Like a giant sleeping dragon, the dark green ridges of Tioman Island rise up above the waters of the South China Sea.
On closer inspection, it becomes clear that the dragon’s dark green scales are in fact giant trees and impenetrable jungle;
that the grey claws are giant granite boulders and that the dragon’s horns are twin peaks with smooth, straight cliffs,
surrounded with swirls of mist.
The dragon-like appearance of Tioman Island is at the root of a legend surrounding its origin: A dragon princess from
China was flying to her prince in Singapore and stopped to rest in these calm, warm waters. Enamoured by the beauty of the
area, and the waves lapping at her sides, she discontinued her journey and took the form of an island.
The natural beauty of the island is its biggest attraction. Lush tropical jungle covers about 12,000 hectares of the
island and countless mountain streams and waterfalls sustain the many protected species of mammals and birds. The waters
around the island are filled with corals of all shapes and colours and home to a vast diversity of sea creatures, including
two species of marine turtle. There are a few excellent beaches on Tioman, and these curves of golden sand are usually
tucked away at the edges of villages or fronting one of the many resorts.
Tioman has options for every kind of holiday-maker: families with small children, honeymooners, scuba divers, backpackers,
adventurers and even those looking for a slice of exclusivity and luxury. Most places to stay are clustered around the
villages that are dotted along Tioman’s coastline while there are a few small resorts that are built around private beach coves.
Tioman is the largest in a volcanic group of islands off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Getting there is simple
as there is both a ferry service from Mersing on the mainland and an airport on the island itself.
Tioman is a beautiful, popular and affordable holiday destination so book ahead!
Tioman is off the south-east coast of peninsular Malaysia, just north of the Johor-Pahang
state borders. It is reachable by speedboat or ferry from the coastal town of Mersing or from Tanjung Gemuk.
Fly to Tioman
Berjaya Air has direct 40minute flights from Singapore (Seletar Airport) and Kuala Lumpur (Subang Airport) to
the airport at Tekek Village on Tioman.
A large number of international and regional airlines fly to Singapore’s Changi Airport (click here for information)
and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA – click here for information) from where you can take a short cab ride to
either Seletar or Subang airports.
Alternatively, the closest airports to Mersing are the Senai airport in Johor Bahru and Changi airport in Singapore.
Senai airport is serviced by Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines with flights from various national and regional destinations.
Long-haul international flights to Johor Bahru connect through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Speedboats and ferries to Tioman
Speedboats and ferries depart from Mersing or Tanjung Gemok (north of Mersing). If you are booking a package stay on
Tioman, a return ferry transfer is almost always included.
From Mersing, speedboats (20 passengers) reach the island within 2 hours while the ferries (150 passengers) can take up
to 3 hours. Tickets cost RM 35 each way (RM 45 for speedboats) and ferries leave every one to two hours between 09:30 and
17:30.
Ferry and boat services are less frequent from Tanjung Gemuk, but prices and journey times are roughly the same.
Tips:
Tidal conditions may influence the departure time of your boat
Speedboats will stop at all villages (except Juara) and also some resorts where they need to pick up or
offload passengers. Inform the staff about the village that you are heading for
Ferries will stop at all villages (except Juara) and also some resorts, but inform the staff if you are heading
for the village of Mukut
Ferries are often delayed and there are sometimes cancellations. During the monsoon season (November to March)
services are less frequent and delays are more likely
Book your ticket in advance if travelling over weekends, public holidays and Singaporean and Malaysian school
holidays
Getting to Mersing
Mersing lies on peninsular Malaysia’s east coast, around 3 hours’ drive north-east of Singapore. If you are relying
on public transport, you may need to spend the night in Mersing in order to catch the early morning ferry or boat to the
island. Book well in advance if your trip coincides with the weekend or Singaporean and Malaysian public and school holidays.
Take a Bus
From Johor Bahru (Larkin Bus terminal) take the Causeway Link, Transnational or S&S Express bus to Mersing
(2.5-3 hours):
An alternative is to take the local bus between Johor Bahru and Kota Tinggi and then transfer to the local bus
between Kota Tinggi and Mersing.
From Singapore (Lavender St. Terminal) take the Transnational bus to Mersing (3 to 4 hours).
From Kuala Lumpur take the Transnational bus to Mersing (5 hours).
From elsewhere in Malaysia: Transnational, S&S Internasional and other bus companies that serve destinations
along the east coast (Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Kota Bahru etc.) mostly stop at Mersing as well. S&S Internasional
also has a service from Melaka.
