees of the forest.
You can easily walk from the one end of the village to the other in thirty minutes, or rent a bicycle to get around. The same concrete footpath that is the main throughway of Genting continues north to the village of Paya and there are footbridges over the many mountain streams that find their way into the ocean here. It does not take long before you start encountering monkeys and monitor lizards and all you can hear is the calls of birds and the din of cicadas.
Kampung Genting Jetty GPS: N: 2.785787, E: 104.118907
Asah Waterfalls
The Asah or Mukut waterfall is one of the many waterfalls on Tioman and was featured in the 1958 movie South Pacific. The waterfall can be accessed from Kampung Asah or by trekking from the nearby Kampung Mukut. Water Taxis will take you to either; alternatively you can book a package together with lunchbreak and snorkelling from ABC or any other Kampung.
Asah Quite And Peaceful Night
Do
The most popular activities on Tioman are scuba diving and snorkelling. Some places offer rockclimbing and abseiling. Jungle trekking between the Vilages has become more popular in the past years and there is also a trek to the 1000m high mountain "Gunung Kajang". However, the latter has not yet drawn much attention. There is no infrastructure for any other watersports like surfing, kitesurfing, jetski or the like. (April 2016)
Scuba
Scuba facilities are readily available, and the diving is reasonably good, especially in view of the proximity to Singapore. Most villages have a variety of dive shops. Padi Open water courses average at about RM990 (4 day course), and for licensed divers each dive is roughly RM90). You plan to dive and are travelling with small budget? Go to Air Batang (ABC) or Salang since accommodation is about RM50 and you have bigger choice in dive operators. Most of the regular dive sites are situated in the north of the island, close to Salang. (dive sites: Chebeh,, Sea Fan Canyon, Labas, Tiger Reef, Golden Reef, etc). Less explored dive sites in the East of the island are famous for their macro diving. (dive sites: Karang Tohor, Berlabuh, Najoi, Semanjing, Juara House Reef, etc).
Scuba Amigo/Amigo Dive Center - PADI 5 Star, Juara Village (From the jetty in Tekek, take a taxi to cross to the East side of Tioman), ☎ +60146122032 (info@scubaamigo.com). PADI 5 Star rated dive center with experience instructors, divemasters and knowledgeable staffs. The ONE and ONLY dive center in Juara Village. Courses offered include PADI Open Water, PADI Advanced Open Water, PADI Rescue Diver, PADI Divemaster and also Discover Scuba Diving for non divers. Less explored dive sites on the East of Tioman Island and superb macro diving. Dive enthusiast will definitely love this place.
DiveAsia - PADI 5 Star IDC centre, Salang Village (From the jetty, turn left, walk straight and it's on the left.), ☎ +60 9 419 5017 (diveasia@yahoo.com), . Established in 1976. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Excellent dive sites (Salang is best for diving). Helpful with arranging accommodation. Specialized in TecRec and Sidemount. The first Instructor Development Centre on Tioman Island. Services include boat dives, day and night shore dives, equipment servicing, air/nitrox/trimix refill, hydro testing, PADI recreational dive courses (Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Emergency First Response, Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Divemaster and Instructor). RM950 for PADI Open Water course, RM850 for AOW.
B&J Dive Center, Salang Village. Has two full-service dive shops, at Air Batang and Salang. A very accommodating bunch of people with good dives. B&J can cater to technical divers offering nitrox and trimix as well as deeper wreck expeditions. Can also help to arrange accommodation. Don't just dive: plan and extra day or two to explore this island's other attractions.
Tioman Dive Centre:, Enjoy diving in clear blue waters over beautiful coral reefs teeming with marine life. Tioman is perfect for both learning to dive (TDC offer a comprehensive range of PADI dive training courses) and diving for fun at over 20 dive sites. Safety is, of course, their primary concern, but your fun and enjoyment are also important. They maintain a friendly, informal atmosphere in the dive centre, and hope you will enjoy their hospitality. Their many repeat visitors are testament to the fact that they are doing something right. ☎ +60 9 4191 228
Tioman Cabana Sport : Dive with local guide to explore underwater world..with friendly staff and have most the best experienced and recommended from backpackers diver call 013-7176677
Fisherman Divers: Very professional PADI certified dive shop with experienced instructors & divemasters and really friendly staff. They can provide Nitrox (EANx) fills as well. Located at Salang beach, opposite to Four "S" cafe.
