A Complete Guide to Tioman Island with Mayflower

07 Apr 2022

Idyllic Tioman Island off the coast of Pahang. Source: Louis Gan @ Unsplash

Sun, sea and sand! That’s the perfect balm to any hectic lifestyle. One place that’s a paradise on Earth is Tioman island. Pulau Tioman is a tropical island that’s located off the East Coast of Malaysia.

Tioman island offers a relatively quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of life, with idyllic views of the sea right from your hotel room. It’s suitable for anyone who wants a short holiday, including solo travellers, couples and families.

For anyone who hasn’t heard of Tioman Island, here is our guide to how you can reach the island, where to stay, what to do and more.

How Can I Get to Pulau Tioman?

There are several Jetties all over Tioman. Source: Manon Brousse@Unsplash

To reach the island, one has to take a two hour boat ride from the Mersing Jetty, located in the state of Pahang.

You can reach the Mersing Jetty by bus from either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, as well as all the main towns in Malaysia. It is advisable that you pre-book your tickets online before you plan to travel, especially during peak seasons in June to August.

Once you reach Mersing, a boat ticket to Tioman costs about RM70 for a return ticket. There are only a couple of ferry operators that offer one to three boats a day to Tioman, depending on the time of year. Therefore, you should arrive early at the Mersing Jetty to ensure that you get a ticket, or order online and arrive at least 1.5 hours before your trip to collect your ticket from the counter.

If you are driving to the Mersing Jetty, you can leave your cars at one of the guarded car parks available there which costs about RM15 a day per car.

When is the Best Time to Visit Pulau Tioman?

Source: Aman Tioman Beach Resort

You can basically visit Pulau Tioman at any time of the year, except for the monsoon season on the East Coast of Malaysia. The monsoon season lasts from mid-November to mid-February every year.

The reason the monsoon seasons are pretty unpopular with visitors is that the weather is often unpredictable, with more rains than usual.

Additionally, the seas get rougher and this impedes a lot of watersports and activities like diving and snorkelling. It also makes travelling to and from Tioman more challenging due to the unpredictable conditions of the sea.

If you really want to enjoy the island’s warmth and beauty, the truly peaceful seasons would be from about May to September every year.

Where to Stay in Pulau Tioman?

There are several main areas for tourists to stay in Pulau Tioman, as each of them has its own unique charm. It really depends on what you want to do during your stay on the island.

1. Kampung Air Batang ( a.k.a ABC)

ABC is the spot for those who love the party scene. It has a very vibrant nightlife and many bars as well as affordable hotels. This particular spot is pretty popular among backpackers, and plays host to a diverse and young crowd from all over the world.

2. Kampung Tekek

Clear blue waters off Berjaya Tioman Resort. Source: Berjaya Tioman Resort

Kampung Tekek is the main ‘town’ of Tioman Island, and where the most activity takes place. It’s suitable for families and the place is full of shops and restaurants to eat at, especially seafood.

Kampung Tetek’s beaches are not its foremost feature, but it does attract a lot of local Malaysian visitors who want to enjoy some of the pampering afforded to them by the resorts they choose to patronize.

One of these resorts is definitely Berjaya Tioman Resort, just 5 minutes away from the Tekek Jetty. It features a spa, dive center, swimming pool, outdoor team building circuit and several restaurants.

3. Paya Beach

Aman Tioman Beach Resort offers trendy and youthful vibes. Source: Aman Tioman FB

Paya beach is a peaceful spot further south from Kampung Tekek, and it’s mainly for those who have come here for diving and snorkelling.

At Paya Beach, you can stay at Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort or Aman Tioman Beach Resort, both of which offer more privacy and tranquillity if you want somewhere that isn’t quite as town-esque as Tekek.

Paya Beach is also very beautiful, with plenty of water sports you can indulge in including canoeing, snorkelling and diving. There are also land activities offered like jungle trekking and ATVs.

We have a sweet deal at Mayflower Holidays! Check out our 3D2N Aman Tioman Beach Resort snorkeling package here!

4. Juara

The Juara enclave is actually located on the opposite side of the island, facing the South China Sea. This means that it's also a lot quieter and ideal for anyone that just wants to interact with nature.

The beaches at Juara are also some of the most beautiful on the island, with crystal clear blue water and fine, white sand.

What to do in Pulau Tioman?

Snorkelling in Tioman means clear waters and high visibility. Source: Subtle Cinematics @Unsplash

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of what you can look forward to when you visit Pulau Tioman

Go scuba diving. There are many dive centres all over the island. To make your life easier, you can opt for a resort that also offers diving services, like Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort.
Explore Kampung Tekek. There are plenty of shops to explore, and activities for families here, as well as plenty of restaurants to try out.
Visit Taman Laut Tioman ecological park and learn about the local sea life and wildlife, as well as the variety of ecosystems on Tioman as well as the importance of sustainability on the island.
Visit the Asah waterfall. This beautiful waterfall is a 20-minute track from Kampung Asah on the South of the island.
See the Nenek Semukut mountain. Gunung Nenek Semukut are two mountainous outcrops that legend says are the horns of a female dragon who was cursed to become Tioman island.
Enjoy other beach activities. Snorkelling, boating, island hopping, canoeing, and more are available throughout the island.
Enjoy some jungle activities too. ATVs and trekking are just some of the things offered here.

We also have a 3D2N Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort full board package here!

Booking Your Tioman Trip

Start planning ahead when you want to take a break on Tioman Island and travel with Mayflower. We now offer special resort packages that will make your trip easier and hassle free. Check out our latest promos for island packages and start planning today!