Tips:
It is strongly advised to book your bus ticket (including return) between Johor Bahru and Mersing or between
Singapore and Mersing well in advance if you are travelling on weekends, public holidays and Singaporean and
Malaysian School holidays
Buses are often delayed, but will not wait for you if you are late. Call bus operators to be sure of bus schedules
Remember to bring a sweater as the air-conditioning in the buses can be quite severe
In Mersing buses arrive and leave from the bus station close to the ferry terminal or the newer bus station in the
centre of town (about 15 minutes walk to the ferry terminal). Check which bus station your bus uses
Drive
From Singapore cross the border to Johor Bahru and Malaysia at the Causeway and continue down Jalan Wong Ah Fook. Keep an
eye open for the left-hand side exit and flyover to Kota Tinggi. Continue east on the Tebrau highway and follow the signs
to Kota Tinggi. From Kota Tinggi, the way north to Mersing is clearly signposted on Route 3. The journey should take around 3
hours.
From Kuala Lumpur the most common option is via the PLUS highway (E2) to the south, exiting at Segamat and continuing east
on Route 50 through Kluang to Mersing. Alternatively, take the East Coast Highway (E8) from KL to Kuantan and Route No 3
southwards through Pekan and Rompin to Mersing.
Frequent travellers may want to consider these shorter, less busy roads that cut through the palm oil plantations and
are advisable for daytime driving:
KL to Kuala Pilah (winding road) to Bandar Muazzam Shah. The exit is between Endau and Mersing, continue south to
reach Mersing
KL to Kluang to NITAR to Mersing (avoiding the winding road before reaching Jamaluang)
Tioman’s natural beauty is its main attraction. Relax and get back in touch with nature in the untamed rainforest,
on the golden beaches or amidst the coral reefs in the clear water surrounding the island.
You are also able to indulge in some activities that you would not expect to find on a jungle clad isle: there is
an 18-hole golf course, two spas and various duty-free shops.
Below are some ideas of how to keep busy on Tioman.
Round Island Tour
Because of the absence of roads on Tioman, the only
way to reach all the attractions of the island is by boat.
Many operators and resorts offer you the opportunity to see the highlights of Tioman in a one-day round-island tour.
Typical stops along the way include:
Asah waterfall just outside of Mukut Village
From the jetty, a short trek through the jungle brings you to one of the most impressive waterfalls on the island.
The pools of cool mountain water are a great place to refresh after the sweaty walk.
A chance to photograph the twin peaks
Known as the dragon’s horns, Tioman’s famous peaks are an impressive sight at the southern end of the island
and popular with adventurous rock-climbers.
Duty free shopping in Tekek
The island’s main village, Tekek, is where most of the duty-free shops are, selling alcohol, cigarettes and
souvenirs at low prices
Snorkelling at the Marine Park headquarters
Clouds of brightly coloured fish are in the water around the jetty here, no doubt attracted by the bread crumbs
offered to them by daily visitors
Other villages
Every village on Tioman has its own character and a stop at one of the other villages for a lunch break or
refreshment lets you experience this
Renggis Island
Located right in front of the Berjaya Resort, this tiny rocky island has some of the most impressive coral formations
around it and is a popular stop for snorkelling as well as scuba diving.
Scuba Diving
The abundance of marine life, accessibility and fairly
good visibility makes Tioman one of the most popular diving
destinations in Malaysia. There are many dive operators on the island offering boat and shore dives as well as instruction
and certification.
There are over twenty dive sites on Tioman, with something for everyone from the newly certified to the experienced wreck
diver. There underwater topography is diverse and Tioman is also one of the few places in Malaysia where you are likely to come
across schools of dolphins.
If you enjoy exploring the underwater world, do your part to protect it. The golden rule, apart from never holding your breath,
is to take only photographs and leave only bubbles! Below are some guidelines that every responsible diver must follow.
Choose a dive operator that respects the environment and actively contributes to conservation efforts in the area
Never touch or step on coral. The slightest touch can harm them and some may hurt you
Prevent accidental contact with the reef or kicking up sediment by keeping a safe distance and practicing good fin
and body control
Do not collect any “souvenirs” – living or dead - underwater, but do pick up recent rubbish
Do not touch, chase, try to ride or otherwise harass any marine life. Feed and handle marine life only under expert guidance
Ensure that your dive boat does not anchor on the reef and make sure that all rubbish (especially light plastics)
is carefully stowed away
Snorkelling
The warm, crystal clear water, the abundance of marine
life and the fact that snorkelling trips are included in almost every
resort package, means that there is only a very slight chance that you will leave Tioman without doing some snorkelling.
