Tioman Island tourist and travel guide
Pulau Tioman is a lovely little island off the southeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia which features lots of small sandy beaches and some excellent opportunities to see exotic marine life close up. The island is a popular getaway with weekending city-dwellers as the small landing strip accepts regular daily flights from Singapore and Malaysia. The island is also a duty free zone meaning that normally-expensive alcohol is cheap by Malaysian standards.
Scuba diving is a massive draw and there are numerous schools which can offer guided excursions to the best spots for experienced enthusiasts and tuition for eager beginners. Snorkelling is also popular and there are decent reefs just a short swim from the beach, as well as more adventurous offshore areas only accessible with organised tours.
 | Attractions & activitiesPulau Tioman is awash with exotic flora and fauna both in the jungle interior and beneath the waves, so there is no better place to get right up close and personal with nature...more |  | HotelsThere are rooms and chalets for all pockets on Pulau Tioman from basic shacks and A-frames to luxurious resorts with all mod cons, so see our guide to the best accommodation deals...more |
 | Restaurants & barsMost guesthouses have an attached eatery which serves up simple but tasty meals, but follow our guide for the best restaurant on the island and the liveliest bars for a late night tipple...more |  | TransportationThere are a variety of ways to get on and around the island including ferry and aeroplane, plus onward bus connections and sea taxis for getting between the different beaches and coves...more |
Tioman guide - desert island appeal minutes from the city
Pulau Tioman lies 30kms from the east coast port of Merseng and, despite the regular flights, most travellers still arrive here via ferry. There are also additional services to the island from Tanjung Gemok slightly to the north of Mersing. On the island transport is very basic with only one sealed road and a variety of rough tracks stretching between the beaches.
The main industrial centre of Pulau Tioman is midway up the west side of the island at Tekek, where the ferries first arrive and the airport is found. The budget travellers enclave of Air Batang (otherwise known as ABC Beach) is two kilometres north from here up a concrete path. Picturesque Monkey Beach is another two kilometres beyond that and the liveliest upmarket area of Salang the same distance further north again.
From Telek there is another trail leading around six kilometres through the middle of the island to the quiet beach area of Juara midway up the east coast. This is the much quieter and traditional side of the island with no real nightlife. But there are some lovely reefs nearby and the seclusion is half the charm of staying here.
There is a bank opposite the airport which has an ATM that accepts international cards, however opening hours are inconsistent. Otherwise money can be changed at the Terminal Building, although rates are not as good as the mainland so it’s best to bring whatever cash you need with you. There is very little crime on the island but should the worst occur there is a police station 300m south of the Tekek jetty.
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