Eco Divers: in Air Batang, ☎ +60+60 13 602 2640, +60 13 368 7833. A small diving centre with limited equipment.
Bali Hai dive shop UK run operation with a surprisingly large office on the jetty and a variety of diving craft moored in the vicinity. They offer the usual programs including night dives on the home reef from the jetty.
Freediving
Tioman being rich in marine life is a great location for freediving. It’s not uncommon to see turtles and blacktip reefsharks. You can easily get depths of up to 25m off the shore and a good 30m a little further out by boat. Trips can also be made to other dive spots. There’s a freediving centre located in Tekek that is offering certified courses, fun dives and training.
Freedive Tioman, located within Swiss Cottage Resort, Tekek, ☎ +60 19 7437806 (info@freedivetioman.com). Tioman’s first freediving centre; located right on the beach at Swiss Cottage resort in Tekek. Run by two Apnea Total instructors offering certified beginner and advanced courses, training facilities and fun dives. Courses available in English and German. edit
Snorkelling
Perhaps the most popular activity for visitors is snorkeling. Most resorts can arrange for speedboats or seabuses to take you to the beaches and small uninhabited islands nearby (such as Pulau Tulai, aka "Coral Island") and Renggis island where the snorkeling is at its best. The water is almost pristine save for the occasional litter. Just be careful of the small jellyfish, as they can pack a sting, and try not to lose your rental gear or you'll be subject to the renter's arbitrary fines. However, snorkeling is fantastic in front of most beaches and can rival that of any snorkeling trip at a fraction of the cost. However, do note that the beaches are home to several "Portugese Man of War". These prickly creatures tend to rest on rocks and if snorkeling in shallow waters, one should be especially careful of not coming in contact with these. They pack quite a sting and might require medical attention. Snorkelers who are squeamish about brushing against thick clouds of jellyfish in the water (as can happen in the May-September period) can try wearing a long-sleeved shirt or a rash guard when snorkeling. Alternately, you can rent a wetsuit from one of the dive shops if you're not comfortable with the jellies. You can rent snorkeling equipment for about 15RM/day (mask, scuba, fins). Some of the best locations are as follows.
Paya:
A group of rocks adjacent from the beach offers a variety of colourful coral and fish.
Tekek:
The marine park, 3 km north of Tekek, has a man-made artificial reef just off its jetty. The visibility can be questionable and theres not much coral but is teeming with fish.
Air Batang:
The best village for snorkeling. At ABC (the far end of the beach) one can snorkel around the rocks towards panuba with a full reef full of colourful coral and fish. Its not too deep, making it perfect for snorkeling. In June 2013 snorkeling around panuba offers a limited quantity of tropical fishes Even more colourful is the reef on either side of the jetty where one can see turtles and a vast garden of yellow coral.
Tioman Cabana:,
☎ +60 13 717 6677, watersport at Tg Saik Beach, Tekek Village.
Salang:
South of the Jetty the coral begins almost as soon as the water is deep enough to swim in, offering some great views of a variety of fish and even turtles to the less confident swimmer. Following the rocks further out and around the headland gives an even greater variety of marine life. It is also worth swimming out to the small Island just off the headland for the possibility of seeing black tip reef sharks.
For those who are surf junkies, Tioman receives swells up to 2 m from the South China Sea. However, they only come during the wet season which is from November to March and only hit the eastern side of the island.
Tioman Dive Resort
Jungle Trekking
The paths and trecks described in the get around on foot section offer some nice and accessible jungle trekking between the different villages. No guide is required. The longest such treck is about 7Km across the island from Tekek to Juara. The shortest treck is some 200m from Tekek to ABC. From Juara there is a half hour treck to waterfalls in the jungle (Refer to the See, Juara section). If you have been jungle trekking e.g. in Taman Negara, the Tioman trecks may seem easy, but they make for a good "jungle adventure" anyways.
Gunung Kajang
The 1038m high Mount Kajang is the highest island peak off peninsula Malaysia. There are two trails leading up, one from Kampung Paya and one from Kampung Juara. Neither should be attempted light-headed and without a guide. Both require thoughtful preparation and physical fitness. The trek from Paya to the summit and back can be completed in one day if you start early (about 10 hours pure hiking time). Some groups decide to camp in the jungle and make it a two-day hike.