There are many patches of coral in the water in front of most villages and you can easily rent a mask and fins (and lifejacket
if you wish) and wade into the water from the beach. Some of the better snorkelling spots need to be reached by boat.
Jungle Trekking
Thanks to the mountainous topography and the
protected status of Tioman, most of the rainforest here has remained untouched with
the only development being the villages and resorts along the coastline. This makes Tioman an excellent destination for those that
are looking for a jaunt in the jungle.
The best known, and probably the toughest jungle trek stretches across the middle of the island, through the hilly terrain
and rainforest between the villages of Tekek and Juara. On this 7km, four-hour trek you are likely to encounter monkeys, monitor
lizards, scores of birds and insects as well as passing by waterfalls and tall trees that are hundreds of years old. Though gruelling
and sweaty, the reward is the perfect golden sand of Juara beach on the other side of the island.
Other popular treks are footpaths, paved in places, that connect the villages of Genting and Paya as well as Air Batang and
Salang (with a stop at Monkey Bay in between). While not so isolated as the Tekek-Juara trail, sightings of Tioman’s massive
monitor lizards and monkeys are all but guaranteed. The paths are mostly level, although there are some strenuous uphill climbs.
Follow the power cable, as the pathways can be overgrown or eroded in places.
Remember to bring lots of water and insect repellent and that the jungle gets darker sooner, so plan to reach your destination
well before dusk.
Golfing
An 18-hole international standard golf course is not
something that you would expect to find on a tropical island, but the
Berjaya Tioman Resort has made it possible.
With the beach on the one side and the jungle on the other, this par-71 course is filled with challenging hazards such as
ponds, bunkers and jungle-rough. On the par-3 7th hole, you will have to cross seawater to reach the green.
Facilities at the golf course include lockers, shower and changing rooms, a pro shop, practice green, gymnasium and sauna rooms.
Golf carts, clubs and shoes are available for hire.
The golf course is accessible from the Berjaya Tioman Golf, Beach & Spa Resort. It is advisable to call ahead, but
pre-bookings are usually not required.
The Best Time to Visit
The monsoon season peaks between November and March every year. You can expect more rain and rough seas and consequently
frequency of ferry services are reduced during this time. Some resorts are closed for the months of December and January,
typically re-opening from Chinese New Year (late January or early February) onwards. Those that remain open often offer
reduced rates during this time.
Tioman is very popular with Malaysian and Singaporean holidaymakers and it is highly recommended to book well in advance
for weekends and the public and school holidays of Malaysia and Singapore.
Climate
Equatorial with fairly uniform temperatures year-round, ranging from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF). Humidity is high (85-95%).
Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm and most rain can be expected between November and February.
Tioman is the largest in a volcanic group of islands off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia.
Getting there is simple as there is both a ferry service from Mersing on the mainland and an airport on the island
itself.
Tioman is a beautiful, popular and affordable holiday destination so book ahead!
Like a giant sleeping dragon, the dark green ridges of Tioman Island rise up above the waters of the South China Sea.
On closer inspection, it becomes clear that the dragon’s dark green scales are in fact giant trees and impenetrable jungle;
that the grey claws are giant granite boulders and that the dragon’s horns are twin peaks with smooth, straight cliffs,
surrounded with swirls of mist.
Because of the absence of roads on Tioman, the only
way to reach all the attractions of the island is by boat.
Many operators and resorts offer you the opportunity to see the highlights of Tioman in a one-day round-island tour.
Typical stops along the way include:
The abundance of marine life, accessibility and fairly
good visibility makes Tioman one of the most popular diving
destinations in Malaysia. There are many dive operators on the island offering boat and shore dives as well as instruction
and certification.
The warm, crystal clear water, the abundance of marine
life and the fact that snorkelling trips are included in almost every
resort package, means that there is only a very slight chance that you will leave Tioman without doing some snorkelling.
Thanks to the mountainous topography and the
protected status of Tioman, most of the rainforest here has remained untouched with
the only development being the villages and resorts along the coastline. This makes Tioman an excellent destination for those that
are looking for a jaunt in the jungle.
An 18-hole international standard golf course is not
something that you would expect to find on a tropical island, but the
Berjaya Tioman Resort has made it possible.