Tioman is (Malay: Pulau Tioman) is a small island, 39 km long and 12 km wide, located off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia in Pahang ("East Coast"), within the Mersing Marine Park, which contains less commerical islands such as Sibu Island. 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 beaut
iful 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. Most visitors arrive by ferry from Mersing on the mainland. Bluewater Express and Cataferry operates the ferry services and its boats are fast and comfortable taking approx 2 hours to the first jetty. These 2 ferries are now the only options. 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. Some ferries also depart from Tanjung Gemuk to the north of Mersing. 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. Many dive operators in Singapore operate their own trips to Tioman, and this would usually include taking a bus from Singapore to Mersing, then boarding the ferry for Tioman in Mersing. While it might be more expensive, this would probably be one of the most hassle-free ways to visit Tioman. 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[13], Kg Tekek. RM40-RM80 onward. Wak Cottage (previous Sri Tioman), Kg Tekek. RM25 onward. Babura Seaview[14], Kg Tekek. RM55 onward. Air Batang
Mokhtar's Place, Kg Air Batang. RM30 onward. My friend's place, Kg Air Batang. Nazri 2[15], Kg. Air Batang. RM80 onward. � +60 9 4191329
South Pacific, Kg Air Batang. RM45 onward. Y & P chalets, Kg Air Batang. RM20 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. 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 ([email protected]), [16]. Basic huts and restaurant right on the paradise like beach, Tioman Surf Center RM40 onward. edit Beds were crawling with bed-bugs! 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. 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 seaview 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, northern end of Air Batang, [17]. 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, [18]. 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, [19]. 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), [20]. 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, [21]. 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, [22]. 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 adhoc 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 snorkling. Restaurant kampong grown fruit and drinks. Tiger beer at RM5 and red wine, sold from the snorkling gear hire shop. Swiss Cottage, � +60 9 4191642 [23]. Swiss Cottage, where Tioman Dive Centre [24] 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, [25]. 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 [26]. 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 chaltes, 24 of which are Deluxe, 20 Standard and 10 Basic. With a maximum capacity to accomodate 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 ResortBerjaya Tioman Resort, P.O. Box 4 86807 Mersing, Johor, � +60-9-419 1000, [27]. Tioman is an island befitting the stars. Whether you seek relaxation or adrenaline, we’ve got you covered. With miles of secluded palm-fringed beaches, clear turquoise waters, abundant marine life, misty mountains and lush greenery, savour each moment as you indulge in one of the world’s most beautiful islands where ‘Bali Hai’ was filmed in the Hollywood classic ‘South Pacific’, in addition to the recent Hong Kong TV Series ‘The Ultimate Goal’. Visit resort website at http://berjayahotel.com/tioman/
Japamala Resort, [28]. 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. Note that there is no mobile network coverage at Japamala which makes it an ideal getaway from the rest of the world. Impeccable service from its attentive staff. Bagus Place, at the Southern tip near Minang, [29]. Recently built chalet resort run by young Europeans as an eco-resort. Private beach, with a small number of simple and tasteful luxurious chalets. Starting at a whooping RM900 a night this resort still manages to get fully booked for many months.. 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 payphones that can be used upon purchasing a phonecard, 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). Theft is not generally an issue in private rooms. One thing to watch out for is coral cuts, which are bacteria-laden and turn septic very quickly if not treated in good time. Bring sterile wound wash and antiseptic cream for coral cuts; wash and treat them immediately to avoid a nasty infection. Watch out for the triggerfish as well; these little pointy-nosed fish are very cute but they do get territorial and attack swimmers during their mating season. The monkeys can be quite feral, and have been known to attempt to force open windows and doors to look for food, thanks to irresponsible tourists who insist on feeding the monkeys.