An iron pyramid marks the summit, but there is no vista bacause of the heavy vegetation. However the hiker might come along some viewing points during the way up. The temperature drops significantly with the altitude and creates the habitat for a rather unique flora. "Big sisters" to this hike are trails in the Cameron Highlands and the climb of Mount Kinabalu on Borneo.
Golfing
The Tioman Island Golf Course opened in 1989 sporting 1 x 18 holes. The First Nine (Seaview) were designed by Ronald Fream, the 2nd Nine (Hillview) by Michael Coate. The golf course presents astonishing views of the ocean and the jungle behind. Enquiries can be made through the Berjaya Resort .
Miscellaneous
Kayaking
at ABC (actually ABS) 1 hour 15RM, 3hrs 40RM, 1 day (morning till 6PM) 120RM for new sea kayaks (they call it "canoe"). And need to leave deposit 200RM. At Salang 70RM per day (morning till 6PM), but kayaks are old-style fashion. You can combine Kayaking with Snorkelling.
Bicycling.
Mostly all bicycles at ABS and around are pretty old and trashy. But if you want you can rent one: 5RM per hour, 25-30RM per day. And need to leave deposit 50RM.
Motorcycle.
Possible to rent at Tekek-area as minimum. From 15RM per hour. For a day cost 60-80RM. Cost of gasoline/bensin 3RM per liter.
Buy
Tioman is a duty free zone and offers a good selection of alcohol and cigarettes at very cheap prices. The main outlet is "vision duty free" (past the hospital and school) and at the airport. Other villages such as Paya and Salang have small outlets.
However, do note that in case you intend to purchase alcohol or cigarettes and carry them into neighbouring Singapore, then you would need to pay duty on these goods and hence the cost advantage vanishes. Refer to Singapore customs website on duty free allowances; the Singapore authorities can be pretty strict, always declare tobacco and alcohol to Singapore customs officials and be prepared to pay high duty or dispose of the items.
ATM is available at Tekek. From the wharf go left, the bank with the attached ATM is on the left of the road about 250 metres on. The ATM is a 10-second walk from the airport.
Eat
Depending on where you eat, food can be quite expensive on Tioman, compared to other places in Malaysia. Western food can be up to RM15 per plate, whilst local food is cheap (between RM3-10 normally). Especially if you eat at the restaurants attached to the resorts and chalets, you should plan around RM 30+ per day (good breakfast, lunch and dinner).
The 1.5 l bottle of water costs RM4 (Dec 2010), some places offer refill with locally filtered water for RM1-2. Canned soft drinks are about RM 2.50, beer starts at RM3 (Tiger beer at local shop), but note that you cannot take/consume alcohol in some restaurants.
There are several places to eat in Kampung Genting, particularly around the jetty where you can find Roti Canai, Nasi Goreng and Ramli burger stalls.
Food options in Juara are not particularly exiting. Be prepared for mediocre quality, small portions and prices which are on the high side. The three local food places next to the jetty (turn right when stepping off the jetty) are an exception offering decent Malay food at reasonable prices. On a recent visit (April 2014) we've tried a number of the restaurants attached to the small hotels dotting Juara beach, and the local place next to the jetty with the seats closest to the beach won hands down in terms of tastiness. Ambiance, however, is not their strong point, so seek out other options if you are after a romantic dinner location.
If you are staying at Juara Mutiara, avoid the buffet-style breakfast they try to sell you, one look at it will tell you why - and yes it is possible to just book a room, at a discount, without any food included. While they don't sell alcohol, they are ok with BYO.
The food in Salang is similarly priced and there is a variety of western and local fare. For those who enjoy seafood there are numerous barbeque restaurants offering freshly caught fish, shrimp, squid and crabs, these begin opening around 7pm.
Finally, a list with recommendations, sorted by Kampung:
Arini's Family Restaurant
(Arini Rock Cafe), ABC Beach (Ayer Batang). 5PM-10PM. A small family restaurant on the ABC beach. The food is well prepared by the owner himself and the menu is an eclectic mix of many cultures with the Malayan traditional food as the main focus. The mixes of spices and herbs are done to taste and "in action" by "Man" himself. Chicken and egg burger RM8 Bargain.
