Tioman

Tioman was selected by Time magazine in the 1970s as one of the world's most beautiful islands and served as the filming location for 'Bali Hai' in the 1958 movie South Pacific. The densely forested island remains sparsely inhabited despite 200,000 annual visitors, offering a counterweight to Malaysia's more commercial beach destinations. Surrounded by white coral reefs, it provides excellent diving at over 20 sites suitable for both beginners and technical divers, without the mass tourism found on Penang or Langkawi.

The primary gateway is Mersing in Johor state, where ferries depart to Tioman. A marine park fee of RM35 (as of 2023) is levied on all visitors, payable at the Mersing ferry port. There are no scheduled commercial flights to Tioman Airport next to Kampung Tekek; general aviation is the only option for air access.

Local transport on Tioman consists of bikes, cars (available in Tekek), and boats. A concrete road runs through Tekek from the Berjaya resort in the south past the airport to the northern end of the village. An 800m concrete path covers Air Batang, where locals operate about 20 scooters. Elsewhere on the island, roads are almost nonexistent. Car rides cost around RM20 for short distances from the Tekek jetty to the airport, and up to RM120 for the longest routes with minimum 2-4 passengers. The east-west concrete track (originally started by the Japanese in WWII) connects Tekek and Juara but requires 4-wheel drive; charter costs up to RM175 for the whole vehicle, though shared rides were quoted at RM35 per person in 2012. The 45-minute crossing takes significantly longer with backpacks.

The monsoon season runs typically from end October to mid/late February, during which many resorts close. The best time to visit is during the dry season for optimal diving visibility and beach conditions. During Ramadan, most restaurants around the island close for lunch. Be aware that garbage disposal is a major problem on the island despite recycling programs; the new incinerator built as of 2020 was not yet operational.

While the most commercially developed of Malaysia's eastern islands, Tioman has yet to experience mass tourism on the scale of Penang or Langkawi, and budget accommodation is plentiful. The backpackers' villages of Air Batang (ABC) and Salang offer the cheapest beds, with dorms starting at RM15-20 and chalets from RM30-40. Remote kampungs like Juara and Paya require reservations as getting there can be a hassle. Many places stay open year-round but several close during monsoon season.

Food can be expensive on Tioman compared to other Malaysian destinations. Western food costs up to RM15 per plate while local food ranges from RM8-12. Eating at resort restaurants requires budgeting around RM30 per day for three meals. Fried rice and burger stalls appear everywhere but opening times vary. A 1.5L bottle of water costs RM4 with refills of locally filtered water for RM1-2; canned soft drinks are about RM3 and beer starts at RM3 (Skol Beer at local shops). Note that alcohol cannot be brought or consumed in some restaurants. Tioman is a duty-free zone with cheap alcohol available at Vision Duty Free in Tekek.

Diving is the primary activity with multiple PADI-certified dive centers including B&J Dive Center, Blue Heaven Divers, Eco Divers, Ray's Dive Adventure, Tioman Dive Centre, Scuba Do, and De Dive Centre. Fun dives typically cost RM90-110. Non-divers can enjoy snorkeling (equipment available to rent or buy in Tekek), surfing at Beach Shack in Juara (boards from RM20/hr), and jungle trekking between Tekek and Juara (320m elevation gain over 2km, taking 1.5-2.5 hours). The waterfall trail takes about 30 minutes from the turtle breeding farm, marked by yellow and red painted can bottoms nailed to trees. The Juara Turtle Project offers volunteer programs with a minimum RM10 donation entrance fee.

There have been repeat outbreaks of sarcocystosis (a gut parasite causing flu-like symptoms and severe muscle aches) amongst travelers, particularly in 2012 with over 100 cases and May 2014 with over 40 cases. The infection spreads through raw or undercooked meat; consult a tropical disease specialist if symptoms appear after visiting. Coral cuts can become infected due to bacteria; carry alcohol wipes and antiseptic, washing and treating cuts immediately. Watch for territorial triggerfish during mating season. Monkeys may attempt to force open windows and doors for food. Theft is not generally an issue in private rooms. Female travelers should politely decline offers from young men to have drinks; there have been reported rapes on the island.

Mobile network coverage exists but is limited in some areas; Japamala Resort specifically notes no mobile network coverage. The only ATM on the island is in Tekek and it can run out of money, so bringing sufficient cash from the mainland is strongly recommended. WiFi availability varies by resort.

Daily budget for a backpacker on Tioman can be estimated as follows: dorm accommodation RM15-35, meals RM30-40, activities (diving RM90-110 fun dive), transport RM20-35, and incidentals RM20. Budget around RM120-200 per day excluding diving activities. Bring cash as the only ATM frequently runs dry.

The mainland town of Mersing serves as the gateway and can be visited as a day trip before or after the island stay. Other islands within the Mersing Marine Park, such as Sibu Island, offer less commercial alternatives for day trips.

From Tioman, travelers can return to Mersing on the mainland to continue to other destinations in Johor or continue up the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Singapore is accessible via the mainland for those continuing north.