Tioman Island is another paradise we discovered on our trip. It is a real faff to get to, but make the effort and you will be rewarded with amazing beaches, chilled vibes and incredible snorkelling. There is even scuba diving if you do that. We still think it is one of the best islands in Malaysia.
Getting there is all focussed around catching the 2 hour ferry from the East Coast of Malaysia. We chose to take the 4 hour bus from Singapore to Mersing, but there are other routes including a 5/6 hour journey from Kuala Lumpur.
When you reach the ferry terminal in Mersing, there are several travel agents to book your ferry with, although we would advise booking online in advance. The timetables are all tide-dependant and so are released around 30 days in advance – and they don’t run all year. The best time to visit Tioman Island is the April – October period.
You need to be at the ferry terminal c.60 minutes before departure. The ferry itself is around 2 hours so you can quickly see how you can write off a whole day getting here (and away again). The other good connection point to Mersing is Johor, around 2 hours on the bus, and we returned there after our island retreat to catch a flight to Kuching. So plan it right and it doesn’t have to be massively out your way to explore this lush island.
Our stay on Tioman was intentionally a chill on the beach sort of 5 days! We stayed at the Tioman Barat Beach Resort on the east side of the island, which is much smaller and quieter than the ports and towns you arrive into from the ferry.
The drive from the ferry terminal (take a taxi or get your hotel to pick you up) is incredible. You essentially have to drive up the largest hill in the middle of the island and then drive down the other side! We were grateful for the large truck that had been sent to get us all. The hotel is situated on Juara Beach, the best beach on Tioman Island, which had made our decision for us on where to stay. There are several small hotels, and restaurants and a few small supermarkets, but you’ll not find much else here other than beach.
Our hotel had a great restaurant and a pool and we opted to stay in the sea front rooms for a balcony and view over the beach. The other rooms tend to be around the pool and there are family options as well. The hotel also has a spa and a shady kids pool so is very much family friendly.
We spent our days on Tioman on the beach and in the pool. There was a large beach reef for snorkelling at the far end to the right of the hotel where we were lucky to even see some reef sharks. Then there is also snorkelling in the more central stretch near the jetty but the currents can get strong here so we wouldn’t recommend it for children.
Of course you can also go on organised snorkelling and scuba trips. You can also enjoy hikes and treks through the forest (up the hill you travelled over) and there is a small turtle sanctuary on Juara beach which is worth a visit. You’ll probably also have the chance for some body boarding if the waves are right.
The sea really is as turquoise as the photos suggest and the sand is golden rather than bright white. With the lush green backdrop, you can just spend your days in a hammock enjoying some of the worlds best scenery, including some awesome sunrises!