Nazri's Place
(Nazri's Place), ABC Beach (Ayer Batang). The biggest food (and drinks) place in ABC with a large veranda overlooking the beach. Offers BBQ in the evening.
ThaiFun Restaurant
(ThaiFun 2011), near Berjaya Tioman Resort. 24 hr/day. Thai restaurant opened in 2011. You can watch Thai television there. It is located directly in front of the gate to Berjaya Resort. (April 2016)
Chinese Food Place
Near Berjaya Tioman Resort, opposite Thai Fun Restaurant. Chinese Restaurant with a decent menu, very good food and friendly chinese owner. Serves Beer at RM5 per can. Also has a seafood BBQ in the evening, where you can chose your seafood by weight and how you like it prepared. Good seafood selection for 2 with vegetables and rice came at RM100. Not the coziest ambience, but some tables are situated right on the beach. It is located directly in front of the gate to Berjaya Resort. (April 2016)
Chinese restaurant
Juara. There is also a Chinese restaurant on the Juara beach which has a great view from its veranda overlooking the beach, so even if you don't feel like you want to eat there its a great place to have a drink before dinner. The food is decent, but relatively pricey for what it is. The beer selection is good, from RM3-7 per can/bottle, and drinks arrive ice-chilled which is nice.
Bushman's
(Bushman's), Juara, south end of north beach (Juara). Food is ok, but if you are hungry order at least two mains per adult, or a lot of sides, otherwise you'll stay hungry. Bushman's servers beer, but it might arrive lukewarm and the selection is limited, with only Tiger and Changs on offer (RM5/can). They also sell wine at RM35/bottle, we didn't have it so can't comment on quality. Ambience is great, with a small terrace overlooking the beach. (April 2016) Bargain.
Drink
If you want nightlife and atmosphere, there are some bars between Tekek Village till ABC which serve everything from cheap beer to cocktails and most do bonfire nights on the beach on occasions.
Allo bar
Air Batang (turn left at the jetty towards Nazri 2) Fantastic beach bar, perhaps the best on the island. Beautifully arranged, cheap alcohol with a great atmosphere. Beer, like at most bars on Tioman is 3 for RM10 from 5PM-7PM. Otherwise expect to pay RM5 a can.
B&J Bar
Air Batang (near Johan's). Has a large selection of cocktails and liquors. Very chilled out.
Mañana,
Juara (southernmost beach). Wooden open air lounge/terrace at the beach with cushions, very good selection of chilled music in the evening, good food and a nice flair. But don't expect any wild parties going on there. The place is almost in the middle of the south beach. At time of writing (April 2006) there was a volleyball net in front of it on the beach.
Bar Rumah, Genting (5 minutes walk north from the jetty). Newly opened in 2011, cosy intimate place right on the beach run by a friendly young local couple who have taken a lot of effort to give the place an individual feel: coral chandeliers, driftwood construction, amazing tree and swinging picnic table. Drinks are a decent price and the cocktails are really well made.
Sunset Bar, Air Batang (Nazri's place). Serves a variety of homemade pizza ranging from RM10-15, sunset bar is right on the beach.
Tioman Cabana Bar,
Tekek Village (between Coral Reef Holidays Chalets & Wak Cottage). Good selection of music from the 70s onwards, Sells beer and cocktails, also hosts private parties. Fireball (poipoi) shows and lessons most nights, plus bonfires. Good place to meet backpackers, travellers and locals. Open by 8PM-3AM. Coconut tree, bamboo and tree building.
Ari's Cafe,
Between ABC and Tekek (make your way from ABC to Tekek, You can't miss it.).
Sleep
While the most commercialized of Malaysia's east coast islands, Tioman has yet to be invaded by mass tourism on the scale of Penang or Langkawi and there are plenty of cheap beds to be found. However, if heading for anywhere other than the backpackers' villages, reservations are advisable as getting to some of the more remote kampungs can be a hassle. Note that some places stay open year round, but many close for the monsoon season (typically end of October to mid/late February).
