Exploring Malaysia 
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Legend has it that Tioman Island is the final resting place of a beautiful dragon princess who fell in love with the azure seas, and as such took the form of an island in order to offer shelter and comfort to travellers. But you would probably recognise it as the site of the 1958 musical, South Pacific.
Located off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Tioman Island forms part of the Tioman Marine Park, which comprises a cluster of 64 volcanic islands, of which Tioman is the largest and most developed. Even so, Tioman is relatively small, measuring just 39km by 12km.
The island is covered by lush forest vegetation in the interior, houses a 1,047m peak and is surrounded by colourful coral reefs. It has eight main villages, the largest and most populous being Kampung Tekek in the north.
As all islands in this region, Tioman is hot and humid most of the year, with a very wet monsoon season from December to February. The strong gales and swelling of the waters make this island virtually inaccessible during these times.
Lifestyle
Once an important navigation point and source of water and supplies for fishermen and travellers, relics discovered on its beaches offer evidence of the presence of Chinese, Arab and Europeans on the island. Reminders of World War II litter the waters around the island, such as HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales, both of which now attract divers from around the globe.
Today, Tioman is one of the prettiest getaways in the world, drawing tourists, locals and foreigners alike by the droves. As a testament to its beauty, it received a nod from Time Magazine in the 1970s when it was voted one of the world’s top 10 most beautiful islands in the world.
A small number of people call Tioman home throughout the year, most of them naturally involved in the tourism industry. To further attract visitors, the island was declared a duty-free paradise in 2002.
Getting There
Berjaya Air operates daily flights into Tioman from Kuala Lumpur via the Sultan Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor. Flights are also available from Singapore. If you plan to drive, head to Tanjung Gemok Jetty Terminal in Rompin, Pahang or Mersing, Johor and hop onto a ferry from there.
Getting Around
Due to the lack of proper infrastructure on the island, the main mode of transportation is 4WD vehicles. Boats are the more popular mode of getting around and these include sea buses (converted fishing boats) as well as speedboats.
Things to Do
The most popular beaches to sunbathe or swim in are the Air Batang and Salang beaches. If you are into snorkelling, head to Juara Beach, Monkey Beach or Monkey Bay.
Juara is a relatively quiet beach on the east coast and has the added attraction of three mountain rivers, which empty right into the sea. A path leads from the beach to the waterfalls in the forest.
Here are the main things to do around the island:
1. Diving
Prolific coral gardens fringe the coasts of Tioman Island. The water is clear to a depth of 100ft and teems with a rich variety of corals, fish and shells. The underwater gardens are home to lace-like sea fans, alyconarian corals, and multi-coloured Staghorn corals as well as brightly coloured fish like Parrotfish, Butterfly Fish, Sweetlips, Cardinal Fish, wrasses, Damsel Fish and the aggressive Anemone Fish.
The best season for diving is between May and October when the water is at its calmest. The most popular spots for scuba diving and snorkelling are along the shallow reefs at Salang and Monkey Ba, as well as the nearby islands of Tulai and Renggis. It is best to pre-book diving excursions with your tour operate before heading out to the island.
2. Dolphin sighting
Dolphins are regular visitors to the blue waters surrounding Tioman. If approached gently, they will allow you to nuzzle up to them. They are also quite happy to play and show off their aquatic prowess with aerial acrobatics. One good way to catch sight of the underwater marine life as well as to spot dolphins is to take a ride on a glass-bottomed boat.
3. Study wildlife up close
Over 60 per cent of the island has been gazetted as a wildlife reserve as it houses a unique variety of insects, reptiles and small mammals including Blind Snakes, Legless Lizards, Binturong, Long-tailed Macaques, Slow Loris’, Black Giant Squirrels, Red Giant Flying Squirrels, Brush-tailed Porcupines and the common Palm Civet.
The Soft-shelled Turtle and the Tioman Walking Catfish are unique to the island. More common sights are monkeys, mouse deer, pythons, huge monitor lizards, flying foxes and land and sea turtles.
4. Trek the jungles
Most of the resorts on the island offer jungle trekking tours with guides, including a trek from one end of the island (Tekek Village) to the other (Juara Village), which covers about four kilometres. There are a number of hiking routes that offer different levels of difficulty, so there is bound to be something for everyone.
One trail worth taking leads to the Asah Waterfalls at the convergence of seven different rivers that run through the interior of the island. On your hike, you will see the twin peaks of the granite outcrops reaching into the clouds and a 609m freestanding granite spire. The peaks are called Nenek Semukut (Semukut Granny) because of its apparent resemblance to the profile of an old lady’s face.
5. Sailing, rowing and surfing
The wind and waves around the island provide enough drive and push to satisfactorily windsurf and sail. Be warned, however, that the winds blowing across the South China Sea can get quite strong and may prove too much to handle if you are not experienced. In such cases, hire a guide and stay close to shore.
6. Golfing
Die-hard golfers will be pleased to note that there is an 18-hole course at Tioman Island Golf Club, located within the Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort (Tel: +609 419 1000).
7. Squid jiggling
Try your hand at fishing out squid, a fun-filled activity for the entire family. The best time of the year for this sport is around July.
8. Duty-free shopping
The main duty-free shopping area is in the village of Kampung Tekek. You will find a host of chocolates, a wide selection of alcohol as well as cigarettes at low prices. Smaller outlets can be found in other villages around the island.
9. Party!
When you are on an island, partying is right up there with lazing on the beach. Salang has a number of pubs and bars to kick back after a long day in the sun. The larger resorts on the island also feature a number of entertainment outlets. On occasion, you will also find bonfires on the beach at night, which are open to travellers.
Tourist Information
Tioman Development Authority
Lembaga Pembangunan Tioman
A145-147, Tingkat 1 &2
Lorong Tun Ismail 6
Sri Dagangan
25000 Kuantan, Pahang
Tel: +609 514 1206
