Tioman Island
From Imakoopedia
Tioman Island (Pulau Tioman in Malay) is a small island, 39 km long and 12 km wide, located off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. The densely forested island is still sparsely inhabited, but is surrounded by numerous white coral, making it a haven for scuba divers from around the region.
Its 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.
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Get in
By boat
Most visitors arrive by ferry from Mersing on the mainland. There are a number of operators but fares are fixed at RM35 one-way for the two-hour trip. Some speedboats also depart from Tanjung Gemuk to the north of Mersing. There are direct Transnasional buses to Mersing from Singapore (S$14), or you can save a few dollars by hopping over to Johor Bahru and taking any bus to Kuantan from Larkin terminal (RM15).
In high season a direct ferry operates daily from Singapore's Tanah Merah ferry terminal. Return tickets start at S$150 and the journey takes 3-4 hours; taking this route is not advisable if you are prone to seasickness.
By plane
The sole commercial operator to the island's small airstrip near Tekek is Berjaya Air (http://www.berjaya-air.com/), which flies Dash-7 turboprops from Kuala Lumpur (55 min; RM 214 one-way) and Singapore (40 min; S$111 one-way) daily. Both journeys last around 40 minutes, and discounted fares may be available if booked in a package with accommodation.
Note: Singapore flights leave from Seletar Airport, not Changi!
Get around
Except for a short concrete path connecting the airport at Tekek to the nearby Berjaya Resort, there are no roads on Tioman and you will have to resort to seabuses and speedboats to get around.
It is possible to cross the island on foot from Tekek to Juara, but the two-hour trek through the jungle is fairly strenuous (and not recommended if you're lugging a backpack! - Even though, it can be done, just be sure to watch your step).
Do
All resorts have scuba diving, the diving is reasonably good, especially for beeing so close to Singapore.
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.
Budget
Tioman's backpacker accommodation is clustered around Salang and Air Batang (also known as ABC) to the north of the island. Dorm beds start at RM 20, while single rooms ("chalets") are RM 40 and up.
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.
- Paya Beach Resort (http://www.payabeach.com/) (located in Kg. Paya, south of Tekek) is a typical Tioman resort featuring an almost-private beach, a particularly good restaurant, a few dive shops and chalets of varying standards. The crumbling Standard chalets are very poor value, the newer Superiors are much better. Get a package here as the rack rates are extortionate.
Luxury
The sole luxury accommodation on the island is the Berjaya Tioman Resort (http://www.berjayaresorts.com/tioman-beach/info.html), complete with golf course, swimming pool and all the facilities you'd expect from a 4-star resort at a matching price, as rooms start at about RM 400 (rack).
External links
- Guide to Tioman Island (http://www.tioman.com.my/)