Budget
Most of Tioman's backpacker accommodation is to the north of the island, with numerous budget chalet operations clustered around Salang and Air Batang (sometimes also referred to as ABC - although this is the name of the resort at the northern end of the beach, not the beach itself), and to a lesser extent Tekek. Dorm beds start about RM 20, single rooms (huts) around RM 40 and up.
Tekek
Coral Reef Chalets, Kg Tekek.
RM40-RM80 onward.
Wak Cottage (previous Sri Tioman),
Kg Tekek. RM25 onward.
Babura Seaview,
Kg Tekek. RM55 onward.
Air Batang
Mokhtar's Place,
Kg Air Batang. RM30 onward.
My friend's place
Kg Air Batang. RM30 onward.
Nazri 2,
Kg. Air Batang. RM80 onward. ☎ +60 9 4191329
South Pacific,
Kg Air Batang. RM45 onward.
Y & P chalets,
Kg Air Batang. RM40 onward.
Mawar beach chalets & restaurant.
mosquito screen, fan, only 1 power outlet/fan, clean, no towel/soap/repellent/trashbin/blanket about RM30.
Salang
Salang Indah Resorts, Kg Salang.
RM100 onward. ☎ +60 9 419 5015, no wifi
Salang Pusaka Resort (Khalid`s Place),
Kg Salang. RM45 onward.
Puteri Salang Inn, Kg Salang.
RM30 for a hut with fan and mosquito vent. Free coffee. 2°52'27.79"N, 104° 9'16.51"E.
Juara
A quieter beach on the east coast, also has a selection of budget rooms at similar prices. Surf season from November through February (monsoon).
Juara Mutiara Resort
single room fan or ac RM30/100.
Beach Shack Chalet
Kg. Juara (Southern Juara beach) ☎ +60 9 4193148 (timstormsurve@yahoo.au), . Basic huts and restaurant right on the paradise like beach, Tioman Surf Center RM40 onward. edit Beds were crawling with bed-bugs!
Paradise Point
Paradise Point is right on the beach; six rooms with fan and attached bathroom (cold shower), double (RM30), triple (RM60). ☎ +60 94193145, +60 13 746 2787 May collect you if you phone ahead.
Tamara resort, Kampung.
Mid-range
Practically every kampung on the west coast of the island has a self-styled resort or two. A typical air-conditioned chalet will set you back in the vicinity of RM 100, although significant discounts can be negotiated in the off-season, in package deals or just by showing up and smiling. In off-season it is advisable to just show up and pick the best and cheapest spots. Genting resorts are largely owned and operated by friendly local fisherman families. For the support of the local community, you are likely to have a chance to pick the best fish at the beach in the evening and have it prepared by the women.
Coral Reef Holidays
☎ +60 9 4191868 or Mobile: ☎ +60 13 7176677, Located on a relatively private beach and is the longest beach in Tekek Village,With main facilities like restaurant,cafe,diveshop,laundry.Various rooms are available with a choice of either a sea view and/or garden view room.Rates start from RM150 to RM190 per room.
Coral Resort Kampung Mukut,
☎ +60 9 4191868, RM100 A/C room, wifi RM5 for 5 days. Refurbished older resort under new management.
Idaman Beach Holiday, Kampung Genting.
From RM80 per night. At the far Southern end of Genting, Idaman Beach Holiday is located on a beautiful stretch of beach, while much of Genting's beach is a little rocky, Idaman enjoys a beautiful sandy beach at all tides. The rooms are simple and can accommodate two to four persons. All rooms face the beach and it is only a few steps from your doorstep to the shore.
Bamboo Hill Chalets,
Situated at northern end of Air Batang. A very small resort with just six rooms. RM70-RM120 . The boulder-top chalets are simple (no A/C or hot water or TV) but to a very high standard, and all directly overlook the sea. The majority of guests are repeat visitors, and booking well in advance is pretty much essential. Closed during the monsoon season.
Melina Beach Resort
About halfway between the Genting and Paya jetties, Melina Beach Resort is a small, non-Malaysian owned and run resort. While the resort is comparably cramped with the 2009 addition of a new building, the semi-private beach is long and shaded rests are great. It offers both A/C and fan rooms built in typical chalet-style, and other more original rooms such as a tree hut. The restaurant also caters for western tastes with some German specialties, and is clearly above average price. Free pick-up and drop from the Genting jetty can be arranged. Alternatively, it is a pleasant 20 min walk.
