Tioman Island

Tioman is a big, mountainous island in the South China Sea, off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Most of it is rainforest. People live in a handful of small villages strung around the coast, each with its own beach and feel. It’s a place to snorkel, dive, walk in the jungle and generally slow down.

Why go

• The water. Clear water and coral reefs around the island and its smaller neighbours, which are part of a marine park.
• The jungle. Thick rainforest, waterfalls and hiking trails across the island.
• The pace. No big resorts strip, no nightlife to speak of. Just villages, beaches and hammocks.

Choosing a village

Most villages are only linked by boat or by jungle trail, so pick your base carefully.

What to do

• Snorkel and dive. Dive shops in most villages run courses and trips to the nearby reefs and islets. Snorkelling straight off the beach is good in several spots.
• Walk the Tekek–Juara trail. A sweaty but rewarding hike across the island through the jungle. Start early and take plenty of water.
• Find a waterfall. Asah Waterfall in the south and several smaller falls are reachable by boat and a short walk.

Getting there and around

• By ferry: Ferries run from Mersing in Johor and from Tanjung Gemok, a little further north. Schedules depend on the tide and season, so check the latest times before you travel.
• Getting to the jetty: There are express buses to Mersing from KL, Singapore and other towns.
• On the island: Water taxis link the villages. A few roads exist near Tekek and across to Juara, but boats are how most people get around.

Where to stay

Accommodation ranges from basic beach chalets to a few full resorts. Many smaller places don’t use booking sites, so it’s common to book the big ones online and turn up for the rest outside peak times.

When to go

Tioman’s season roughly runs from March to October. The northeast monsoon from around November to February brings rough seas: ferries get cut back and many places close. Weekends and school holidays get busy with visitors from KL and Singapore.

Also on the east coast: the Perhentian Islands.