The mountainous Tioman island, washed by South China Sea, is located 32 kilometers east of mainland Malaysia. It is densely overgrown with virgin tropical forests, the coast is surrounded by numerous coral reefs. Tioman is sparsely populated, there are only seven tiny villages on the island, all marked on the tourist map.
This is detailed travel guide about best things to do and places to visit in Tioman island. Keep reading this post to get useful information for all first time travelers.
Pulau Tioman General Info
Back in the 70s of the last century, Tioman Island in Malaysia was one of the world’s top beautiful places on the planet according to “Time” magazine. Since then, diving enthusiasts and surfers, adherents of “green tourism” started to explore this place. Many seaside resorts have been built on the shores with excellent sandy beaches.
You can stay in one of boutique hotels located there: according to the law, maximum buildings height should not exceed three floors. The island has the status of duty-free zone, but there are no large shopping centers, only small tax free shops.
Things to do in Tioman island
We’ve tried to highlight all must-visit and must-see places in the island. You’ll find general information about the place, and why it’s worth visiting, get more details on how to get there, day group and private tour options, and pricing.
Tioman Marine Park
The vast marine area surrounding Tioman island and eight nearby islands has been declared a biosphere reserve. Unlike the popular Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Tioman Marine Park has fewer tourists.
This means that you’ll have a chance to admire the beauties of the islands without queues and tourist crowds. One of the popular tourist attractions is feeding colorful tropical marine fish.
There is a fairly long pier there, so can see schools of fish even without entering the water. But if you would like to, you can enjoy snorkeling.
Entrance on the territory of the park and the information center is free, working hours are from 9.30 to 18.00. The information center is closed during the rainy season, although the park remains open.
The tropical forests of the mini-archipelago, included in Tioman Nature Reserve, are also protected. The jungle is home to 45 species of mammals and 130 species of birds, some endemic animals are found only in the local area.
There are several observation platforms, making it easier for island visitors to check wildlife on the mountain slopes; in hotels you can take binoculars. Once you have a chance, visit Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur.
Locals earn extra money by renting boats, and arranging tours around the island as well as to neighboring uninhabited islands with an option to have a picnic on a deserted beach. For additional price, you can ask to catch a fish, so you can enjoy grilled fish.
Turtle Sanctuary
Turtle sanctuary located in Juara has a goal to preserve different turtle species which are in danger of extinction. The hatchery is under protection of Malaysian Department of Fisheries.
Volunteers help with collection of eggs in period from March and October, after which they are sent to the incubator. Then, the hatched little turtles are brought here and sent to the sea.
There are other tasks volunteers can help with, like research, repairs and cleaning.
Enjoy Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is one of the most popular thing to do in Tioman island. Just a 20-minute boat ride from the shores of Tioman is the island of Pulau Jahat or Pulo Jehat. It’s a perfect place for scuba diving as there are a lot of popular diving sites. In the labyrinths of coastal rocks there are grottoes washed out by storms, underwater tunnels, inhabited by tropical ichthyofauna.
Barracudas and sharks are often can be seen here. At a depth of 25 meters, there is an entrance to a half-flooded cave, entwined with algae, gapes. Scuba divers illuminate marvelous cave interiors with powerful lanterns. Scuba diving here is only for experienced divers, as there are strong undercurrents.
Shipwreck Diving in Tioman
In the south of Tioman island there are eight sunk shipwrecks that attract scuba divers. Among them are the battleship Prince of Wales and the cruiser Repulse of the British Royal Navy, sunk by Japanese bombers during World War II. There are also kamikaze planes that were shot down by English sailors.
Underwater rocks of Renggis island are chosen for spawning by reef fish. You can meet the abundance of marine creatures here in period from March to May. There is also another dive site that worth exploring – Pirate Reef.
These waters are home to sea turtles, blue rays, scorpion fish and the poisonous pufferfish, a dangerous delicacy in Japanese cuisine. Divers hunt here for huge groupers.
Here, at a relatively shallow depth (about 20 meters), visibility is excellent, so almost every tourist package to Tioman Island includes a visit to this place.
Visit Tulai Island (Coral Island)
Tulai Island, also known as Coral Island, is included in the program of any tour as a snorkeling destination. It is located north of the western coast of Tioman Island. It can be seen from Salang village. The waters here are rich in coral reefs and marine life.
Explore Tekek Village
Tekek is the capital of the island. Cozy cottages are built along the three-kilometer sandy beach, and in total there are about a hundred mini-hotels and guest houses on Tioman island. There are mostly hostels with rooms for 5-10 people, with the average prices of $ 15-35 / day. In Tekek village you can find a large number of diving centers, where accommodation is offered with full board.
Divers prefer to stay at Tioman Dive Resort, in the village of Air Batang on the west coast. Several luxury hotels have been built on Tioman, with suites in separate chalets, spas, swimming pools, and restaurants. The price range is 80-140 $/day.
Check Tioman Island Beaches
Paya village and beach is very popular place for beach vacation, especially popular among couples from Singapore. Here you can stay in a chalet for a fairly affordable price. The length of the beach line, with white fine sand is more than 500 meters.
The village got its name from the mangrove swamps. There are great snorkeling spots, lush rainforest greenery in the background, and rich underwater life.
Juara Village Beach
Another beach is located in Juara village. White fine sand, warm sea and reefs with variety of marine creatures. Ferries do not stop in Juara, you can get there by an asphalt road that crosses the mountain range of the island.
Air Batang (ABC Village) Beach
Air Batang or ABC village is a traditional must-visit place in Tioman. Here you can find small cafes with traditional dishes, as well as Western cuisine. There are a large number of budget hotels here. The beach stretches for 1.5 km and is surrounded by lush rainforests and crystal clear waters.
Genting
A favorite place to stay on Tioman island is Genting village. Here you can find variety of restaurants with local cuisine – an ideal place to try traditional Malaysian dishes. Usually on weekends it is very noisy here, as many locals and international tourists arrive in Genting to spend great time. The sea here is quite rocky, but the water is clear.
Monkey Bay
Monkey Bay is a beautiful beach located behind the village of Salang on the west coast of Tioman Island. You can get to the beach by speedboat or by following the jungle trail. It is beautiful beach, with calm water and lush tropical greenery.
Monkey Bay is an alternative snorkeling destination for any speedboat tour, it can be reached in an hour’s walk from Salang. The trail is sometimes poorly visible, so as not to get lost, stick to the route closer to the electric poles.
Salang village is another place for a beach holiday in Tioman Island. Given the popularity of this village, people come here to make new friends. Conversations are held over a glass of beer. There are also a large number of pubs, the nightlife in this part of the island is very active. Salang is a great place for diving, because there are a large number of coral reefs near the coast.
Hiking Dragon Horns (Mount Gunung)
Another must-visit attraction in Tioman Island is “Dragon Horns” or two peaks of Mount Gunung Semukut. They rise above the southern coast of Tioman Island at an altitude of about 700 meters. This mountain is one of the most popular in Malaysia for rock climbing, the ascent starts from the base in the village of Mukut and breaks into different paths.
Asah Waterfall
Make sure to check another tourist place in Tioman island – Asah Falls – the most popular and highest waterfall on the island. The waterfall is hidden among lush tropical greenery. Streams of water run down the granite slabs.
How to get there
Passenger ferries run from the port of Mersing on the Malay Peninsula to Tioman. During storms (November/December), sea traffic is stopped, the best time to relax on the island is the period from May to August.
Near Tekek village there is a small airport capable to receive light aircraft. The runway is built right next to the beach. For luxurious experience you can get here by private charter flights from Kuala Lumpur Airport or neighboring Singapore.