Minang Cove Resort
The three villas and nine chalets are all A/C with ensuite facilities situated on the south tip of Tioman Island.
Paya Beach Resort, Kampung Paya (south of Tekek), . A typical Tioman resort featuring an almost-private beach, a particularly good restaurant, a swimming pool, a dive shop and chalets of varying standards. The crumbling Standard chalets are poor value, the newer Superiors are much better. Get a package here as the rack rates are extortionate.
Nipah Paradise Resort.
A nice small bay in the south of Tioman, with only two small resorts, the beach and a creek. Nipah is the right beach for people, who want to get away from it all because there is not even a public telephone! The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed, most of the travelers are backpackers who put up at Nipah Beach Chalets. The second resort - Nipah Paradise - is a haven for the backpackers. It offers small cheap chalets. The nice owners offer a two days trekking tour through the jungle to the peak of Gunung Kajang, Tioman's highest peak (1038 m).
Nazri's Place, ☎ +60 9 4191329, . You can camp too there with the price of RM3 person per day. Ask to build camp next to pizza "hut" near beach. This camp place will suite for 2 tent (4 man tent). There are field behind for more tent, but it is far a bit from beach.
Panuba Resort
☎ +60 7 7996349, . Located at a very small kampong about 200 m north of Air Batang and the second last ferry stop. This kg has now been subsumed by an ad hoc collection of accommodation structures that climb the rocky headland. The growing technical prowess of the builders results in a mixed grill of style from Malaysian hut to alpine chalet, and a switch from environmentally sympathetic timber to more intrusive concrete, the remnants of previous structures being carelessly preserved. From RM45 to RM140 en-suite, A/C, kettle (but no tea or coffee) breakfast, and a view from a balcony. In front is a 100 m beach which is great for swimming at the top half of the tide, and a reef for snorkeling. Restaurant kampong grown fruit and drinks. Tiger beer at RM5 and red wine, sold from the snorkeling gear hire shop.
Swiss Cottage
☎ +60 9 4191642. Swiss Cottage, where Tioman Dive Centre is based, was one of the first chalet operators on Tioman. The resort has a variety of rooms built around a central area which is shaded by trees. It has a relaxed feeling and is a great place to hang out. The resort has 5 types of room, all of which are fan cooled, except for the Terrace A/C rooms and Garden View Chalet A/C. Fan is usually sufficient given the beach front location. All rooms are with bathroom and hot water shower, breakfast is included in the price.
Tioman Paya Resort
Located behind the Paya Beach Resort, this resort is in need of upgrading. The chalets have hot water, A/C and TV. However, the A/C in the chalets are of the 1980s model that can vibrate strongly. The toilet is not what you expect to see in a mid-range resort, and the towels and blanket are very worn out.
Ella Place.
Located at the northern end of Salang Bay and one of the quieter options in Salang. A few small, simple chalets all face the sea. Each chalet has a fan and an attached bathroom with cold shower, while some also come with air-conditioning.
Impiana inn, Kampung Genting . Located 5 minutes South of Genting Jetty in a garden setting just off the beach, Impiana Inn has 18 units of chalets including 2 honeymoon suites, 1 family room & 16 standard rooms. The small basic rooms are kept immaculately clean and all come with air-cond, water heater, in-house coffee-making and basic amenities. The main building where breakfast is served also provides unlimited complimentary drinking water and cordial drinks. Impiana Inn is also the first and only Tioman resort with hemodialysis facility.
Damai Tioman Resort,
☎ +60 7 7996364 , ☎ +60 9 4131442, ☎ +60 9 4197055. Located at Kampung Genting, Tioman Island. Owned and operated by Tioman islanders, Damai Tioman Resort features 54 wooden chalets, 24 of which are Deluxe, 20 Standard and 10 Basic. With a maximum capacity to accommodate 188 pax, the resort is ideal for social gatherings and large group events. Other amenities include a spacious 60 pax conference room, a well equipped dive centre and a mini market plus souvenir shop. Damai Tioman Resort is only a short 5 minutes walk from Kampung Genting’s main jetty and there is also a house reef in the clear blue waters just in front of us.
Splurge.
Japamala Resort
Japamala Resort, . Tel: +609-4197777 A very private and intimate resort with just 12 villas and chalets, a beautiful beach and 2 amazing restaurants, Tamarind Terrace & Mandi Mandi. Japamala is a one-of-a-kind resort in Malaysia with the best service (and highest rates) on Tioman.
Note that there is no mobile network coverage at Japamala which makes it an real getaway from the rest of the world. Impeccable service from its attentive staff.
Berjaya Tioman Resort
P.O. Box 4 86807 Mersing, Johor, ☎ +60-9-419 1000, . Berjaya Tioman Resort is the biggest resort on Tioman offering accomodation in several bungalows along the beach. It still has the charme of a "golden era" in which the helipads near the golf course were in use regularly to fly in the jetset. Nowdays the resort seems to mainly cooperate with travel agents from Singapore and other big Cities to offer package deals in the mid-range of prices. The beach is great, the pool relaxing and the two restaurants cater all needs.
Berjaya Tioman Resort
Bagus Place
At the Southern tip near Minang. Bagus Place Retreat is a peaceful sanctuary of breath-taking natural beauty located on the beautiful Tioman island by the South China Sea. The Bagus team strive to work in harmony with the environment and community to offer a unique holiday experience. Relaxation, sporting activities and being one with nature are some of the things you will find at this oasis.
Cope
Internet
The WiFi-Situation has improved a lot and as of April 2016 you should be able to find a cafe and/or hostel with free WiFi in any Kampung. Free WiFi hotspots are found in the following places (the list is definitely not complete):
Ferry terminal in Tekek (open WiFi hotspot)
Nazri's Place in ABC (free WiFi for guests)
Bushman Cafe in Juara (free WiFi for guests)
Berjaya Tioman Resort (WiFi available for guests in public areas - poolside, restaurant, café and lobby)
More internet options on Tioman:
Broadband: There is an Internet café across from the airport in Tekek. The rate is 10rm/hour. It is open 09:00-18:00. There is also broadband available at Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf & Spa Resort for similar rates, and one at Paya Beach Resort.
Dial-up: most of the villages have a couple of dial-up spots. In Air Batang, there are 2
Bamboo Hill has dialup for RM10/hr available 8:30AM-7:30PM. There is also an Internet café near the jetty with 2 computers, open until late
Tioman Cabana You can surf the internet and also have access to hotspot-wifi, The rate is RM10/hour.Open from 9AM-2AM.
Tioman Dive Centre Located at Swiss Cottage, Tioman Dive Centre offers free wifi for customers with their own laptops who are diving with them, for the duration of their stay. They also have an on-site computer with internet access for RM10/hr.
Panuba offers a single internet service for RM1 per 5 min.
3G Mobile Broadband If you have your own laptop then by far the cheapest way to get online on Tioman is to subscribe to a mobile broadband service from Celcom] [http://www.celcom.com.my or Maxis. The cost from Celcom is only RM20 per week for unlimited access (5GB).
Tioman Cozy Hotel internet is available for free and unlimited time at the 1st floor after the last room.
Telephone
Most, but not all, of Tioman has cellphone coverage. Celcom, DIGI and Maxis coverages are available but may be limited due geographical conditions. You can buy prepaid SIM cards from the shops at Tioman or at the airport. Malaysia Communication and Multimedia Commission's new regulation (MCMC/G/06/06 dated 5 June 2006) , prepaid registration is mandatory, expect a day or two for line activation.
Tioman advertises that it has a number of pay phones that can be used upon purchasing a phone card, and a lot of travellers buy the cards before realising that none of these phones work.If you want to call home, a lot of chalet complexes offer international call services at a price, otherwise consider using skype via the internet (call credit can be purchased online in order to call regular telephones thru Skype).
Television
Now, in Tioman, does not have television available without satellite except TV3, the only way is setting up a satellite. On Salang, the 4 S Cafe (which is in fact a bar) and the Salang Dreams Cafe both have cable TV. Ask nicely, and you might get the staff to change the channel - though watching TV is usually low on the list of things to do in Tioman.
Supermarket
The biggest supermarket on the island is the duty free shop in Tekek. Leaving the ferry terminal turn right and walk south for a couple of 100 meters. The store is on the right. The store has a separate section for alcoholic drinks.
